Ka swap 720

[Braddahjon]

I have an 86 720 and Im jus waiting for my z24i to die. Although it still runs very well at 230,xxx miles I want to be ready when it does decide to go. I found a s14 KA24DE for $50 so my question is can i use this motor and what will i have to modify?? I read about nis720s kaE swap and was wondering if there was any difference since its from a 240. Thanks in advance

[JsD21HB]

there shouldnt be too much difference id look on a 240sx forum for a dohc swap in an s13. think there is a good one on nico but cant remember off hand.

[Supermachine]

from what i have read, i thought it would be easier to swap a ka24de out of a truck the easiest. i think the frontiers have the DE motor in a truck chassis. the s14 s13 and 240 motors all have something up with the oil pickup being in the front if i remember correctly..
i could be 100% wrong though
theres also the ka24e motor in the later hardbodies too

[IThaJokaI]

The s14 and s13 motors are different, oil pick up on the s14 DE is in a different spot. It caused major problems on a HB swap I read.

I would stick to the ka24de out of a frontier, or a ka24E out of a early hardbody... Other than motor and transmission mounts, and the wiring it shouldn't be too hard.

[nismopu]

I must re-iterate. The frontier ka24de is a KA24E block with a DOHC head thats why it is so easy to swap in. The 240sx DE is a front sump style and the pan is unique to the engine along with the oil pickup itself. In a couple of months I will have a picture thread together so these things stop coming up. peace.

[IThaJokaI]

^ that I did not know...

[Supermachine]

I must re-iterate. The frontier ka24de is a KA24E block with a DOHC head thats why it is so easy to swap in. The 240sx DE is a front sump style and the pan is unique to the engine along with the oil pickup itself. In a couple of months I will have a picture thread together so these things stop coming up. peace.

so would it be wise to start with a ka24e out of a hardbody? or other than the sump issue, is the hardbody shortblock and the 240 shortblock the same??
EVENTUALLY i woud like to try a KA swap in my 720 and was gonna start looking for a frontier motor, but if a reg old hardbody engine is pretty much the same i'll look for one instead im sure i could later upgrade to the DE head at a later point

[IThaJokaI]

The sump is different, there is no hole for a dip stick, and there was something else... If you search you will find. There is like 4 links on google for the swap.

[nis720]

My engine is from a truck... I simply bolted on all the 240 parts. I decided to relocate the frame mounts so the engine sits at the proper angle and slightly lower. But from what Tloof was telling me he was able to simply modify one of the engine brackets to make it fit.

I was considering the SR20DET prior to my swap and was trying to think of ways to make it work with the front sump. I figured removing the sway bar and flipping the center link would give me some clearance... but not sure if it's enough. Keep in mind the 720's have a smaller engine bay than the hardbodies.

[Supermachine]

My engine is from a truck...

hardbody, or frontier??
and imma hafta hit you up on the e-mail some day man, i love ur truck..
i know you had said you eventualy plan on turboing it right?? did you do any advance planning for the turbo?

[IThaJokaI]

nis720 is from a hardbody..His is a sohc and the frontier used the dohc head.

[beebani]

Nismopu, have you come up with a clean way to modify the front sump pans and pickups to make them rear sump? I would love a donor bottom end to work on and make this a reality since the front sump motors are so easy to come by and usually cheaper.

[nismopu]

I really think if I had access to a better welder when I did that truck pan it would've looked ALOT better. Unfortunately I was under a short timeline to get it done and I just kinda scabbed it together. I know if you use the 4x4 truck rear sump pan theres absolutely no problem. I met a guy at canby who had a 720 pickup 4x4 with a KA24e in it, not a damn thing was cut on it to install the KA. He said it dropped right in and it was pulled from a 90 240sx utilizing a 4x4 HB oil pan and pickup tube. He just had to modify the mounting tab for the pickup tube to the 240sx main bearing girdle. I think the 4x4 pan might have some clearance issues with the 2wd pickups but I haven't had a chance to try one. My friend who has a 4cyl 4x4 is soon doing the vg30dett swap so I might snag the pan off his engine when pulled and try it out.

The 2wd truck pan on the 240sx SOHC just needs a slight notch in the front to be welded shut and then some clearancing in the baffling area as well. peace.

[Supermachine]

is there any difference in the 240sx short block and the hardbody shortblock??
there is a thread over on the MSN720boards and it looks like it shouldn't be too bad putting a hardbody engine in the 720. but is there something better "performance wise" about the 240sx engine?? are they the same bore/stroke/compression ratio/ bearing sizes/ would they both be suitable for a turbo top end?? or would i be better trying to get a 240 engine and swapping out the oil pan and sending unit??

