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NISMO horn buttons, shift knobs, and
various harness pads.
Perhaps most important in maintaining
the spirit of the original car is the fact that
the factory KA24DE remains. Kyle admitted
plenty of critics have offered their engine
swap suggestions over the years, but he
couldn’t give up this original powerplant
after all they’ve been through together.
But that didn’t mean he was going to keep
it stock at its measly 155 hp. Many long
nights were spent with his friend Armando
Alvarez to rebuild the block using Wiseco
pistons and Carrillo rods, while the head
received Supertech components and Brian
Crower cams. A Garrett GT3582R turbo was
then bolted to a Ground Zero equal-length
header, resulting in a four-cylinder that’s
pleasantly torquey with more than 500
lb-ft but also has the top-end to back it up
thanks to nearly 600 hp on E85. The KA-T
is quicker than you’d expect off the line and
punchy through the rev range, helping the
aging car feel as if it isn’t.
Kyle has had exactly 20 years to hone and perfect his S14.
From the titanium hardware replacing every visible nut and bolt
to the one-off 2.4T emblem on the rear as well as the custom
neochromed pieces, every inch of his car has been carefully
thought through. Kyle’s quick to share that his car wouldn’t be
where it is without support from his wife—and with a laugh he
can’t forget about his mom, either.
