Took a ride in a KA-T, it was incredible

Post by **SHiFT** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 2:41 am

Last night at an orlando car meet a 97 240 parked with the hood up. I went to see what it had and saw it was a custom turbo kit for the KA. I found the guy that owns it and asked him for a ride, he was delighted to give it to me. He's got a T3/T04 hybrid, fmic, 370 cc, JWT ecu, stock fuel pump, revhard manifold, stock bottom end running 8 lbs of boost. He let it loose, and it was unbelievable. It went from 40-60 in like 1.5 secs it was absolutely rediculous. I've riddin in an SR powered car with just about the same mods and it was very impressive at the time...until I rode in this thing. Its pretty different from the SR in that the power is there immediately. It was freakin awesome, the SR sucks, the KA-T is hands down superior. Just sharing my thoughts. He's raced 3 SR's so far and non of them can beat him.

Post by **Siddhartha** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 2:41 am

Who's KA-T did you ride in?

What color, etc.

I wanna ride, did you guys meet at Sonic's?

Website · Post by **creophus** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 2:41 am

A guy in Orlando huh? I'd like to meet up with this guy and go for a ride! I'm in Tampa and it sounds like it would be worth it to go over to talk to him and maybe get a ride.

Post by **SHiFT** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 2:41 am

yeah we met at sonic's, the car is champagne colored, no exterior mods but you can see a 3 gauge pod on the left. Forgot the guys name already, damn. Thats all I know, but it was incredible, I can't even imagine what its like at like 16+ lbs of boost with a rebuilt bottom end.

Post by **klattr1** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 2:41 am

maybe ORION?

Post by **HolyShiznit** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 2:41 am

Orion's isn't a 97 240 and he isn't using the JWT ecu because it robs power and runs too rich.

Post by **SHiFT** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 2:41 am

he's in gainsville anyway

Post by **Siddhartha** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 2:41 am

im still conidering the KA-T, but I was told they are very unreliable. This in and of itself won't totally turn me away from the engine, though, as I was told the FD3S was unreliable and would still sell a kidney for one...

Post by **Nathan** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 2:41 am

It's possible they are thought of to be unreliable because many people turbo older, unrebuilt engines (obviously they will have more wear/occasional problems than a low mileage engine) and because people tend to piece together kits on the cheap (not a bad thing if done right, but some probably mess things up). There is no reason a well taken care of, reasonably boosted KA should not hold up JUST as well as other nissan turbo engines.

Post by **klattr1** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 2:41 am

SHiFT wrote:he's in gainsville anyway

oops sorrythey dont make champagne colored 240sx's that are 97's.Maybe he's talking about the green moss color.

Post by **:: orion ::** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 2:41 am

HolyShiznit wrote:1)Orion's isn't a 97 240

2) He isn't using the JWT ecu because it robs power and runs too rich.

1) Correct. I have a '96, you know, the one with the front end that matches the rest of the body lines... :pface

2) Surprisingly, it doesn't run too rich. Almost lean at redline at 8psi...but it does rob power b/c it gives no timing for 8psi. The timing seems good for 13-14psi, but is way to conservative for 8psi.

Later - Brian

Post by **Projex240** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 2:41 am

I've been looking for a low mileage motor---anyone know where i can find one?

Post by **SHiFT** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 2:41 am

yeah i meant the moss color/dark champagne

Post by **95_240sx** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 2:41 am

Ok, this post makes me feel way better, knowing that EVERYONE wants to ride in KA-T I thought there was just something wrong with me or something. My car is like a 2 dolla whore, everyone wants to ride for free. But I usually take them for a ride at 15psi

Rick

Post by **SHiFT** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 2:41 am

the only real problem with a ka-t i could see would be traction. Yeah every high HP engine has traction issues, but the KA puts out so much torque from the get go, its hard to get stuck to the ground. This guy was running an open dif on stock tires, the first time in WOT the wheels spun all the way up to like 60mph from about 20. Definately needs LSD and i'm guessing like 8" + wide tires? I dunno, but when they do catch, you're gone. 95_240, how much total would you say you've spent on your setup there?

