KPower Industries K24 swap

[ML]

Originally Posted by Irace86.2.0

I think the TF-works design is less elegant in execution and finish, but it would probably be better to have the stock rubber mount option, especially because you would have the option of swapping out the stock rubber mount for a polyurethane one in the future with any number of aftermarket replacements.

I'm assuming you will be pulling the engine for this install. I dropped and installed the stock transmission with the engine in place, and it was tight, even with the engine tilted back. I doubt the CD009 will clear with such a large flywheel. It just kind of sucks to have to pull the motor to service the transmission.

for the first time going in yeah, the motor will be out anyway. I will definitely investigate after its in what it would take to pull it out with the motor in.

[Irace86.2.0]

Originally Posted by ML

for the first time going in yeah, the motor will be out anyway. I will definitely investigate after its in what it would take to pull it out with the motor in.

It would be nice if there was a Mazworx/86/CD009-style swap that can use the stock flywheel and pressure plate with a custom bell housing that way there isn’t a thick flywheel or thick spacer.

Ill be following your install. If I can do the install without having to pull the motor then I could see doing this sooner than later.

[Irace86.2.0]

Originally Posted by ML

for the first time going in yeah, the motor will be out anyway. I will definitely investigate after its in what it would take to pull it out with the motor in.

Any reason why you went with the CD009 and didn’t wait for Kpower’s transmission kit, which I’m assuming would be a BMW unit? I don’t have personal experience with any of these transmissions, but the CD009 is stout, similar gearing, well supported, still in production at $2k new, cheap enough used, etc. Was it a timeline thing or CD009 preference?

[ML]

Originally Posted by Irace86.2.0

Any reason why you went with the CD009 and didn’t wait for Kpower’s transmission kit, which I’m assuming would be a BMW unit? I don’t have personal experience with any of these transmissions, but the CD009 is stout, similar gearing, well supported, still in production at $2k new, cheap enough used, etc. Was it a timeline thing or CD009 preference?

I emailed Kpower about it about 2 months ago and they said they really didn't have anything coming soon. I think the fact that Oren made that video and made it really easy to know what to get is what really pushed me to the CD. Plus I don't want some Euro stuff muddying up my build haha

[Kelse92]

I am considering a swap and the CD009 interests me. I'm looking forward to seeing more people use it. Maybe the lack of a plug-and-play kit for it is what's made it not gain much popularity so far on this swap? Or no need to go with a heavier CD009 unless big power goals? The BMW transmission is a fine unit, but I think the only benefit is that they're cheaper? They seem to be starting to get to be hard to find.

[Irace86.2.0]

Originally Posted by Kelse92

I am considering a swap and the CD009 interests me. I'm looking forward to seeing more people use it. Maybe the lack of a plug-and-play kit for it is what's made it not gain much popularity so far on this swap? Or no need to go with a heavier CD009 unless big power goals? The BMW transmission is a fine unit, but I think the only benefit is that they're cheaper? They seem to be starting to get to be hard to find.

If there was a direct drop-in kit for the CD009 or any transmission, that would make things 100% more popular. There are only a few people who have forced induction with the CD009, so it isn't a needed swap for most people doing a swap, but it would add reliability for track use for NA applications. Obviously, there is a steep cost there, so there is a price for that security without a direct need from forced induction.

The other issue is the unknown. The Mazworx kit fits the FA20 well without clearance issues, but the CD009 is tight on K24/2JZ swaps because of moving the engine back. Obviously, there is also the downtime with the need to fabricate and then send out for a custom driveshaft.

With talks of Jackson Racing making a supercharger kit and Kpower coming out with a turbo kit and having BMW upgrades for the Miata, I wouldn't be surprised if a transmission option will eventually make it to market. In the meantime, there are options from Collins and TF-Works.

[Irace86.2.0]

Originally Posted by RedReplicant

I was hoping the Tremec TKX would take off since they're tiny, cheap, bulletproof, and have a ton of gearing options. Quicktime already makes a bell housing to mate them to the K24 too. Oh well. That said, I don't think there is a point in going CD unless you're planning FI.

I believe that Dana Basinski wasn't happy with his BMW 5spd, for what it is worth.

