Ka-t S12 Project

Ive started this thread a while ago on 240atlanta.com, because its the forum I visit most frequently. So ill just copy all the updates on to here... Enjoy.

I picked her up from an insurance auction for $250, and she ran   . Turns out she was owned by a hippie and was abandoned in a BP parking lot while her owner caught a ride to California. anyways on with the thread

as she sits now..




block and stuff after I got it back from the machine shop...






here is the only picture I have of anything before the machine shop...


other parts I've collected...











got a walbro 255 and arp head studs for cristmas, Im a highschooler so this isnt a very fast build. But hey I'm doing everything right the first time. Ive decided to start with building a solid engine and then working on suspension, which is usually coonsidered working backwards but I already know alot about suspension so I decided to further my understanding of engineering first lol.

How much power do you expect of this engine? Looking good and expencive
You will need a better brakes in the first place.
The project looks good!

yeah, brakes arent that important, but you wnat to be able to control what you create. great job so far

Yea brakes are most definitly near the top of the list. im doing the S13 front suspension swap so ill probably get ss lines and powerslot rotors + some hawk pads.

I want my final goal to be upwards of 450hp

Looks great man, it's like the exact opposite of my build right now. I focused almost entirely on suspension while wanting to just simply drop in a stock doch ka with minor mods and maintenance done. What turbo setup are you planning and are those aluminum motor mounts I spy?

Indeed those are aluminum mounts.

The turbo I picked up only cost me $100, its a Garrett T04E housing with a .63 A/R. The guy didnt know much about the turbo. It was on his 240 when he bought it and the previous owner had bought one of the first KA turbo kits on the market back when they got popular. So I dont know much about the turbo. All I know is that it has shaft play and is in need of ethier a rebuild or a new catridge all together.

Ive got lots more parts, it just they are at my shop and I dont usually take a camera there.

here is another picture of the turbo, I can take more if someone can help me identify it...

Cool! Looks like a really fresh start for the motor. And looks like the hippy didn't beat up the car at all. From what I can tell looks like a pretty clean car.

Thanks!

It was a really nice find for 250. Here is a picture of the interior, im partial on the blue dash so idk what ill do about that.

Blue dashes rocks haha, at least its not BEIGE or tan or something. Darker color dashes appeal to me more than brighter ones, but it's all preference.

the blue isnt completely terrible, but my daily is a black maxima with black leather interior so thats what im used to. But hey the only stock piece of interior thats going to be left in there is the dash so its no big deal.

wow 450hp is alot for an S12. A LOT!!!. try 250hp and work your way up from there.

Well Im not looking to have your regular S12 lol. Plus its not an everyday car by any means. Probably will never see the road more than a few times a month.

worr20wow 450hp is alot for an S12. A LOT!!!. try 250hp and work your way up from there.

Im either going to go with the Revhard manifold or the JGS manifold, both are the log style. KA's are tough motors and can take a beating as long as they are tuned corretly. They can also be a huge pain in the ass if they arent tuned correctly though. AMS sells a fuel kit that consists of all SS lines and AN fittings with your choice of injectors (i think ill get 84lb/hr), a FPR w/ gauge, resistors for injectors, top mount fuel rail, injector pigtails, and I already have a walbro 255. The kit is a bit pricey but its worth it to have everything you need the first time you spend money.

As for engine management, Im not too sure yet. Im trying to decide wether I want to tune myself or not. I havent looked into megasquirt too much, so I dont really understand it. I was thinking going with E-manage and the E-01 so I have everything I need in the car, no need for a laptop.

firestarter450crank hp is not unheard for a KA-t, even stock bottom ends have held this much power,
having a built bottom end should handle that hp without to much issue, what manifold will you use, what are you going to do for fueling and wich trans are you going to use, i am doing a KA-t as well, I have a thread going on mine but havent updated it in a while, I blew most of my car funds on a vacation to hawaii for x-mas so my S12 and Beetle have been neglected for the past month and a half. PM me if you have any questions I have built more than a few boosted vw's but this is my first nissan, I am going to bolt in my KA once my mounts arrive and have to wire in the megasquirt!

worr20oh know. I know KA can take a beating and can handle it very easy. Im just saying a 450hp S12 would be a stupid fast car for a high school kid expecially.

GriffinWIm either going to go with the Revhard manifold or the JGS manifold, both are the log style. KA's are tough motors and can take a beating as long as they are tuned corretly. They can also be a huge pain in the ass if they arent tuned correctly though. AMS sells a fuel kit that consists of all SS lines and AN fittings with your choice of injectors (i think ill get 84lb/hr), a FPR w/ gauge, resistors for injectors, top mount fuel rail, injector pigtails, and I already have a walbro 255. The kit is a bit pricey but its worth it to have everything you need the first time you spend money.

As for engine management, Im not too sure yet. Im trying to decide wether I want to tune myself or not. I havent looked into megasquirt too much, so I dont really understand it. I was thinking going with E-manage and the E-01 so I have everything I need in the car, no need for a laptop.

Here's an update, not too much progress but its more pictures for you to look at.

Block all painted up




Here some pictures of the shop we just built. It was being used as a temporary storage facilitly until we started working on the car, so now we have to clean all the crap out before we can get the S12 in.




We built an upstairs to clear up the floor downstairs, eventually we will get pegboard on the wooden studs on the lower level to hang up tools, belts, parts etc.

Here are my shelves of engine parts...



Small block 351 that we have laying around, along with a motorcycle and pretty much any other random mechanical crap you can think of.



And here is a picture of my friends vicious dog Madeline.



Next update will be once we start to build the motor.

I dig the color of your block, I went black personaly. Be sure to clean your gasket surfaces REALLY good. Unfortunatly KA's are prone to leaking at all of the silicone gasket areas, don't over do it either. Silicone cloging filters, passages, ect is really bad! Good luck. I am watching this post closely.

Yea I will watch every gasket surface very closely. every metal to metal contact (gasket surface) area is taped off. I took my time with the taping, made sure it sealed, and razored the edges so it should be perfect.

Looks good.. now stop jacking my last name. LOL  For real too.  It is my last name on my social.

Franki sugest you try megasquirt for your fuel and spark management

it's a great system and it's cheaper
500$ for a EMS that controls fuel/spark/boost is cheaper then 1500$ for a AEM EMS and 400$ for an electronic boost controller !

GriffinWHow easy is it to figure out? I know you pretty much have to program the entire thing. Is it piggy back or a direct replacement of the stock ECU?

so how hard is MS to run? to what i know, as long as you have it and the sensors to run it, you can run anything from a weedwacker to a bugatti veyron...

please keep us up to date on this one, ill be following this closely as i may be headed a similar way with my Purple People Eater

Like shown in the product advertisement im working on bolt-on harness for the KA single and twin cam. That would make your swap ALOT easier to complete.

Any updates on this project ?

Frank @ spoolsport.com

FrankLike shown in the product advertisement im working on bolt-on harness for the KA single and twin cam. That would make your swap ALOT easier to complete.

Any updates on this project ?

Frank @ spoolsport.com