Post by **Siddhartha** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 2:41 am

I heard that head gaskets blow like a mofo on these things. I'm trying to explore my options before I decide what engine I want. I want something fun AND fast, not something I'll have to fix once a month. KA-T sounds like what I'm looking for in that it's a torquey li'l bastard i.e., fun AND fast, but I'm worried about how often they supposedly break.

Post by **:: orion ::** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 2:41 am

^^^ You heard wrong. The stock HG is good 'til at least 30psi...

If something blows on a stock motor, it's ring lands. If the motor is built, the HG will be your "fuse"...but it's not common.

But it's all in the tuning - Bad tuning at 6psi can break pistons, good tuning can allow 15psi on a stock motor.

Later - Brian

Post by **HolyShiznit** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 2:41 am

Orion is once again so right.......

Head gasket doesn't do a thing on KA's dude. I think you read wrong in SCC where they say the CA breaks headgaskets. =p

Post by **C-Kwik** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 2:41 am

Well no matter what, it comes down to good tuning. Eliminate detonation from the equation and the motor should hold up just fine.

Of course you always want to check the condition of the motor before doing something like this. Mileage isn't necessarily a problem. A well maintined motor with minimal wear should be able to handle a turbo well.

And lastly, Orion: 97-98's look better than 95-96's so there...=P

Post by **fiznat** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 2:41 am

:: orion :: wrote:If the motor is built, the HG will be your "fuse"...but it's not common.

I dont know why anyone would tear down a KA and build it up, only to put in a stock HG anyways....

Post by **Xero** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 2:41 am

because it's not so much the headgasket, but the head studs, when you can torque down the bolts on teh studs more, the gasket has less chance of blowing out, and since the gasket is strong as it is, all you need is new studs, viola'

Post by **Pornflakes** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 2:41 am

Xero wrote:because it's not so much the headgasket, but the head studs, when you can torque down the bolts on teh studs more, the gasket has less chance of blowing out, and since the gasket is strong as it is, all you need is new studs, viola'

Nailed it right on! Changing to head studs instead of OEM bolts will make a big difference as to how much pressure the gasket will withstand. With the OEM bolts, a lot of the torque used to tighten them is used to counteract the torsional friction present, and NOT to clamp the head down to the block (wasted effort). Moreover, the OEM bolts are "stretch-to-yield" type, which are designed to disperse the clamping force evenly along the head. However, this design is not meant for performance use, and the bolts will stretch excessively under high pressure. This will allow the head to slightly lift from the block at certain areas, and thus cause a blow head gasket.

ARP studs, on the other hand, allocate most of the torque into the actual clamping force, by design. Also, these studs will not stretch like the OEM bolts. The head will be clamped onto the block very tightly, even under very high pressure.

Post by **Nathan** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 2:41 am

I know of at least one KA making well over 400hp on a stock headgasket and stock headbolts...as long as there is no detonation things stay together well. In fact, I'm using a stock headgasket and stock headbolts for the fuse reason...it's easy to replace that stuff...but I cant build this engine again.

Post by **95_240sx** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 2:41 am

ok, ive spent a LOT on my car, I dont tell anyone the number, because i havent had the heart to sit down and figure it out.

My car has stock, headgasket with an o-ringed block, and has seen 22psi more than once, also stock bolts, comes back to the 'fuse'. I did this because chris may reccomended it to me, id rather spend a weekend replacing the head gasket and getting a new wire in my block, that another year buulding an engine because i blew a hole in my piston, rather than my head gasket.

Rick

Post by **Nathan** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 2:41 am

Can we get an amen? I also havent totalled up what I've spent on my non running car....WAY too depressing.

Post by **Pornflakes** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 2:41 am

When I suggest ARP head studs, I assume you have an engine with forged internals.

Forged internals can handle a larger "fuse". It would be dangerous to have an "overly large fuse" on a stock engine. In the same fashion, it is pointless to have an "overly small fuse" onto a highly capable, internally forged engine (SAFELY capable of much more power than that fuse can handle). You'd be replacing that small fuse very often if you decide to use that built engine to its potential.

It's about having the PROPER sized "fuse" for the application.

Took a ride in a KA-T, it was incredible

Took a ride in a KA-T, it was incredible

hey

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