A bigger engine generally can make more power depending on the head design and the parts avabiable. The Ka defenatally can make more power than the sr because the parts are avabiable and the head can be setup in a really good way. Like I always ask people though, how much power do you need? What are your plans for the car? If your into drag and all out power the ka makes since for the size and price factor. For drifters the ka can still make since for the easy to come by parts factor and the price factor as well. The thing is my sr makes more power than I would ever need and it really still isnt that crazy powerfull. With it being all aluminum, sitting back far in the engine bay and being a smaller overall motor it is a great advantage having a light small high revving motor. Comparing srs, cas, kas, rb, ect is like comparing apples and oranges. You can like all of them and have a favorite but no one can actually intelligently say one is better than the other because they are not. I stay far away from the VS threads about sr vs ka ect because you will not come out any smarter after reading it all. You have auto-xers, dragracers, street racers, budget builders, dyno competetors, ricer nut swingers, road racers, drifters ect all in the same thread trying to convince each other why motor a is better then motor b.
I really think the most desirable way to set up a s13 for about 90% of the people that own them would be a badass suspension with a few nice N/A supporting mods and a good tune on the ka. Im contimplating doing this on my daily driver if I ever decide to get another daily. I wont start building this one if I still intend to drive it every day because the stock suspension is kinda nice for everyday driving.
