Solid Nissan KA24DE Budget Build!

This week Mike takes a look at the often overlooked Nissan KA24DE engine and shows us why it may deserve a second look before tossing it in the trash and building an SR20!
0:00 - Introduction
4:23 - Manley Rods (PN 14006-4)
9:39 - Bottom end
11:00 - Main bearings
12:05 - Rod bearings
12:32 - JE FSR Pistons (PN 317925)
17:48 - Rings
19:37 - Prepping the block and cylinder head
24:30 - Cylinder head
26:45 - Performance upgrade options
28:30 - VQ Cam followers
29:25 - Valves
29:52 - Conclusion
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[@vegeta1857]

Had a turbo ka 16 years ago. Worked at a nissan performance shop. While everyone swapped out their ka24 engines. I kept mine cuz of the extra displacement and I was whooping all the sr guys with all the torque. Good old days. Year was 2006

[@votive7478]

Im 18 and man do i envy you. I wish I could have grown up when all these cars were still hot. Seems like such a fun time to be into cars now I’m just watching all the prices continue to rise 😂

[@AndrewTooStatic]

You should get into it while you still can, these cars and the engines are gonna die out eventually

[@votive7478]

@@AndrewTooStatic I’m going to school to be a mechanic rn so I have every intention of owning an unhealthy amount of cars when I have money

[@FrankFactor]

​@Votive Stock KAs made 150HP maybe. Stock 4 cylinders now make over 200, 6s make well over 300. C6 corvettes can be bought in the teens in decent condition, Mustangs now have independent rear suspension and both can slide with little modification. This age is a golden age also! Enjoy it! You have to be in front of the curve like we did in the 2000s with these cars. Lots of fun to be had for the same prices and 20 year newer cars.

[@dickfitzwelliner2807]

We were considered the poors. What's funny is the guys running sr20's weren't really putting out that much power. They rode the OMG JDM sr20!!! Hype train

[@AshtonCoolman]

This is a fantastic guide for KA owners. The VQ cam follower idea is a solid piece of info that I didn't know before. I haven't seen that talked about in KA circles. Nice job!

[@skylinefever]

I had never heard of it, either. I wonder if it applies to other Nissan engines.

[@motoiq]

@@skylinefever yes it does!

[@hoffman5982]

People were doing it back in like 2010

[@kamperformance5281]

@@skylinefever fits Nissan FJ Series engines too

[@MineZilla123]

Super tech makes shim under bucket lifters for the ka now that don't require and modification to the head like vq lifters

[@PinkuStyle]

Been a KA-T guy since 2006. Definitely slept on.

[@tinfoilhat1619]

same as my brother. he ka swapped his 69 datsun and everyone would talk crap. little car is still running strong with tons of boost.

[@Emzy-87]

crazy to think in todays standards "500hp" is not to bad. I think 500 is crazy still! Most people wouldnt know how to handle that.

[@StratMatt777]

In 1990 the Ferrari Testarossa had 380 HP and the F40 (the world's fastest super car) had 478 HP. No road car needs 400 HP. It's pretty crazy what people think they need in a road car.

[@Blorkion64]

Is it just me or does anyone else love listening to this guy talk? He's got a great voice

[@Shinywhitebox]

yeh - you're not alone :)

[@kungfujiujitsufliptrick4832]

yeah i like his voice too, he also is very fluid when he's talking and explains in detail very well

[@dreednlb]

KA-T the world!

[@nicetimeracing3544]

Amen 🙏

[@dreednlb]

@@nicetimeracing3544 I have a few of your parts. 👍

[@dreednlb]

@@nicetimeracing3544 very disappointed in the KA throttle body adapter I bought from you. Tried to contact you multiple times through your website. I won’t be buying any more of your parts. 😔

[@tstrick5390]

I could listen to this expert engine builder's well articulated explanation of motor components all day. Thank you Sir. 🏆

[@danielescobar7618]

I know, right? He's so happy to do it! It's contagious

[@cliffdweller9618]

Please keep making these KA24 videos! This is gold!

