Ka-t / Sr opinions

[KRUKED]

I'm having a second thought on going for an sr setup. For those that don't know, I'm a Ka-t person, have been for a couple of years now. Awhile back, I picked up an sr block to build but now I'm thinking of getting rid of it to go w/ yet another Ka-t. I don't know much about the sr's but I could pick up pretty fast. An engine is pretty much an engine for the most part. All I really need to do for the sr is internals and it'll be on it's way to machine shops for this and that. Granted you can build either ka or sr and you can achieve what's possible. I'm just wanting to know which could/would have better performance in the long run and pros/cons between the 2. I'm wanting to hear opinions from people who have more less driven both ka AND sr for a decent period of time. All comments are welcomed, i.e. smart ass ones, thoughtful ones, douche bag ones and helpful thoughts. Thank you

[Turbo Mat]

If you do decide to go the lame route then I call first dibs on buying the ka!

[KRUKED]

I need/want 2 vehicles. I'm keeping my current engine. If I go w/ another Ka-t, I'll wind up selling the sr that is some what being questioned in this thread.

[Jr_SS]

Any information supplied will be a matter of opinions... It's personal preference really. SRs can be reliable and make decent power on stock bottemend but will always lack the trq KA-Ts have. KA-Ts need internals for anything over 300 to be reliable, have better valve train design and are easier to retain AC with.

I've never driven a KA-T but have done sufficient research because I was initially going to go that route, obviously I opted out. Buy another car and have the best of both worlds...

[KRUKED]

No matter which block is chosen, it will be built for the 400hp range. I've heard that sr's can be laggy. Any particular cause? Don't get me wrong, I've seen a handful of decently built sr's but it's nothing that special because nearly everybody owns one who has a '40. A well built Ka-t isn't something seen at every car meet. I'm not saying that there aren't any Ka-t's out there in the Bay Area but they are far from few compared to the sr. The main reason why I chose ka over sr.

[chome]

In my opinion an SR is a lot smoother than a KA-T and lighter. With two identical setups the KA-T will be faster, but I always thought the SR was more enjoyable to drive. This is just my opinion though, and I tend to side with what I like better rather than what is better on paper.

[omgosh]

^Probably cause the SR was on a factory ECU. And who knows what was keeping the KAT running lol.

[markstheman365]

high compression dual cam on spray, straight piped. Then ka-t for boost

[KRUKED]

lol. You're retarded bro.

[Blackzenki82]

fucking christ, not another one of these....

[KRUKED]

fucking christ, not another one of these....

Chill out wild cat. I brought this up because I really want to know, not just to talk about something to waste everyones time

[markstheman365]

carb'd 12a

[chome]

^Probably cause the SR was on a factory ECU. And who knows what was keeping the KAT running lol.

Im referring from driving Tim's coupe, and several of my friend's cars which were not on factory ECU. The KA-T was also my KA-T which had been turboed for over 3 years and never missed a beat. Enthalpy tuned, then dyno tuned a year later.

The KA-T never lost to another 240 in an autocross, but it was not as enjoyable.

[Super Coupe]

What are you looking to do with the car?


Both motors can make serious power on stock motor. I know Glenn made 6xx on stock bottom SR( race gas) and I know someone recently made high 5xx on stock motor KA (E85), surpassing Corys previous record of 518 (pump gas).

Obv they are more reliable when fully built. IMO the SR is more costly in certain areas. I am also a KA-T guy, however if this car is going to be used in any type of auto x or road racing I would go with the SR for weight distribution.

[mewantkouki]

This is like comparing an apple to a pear.
The whole spiel about a ka needing a built bottom end past 300 is bullshit and has been proven many times. Both engines are capable of making 500whp on stock bottom end parts, but you sacrifice and longevity.
I've owned them both with nearly identical power levels.

I will say that an SR is a smoother operating engine, it isn't as noisy as a ka and it is much happier at high rpm.
I've banged both of them off of the rev limiter at 7200rpm (ka) and 8000rpm (sr) and never had an issue with either of them.
My ka got beaten at the track numerous times and was completely stock including head studs. I ran a precision 5862 with a 1 bar wastegate spring and daily drove with my boost controller set to 1.3bar all day every day. Car ran perfect for three years straight and only dropped 10psi compression across each cylinder in that time period. Original reading was 205. As long as it's tuned properly and you don't have jank china boop turbo kit it will be fine.

My SR was the motor that had the most money in it. Built head, cams, 2871r, yada yada yada. Made 355whp and blew the fuck up because I was an idiot and decided to play Smokey Nagata in Georgia. 7500rpm in 5th gear = piston melting and dipstick blowing out. I later found out that the car was off tune. (Car was tuned lean to compensate for extra air in engine from catalytic converter, I ran a test pipe) I bought another longblock and rebuilt everything back the way it was and had it re-tuned. Car never missed a beat until I let someone else drive it and they smashed it into a guard rail.

They will both break if you abuse the shit out of them in stock form. I think there is a little more play room with an SR due to it's lower compression and square design 86X86 vs the Ka and it's long stroke. Both have the same shitty cast pistons that WILL fail under significant detonation and they both have the same "forged" connecting rods albeit the KA's are thinner (weakest point).

I've built, broken, and rebuilt both motors. The perform similarly, ka is much more visceral and torquey while the sr is smoother and more hollow feeling. It really boils down to what you like. I enjoyed them both, and cannot really favor one over the other. If money was no object, SR all the way. If I was on a budget I'd go KA.


Ideal SR: (already owned destroyed and rebuilt )
Stock bottom end S14 SR with Apexi HG
Supertech valve train
HKS Step 1 Cams
.56 2871r
supporting mods

Ideal KA:
Stock bottom end ka arp head studs, cosworth hg
S13 cams
S15 spec R turbo
Isis manifold or re-welded SR manifold
supporting mods