Revision as of 06:37, 19 April 2011

At 2.4 liters, the KA24E or KA24DE engine is the largest Nissan 4-cylinder engine. In many countries, it is readily available and inexpensive coming out of Nissan pickups. It will make a Datsun 1200 into a quick accelerator.

KA24E in Datsun 1200 = 14.0 second 1/4 mile

1 Overview
2 Donor Cars
- 2.1 North America
3 RWD vs FWD Engine
4 Oil Pans
- 4.1 North America Market
5 Transmission
6 Photo Index

Overview

The main downside of a KA swap is that it is fairly heavy -- as heavy as an L-series engine (the KA24 is based on the L-series engines). One or two club members have swapped this into their 1200s with good success, reporting 14.0 second 1/4s with a stock motor (http://datsun1200.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=6248&forum=2). Reportedly, a stock KA24DE can handle a fair amount of turbocharger boost, 250-300 hp without modifying the stock engine internals. The SR20DET or CA18DET can be similar modifed to a higher HP level. So the KA is a good engine for street use, but the others may be better for high-dollar supercar buildups.

KA24DE Nissan 240SX (S14)
154 HP @ 5400 RPM
160 lb-ft torque @ 4200 RPM

KA24DE Nissan D40 Frontier Pickup
143 HP @ 4300 RPM
160 lb-ft torque @ 4200 RPM

KA24E SOHC
140 hp @ 5600 RPM
152 ft-lb @ 4400 RPM

(aftermarket carburetors)

Fit a front sump oil pan and use the stock Datsun 1200 crossmember.
- Nissan D21 Pickup is rear sump
- Nissan 240SX is front sump
Fabricate custom engine mount bracket
Fabricate custom rear transmission mount
Use a short (26.3") transmission and 1978-1979 Datsun 510 rear axle with stock 510 driveshaft
Good aftermarket cams are available for KA24E, but not for KA24DE. So for a stock engine, use the DE. If you plan on building it up from stock levels, use the E.

There isn't much information on this swap into 1200s, so here are some links to 510 swap information: Datsuns.com 510 swap info

Fiveoneoh.com:

In stock form [the KA24] produces a large amount of power and impressive torque compared to the L-series motor. It would take a very carefully built L-series motor to equal the power and torque of the KA24. It has a very fair redline and will easily spin the tires in lower gears. If you are converting from the average L20b with mikuni's or built L16/L18 you will be happily surprised.

Donor Cars

North America

SOHC 12-valve

1988-1990 S13 240SX KA24E
1990-1992 U12 Stanza (Bluebird/Pintara) KA24E [only engine]
1989-1994 M11 Axxess CANADA (Prairie) KA24E
1990-1994 D21 Hardbody Pickup KA24E 
1993-1997 U13U Stanza Altima 0692-0597 KA24E [only engine]

DOHC 16-valve

1991-1993 S13 240SX KA24DE
1994-1998 S14 240SX KA24DE
1995-1997 D22U Hardbody Pickup KA24DE
1999- WD22 Pathfinder KA24DE

RWD vs FWD Engine

KAs were popular from 1989 through the 2000s.

Nissan pickups: RWD
Nissan 240SX: RWD
Most other Nissan cars: FWD

The differences include

FWD: Distributor at rear of engine
RWD: Distributor similar to L-series engine
Different location of engine mounts
Different accessory brackets
Inlet manifold point opposite direction
Transmission bell pattern differs (???) or is this urban legend?

Truck blocks are about 3/4" LONGER. they have a bellhousing flange that sticks off the back of the block an extra 3/4".

11251-30R00 PLATE-ENGINE,REAR MT
11251-30R10 PLATE-ENGINE,REAR AT

Oil Pans

Sumps do not use a traditional gasket, but use "gasket fluid":

KP510-00150 GASKET-LIQUID
replaced KP710-00150

KA24E
1989–1992 Nissan Pintara/Ford Corsair
1993-1996 Nissan Terrano 2 Europe

KA24DE
2000-2004 Nissan Xterra
1998-2004 Nissan Frontier
1993-2001 Nissan Altima
1991-1998 Nissan 240SX
1997-2000 Nissan R'nessa (4WD model, Japan)
1998-2001 Nissan Presage U30 (Japan)
1999-2001 Nissan Bassara U30 (Japan)
1993-1997 Nissan Bluebird U13
Isuzu COMO (Japanese: Isuzu COMO)
Nissan Largo

North America Market

Aftermarket supplies traditional gaskets:

12-bolt Gasket (common) Rockauto.com

CORTECO 16618
VICTOR REINZ OS32151
FEL-PRO OS30617C
- 1993-1995 Axxess (Canada)
- 240SX/Pickup/D22/Frontier/Xterra KA24E & KA24DE

14-bolt gasket F ENGINE CODE Rockauto

CORTECO 16627
DNJ PG606
VICTOR REINZ OS32152
Fel-Pro OS30629C
- 1990-1992 Stanza
- 1990-1992 Axxess (Canada)

12-bolt gasket (Late 240SX) Rockauto.com

DNJ PG622
VICTOR REINZ OS32110
Fel-Pro OS30644C
- 1991-1998 240SX

Front Sump (RWD - 240SX)

0788-0790 11110-40F00 PAN ASSY-OIL KA24E S13
0790-0993 11110-53F00 PAN ASSY-OIL KA24DE S13 
0294-0698 11110-53F00 PAN ASSY-OIL KA24DE S14

Front Sump (FWD - Stanza/Altima/Axxess)

0189-0394 11110-65E00 PAN ASSY-OIL KA24E M11
0789-0692 11110-65E00 PAN ASSY-OIL KA24E U12
0692-0597 11110-65E00 PAN ASSY-OIL KA24E U13U

Rear Sump (RWD Trucks - Pickup/Hardbody/Xterra/Pathfinder)

0192-0196 11110-86G00 PAN ASSY-OIL KA24E KA24E D21, D21U 2WD
* replaced 11110-3S500
0196-0897 11110-F4000 PAN ASSY-OIL KA24E D21U 2WD 
0890-0897 11110-86G06 PAN ASSY-OIL KA24E D21, D21U 4WD
0599-0700 11110-4S100 PAN ASSY-OIL KA24DE WD22
0700-0902 11110-F4500 PAN ASSY-OIL KA24DE WD22
0898-0898 11110-86G06 PAN ASSY-OIL KA24DE D22U 4WD
0701-0499 11110-F4500 PAN ASSY-OIL KA24DE D22U 2WD
0599-0700 11110-4S100 PAN ASSY-OIL KA24DE WD22 
0700-0902 11110-F4500 PAN ASSY-OIL KA24DE WD22

Transmission

KA uses the same bellhousing pattern as the Z-series engines. This in turn is just like the L-series engine, but straight up unlike the slant of the L. So L, Z, or KA transmissions may be used.

Use a short stumpy (26.3") transmission and H165 rear with stock A10 510 driveshaft or B310 automatic driveshaft.