The scope of this project was and is immense. It isn’t something that I will do again (at least, not in the near future) but I commend AES Auto for working with me, encouraging the swap, and then bringing all of the pieces to fruition. In the past, I’ve always had my hands all over the projects but for this one, due to the pandemic and the intensity of the build, I handed the keys to Paulo at AES Auto and he and Taylor took off! While putting the K24 into a Nissan B13 platform was new territory, AES Auto is a Honda specialist and have done numerous swaps into a wide range of vehicles. Most recently was a K swap into a Honda Fit – a meticulous project that I’ve followed from the beginning (and have to write about soon!). AES Auto has looked after my car since I moved to the west coast almost 6 years ago – and I’ve appreciated the creativity, ingenuity, and dedication that this shop offers. There was no question in my mind about who should lead this project – it was AES Auto. My role was relegated to securing some of the parts and being a cheerleader. Due to the pandemic, I wasn’t even able to take my own photos so huge thanks to Sean and Ronald for looking after the build photos for me.
Honestly, the engine was the easy part. Paulo had a backup K24a2 out of a TSX that was pristine – and he no longer required it as a backup engine for his 1000 whp AWD Civic – so that was an easy choice for the powerplant of the NX. There’s a lot of talk and evidence of the advantage of a K20 head on this block, but we stayed with the K24 head. AES Auto assured me that set up properly, this head would perform as well as a K20 head. This engine was mated to a 05 RSX Type S 6-speed transmission.
This setup was left stock …
Haha ha, yeah right! There was simply no way that a stock K24 was going into my NX1600. In fact, the only reason a stock K20/24 was in the engine bay was to allow AES Auto time to mock-up engine mounts. And then the work began.
First up was a Unit 2 Fabrication metal oil pan. This steel pan is going to be excellent for the power levels and track use that the NX will be doing. The Unit 2 Fabrication K Series Elite aluminum oil pan is absolutely astounding, and if my budget was unlimited then it would absolutely be on the NX. However, the K-Series Steel baffled oil pan comes with a 4 compartment baffle system with 7 trap doors. James Houghton runs this same pan in his very fast GLTC Acura TSX. It will be ideal for my use. Unit 2 Fabrication is a Canadian company that I’m very proud to support and represent.
26 comments
you really love that car…
I’ve owned it since it came off the showroom floor – so the answer is yes.
DAMN VERY NICE. IS THERE A SWAP KIT FOR SELL ON THIS K20 INTO B13 SHELL. IM SURE ALOT PEOPLE WILL BE INTERESTED SINCE THERE SO MANY PARTS OUT THERE FOR THESE K20 MOTORS.
B13NX2K, there is no kit that I am aware of in production. Sorry.
The Ridge Motorsports Park is in “Shelton, WA”, not “Sheldon, WA”
Noch, thank you for catching that. That slipped past all of us! In the first paragraph, no less. Corrected!
Very good read on the article Frank. Enjoy the ride.
Upgraded, thank you so much. You’re very aware of the struggle that I’ve had the last few years. And know that a lot of thought went into this decision. Thanks so much for introducing me to AES Auto!
Awesome write-up Frank! Cool to see such an unorthodox (turbo to NA) swap play out in such a satisfying manner.
This K24 engine is simply silly fast. WHP drop from 360 to 280 – but at the first track day I was out all day and as long as I wanted each session with temps barely rising. I haven’t had a day like that with the DET ever.
It’s like Honda put the things it learned in the past into the K24 and made available in many platforms — Decent power, good reliability with potential for upgrades.
Awesome Build, Awesome write up! Thanks for sharing
Brycen, glad you enjoyed the article. I’m enjoying the car. It’ll be back at the track in a week.
I don’t think we got a final pic of the subframe, but it seemed like there had to be more crossbracing than the one bar with the motor mounted in it, right?
Also, that’s a 4-2-1 header that’s installed.
Hey, congrats on the build. It should be bulletproof.
That’s it for bracing, Joe! And bulletproof is the key here!
A little sad to see the SR go, but nothing better than having a track car that just works every time and nothing to think about! 280whp on a mustang is plenty of power. It would probably trap 115-120mph in the 1/4.
And for reference, my old B14 SE-R with T25 and JWT S3 cams put down 250whp on a dynoject and trapped 110mph. The poor stock VSLD wore out which made the car about worthless on an auto-x. Not too bad on a road course with big enough turns to keep from lighting up the inside tire.
Khiem, sorry that I missed your posts. I haven’t had it out to the 1/4 yet as I’m worried about the axles. I’ve lost Nissan axles in the 1/4 and they were relatively available so I wasn’t worried. These axles are one off and, while I’m having a second set built, I don’t want to risk them just yet. The M-Factory LSD is absolutely keeping the power down in corners, so I’ll have to get out to an autocross (just never been my forte), and just a few weeks ago I put down a personal best at my local track. Besting the SR20DET’s time by half a second.
Man I have a Nissan 200sx. I would love to do a K-swap in my car.
Hi Thomas, there’s now talk on the SR20 FB groups of a swap kit. Maybe it’s getting closer!
Cool to see someone throwing a K series in an NX.
I currently have the only known Nissan Pulsar NX with a K series.
Well Done! I think there are now more than one B13 chassis with the K series, but at the time this was the first running one that I knew about. Do you have some pics of yours?
Sacrilegious! what acrap of project, this articule must be remove and banned from this great webside
I would like to know the list of items I need to swap a k20 and k24 swap into my nx2000
Frank Ewald
Would it be possible for you to send me the parts list that I would need to put in a K 20 or a K 24 in my Nissan NX 2000 and what would be the best mount to buy to hook the motor to the B 13 body for the K 20 or K 24 motor mounts
I’m trying to figure out what universal harness indeed for my nx2000for nthe inside of the car.
what harness did you use for your nx2000 kswap
please email me back please at horacewilliamsonjr291@gmail.com