I agree with ML that it would be nice to keep this Frankenstein-creation in the JDM family with a CD009. The transmission is cheap used or new, can hold a ton of power, and it seems to handle the RPMs fine.

The Quicktime bell housing is nice, and I would be a fan of a bell housing for the CD009 like the Mazworks kit, yet it is expensive and probably unnecessary, and I believe that Quicktime unit only works with the Tremec T-56 and T56 Magnum, as this says. I don't know if the bolt pattern between the TKX and T56 is the same for that bell housing. The website says the Tremec unit is 8k max rpms with shifting at 7,500, so I don't know if that is just a recommended ceiling or a hard ceiling. The fact that these units aren't in production cars, as far as I can tell, means that they probably would need to be sourced new. That would make the CD009 a little more appealing, as a swap option. They are compact though and come in a variety of configurations, so I can see the appeal.

https://rpm-mag.com/2021/07/quick-ti...-applications/

[RedReplicant]

I fat fingered and deleted my post instead of editing it, so whatever.

That YouTube dude Taylor Ray is running the TKX behind his turbo K24 in a Cefero with the Quicktime.

edit: as far as new thread stuff too, my shortened valve cover with baffling for the AN breathers showed up. I'll test it in a couple of weeks, assuming the car passes the 96dB track limit. I'm putting in a K24Z top cam chain guide at the same time for a little bit of extra security.

[Irace86.2.0]

Originally Posted by RedReplicant

I fat fingered and deleted my post instead of editing it, so whatever.

That YouTube dude Taylor Ray is running the TKX behind his turbo K24 in a Cefero with the Quicktime.

edit: as far as new thread stuff too, my shortened valve cover with baffling for the AN breathers showed up. I'll test it in a couple of weeks, assuming the car passes the 96dB track limit. I'm putting in a K24Z top cam chain guide at the same time for a little bit of extra security.

I like the idea of the bell housing mated directly to the transmission, so a stock flywheel and clutch could be used, but I am crossing my fingers that Kpower eventually develops something that uses their existing flywheel because it is pretty slim, and it would mean one less thing to buy. I have no idea if that is possible. Whatever transmission they eventually go with that goes with their turbo kit, if it could use the same flywheel then that could work with FA20/AZ6 clutch kits utilizing a Z/BMW/GM's clutch disc, but I'm guessing if they change the flywheel then they would just go with a Z/BMW/GM's clutch kit. If they could do a full bell housing then they could make the bell housing length such that the input shaft would go into their current flywheels with a different pilot bearing, and they could design it to clear the transmission tunnel. I don't know about that Quicktime bell housing, but it may not clear.

And if you are referring to this then he is using a T-56 Magnum, which is not the 5-speed TKX that you mentioned. The bolt pattern looks different between the two transmissions, where there is a six bolt on the magnum versus a four bolt seen on the TKX. He also needed to get a custom pilot bearing made, so there is that too:

[RedReplicant]

That's what I get for trusting my memory

[ML]

honestly if money wasn't an issue I'd just take it to a shop and say "sequential please! see you in 3 months kthxbai" but here we are. The S1 sequential shifters for the CD are intriguing to me as well but they are 2k! One of the other downsides to the CD is that is pretty heavy vs the 86 trans.

[Irace86.2.0]

Originally Posted by ML

honestly if money wasn't an issue I'd just take it to a shop and say "sequential please! see you in 3 months kthxbai" but here we are. The S1 sequential shifters for the CD are intriguing to me as well but they are 2k! One of the other downsides to the CD is that is pretty heavy vs the 86 trans.

I'll take the 40lb hit to gain much more power potential and reliability.

[Four_wheel_drifts]

Is anyone running a 3” exhaust option that actually sounds good without terrible drone?

My buddy’s kpower conversion with the Perrin 3” sounds good at high RPMs on track.

It is HORRIBLE driving to and from the track.

I absolutely needed hearing protection or noise canceling ear buds for the 135 mile trip.

He’s a decade older with much worse heating than mine; so fine for him. Absolute no go for me.

[redlined600]

That's the upside to the BMW Zf 5spd is the compactness, light weight and relative strength. However, as you said they are getting harder to find and prices are going up. The newest ones are still pretty dang old.
I've also been told the gearing isn't great, maybe it works well for FI, but wasn't optimal for a low torque n/a setup.