[@MickelHomer]

Facts

[@FameAppeal]

This is the type of guy who never frowns. He loves his job. He actually wakes up in the morning and doesn't feel like he's working. He's just following his passion. I wish I had a job like his

[@sayiangod9404]

You can! Believe in yourself and get in the door

[@YusufGinnah]

Every time I visit this channel I always get the impression that Mike seems to be such a happy, chilled out dude...

[@nissanv6TT]

I've been telling people to boost the KAs for 15 years now and put the SR swap money into the chassis.

[@officialrotorblitz2945]

Now that the KA24DE has it's spotlight I would love to see a video being done on the CA18DET

[@ACommenterOnYouTube]

I have a 98 240sx and built my ka24de back in 2000 for 600 crank hp. She did 462 whp and 412 wtq in 2000. Back while S13's and S14's were doing the easy SR20 swap for ~225 crank hp 🤣

[@snakeNP215]

U can tell how passionate this guy is for engine building and automotive tech in general

[@ravenzbot]

in 2011 I had a 91 coupe. Rock Auto was having a clearance on a set of 1990 sohc KA pistons and rings for $65 shipped and somehow out of everyone in the US I managed to get the last set. After a full rebuild and a refreshed crosshatch, I was running I/H/E and after the break in we hit 10.2 in the 1/8 which wasn't bad at all for a 465 power mod. it was at least 20% better through the whole band. ofc that could have been much better with adj sprockets and a tune. I did blow the headgasket about 6 months later, so that was fixed and it ran fine after that. I have no idea what that looked like on the map, but it was most likely running lean. That being said, I think it's fair for me to say that once tuned, it's a nice way to get a modest boost of power without going turbo and it definitely was fun on the backroads/togue. Not really a good engine for drifting though.

[@mugshotmarley]

I built one back in 2009 for my S14 just to be different than everyone else who swapped them out for sr20s. We called it the truck motor since it came in Nissan trucks in America. JE pistons and eagle rods. Put a big turbo on it and had a blast for years until I sold the car. Did have a weird bucket lifter tick that I could never get rid of back then, but it never broke. Wish I never sold it.

[@m4rvinmartian]

Same here. Fully built, huge turbo. Made all the SR-kin jelly.

[@squizgars5853]

did you get different valves?

[@brianspiess1420]

Please continue to do a full ka series!! Knowledge is incredible and very appreciative that you are sharing this info with us all!!!

[@Shadow1986]

oh is that MIke Kojima? This is the guy that got me interested in suspension with his articels YEAAAARSSSSS BACK

[@conleymacp]

Oh shittt from Sport Compact Car?? That was such a great mag

[@sunnys14]

KA-T are slept on. Had one of the first Full-Race twinscroll turbo manifolds made in 2009, slapped a GT3076R on it and made quite a bit of power.

[@QtmMtrlzr]

Nice! I have the same exact setup on e85

[@virgilioportillo5188]

🍪

[@user-uy4yn5nc7y]

​@@QtmMtrlzrI want turbo e85 hardbody I got a clean hardbody no know how to boost it

[@S-Kidz]

I'm saving this video for when I need to rebuild my KA . Now I know exactly what I need for a good strong rebuild.

[@4GOD10_]

Same lol

[@grantog123]

Doing mine now...after an ignorant head only attempt lol

[@pchae1]

I don't even have a KA or Nissan, but I watched the whole video. So informative and well-articulated.

[@jayspeedchannel]

I love my Ka24det , makes 450 whp on 22psi 420 ft lbs of tq .

[@charlesescarria3726]

Bro that's perfect what turbo you running?

[@ilovengn]

Great video! Really brings back memories of my teens to early 20's... Had a KA-T in high school in 2005 and boy did that car kick ass. I remember being a high school kid taking down working guys in their WRX's, RSX's, and modified Hondas in "Mexico." Definitely owe a lot of great memories to the trusty KA!!!