[nismopu]

Theres lots of little differences between the two. Devious KA used to tell the KA community that the mexican truck blocks were way stronger, Jason grey used to state this as well. I haven't spoken to either of those people in some time so who knows what they've discovered lately. IMO personal experience the main noticable differences are only in the lower end. The truck SOHC blocks have lower compression and no bearing girdle(supposedly due to the stronger block). Also the location of the dipsticks is different(something i forgot to mention above), its located farther forward on the 240sx and towards the back on the truck blocks. You just need to re-drill the block is all if your going to run the rear sump pan on the car block. peace.

[nis720]

hardbody, or frontier??
and imma hafta hit you up on the e-mail some day man, i love ur truck..
i know you had said you eventualy plan on turboing it right?? did you do any advance planning for the turbo?

Hardbody block.... I was able to reuse the 720 starter as well. Turbo plans are on hold right now... but I have started.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d193/nis720/nis720/PICT1437a.jpg

[5&DIME720]

Here are some pics of my swap
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn94/5anddime720/th_CIMG1010.jpg (http://s302.photobucket.com/albums/nn94/5anddime720/?action=view&current=CIMG1010.jpg)
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn94/5anddime720/th_CIMG1011.jpg (http://s302.photobucket.com/albums/nn94/5anddime720/?action=view&current=CIMG1011.jpg)
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn94/5anddime720/th_CIMG1012.jpg (http://s302.photobucket.com/albums/nn94/5anddime720/?action=view&current=CIMG1012.jpg)
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn94/5anddime720/th_CIMG0991.jpg (http://s302.photobucket.com/albums/nn94/5anddime720/?action=view&current=CIMG0991.jpg)
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn94/5anddime720/th_CIMG0993.jpg (http://s302.photobucket.com/albums/nn94/5anddime720/?action=view&current=CIMG0993.jpg)
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn94/5anddime720/th_CIMG0994.jpg (http://s302.photobucket.com/albums/nn94/5anddime720/?action=view&current=CIMG0994.jpg)

[5&DIME720]

Here's it running:
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x115/thesyndicate650/th_CIMG1284.jpg (http://s182.photobucket.com/albums/x115/thesyndicate650/?action=view&current=CIMG1284.flv)

[5&DIME720]

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x115/thesyndicate650/th_CIMG1283.jpg (http://s182.photobucket.com/albums/x115/thesyndicate650/?action=view&current=CIMG1283.flv)

[ridin4life]

Here are some pics of my swap
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn94/5anddime720/th_CIMG1010.jpg (http://s302.photobucket.com/albums/nn94/5anddime720/?action=view&current=CIMG1010.jpg)
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn94/5anddime720/th_CIMG1011.jpg (http://s302.photobucket.com/albums/nn94/5anddime720/?action=view&current=CIMG1011.jpg)
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn94/5anddime720/th_CIMG1012.jpg (http://s302.photobucket.com/albums/nn94/5anddime720/?action=view&current=CIMG1012.jpg)
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn94/5anddime720/th_CIMG0991.jpg (http://s302.photobucket.com/albums/nn94/5anddime720/?action=view&current=CIMG0991.jpg)
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn94/5anddime720/th_CIMG0993.jpg (http://s302.photobucket.com/albums/nn94/5anddime720/?action=view&current=CIMG0993.jpg)
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn94/5anddime720/th_CIMG0994.jpg (http://s302.photobucket.com/albums/nn94/5anddime720/?action=view&current=CIMG0994.jpg)

where did u get that weber manifold and how much was it i been looking for one for a while no one has one for sale

[5&DIME720]

It's a Gerolamy manifold. It was made by BC Gerolamy in 1994. You can check with Wolf Creek Racing or Rebello Racing. They may have one or at least know where to get them. By the way, You might want to talke to Dave @ Rebello if you want to build a serious motor. He is on the KA24DE focus right now. Good Luck!

[Braddahjon]

So hey guys it wasnt discussed much about the sohc s13 engine? I jus picked up one with harness and ecu for 50bucks so what modifications have to be done? thanks good info so far

[nismopu]

ka truck oil pan HB or frontier, pickup tube, and re-drill for the dipstick hole. Otherwise you have to bash the oil pan to clear the front steering arm. peace.

[lomofo11]

Those side-drafts look sick on the ka. To bad they weren't itb's! That would be the sh*t. Sweet motor. Any numbers on the engine 5&Dime?

[Braddahjon]

Is the dohc pan the same as sohc?

[nismopu]

these are the kinds of questions that make joka bash his head in. I am currently doing the same,lol.

KA24de car/altima engines are unique and to themselves except internally wise, so no a ka24de oil pan will not work on any sohc block.

SOHC block engines include 240sx, HB, and frontier(yes a frontier is a SOHC based engine) peace.

[IThaJokaI]

^ lol, Im just staying out of these kinds of threads for now.. The question are so easy to be googled, yet they make new threads over and over lol.