To rebuild or not to rebuild...

[masticatingcow]

Hey everyone,

I really need a mechanic's opinion on this. My 91 240sx (KA24DE) has 207000 miles on it. It's my daily driver and it sees probably 400-450 new miles a week. I have had rapid knocking noises coming from the engine bay for the last 1000 or so miles.

So, besides the sheer age of the engine, here's my problem... I need this car to last me a few more years. I know people have rebuilt their engines at much fewer miles, so I already have aims to do that. But what should I replace and, what kind of cost am I looking at? I know it varies depending on individual motor shops because of labor, but are there any base prices I can expect?

FYI, if I can scratch up the cash to do so, I plan to simultaneously build up the bottom end. I don't currently have plans to run boost, but if I can hang on to this car for a while longer, I will probably entertain it.

So, if I rebuilt the engine with better-than-OEM performance parts, what kind of additional expenses should I anticipate? I guess the big question (and there have been many, my apologies) is: what would you do?

!!! What is the feasibility of swapping a S14 KA? I know the engines were slightly different... but the swap would be easy, right?

Thanks in advance.

[NISTECH]

Costs I have no idea. some searching may reveal some prices on quality performance parts. What would I do if it were my own. I would rip the engine out tear it down [pistons out , head off] and take a look at its internals. if there are no obvious signs of severe wear to the bores I would take it to a machine shop and have them give me the final word on the condition of the block and head. If all was ok by their measurements and the final cuts are not to excessive I would go ahead and rebuild the engine new pistons,rings,bearings,chain, gears ,tensioners,guides and have the machine shop reassemble the long block. if anything is considered questionable with the block or head its gone and I would get another either new engine or a used one and rebuild it.

[89240sxdude]

i rebuilt my block and head completely but i removed and installed the engine myself it cost about 800 bucks i think its fairly cheap to have machine shops do the work but if u take it to a shop and have them do all the work and give u a rebuilt block your looking at about 2500 bucks and thats without the head rebuild.