[@user-fk6id7qs6r]

in my early years, the biggest reason i swapped in a sr was there was no support for the KA's and they were more expensive to build. now obviously SR swaps were never "cheap" (2007) but it was easier to get a stock SR and swap it over then build over time, versus the huge upfront task of building your KA. And again, i think there was like 2 routes everyone went witht the KA's at the time, where as the SR was endless options

[@RedRideRVT1R]

leave it to MotoIQ to save and sweeten up the original heart fitted to the car, restoring balance. steady well spoken, scrap the script. the look expressed with Mike's "let me show you how..." is the best. MotoIQ for life and beyond! ❄️🍻💎🦅🏁🌬️🦅💨🌴

[@marilynmansonn8406]

I love hearing the true passion this guy has towards the craft of each engine component

[@jadenbaker4050]

I have a 97 Nissan D21 with a KA24E, absolutely love the motor!! Follow basic maintenance and it’ll last forever

[@Lecon60]

I've been reading mini truck magazines since 1986. My father was a Tribal Police officer and had an S10 mini blazer 4x4 with a V6. I sure could have used KZbin back then. I'm 55 and everything you talk about, in detail. Just like a series, only in real time. Now I have Van Halen in my head.

[@Lecon60]

My father used to creep through the woods catching trespassers poaching on private lands.

[@michaelr5545]

Absolutely love the in-depth info. The legend Mike Kojima !

[@nezabytes]

I rode in a ka26 (2.6 liter stroker) that was turboed. All I could think was how much sheer TORQUE that thing had!

[@donjovious]

Everytime I see this man I know I’m going to learn a lot. Always well spoken! KA24 turbo is the best for fun drift cars 📈

[@davidchen4141]

Facts

[@MrFernze]

This guy explaining engines, could be an audio book. I could listen to him for hours.

[@AlexA-gn1ux]

Appreciate good engine builders like you really knows metallurgy 👍

[@xaviervigil]

I love the KA

[@doubletee4391]

back in the early 2000s i asked my tuner if i got a 240 would he swap in a Sr for me. He made fun of me and explained why the Ka made more sense

[@JustAnotherHouseCat]

A lot of people dont realize the 240sx KAs, at least the DE. Is very different than the truck KAs. The 240 KAs were even made in Japan where as the Truck ones were hecho in Mexico

[@Sir.VicsMasher]

Not too many trucks came with the 240's DOHC engine yet still get referenced as a truck powered car.

[@niceboi6364]

Considering that Mexico makes many engine models for the rest of LATAM and North America I can tell their quality is just as good as a Japanese made engine. My QG18 was made in Aguascalientes, Mexico and it ran for +600,000km until my stupid brother hidrolocked it in a flood. Only a connecting rod was twisted and 30,000km after the rebuilt it's running just like brand new.

[@c0rpse1]

@@niceboi6364 but nissan is unreliable for a japanese car

[@niceboi6364]

@@c0rpse1 their automatic transmission models suck because of their shitty Jatco transmissions but manuals are just as good as any other japanese cars mechanically speaking. If you don't care about the interior designs and poor quality materials you have a reliable daily to get you from point A to B comfortably.

[@c0rpse1]

@@niceboi6364 well I had a couple 240sx and a Maxima. The engines will go for ever but I had to seem a lot of bad luck with electrical gremlins

[@sdshakazulu4268]

Been running 18-20psi with gtx3576 .82 t4 on stock rods for 2 years.. same motor as been boosted for the last 6yrs

[@m4rvinmartian]

Everyone was doing the SR in the S14. But I hate doing what everyone else does, went crazy, and created a fully built, balanced blueprinted, forged everything, custom cam KA with a T51R, making 650hp, that was before I put on a H2O/CH4 injection./

[@ahmedsimmons4465]

I had a built KA24 turbo in my S14. It made 700hp. AMS performance made 1000hp KA-T. I loved my KA over my SR

[@ACommenterOnYouTube]

I still have my 240sx when i got it used in 2000 with only 6k miles on it. Built ka with 600 crank hp. Still runs strong

[@PDofLA]

😲 Get in! Buckle Up! Hold On! And clinch your butt cheeks! Your going for a ride you will never forget! 🤣

[@tannergreytak6743]

Man I wish I still had my AMS turbo manifold, should have never sold it now that I have my ka24de Datsun 620!

[@5150_Designs]

in college, I started a KA24DE build with a BC Stroker kit. Bored the cylinders to 90mm bore and the crank included has a 102mm stroke with 10:1 compression pistons turning the KA into a 2.6L monster. never got to finish the engine because someone T-boned my 92 240sx totaling it and I moved to one of my dream cars, the SW20 MR2.

