I thought the sucky part about the K-series is that the computer is NOT easy to swap, and you need to bleed a bunch of money to pay someone to make it swap-happy.
GM computer is almost like it was designed to run standalone.
That alone would make me prefer the Ecotec.
In reply to obsolete :
E30s are set up for front sump pans. My e36 is aggressively rear sump and some initial measurements places the oil pump of the K24 trying to share real estate with my steering rack.
In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :
Very true. Looks like you're in ~$800 for a swap happy computer.
Just to throw some somewhat irrelevant info into the mix, I played around with my LE5-powered Solstice for a while both naturally aspirated and turboed. While NA, I did all the typical bolt-ons, intake, header, exhaust, tune, etc and might have felt a 10-15hp bump, it was barely noticeable. I then did a homebrew turbo setup with a modified Saab manifold and ebay spec GT2871 clone (so quite far from optimal). It spooled pretty well, full boost around 3k, maybe a bit under, and I ran 12-14psi (after upgrading the valve springs and nothing else) completely reliably for 20k+ miles on a tune I did myself (I have little faith there, too). I did have an early model LE5, so my rods and pistons were supposedly forged, and I did have to change valve springs (I think, it didn't hold boost at high rpm until I did), but otherwise it held up just fine to mild abuse while being quite enjoyable to drive.
May be worth mentioning that ecotecs come with factory rwd transmissions, and I'm not sure that Ks do. So while there are tons of "adapter kits" for k motors, I'd actually probably say that the rwd point goes to the ecotec.
Unless you're going mid engine transverse.
Robbie (Forum Supporter) said:May be worth mentioning that ecotecs come with factory rwd transmissions, and I'm not sure that Ks do. So while there are tons of "adapter kits" for k motors, I'd actually probably say that the rwd point goes to the ecotec.
Unless you're going mid engine transverse.
Of course!
Pete. (l33t FS) said:I thought the sucky part about the K-series is that the computer is NOT easy to swap, and you need to bleed a bunch of money to pay someone to make it swap-happy.
GM computer is almost like it was designed to run standalone.
That alone would make me prefer the Ecotec.
I'm not sure where you are getting this from. I swapped a k24a2 into my 89 Civic 2 years ago. Aside from gauges there are about 6 wires that are needed between the chassis and the engine harness. Because a 2006 motor and my 1989 chassis share so little I essentially did a stand alone installation with wiring from scratch.
When you all are talking about similar power between a k24 and ecotec, are we talking apples and oranges? My k24 from a TSX that was $650, makes 205 at the wheels with a self made intake and exhaust and a cheap header with a basic tune. I also had a Solstice race car that was a complete dog in comparison, and the same mods wouldn't get me even close to where the Civic is. Having experienced them both I can't even see a comparison in NA form in a transverse layout.
In reply to Sonic :
What about disabling the anti-theft?
Pete: that's part of basically any tune. I'm using KTuner which is fine, but I would probably go with Hondata if I did it again.
Any K or Ecotec swap is going to need a tune no matter what you do.
For transverse swaps, the 06-11 Civic Si trans has decent gear ratios and a Torsen stock. I got mine for $900 from a junkyard. I replaced 6th gear with an RSX 6th to tighten it up (because race car, and we have yet to top out 6th), which wasn't hard to do.
Agreed, $ for $ N/A, the K is going to outperform the Ecotec big time.
But of course, you can find a LE5 for pennies at your local you-pull-it yard, where a K24 will never be found. Hell for $650, you can find it still inside a running vehicle 
FWIW, I'm probably 2-months away from first crank and drive, so can/will weigh in on my thoughts on the "character" of the engine. Freshened up LE5, home-brew turbo on a log manifold, custom handbuilt intake manifold, all bolted to the venerable Aisin AR5 transmission. The rear diff is NB Miata with LSD. I'm either going to love this car or... well, somthing else. Lots of time, money, blood, sweat, and tears invested over the last 2 years getting it to this stage.
In reply to BadBug :
Wow! That's gonna be bad ass! Is there a build thread?
In reply to rdcyclist :
Yes, but I've not updated the GRM thread for quite a while. (Had some trouble a few months back uploading pictures and just sorta gave up...)
Instead, I'm now just keeping a kind of running diary on a blogspot blog: https://ecotecfrog.blogspot.com/
In reply to BadBug :
The blog is very cool. Epic workmanship. I'll be following along.
I think I remember the GRM thread but as I've said, "I have a good memory, it's just short."
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