KA24DE vs. SR20DE

Started by Jsvob03 · Aug 9, 2005 · 20postsSMF 2010–26

Jsvob03Aug 9, 2005, 11:05 pm · #1

I didn\'t find this argument (saw SR vs CA, and KA vs CA) anywhere, if it has been done, show me a link, if not, I\'m kind of curious as to which would be a \'better\' swap. Better encompasses price, power, parts (availability), Long-Term endurance, potential (Turbo or non) etc. Im not asking for a GIANT write-up from one person (..unless you\'re THAT bored!)..just some opinions. Im doing my share of the research, but wanna see what everyone else says.

BTW, regardless of which i do eventually get, i will be going turbo on either motor.

FantasyAug 10, 2005, 6:43 am · #2

KA all the way.

Jsvob03Aug 10, 2005, 10:24 pm · #3

...ok..why? is it stronger? does it loast longer and hold up better to boost? everything overall? no offense, but that wasnt much help.

Joel07Aug 11, 2005, 12:17 pm · #4

KA is just as strong as the SR internally, has a better cylinder head design, and has .4 extra L of displacement. Plus, it\'s a long stroke motor (not so good for revs, but great for spooling up turbos), and parts are readily available here in the US. Plus they\'re dirt cheap, and all you really have to do to make it stand up to 600+ HP is pistons and rods. Oh, and you can get turbo kits for it for $600, all you need is to make some I/C piping, and you\'re good to go to about 250 whp...

Take that SR: :kicknuts:

*Disclaimer* I don\'t hate the SR, in fact it\'s a good motor too, but for the cost, and parts availability, I just don\'t think it\'s worth it.

200SXXEnotchbck86Aug 11, 2005, 5:18 pm · #5

Cost depends on where you live though too. The US, the KA is an easy choice, especially if you have to worry about emissions. But I am sure there are other parts of the world that can get the SR\'s and parts for it way cheaper then for the KA. I just had a thought, not really related but. The MKI and MKII were both built in 86 correct? The MKI had the turbo, did the 86 mkII ever have the turbo option (in the US of course)? The only real way I could probably legally have a turbo motor in my car would be to use an 86 ca18et motor. Unless they make a turbo kit for the KA that is approved for use in California (not likely). Or I can just leave Ca, move somewhere where they don\'t care whats in the car and go from there.

Joel07Aug 11, 2005, 5:26 pm · #6

Or I can just leave Ca, move somewhere where they don\'t care whats in the car and go from there.

Sounds like a plan to me!!!

If you\'re talking about putting a turbo motor in your 86, then it doesn\'t matter Mk1 or Mk2, you can do it. Most of the 86\'s I\'ve seen were Mk1.5\'s. No foam sideskirts, fiberglass spoiler, flat hood, and the small bumpers...

200SXXEnotchbck86Aug 11, 2005, 8:55 pm · #7

I was just wondering if there was an MKII turbo in the states, or are the late 86 considered MK1.5. I know I could use any 86 motor. I could probably use an earlier motor as long as I use the 86\'s electronics and emissions junk. AS for moving out of state, my wife wants to leave Cali and head for Oklahoma sometime after Xmas around tax return time. Thats barring many little things such as money and if she can get a transfer to out there.

ahoffman83Aug 12, 2005, 12:15 am · #8

1986 was the last year the Turbo CA18ET was offered in the United States. I think only until mid year also so it would probably be a MK1.5

Aggro CragAug 16, 2005, 4:50 pm · #9

If you\'re going turbo anyway why wouldn\'t you just buy an SR20DET.

Jsvob03Aug 16, 2005, 9:00 pm · #10

are you asking this to the original thread (KA) or the jacked thread (CA?)

If its KA, Please enlighten me as to why i Would do a SR?

200SXXEnotchbck86Aug 16, 2005, 9:56 pm · #11

If you\'re going turbo anyway why wouldn\'t you just buy an SR20DET.