[@davidschneider5285]

Dude, that's awful you never finished it. I've got the same stroker in my ka, but I went 10.5:1 for a NA build. Once pulled 200whp on pump gas until it was stored for 7 years. I'm reviving it now as a weekend fun car.

[@5150_Designs]

@@davidschneider5285 That's awesome! I bid you good luck on the restoration! I really wish I could have finished that engine. But I sold it to a friend of mine, that never finished building it either LoL

[@C-M-E]

The difference 20 or so years make. Did this as a younger me on a single cam KA24E but had to resort to remapping and repurposing Q45 parts wherever I could. Power was great but blowing up transmissions became a regular event. Junkyard life!

[@Ray_dawg-wk9dp]

Love this! 🙏 as a huge 240 enthusiest who’s had multiple engines from sr to rb the ka24de when boosted rips so hard and takes so much abuse. I hope people keep sleeping on it . I need more parts to store away 😂

[@mubarakal-mansouri5979]

The best engine in my list for any classic and contemporary cars under Nissan to use. This is reliable and can make big horse power and torque is excellent. The nissan D22 is a great for it. I have one is built to 500hp and another one for future built for a spare for fun to build it the right better the previous one.

[@dobbinj]

I had a 93 Altima SE with this motor in it. I abused that car a lot, but loved it. When I sold it it had well over 300k on it. I wish I could say that it didn't use oil, but I didn't take care of it and it drank oil like it was going out of style. That was my fault not the cars. Very well put together informative video that applies to way more than just a KA24DE.

[@MrDrifterdevin]

One guy used a supercharger from the vg33 on the ka 2.4, they made like 300hp with it stock internals

[@niceboi6364]

There's a guy that made a banger making over 600HP without major mods to his S13. I think actually there are two S13 KA-T reviews on ThatDudeInBlue channel that are just as nice as the SR20DET swaps and maybe even more reliable.

[@tinfoilhat1619]

this guy is so wholesome. i can listen to him talk all day and learn something.

[@tonyamendola6589]

This guy cant stop smiling...I love it!!!!

[@maxcarter252]

Please keep making videos on the KA!! I’m in the middle of tearing down one from a 95 240sx. It’s hard to find good information this knowledgeable. Thank you for sharing!!

[@Ren200Z_MotoringLife]

have my good old ka24de in one of my sx's still great solid engine with common sence and maintenance . going on over 15 years now, still the engine i learn to drift on but i retired it from it while iam ahead lol

[@scotttak]

Ah good ol ka24de. I remember when i slapped on an ebay turbo kit on mine and tuned it with a daughter board and chip burner lol. Had to clock the motor with hockey puck motor mounts to make the turbo clear the brake master cylinder. Ran pretty good but never really beat on it as it was my daily while going through college. Eventually the oil seal blew in the turbo and probably had a crack in the head gasket in one of the cylinders. Sold the car for 1500...an s13 base model coupe :( miss it a lot. You might have actually seen it Mike as i was one of the workers at Pipeline pizza, if you remember that meet lol. Compared to a "budget" build like this mine was a "no budget" build lol.

[@holafceja]

I might actually have a picture of it. That meet was the first 240 meet I went to consistently in high school. What color was your chassis and valve cover?

[@scotttak]

@@holafceja hmm for some reason my replies aren't posting. My chassis was dark grey and my valve cover was the stock gold color.

[@dartology]

There aren’t any cars here with this engine but man I found this interesting and calming. Nice video mate.

[@RadDadisRad]

The KA24DE is slept on. It is antiquated but that shouldn’t detract it from its ability.

[@sepg5084]

It won't be slept on if it had a decent amount of aftermarket options

[@RadDadisRad]

@@sepg5084 it s slept on because it’s a NA hardbody engine. Now that LS engines are mainstream people are realizing that truck engines, whether 4 cylinder hardbody or v8 domestic, aren’t really a bad thing. Lots of usable torque. Makes daily driving amazing.

[@Daintegralsturbo]

love the content!! keep it up. I was literally in search of a shop that was knowledgeable in KA's and it looks like i found .

