Turbo a KA24DE truck motor

[Desert Rat]

I usually do what I can to answer others' questions on the trucks forum, but this time I have one of my own.

The KA motors in the D22s are not exactly the same as they are in the 240SX....I'd like info on doing a turbo on a truck motor and wonder where to even start with a parts list.

The motor is just fine in my truck off road because I have the gearing for it, but it's a slug on the highway turning 35 inch tires, even with 5.14 gearing, and its hefty 4800 dry weight - 5500+ loaded. I'm looking for highway performance without sacrificing what little low end grunt the motor has. 5-6 lbs of boost would be all I'm looking for. The main thing I need is dead reliability since I'm often 100 miles from nowhere in the desert.

So just curious. Anyone here done it, and if so, any info on your parts list, pictures of install, costs...pretty much any relevant facts on the project would be helpful.

Swapping a VG33 in the truck requires a transmission and Tcase change, so not really interested in going that route.....I have a $1300 gear set in my transfer case that I'd like to keep

[Desert Rat]

oh, and one other thing....I need to keep it smog legal. That means not throwing OBDII codes.....

[katillidie]

its been done... u just buy a turbo kit or piece out a kit as if u were buying for a 240sx.. the exhaust manifold is the same bolt pattern.. the only issue is that the intake throttle body u have to make a custom inlet to allow the intercooler piping to fit... or if u dont mind loosing power steering u can add 240sx stock intake manifold.. or if u want to keep ps and spend alil money buy an after market intake manifold by http://www.xcessivemanufacturing.com/ON ... p=4&pid=82
u just have to weld the 2 holes shut for both temp sensors in the front and put them inline in the upper rad hose using this http://prosportgauges.com/water-temp-se ... aptor.aspx
the only reason the cel would come on is if u delete a monitored sensor or a sensor is bad.... if u delete the egr u can still get the light to go off by adding a 100k ohm 1/4 watt resister to the egr temp sensor and never worry about the egr again...

[Desert Rat]

deleting power steering is a big negatory...not with a Dana 44 front and 35" rubber! Got links to any 'kits'?


Thanks for the reply. Keep them coming.

[Bimota]

I saw one that had the turbo under the bed with a hole up into the bed where the air cleaner was.
Have you checked with STS?
http://ststurbo.com/

[65ShelbyClone]

The main thing I need is dead reliability since I'm often 100 miles from nowhere in the desert.

I think that's a good argument against an aftermarket turbo setup...or a turbo period. Toyota offered a turbo version of the 22-RE from '86-88 in the 4x4 chassis and even stock trucks eventually nuke the exhaust manifold and turbine(among other shortcomings, but that's another story). Heat and vibration over the long term will conspire to crack a tubular manifold unless it is extremely well-designed and built. That's not what you can expect to get for less than $1000+.

I would very seriously look at supercharging first. I know there are options for the 240SX KA24DE, but I haven't looked for anything for trucks.

[Desert Rat]

I've never seen a supercharged 4 banger...usually the blower sits on top of a V config engine....Guess it would have to bolt on like an accessory, and by doing so I'd guess I'd have to sacrifice something like AC to make the room, eh?

[02frontierka]

i am putting a kit on a 2002 frontier. it has a ka24de in it altho it may be different than yours. im starting with a kit made specifically for the ka24de frontier from cxracing and upgrading it from there. if you retard the timing and give it plenty of fuel with some sort of management - like a rising rate pressure regulator, (FMU)and keep it cool.. it can be pretty reliable. but i wouldnt plan any trips on any major add ons like a turbo until you log some miles on it to test it out.

also - there is a supercharger kit for the 240sx ka24de just google ka24der

here is the starting point for me... may be different for you
http://www.ebay.com/itm/180959841485?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

[02frontierka]

i know its been a while for this post and this guy probably either gave up or moved on in some way. but here is a list of basic things needed and i really believe turbo kits can be made very reliable. the reference to the 80s toyota trucks.. well forced induction and metalwaork has came a long way in 25 years..

youll need the basic piping and hardware...
manifold
turbocharger
downpipe.
a way to regulate your boost, wategate either internal or external along with a gauge and some vacuum lines
a way to lubricate and cool the turbo - oil line kit
then you will need the charge pipe into the engine. some sort of intake hat that fits down on the intake like a carb hat
if you drive where it is hot you should use an intercooler also to cool your intake air back down.
now as you mentioned before you drive in the desert and if its hot, there are water cooled turbochargers out there and setting up a separate cooling system for it is not at all hard. i did it once with a radiator from a dirtbike and a 12 volt water pump. then you could use the same kit in a water to air intercooler...

and a blow off valve

thats the basic stuff to operate the turbo and make boost. after that youll need a way to get more fuel into the engine. i prefer FMUs because they are cheap and reliable so long as you arent trying to run too much boost. but up to 7psi with stock fuel pump and a 8:1 fmu will be fine

[Adverse Effects]

supercharging

Installing Knight Supercharger Kit on KA24DE <-- here on Nico

Because Supercharger Whine is Awesome <-- kits

GOOGLE<->ka24de supercharger

its funny that i can find much more on Supercharging a KA24DE than Turboing one

[Desert Rat]

supercharging

Installing Knight Supercharger Kit on KA24DE <-- here on Nico

Because Supercharger Whine is Awesome <-- kits

GOOGLE<->ka24de supercharger

its funny that i can find much more on Supercharging a KA24DE than Turboing one

Fuel system on a truck motor is totally different than on a 240SX...and I have to keep this smog legal, so the ECU swap and EGR delete would be a no no. Intersting threads though.

[02frontierka]

with a fmu on forced induction you can keep the fuel system and ecu stock. the 240sx is different in parts but not principle. if your dont plan on running much boost - up to 7psi - you dont even need to upgrade the fuel pump and you can get away with no timing retard up to 5psi. but i would reccomend a slight retard after that. 2 to 3 degrees base timing ( barely turning the distributor) may give you a slightly lumpy idle and cause the engine to lag a bit until you get over atmosphere but will be safe and smooth after that. adding a super charger to the frontier would basically require you to remove the entire intake system and ecu , and belts and pulleys and brackets in favor of a 240sx set up.
i did play with the idea of using the intake hat that cxracing makes for the frontier turbo kit ($89) and a cetrifugal supercharger like a vortech or procharger. this would allow me to keep the entire intake system stock except for the fmu pressure regulator. however the main thing that put me against that is trying to create a reliable belt system to run the super charger. and that is the biggest issue with the ka frontiers.. 3 junk v-belts that require adjusting almost every oil change