Okay honestly a KA-T CAN be reliable if done right. I go with the motto though if it was N/A leave it N/A. With the KA engines the compression 9.1:1 in your case Gurpreet and Miki, and the DE; 9.5:1 is much too high for a turbo setup. If you take for example the RB20 and SR20 are running 8.5:1. If you go with a KA-T setup on stock internals with 1xx,xxx km on you can make it run reliable if you run it piss rich for a decent amount of time, you must take into account though that there is the problem in that it is still a older engine and of much higher compression ratio then the Nissan turbo motors. Now I know CA’s SHOULD be rebuilt before running them so that point is valid, but the SR and RB series motors are pretty much drop in and go.
As for aftermarket, Jim Wolf makes ECU’s, cams, etc, as does PDM racing. If you want a PROPER turbo motor out of a KA, get eagle rods, CP low comp pistons, then with the KAE the problem lies in getting a metal head gasket for them as I do not know a place that makes them. Also with the rebult bottom end, you will want to get new cams, valves and valve springs to handle the boost. The KA series motors CAN be boosted nicely if done right. It’s just a matter of finding the money to do them properly. Although if you toss a turbo kit onto a KA it should be good up to 9psi if you run it REALLY REALLY rich and good up to 215-220 horsepower… but the torque will be much higher.
In all honesty I DO like the KA series engines just I have had very bad experiences with them. If I was to run a KA motor I would ITB it, run megasquirt, PDM cams and bigger injectors, and you can do it MUCH more reliably than a turbo and have much better performace. I do feel that as the KA was a N/A motor it should be left N/A and it was an excellent motor for its time and brand.
I like and agree with a lot you say bro, cept…my KAE ain’t 9.1:1 only the really earlier motors with a designated code were of 9.1:1 compression since they had the higher compression pistons or something…I forget but ya. Sohc KAe’s are in the 8’s for compression, notably mine, even tho it’s an 89’…I checked way back man, don’t know about Miki’s tho Chris lol