[@ThaKenMan]

I’ll admit I was one of those guys who junked their KA24de for an SR. In hindsight it would have been a good engine to keep. But luckily I have had the same SR since 2012 and it starts up just fine.

[@chestrockwell8328]

Incredibly rare, massively technical yet very old school reference mentioned... Tiddlywinks. guessing most didn't catch that. And great interview with Andre on his channel.

[@milesredgate4596]

Between this and the duratec 30 really enjoying the deep dives on some underappreciated motors

[@tayvonrose2528]

Honda D series gotta be up there too

[@OPEK.]

NA Ka guy here, cant say enough good things. motor has never let me down. Only time it has was when I let it down and didnt check the oil after i bought it

[@corn322]

I wish I had known about the VQ followers when I built my KA in 2006. Because I did end up tossing a shim soon after putting the engine in. Didn't blow up, just had a loud tick to it. New intake cam and shims, ran great for years. Even survived a mis-shift to ~8k rpm.

[@garagekspec4095]

Could you guys do a video on doing all the timing components and distributor timing assembly when you guys fully assemble the motor!! Thanks!!

[@CarsAndPablo]

Great video! Spotlighting a long misunderstood motor. Never knew the origin of the KA24DE, thanks for the info!

[@ramonquiroz7153]

I am a KA fan.. i have a Nissan 240sx KA turbo.

[@codywhitehead]

Never done a KAT yet but it is something I'd like to build eventually

[@sukairain]

My frontier has one of these and I never knew I feel cool now hopefully I can upgrade it like this

[@Lecon60]

I understand metal structure, grains and aligning grains. I e been considering a rebuild on my Ka. I just outchased another hard body and im lioking for a ka for that one. I keep all my trucks as daily drivers. My first one became a flatbed. I can manuever it through narrow trails. It has attatchements for a Stryker Stretcher from an ambulance. It has two seats for EMS personnel.

[@teamPOW]

Great video Mike, I love the tiddlywink comment haha. Long live the KA24!

[@jesusberlanga4346]

I have always loved my ka24de.....from my first nissan frontier to both 240sx I never did a swap and was happy with what I have

[@manitoublack]

Great video. Odd choice of the client to invest in shimless cam buckets. But keep stock cams and springs.

[@motoiq]

Those are stock

[@jeremyb4493]

I remember Sport Compact Car mag doing a small ka24de build for a 240sx with intake, header, exhaust and cams from JWT. I actually enjoyed the ka in my '93 Altima years ago with full bolt ons including pulleys. Was a very punchy and fun little engine especially around town. A couple of altima forum members hit just over 175whp (~ 200 crank hp) in their fwd 5 speed Altimas with bolt ons, cams and 10.5:1 pistons roughly 10 years ago.

[@frigglebiscuit7484]

@@kurtlamprecht93 look the torque up. you aint gonna make that kinda n/a hp or tq with a k24 honda with the same mods either.

[@archzay5073]

Very thankful for the information and guidance, keep making content like this! Especially on KA’s since they are getting more respect now a days :)

[@danielescobar7618]

Your happiness and pride is contagious! I love this video.

[@JoseLopez-yx8wx]

I need the same work! I want my s13 to last another 20 years!

[@StopTargetingOurKids]

I love this guy! I wish I could afford to have him build an engine for my Abarth and my wife’s wrx while they’re still running perfectly 😂

[@gxcoupe7044]

Hi I love it I'm using it for drag racing many year it runs a 11.4. 1/4mile👌all motor

[@akositiklis]

Everytime I visited this channel, it feels like watching asmr'esque about engines.

[@satanaz]

great stuff! Found about MotoIQ on the HPA podcast, and I am so glad they hosted you! Both your website and YT channel are a mine gold! Wish I have found them sooner

[@giovanni233]

a moderately well built KA24 in a Manual Altima SE and an LSD sounds like it would be a very fun weekend car

[@armandocortez2726]

Trying to build one now. Can't find an LSD though. One tire fire!!!

[@TimothyStovall108]

I was one of the few who kept the KA motor in my 240SX Zenki. Granted, I spun the 3rd cylinder rod bearing more times than I could count. Strong torquey motor. Still have the car, but it needs a complete rebuild at this point.

