hi im a nissan newbie!!,from honda camp (dont kill me)

WMengineering · Mar 11th, 2003, 06:46 PM

hi everyone..i jsut spent about 2 hours looking through this forum...

i am from the (gasp) "Honda camp"..so id say when it comes down to it im very knowledgeable about those motors...(not boring you with details)

anyways the honda ppl typically suck when it comes to information and jsut being cool in general..only the "d series crowd" i have found is typically a good bunch of ppl...(generalizing of course)

anyways, i have heard that the nissan enthusiasts are a great bunch of ppl( i guess we ll see)

i have a B12 chassis sentra SE and looking to swap to somthing that will smoke my civic!!!!(and everyones elses) I want to keep this a "budget beater' as much as possible..not interested in gong turbo...i wanted a sr20 alltho now i have seen the extent of this and seems like along he same lines of "plopping" an hseries motor into a 5g civic..(forgive the honda terms guys...hard habit to break)
well in general i want to say that i am by far not a "newb' when it comes to cars alltho i am trying to pick up these "nissans' as quick as possible..so bare with me and i hope i can be (as wellas get) help to others someday..later, MIKE

boost_boy · Mar 11th, 2003, 06:54 PM

We got some solutions to make your sentra haul-ass and beat up any honda you want it too even the NSX, but are you willing to spend the bread to beat these cars? Welcome to the B12-11 sentra side of the nissan camp. We can run with the big dogs over here and most times run past them or lead them with them trying to catch up. But it all depends on what your goals are and especially how much mechanical skills you got because this is the home of the no aftermarket gang "Pure Fabrication and Hybridding". Once again, Welcome...

Dee

Myetball · Mar 11th, 2003, 07:29 PM

Do a search on CA18DE you should get plenty of ideas. Feel free to ask more questions, people in here are really cool.

Give you an idea of how true boost's statement is, my project car is a 1985 Sentra SE Hatchback with following mods planned (so far)
- JDM CA18DE
- Trans from 1987 CA16DE Pulsar
- Rear disc brake conversion from '86 Prelude
- Hot bits 35mm lowering springs w/KYB on all 4 corners
- Custom cut polyurethan rear trailing arm bushings from Mustang GT
- Dual ADDCO swaybars
- Upgrade to removable/vented front discs (donor to be determined)
- Upgraded brake booster, probably from a Pulsar NX
- Custom made, by me, urethane motor mounts
- Wheels/Tires
- Paint
- Custom made, by me, fiberglass body kit
- Upgraded front seats from Pulsar NX
- God knows what else

I'll probably be finished before I die.

myoung · Mar 11th, 2003, 07:38 PM

Welcome to the board.... We won't hold the honda thing against you too much...everyone is entitled to a few mistakes...haha

I would suggest you check out the NPM Project B12...lots of good info on that platform.. http://www.nissanperformancemag.com/...smoproject.php

PatScottAKA99XE · Mar 11th, 2003, 08:30 PM

Off with his head!!!

Myetball · Mar 11th, 2003, 09:25 PM

One more mod I almost forgot about. My car is gonna be black, I'm gonna call it El Negro Cucaracha. I'm gonna wire up one of those La Cucaracha horns in the back and play it when I spank Honda's. This mod is just to torque my son a bit.....hehehe

sentrastud · Mar 11th, 2003, 11:25 PM

Hi! Welcome to the forums!

-Nick

WMengineering · Mar 12th, 2003, 12:12 AM

WOW i just posted this like a few hours ago, i didnt expect to get sucha a response!!!!

in detail, i am looking to swap something with these issues at hand:
smog
ease of instalation
cost/power ratio
converting from auto to manuel transaxle
ABOVE ALL ELSE RELAIBILTY!!!

my car is an 89 sport hatch with 276k on it(mostly freeway)..the car is in emmaculate condition (for how old it is) and so this is my sole reason for wanting to fix its weak links,the engine and no power specifically. The exterior (especially the factory red paint!!) and interior are fabuolus, and i picked up the car for free...seems like a good project vehical to me

it seems that from the limited reading i have done that the ca18de is sort of like the b16a1 into 4g civic/crx swap (if you know about that)..i relize it will be different, but as far as logistics and basic representive gains go...am i far off with this comparison

in the end i dont want to spend anymore than 3k on this project(engine only)...

after the engine that i decide to swap is done, i will most likely only uprage the clutch and flywheel, basic breathing mods, and a small shot of nitrous. (aside form doing what ever is neccary to handle the power and handling upgrades of course)
this will be an unsuspecting street car, i feel tht with the interior cut back and the car put on a light diet, this is all i will need to achieve my goals,..but still have the abilty to drive me to work and school every nite(since my 3rd gen rx7 will only be driven on weekends and when it blows up, not at all)

lastly , damn my car has a huge power steering leak!!! i believe it is comming form the seals in the pinion gear linkage( i am weary of this since i dont want to pull the hole rack from lack of a lift and special tools..anyone with any info would be greatly appricaited on this subject alone!!!!!!!!!

thanks everyone for making this "honda guy" feel welcome and i lok forward to everyones comments

Myetball · Mar 12th, 2003, 06:10 AM

The most bang for the buck, and a bolt in operation on a B12, is the CA18DE. Anything with 16 in model number and you would be selling yourself short. The SR20DE would be a much bigger, and costlier, headache.

I recently bought a complete CA18DE swap, motor/trans/wires/mounts....etc. for $200.00. Got lucky but you should be able to do it within your budget.

As for how the CA18DE matches your requirements:

Smog - May be a problem....put 2 cats on it...and jury rig an air pump.....hehehe
Ease of installation - Should be a bolt in operation
Cost/Power ratio - Can't be beat
Auto to Manual - Will need to install hydraulic clutch unless you put a tranny from a CA16DE (cable/lower gears)
Reliability - Very reliable

WMengineering · Mar 12th, 2003, 03:32 PM

yea im in california so it as to pass smog, any such thing as a 89 or newer ca18de from japan?.....damn is there anyway to fake it with the USDM CA18de...out in california the engine has to be same year or newer..or id have to convert the older engine to use the exsisiting pollution control devices...hmmmmm?..

rice rocket (soon) · Mar 12th, 2003, 03:45 PM

here in ontario we can change the engine and clain "hothod status" is it possable to do that in cali?

WMengineering · Mar 12th, 2003, 04:03 PM

boy if there was a such thing as "hot rod status" in ca the world would be a much better place!...

Myetball · Mar 12th, 2003, 04:45 PM

The problem with the '89 USDM CA18DE is they dropped the compression and HP went down to 96hp. The '88 came with 125hp. If you can find an '89 Pulsar NX/SE you should be able to put higher compression pistons in without any real problems.

On the other hand, it shouldn't be too much trouble to hook up '89 smog devices to an '88 engine.

rice rocket (soon) · Mar 12th, 2003, 05:47 PM

good understanding because i can't type

WMengineering · Mar 12th, 2003, 06:58 PM

has anyone done this with the pollution devices?

..so is there no "JDM ca18de non turbo' newer than 89 that will fit and is cheap?