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KA24DET Build Preparation

Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2020 10:11 pm
by Civil
Hey guys, I have a bone stock 180k KA24DE and rebuilt transmission in my S13. It is my daily driver and I plan to turbo it in the very near future my goal is 300-350whp about 15psi. My price range is about $5,000. This is my first project car so I have a few questions.

- I'm planning on buying ARP Head Stud Kit, OEM Nissan S13 KA24DE Full Rebuild Gasket Kit, Water Pump, Oil Pump, Wiseco Piston Set, Eagle Forged H-Beam Connecting Rods, and Clevite Rod & Main Bearings. Overall $1,400 for parts. (Haven't decided on a clutch I'd appreciate any recommendations)

- My plans for turbo would be a T28. Supporting mods would be 550cc injectors, Walbro 255, Z32 Maf, Nismo FPR, FMIC, Z32 Fuel filter, and Enthalpy tune

- Am I forgetting anything such as machine work or anything of the like? How much should I expect to pay for this? And how much does a rebuild typically cost? Any recommendations on shops in SoCal?

Please correct or suggest anything, Thank You.

Re: KA24DET Build Preparation

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 11:49 pm
by R34SR
So I'm gonna tell you what I would do with what I've learned the last 12+ years with my ka24. Some folks won't agree.

1. If your engine is healthy, just rebuild it with fresh gaskets, rings, bearings and a felpro head gasket with ARP headstuds. Lots of folks end up spending thousands on forged internals and machine work and many people never make true use of it, myself included. A healthy KA is a strong motor, bad tuning is the real killer. Put the savings into the ecu and fuel system

2. I said a felpro gasket, not MLS because the felpro will hopefully blow instead of a bent rod or blown ring in the event you detonate.
I said ARP studs to keep the head on tight since ka + t2 turbo = massive torque (high cylinder pressures) at low rpm.

3. The truly important things you have cheaped out on....I absolutely ***** hate maf sensors and off the shelf tunes. If you don't want to learn to tune...that's totally fine but a proper MAP based ecu and tune is the foundation for everything....I'm a megasquirt pnp fan...but there's aem, haltech and adaptronic. This is the part everyone overlooks and regrets later when they blow their motor.

4. Tomei makes a nice t2 manifold so does ISR along with a gtx2867 should get to your powergoals with the best response possible. Everyone will recommended you Step up to a t3 ....and I'm currently experimenting with that myself but I'm not sold on it yet....I love response and t2s have that in spades as fun torquey daily drivers.

5. Buy Injector Dynamics 1050x injectors and a top feed rail if it's in the budget....otherwise no redrilled injectors , sidefeeds must be a quality brand...and I recommend 750cc .....headroom with powergoals are always a good idea. The walbro pump and z32 filter is fine.

6. Competition clutch white bunny 6 puck clutch...I never buy any organic clutches.

7. You're lucky I was bored as ***** sitting at home on Corona ***** quarantine ****.

Re: KA24DET Build Preparation

Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2020 6:43 pm
by TwoDoorDime
Id spend the money on standalone/dyno tune and fuel system rather than forged internals if the motor is healthy like R34sr said.

Re: KA24DET Build Preparation

Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2020 9:36 pm
by NukeKS14
If you're deadset on rebuilding the engine, save the money on rods. Get the stockers peened but theyll hold beyond your power goal. The achilles heel of the ka is the cast aluminum pistons and rings that arent gapped for the expansion they're going to see from forced induction. Spend it on cams instead. You'll see nice gains from BC stage 2 cams IMO.


I second the white bunny clutch. Running that with great success on mine.

I wont delve into the tune suffice to say that you dont want to skimp there. The tune is everything on the longevity of our motors. Stock long block KA-Ts are intolerant of **** tunes.

Re: KA24DET Build Preparation

Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2020 1:45 pm
by R34SR
Nuke made a good and extremely important point about ring gaps that I forgot ....that is quite important to give a bit more clearance for boost.

Re: KA24DET Build Preparation

Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2020 8:34 pm
by bobonono
Thanks for sharing,It's useful for me