250 clicks on the stock motor, should i rebuild? swap? any recommendations?

I own a 95 240sx, pretty much stock, been pretty much just running it for a couple of years now, hit the 250km mark a little while ago, just think its about time to consider either swapping it out or rebuilding…

currently its just your typical ka24de, just intake and exhaust, the car is well mainted, oil changes, tune ups, flushes regularly done usually at leace once or twice a year after it comes out of hibernation from the winters.
the engine still pulls amazingly well, but started to notice small things like the motor rocking along its cradle (very very minimal…probably worn out mounts or something)

However, because the engine is reaching such high mileage…I’m a bit worried about the remaining life span (never ran a compression test, was wondering how I go about doing this and the compression it should be running)

is there anything i should do? what if i wanted to boost it? I will most likely be running very very minimal boost, just enough to give it a more prep on the street. Any recommendations on how I should proceed?

hmmm…double posted…
sorry

My last 240sx had 298k on the motor and it pulled.

If you maintain the motor with regular oil changes and maintenance 250,000km is still breaking it in. =D

My car is at 280 now and it still runs great. Rebuild it if you are going to boost it, other than that, I wouldn’t bother unless something actually goes wrong. My car still pulls hard and can get over 30 mpg if I drive it like a granny, so they are definately engines that can take the abuse.

depends what youre looking for out of your car and engine, if its just a get around car, i would leave it and drive it to the ground. If youre thinking performance, rebuild if youre going KA-T or swap for an SR. your choice.

i had a ka with 380 000km’s. It wasnt started for around a year the guy said and it started up and ran like a champ right away.

There are some guys on ka-t.org who have motors with 200+ some of them above 250+km’s boosted running on avg 7lbs

380 km? wow…

If I were to go Ka-T (nothing dramatic, I’m just aiming for around 200-210hp at the crank) Would I still have to rebuild it? I’m just thinking…since the ka24de is an iron block…I know they can take abuse, just curious if I have to reinforce anything else…or would be cooling be a problem?

Just looking to spend a bit of cash for a bit of fun I guess (while leaving the car in a reliable condition)…I need to limit myself…or else I’ll get addicted and dump my entire life savings into the car…

for 210 hp you dont have to do shit. people push upwords of 20psi ~ 400whp on stock KA’s

if youre serious about going KA-T check out kat.org for more info.

haha
that’s good to know
I’m guessing these engines are more than capable of handling that kind of power then…
thanks for the info guys

in that case…any specific turbo setup recommended?

for what you want… T25 with SR injectors… read more here…

http://www.ka-t.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6263

the t25 is too small for a KA. It maxes out way too early. A t28 is ideal but pricey. The highest horsepower ka ive seen is 517whp on a stock block with just a cometic head gasket. ka’s are really strong. its all about the tuning.

great thread, very informative!
thanks a lot!

I own a 95 240sx, pretty much stock, been pretty much just running it for a couple of years now, hit the 250km mark a little while ago, just think its about time to consider either swapping it out or rebuilding…

currently its just your typical ka24de, just intake and exhaust, the car is well mainted, oil changes, tune ups, flushes regularly done usually at leace once or twice a year after it comes out of hibernation from the winters.
the engine still pulls amazingly well, but started to notice small things like the motor rocking along its cradle (very very minimal…probably worn out mounts or something)

However, because the engine is reaching such high mileage…I’m a bit worried about the remaining life span (never ran a compression test, was wondering how I go about doing this and the compression it should be running)

is there anything i should do? what if i wanted to boost it? I will most likely be running very very minimal boost, just enough to give it a more prep on the street. Any recommendations on how I should proceed?

hmmm…double posted…
sorry

My last 240sx had 298k on the motor and it pulled.

If you maintain the motor with regular oil changes and maintenance 250,000km is still breaking it in. =D

My car is at 280 now and it still runs great. Rebuild it if you are going to boost it, other than that, I wouldn’t bother unless something actually goes wrong. My car still pulls hard and can get over 30 mpg if I drive it like a granny, so they are definately engines that can take the abuse.

depends what youre looking for out of your car and engine, if its just a get around car, i would leave it and drive it to the ground. If youre thinking performance, rebuild if youre going KA-T or swap for an SR. your choice.

i had a ka with 380 000km’s. It wasnt started for around a year the guy said and it started up and ran like a champ right away.

There are some guys on ka-t.org who have motors with 200+ some of them above 250+km’s boosted running on avg 7lbs

380 km? wow…

If I were to go Ka-T (nothing dramatic, I’m just aiming for around 200-210hp at the crank) Would I still have to rebuild it? I’m just thinking…since the ka24de is an iron block…I know they can take abuse, just curious if I have to reinforce anything else…or would be cooling be a problem?

Just looking to spend a bit of cash for a bit of fun I guess (while leaving the car in a reliable condition)…I need to limit myself…or else I’ll get addicted and dump my entire life savings into the car…