Hey, what's up. I currently own a 1988 Celica GT with immediate plans to sell it for something more powerful :) I am dead set on a 89-94 240SX (cheap, RWD and a great aftermarket, obviously). Here's my question to you all: The SR20DET swap is obviously the most popular choice for performance for these cars, but how about the stock KA24DE? I would think that you could turbo it, run more boost and get more power with less lag because of the greater displacement, and I'd rather not swap the engine if I don't have to. I want about 400HP or so after I'm done. Is it a bad idea to modify the stock engine?

Also, if that's a bad idea and the SR20DET swap is the best way to go, what year 240 should I buy? I read that the 89-90 models are more difficult to work with when swapping in an SR20.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

A better place to ask that question is either http://www.240sx.org

or

http://www.sr20deforum.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=14

I agree check out those other forums, we are all sr20 guys so swapping from a ka24 to a det is foreign ground. i would check those out. Personally, i would do a 94 or 95 simply due to the body style and looks. I like them a lot more.

Brent Meints

If your goal is to reach 400 on the KA24 you will have to swap out internals , it wont be able to handle the boost on stock internals. I would swap out the the KA for the sr20 due to the fact it puts more power in stock form then the KA24 does, It will also handle 400 + hp on stock internals. The sr20 has an anormous aftermarket support. Just food for thought.

also check out www.nissanforums.com There's a 240sx forum as well as a hybrid forum where you can get your questions answered.

Cool, thanks guys. Yeah, I checked out that other thread; I have that issue of SCC and I completely forgot about the dude who went through 4 KA24DEs!!! Zoinks!! I'm definitely leaning toward an SR20 swap now.

I would LOVE to get a 95 240SX so I could do the whole swap and stick on an S15 front end, but $$$ is my problem. The 89-94s look pretty nice, sleek, and they can be had for less than 2K, so that's where I'm headed.

Anyone know the difference between an S13 SR20DET and an S15 model, besides the power rating? (I think it's like 202HP vs. 250 or something). If I could find a JDM S15 motor, would it be more difficult to swap into an 89-94 240?

(Y'all will probably tell me to go to another thread, I know :) I apologize for my n00b questions)

PSSSSHTgoes whatever, he said at the beginning that he wants to do the DET swap in the car. he knows that he has to use the sr20 to get big horsepower.

Brent

Actually, I said at first that I want to turbo the stock motor because bolting on a turbo would be less work. But I guess that's not the best way to go. I definitely want about 400HP or more, so I'll do the extra work of swapping the engine to avoid major headaches down the road.

89-90 240SX's have a KA24E and 91 and up have the KA24DE. Dont bother wasting your money, pretty much the only turbo kit i have seen available is the Fmax kit which runs for approx $4000 or over. My friend blew his KA24 the first run at the 1/4 mi. The other route would be a SR20DET which can be found for approx $1400 complete with ECU and uncut harness. The only complications you will run into is the upper radiator hose is on the opposite side so you will have to get a electric fan and use a piece of tubing that will run from one side to the other. Also, if you get a 89-90 240sx, the power steering lines are completely different where as, the 91 and up are the same. A custom power steering hose may be fabricated at a shop.

Another thing lots of people just don't seem to care about is weight. The KA24 in the 240s is iron block, while the SR20DET is all aluminum. About 150lbs lighter. Lighter=good.

Plus as someone said, the internals of the SR20 are much higher quality and can take the boost. 400 hp should be easily attained on stock internals.

I said at first that I want to turbo the stock motor because bolting on a turbo would be less work.

That is NEVER less work. If anything, it's more, way more. When someone puts a turbo/supercharger on an engine that was not designed for it (like the KA), it is almost ALWAYS more difficult, more complicated, and ends up being an infinite displacement engine.