Just how craptacular is the SOHC Ka motor? Everything I read/hear points all thumbs down towards the SOHC motor. Why does it have such a bad reputation? Is it the lack of power, crap power band, lack of reliability, or....?

Unfortunately, it seems all of the nicer S13's I see for sale in the price range I am looking for all have the SOHC motor. Craig tells me the DOHC is cheap and easy...but even then I'd still be looking at living with the SOHC for probably almost a year before I could get into some sort of weekend swap.

So I guess bottom line is...
If all things mechanical are well maintained, just how well does a SOHC Ka do as a daily driver? What sorts of hazzards/challenges would I be up against commuting approx 50-miles a day with this motor?

Any info is greatly appreciated.

 

I dunno, so far mine's been GREAT to me. Ive got 150K miles and never a headgasket problem like most other sohcs ive heard about. Its reliable, its been run without coolant for 5 days straight with AC on (thanks to my wife), and still no choc milk oil.... Thing runs perfect, no smoking or anything I can find...

Thing is the dohc is just BETTER, its not that the sohc is BAD its just the DOHC is better...

Whatever, the gold car can never dieeee.

 

ive got one in my truck and havent had a problem with it. im looking for a dohc for it though, but all in all they work fine. as slash said, the dohc is just flat better.

 

yes, all that.

 

Well if you get a SOHC then in 6 monthes, a year, 2 years you can swap a DOHC into it for less that 500 bucks.

 

Yeah that is exactly what Craig was telling me. My main concern are any reliability issues common to the SOHC before I would get a chance to do a swap.

What are the common reliability issues of the SOHC motor? Is the headgasket problem based on mileage? (the old Ford 3.8l's head gasket was a ticking time bomb after 60k miles)


I guess while we are kind of on the subject, does the DOHC motor have any issues?

 

Is there anything out there to prevent headgasket failure...like a better headgasket?

An SR would not be planned for the immediate future. I really don't want a project car as my daily driver. So if I end up with a 240 she will remain pretty much stock for quite a while. Upgrades will only be made when stock parts need replacing. Depending on the cost and time associated with a DOHC swap, I may do that just so I can have something a bit more sporting to drive.

 

Based on your previous post, wouldn't the DOHC just be another time bomb?

Out of curiosity how plentiful and cheap are relatively new, low mileage motors?