[@mattholmes8214]

I had a '99 2.4L Altima. I loved that car and the engine never had issues.

[@youtubeincel5812]

Always smiling while you talk about all of this tech stuff, I can tell you enjoy your job. It's refreshing.

[@neoeclipseop]

good video, i love seeing fellow ka enthusiasts. building ka's are what i do for work pretty much. i daily my ka-t s13 around 550whp and im 10.5:1 aswell

[@dmytronaumenko8450]

More videos like this on the ka24de please, perhaps tuning or bolt on parts?

[@fieldbillys5719]

This is the type of video I want to find when I want to build a truck.

[@TheLamborghini1993]

I love my Ka24de-t, will be doing this in the near future to keep it going

[@lezzbmm]

ive never built a motor b4 but ive thought abt it a lot ! lmao cant get enough of mike's explanations hopefully one day i build a motor or 2 and if i do ill be using a lot of info i learned here thx 4 sharing !

[@johnnyboii666]

currently doing a kat build for my 92 hatch basically same build here just stock rods and wiseco pistons cant wait to shread

[@motoiq]

Stock rods are not too bad, just watch the revs and boost!

[@johnnyboii666]

@@motoiq i will appreciate it

[@mileshall4266]

Great content as always Mike. You are the man.

[@motoiq]

thank you!

[@seso0pt]

Great information please do some building in detail project it will be perfect

[@lsxmotorsports8317]

Finally someone who knows what they’re talking about

[@slfrules1]

Thanks for the great info about electrolysis! I think you just solved my next-Bay-neighbor's headache of an ancient chevy 1500 mixing coolant and oil!!

[@danielhaynes1642]

I love the KA i use to buy all them in the area when people would pull them. Tons of boost, limited revs to 7200, and beat then shit out of them

[@digitalbilly]

you can tell this guy loves engines. he looks so happy

[@26_DB]

Before i fell in love wit Honda 240sx took my heart off the bat couldnt believe how beautiful she was

[@constructiveruckus86]

Definitely need to see this engines life all the way through!

[@michaelotten6334]

Had Rebello build a SOHC in late 90s. Combined with his custom stepped, long tube header, impressive for a truck motor.

[@Takeitlightly6]

Great to rediscover your channel mike. I remember your R32 from 7 years ago that had issues at wtac. Wonder how did you guys go from there.

[@hazardlightsmotorsports]

Thank you Mike for the wealth of knowledge & it motivates me to do my own 2 KA rebuild! Unfortunately, I am on the EastCoast so sending you my KA is not viable. So I will have to do it on my own unless you know any reputable place like your business here, I would greatly appreciate it! By the way, I hope you can do a short video of the entire build of the KA & maybe ask the owner if he does a dyno so we can see the numbers. Great job and keep up the great work!

[@alikalany6586]

things you say about cast iron block are things ive never heard of we have alot of these tu5 cast iron blocks in here and not gonna lie in this one video alone i realized how hoening was fkd up from factory let alone the rest

[@marcuss.9496]

This was well needed, I’ve been looking to build a nissan hard body to drift and a lot of them come with a ka24

[@snoofayy6150]

Ka24 single cam in those is a different engine than the 240sx Double cam KAs

[@marcuss.9496]

@@snoofayy6150 Thanks, I was recently looking at a nissan hardbody and the vin shows a KA24 with single cam. not sure how different they are though

[@nateworzalla6773]

I'm literally in the process of building mine, block is line honed, bored and decked, eagle rods and ended up going wisco pistons 9:1 (JE had a long wait time) All ARP 2000 HW and its all been balanced. Using an ATI dampener and lighter flywheen and a twin disk clutch and cosmic headgasket, head has 1mm oversized valves, 3* , BC 264 cams and mild porting. Went a little overboard I feel but wanted a reliable drift car still as my current KA is on season 5 no issues and been great for seat time!

[@motoiq]

sounds like a solid parts group. One thing with ARP head studs, using a torque plate is even more critical.

[@AVATAR___ROCKY]

#LONGLIVETHEKA 🏴‍☠️👑