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S12 Technical Areas => Engine Tech => ENGINE: Comparison Forum => Topic started by: jeffwins24 on 09:38:05 PM / 30-Aug-08

Title: Ka24 V.s Ca18det
Post by: jeffwins24 on 09:38:05 PM / 30-Aug-08
Just wondering  

okay right away putting hp and torque aside which one has the better stats? as in head flow, intake flow, reliability, able to handle stress etc etc.

function over power
Title: Ka24 V.s Ca18det
Post by: seishuku on 09:57:38 PM / 30-Aug-08
I would think the KA would flow more, considering the displacement, but then again, it is an American engine.

Maybe the KA has a little stronger bottom end as well, though rod strength might be close to the same since the KA's stroke is much longer.

Reliability? Well, you're comparing a turbo to an NA engine, unless you mean a turbocharged KA.
Title: Ka24 V.s Ca18det
Post by: Jackalope on 10:25:13 PM / 30-Aug-08
not sure if he meant n/a or turbo.
but if both were turbo what do you think would be more reliable

(i'm most likely going ka cause a friend is giving me one ;P )
Title: Ka24 V.s Ca18det
Post by: seishuku on 10:57:44 PM / 30-Aug-08
A turbo KA will always be less reliable than a CA18DET, but only because the KA isn't turbo from the factory. So you have to figure in the tuning aspect of the setup, which, depending on who did the work, could either be really nice and OEM reliable, or could die in a year or more.
Title: Ka24 V.s Ca18det
Post by: Arro on 11:02:49 PM / 30-Aug-08
well the real question is how much each longblock can take... I think the CA18DET stock can take more than the KA24DE, but by how much more, I dunno... as I've mentioned before, people on KA-T.org have pushed the stock longblock to a bit past 275hp. I'm sure the CA18DET stock longblock has been pushed farther than that, but perhaps someone can verify that guess for us.
Title: Ka24 V.s Ca18det
Post by: seishuku on 11:06:44 PM / 30-Aug-08
Didn't someone pump out 700+BHP on a stock block?
I know some people are running 400 on the stock block for years now, and never had any problems, though I recall they are running pro dyno tunes as well.
Title: Ka24 V.s Ca18det
Post by: Garrett76zt on 11:31:07 PM / 30-Aug-08
I believe the record for a stock KA is over 500whp. Its all in the tuning. There are plenty or reliable 300-350whp setups out there using the same kind of supporting parts you'd need for a CA18det (turbo, fuel, etc.) You could build a 300whp daily KA setup for less than you can purchase a stock DET. Kinda seems like a no brainer to me but then again I already have a KA in my s12 haha. Ordered my turbo mani today actually. . .
Title: Ka24 V.s Ca18det
Post by: brewster240 on 11:39:21 PM / 30-Aug-08
Quote from: Garrett76zt
I believe the record for a stock KA is over 500whp. Its all in the tuning. There are plenty or reliable 300-350whp setups out there using the same kind of supporting parts you'd need for a CA18det (turbo, fuel, etc.) You could build a 300whp daily KA setup for less than you can purchase a stock DET. Kinda seems like a no brainer to me but then again I already have a KA in my s12 haha. Ordered my turbo mani today actually. . .


100 percent agree
Title: Ka24 V.s Ca18det
Post by: seishuku on 12:41:13 AM / 31-Aug-08
Quote from: Garrett76zt
I believe the record for a stock KA is over 500whp. Its all in the tuning. There are plenty or reliable 300-350whp setups out there using the same kind of supporting parts you'd need for a CA18det (turbo, fuel, etc.) You could build a 300whp daily KA setup for less than you can purchase a stock DET. Kinda seems like a no brainer to me but then again I already have a KA in my s12 haha. Ordered my turbo mani today actually. . .
Yup yup!

Gotta see that when you get it done!
Title: Ka24 V.s Ca18det
Post by: Garrett76zt on 11:53:14 PM / 01-Sep-08
Quote from: seishuku
Yup yup!

Gotta see that when you get it done!

For sure man, I have a t28 from a rb26dett, SR 370's, Volvo IC, SSautochrome manifold, just going for a basic 220-250whp setup.
Title: Ka24 V.s Ca18det
Post by: seishuku on 04:04:15 PM / 03-Sep-08
I gotta get a T28  I'm gonna kill this poor T25 one of these days.
Maybe a GT28RS, I donno.

I gotta get a better MAFS too, I'm already past the limits of my stock one.
Title: Ka24 V.s Ca18det
Post by: Xano on 12:24:47 AM / 04-Sep-08
Quote from: seishuku
I gotta get a T28  I'm gonna kill this poor T25 one of these days.
Maybe a GT28RS, I donno.

I gotta get a better MAFS too, I'm already past the limits of my stock one.
haha, get the GT28RS before the meet in 9 days, and get it on there =P We can have some REAL fun then.
Title: Ka24 V.s Ca18det
Post by: seishuku on 04:27:22 PM / 04-Sep-08
Oh I wish... That would be awesome! I don't think the tires would hold the car anymore, would have to get something in the 9 to 10.5" wide range.

Then again, I break loose as it is, so... Yeah.
Title: Ka24 V.s Ca18det
Post by: NY200sx on 05:00:57 PM / 04-Sep-08
hmmm... this post got me thinking, i got a free ka24, was going to do that swap. then i wanted a ca18det b/c well..i forgot why i think it was something to do with looks and it sits where the stock shifter is bla bla. i was going to sell my ka for like 30$ an a sub haha. now i might just keep it and ask you guys a ton of stuff. i only want like 250-300 hp anyway. THANKs!
Title: Ka24 V.s Ca18det
Post by: Arro on 05:46:37 PM / 04-Sep-08
Quote from: NY200sx
then i wanted a ca18det b/c well..i forgot why i think it was something to do with looks and it sits where the stock shifter is bla bla.

No it doesn't. If you use the trans that is meant to go with the CA18DET, then you will have to still cut your trans tunnel and make a custom mount, neither which is a big deal.

So the only real difference in the KA is it's cheaper and starts off with more power. And parts availability. Wow I sound like a broken record about this subject lol
Title: Ka24 V.s Ca18det
Post by: NY200sx on 06:20:01 PM / 04-Sep-08
lol sorry arro, guess im going to keep my ka.. just need a cluch set up! haha