Price, and try getting that sucker to pass emissions here in Kalifornia when that engine wasn\'t offered here in the states. Then again, turboing the Ka would present the same problems. So for me anyways, my choice is stuck with the KA24DE motor. As getting the SR20DE motor would be a huge hassle as it was only offered in front wheel drive cars. And since it has to be set up like what the engine came out of, getting the Intake to work would present some problems. As well as having to use the JDM 200sx block to mount it for rear wheel drive use.

Jsvob03Aug 16, 2005, 10:16 pm · #12

Those are some of the things i considered, others would be exhaust mani\'s (HiPo), Starter, Maybe a DRIVESHAFT?! Or a tranny? yeah...While im sure it can be done, it seems too much a hassle, and i like having more displacement (usually means more torque) anyhow.

DarknessRSAug 28, 2005, 10:21 am · #13

[span style=\'font-size:14pt;line-height:100%\'][url]www.ka-t.org[/a][/span]
I\'m piecing together a turbo setup for my KA24, and this is the definitve place to go for information. I\'ve decided to go KA-T because of two reasons. First, SR price has gone up so much since the 240s have gotten popular. Second, KA will produce better torque at the low end which is a personal preference.

Jsvob03Aug 28, 2005, 12:34 pm · #14

Yup, already a member, plus theres Phatka-T.com

drumpet15Aug 29, 2005, 12:09 am · #15

SR will rev higher.
KA is cheaper and has more torque (it\'s a truck motor after all Smiley )

Jsvob03Aug 31, 2005, 12:56 am · #16

it\'s a truck motor after all

Just Because it was in a truck, does not make it a \"truck motor\". I believe the KA24 is just an adapted form of the Z-Series motors. (Z22, etc). Therefore, the motor originally traces back to...you guessed it, a Z-Car (Datsun).

I\'m not 100% on the info, as i still have more to research, and please correct me if im wrong.

drumpet15Aug 31, 2005, 2:18 am · #17

I know it\'s not a \"truck motor\"...jeez, :roll: you know what I meant.

Joel07Aug 31, 2005, 1:03 pm · #18

Just Because it was in a truck, does not make it a \\\"truck motor\\\". I believe the KA24 is just an adapted form of the Z-Series motors. (Z22, etc). Therefore, the motor originally traces back to...you guessed it, a Z-Car (Datsun).

Well, you\'re partly correct. The KA is based on the Z24, which was a truck motor. The Z-series motors are all based on the L-series motor (L16, L18, L20, etc.), which of course was the motor in pretty much all of the older Datsuns, and the 6 cylinder L-series were in the Z-cars. Oddly enough, the Z-series motors were never in the Z-cars. I\'m working on a hybrid KA based on a Z20 or L20 block to make a high-revving KA. We\'ll see how it goes... :mrgreen:

SR will rev higher.

So what? Lower powerband means more useable power, especially on the street.

drumpet15Sep 1, 2005, 6:45 am · #19

So what? Lower powerband means more useable power, especially on the street.

Holy crap! I didn\'t say it was better that it revved higher, I was just stating the fact that it did! I honestly would prefer the KA.

I left Automotive Forums because of all the KA vs. SR vs. RB vs. VG or whatever...I hope that this site does not become full of people arguing about \"which motor is better?\" I\'m SOOO sick of all of that crap. Just build what you want and make it fast! Everyone\'s gonna have their own opinion.
.
sorry for freakin\' out, I\'m just not interested in arguing about this stuff anymore.

Jsvob03Sep 2, 2005, 2:02 am · #20

my whole reason for starting the thread was so that i could get a clear, concise and subjective opinion from the members on this board. This forum has probably the best group of members i\'ve seen. Plus, i\'ve seen those threads you mentioned, and it always turns into a shouting match. So far, this thread has helped me out much more than any of the other forums\' could! I agree, i\'d hate to see this turn into one of those nasty topics! Later