What can I do to an 86 200sx? - Page 2

SuperSentra4203 · Apr 26th, 2003, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by boost_boy
I would swap in a CA18DET or an SR20DET due to the simple fact your power plant is a CA20e if it's not turbo and if it is turbo then you got a CA18 (T).

Did the US version have the DET motor, or is it Japan only in the S12? From what I remeber the only turbo powered cars Nissan has ever given us id the 300ZX TT.

boost_boy · Apr 26th, 2003, 08:45 PM

The U.S. version had the CA18(T) as stated in my previous post! It is a single over head cam motor that has 8 spark plugs. Not big on power, but it moved pretty good.

tsi200sx · Apr 26th, 2003, 11:30 PM

Alright, an S12 thread, I gotta check back here more often.
The new address for Club S12 is
www.club-s12.org
The CA18ET was the stock turbo motor 84-86. Your busted 2.0 is a CA20E. The CA18ET puts out about 135 hp stock, a couple guys on Club S12 have tuned then into the 170 hp range.
A 300hp S12 would be almost undriveable I would think. Just pulling a U-turn in my 88 200SX V6 on a rainy day is an exercise in wheelspin. The car is quite light.
As was mentioned, the VG30E was offered in 87 and 88 (that's what I've got). The only guy I know who has swapped one into an 4-cylinder S12 is in the UK. He did a great job though. I have seen the SR20DE and SR20DET swapped in, and several guys are planning CA18DET swaps. An RB would be tough if not impossible. The VG30E barely fits in the S12 engine bay, and you can't fit a VG30ET without modifying the firewall.
Sr20DET's are very trendy right now and people are charging way too much for them. But CA18DET's are harder to find. Neither of the engines were ever offered from the factory in the USA in any car, and the SR20DE's we got are all in FWD cars, so that swap is not an easy one.
I'm not a turbo guy myself, if you want to go that way, go to Club S12 and browse around the Turbo sections. Look especially for posts by bart and/or arro. They are the kings of turbo S12's.

urbanracerone · Apr 27th, 2003, 02:00 PM

Drop a CA18DET in there! TEAM G4L NYC

jcwatts · Apr 27th, 2003, 02:34 PM

Well, I was curious about what kind of differences between the 86 up to the 88 configuration were. Are the rear's LSD? I havent looked at a chiltons manual bout them yet.

How is the balance of the vehicle?

It seems that it would be an expensive endeavour. I might just try to get an S13 and put the SR20det in there, but I'm also not looking to boost beyond 300hp. I looked at the 86 S12 and its boxy and looks like it would be very interesting to play with. I'm more worried that I could not find enough parts for them with respectable prices.

Anyone have a definitive guide on swapping in a ca18det... and what would the engine bay require?

thanks
jw

jcwatts · Apr 27th, 2003, 05:54 PM

Ok, survey says.... CA18DET!
This is going to sound childish and inexperienced....but...
Now what exactly does a person need to swap from CA20ET to CA18DET (I think thats redtop?)
OR
SR20DET... but personally, I would like to try something different and unique like the CA18DET JDM. I'm not about having the 500hp SX as I am having something interesting, reliable, unique and drivable. I think that on the upwards of 220-280rwhp would be nice with the availability to go higher if I ever got the "Does this thing fly?" bug...

Bell housing adaptor? Electronics? Since this car was shipped with that engine elsewhere, I imagine many of the fittings are the same. I really liked the look of the car but I dont want to do something pointless. I'm willing to invest a couple thousand to get this thing up but I dont want it to turn into the "Money Pit"...

jw

boost_boy · Apr 27th, 2003, 09:11 PM

Your tranny will fit the CA18DET as they are from the same block family "CA". You'll just need the engine's harness and ecu and a little bit of patience with the wiring. All CA18DET's have red valve covers from factory

. You do this swap and you won't be disappointed and this I can guarantee. This swap my cost you around (tops) $1500 if you do everything correctly.

SuperSentra4203 · Apr 27th, 2003, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by boost_boy
The U.S. version had the CA18(T) as stated in my previous post! It is a single over head cam motor that has 8 spark plugs. Not big on power, but it moved pretty good.

8 spark plugs, sounds like a Ford Ranger to me

I would go for the CA18DET swap because it sound much easier and cheaper, and seems ho have just as much potential as the SR motor.

jcwatts · Apr 27th, 2003, 09:29 PM

I hear a lot about the CADET engines, but I dont see a whole lot about them. CAn somebody point me to some reading material (books titles) or some information regarding these types of swaps and what is compatible? I understand that the drivetrain is very very close but I'm not keen on what electronic modifications will have to be done.... I want to swap in a CA18DET and not the CA18ET because I definitely want something with direct iginition.

thanks

tsi200sx · Apr 28th, 2003, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jcwatts
Well, I was curious about what kind of differences between the 86 up to the 88 configuration were. Are the rear's LSD? I havent looked at a chiltons manual bout them yet.

How is the balance of the vehicle?

It seems that it would be an expensive endeavour. I might just try to get an S13 and put the SR20det in there, but I'm also not looking to boost beyond 300hp. I looked at the 86 S12 and its boxy and looks like it would be very interesting to play with. I'm more worried that I could not find enough parts for them with respectable prices.

Anyone have a definitive guide on swapping in a ca18det... and what would the engine bay require?

thanks
jw

Strictly talking 4-cylinder cars, there's not many differences from 86 to 88 except for the front and rear lights and some interior differences. The S12 IS very interesting to play with. It's great to have a car that almost no one else has. The closest I can offer to a definitive guide to S12 swapping....the best I can tell you is Club S12 www.clubs-12.org, there's plenty of CA swapping going on, from CA18ET's being replaced or overhauled, to guys turboing CA20E's. Since a CA18DET and a CA18ET use the same block, this is one of the easiest swaps...like they said the wiring is the only hard part.
The balance of the S12 is very good for the 4-cylinder cars. The 87-88 V6 cars are slightly nose-heavy.

jcwatts · Apr 28th, 2003, 09:32 PM

Well.. that is a nice webpage.. the link is www.club-s12.org I believe. Many pictures, but little to read. I see some picts of the members and stuff and some really awesome looking S12s. I thought that it would look like that with some body dress up. The one I am getting is black. I think I'm going to rebuild the CA20ET and get it running to put it on the road cause I from the looks, only a couple hundred dollars to get that done. I am however researching the CA18DET engine because that will be what I drop in and maybe sell the reworked CA20ET for somebody who wants one. My work wont be junk, but I'm sure it will be a learning experience. The more I look at these cars, the more I dislike the popularity of the s14 body style. I mean, the S13 is nice but I like the boxy grunty look of this car.

Anyone here have exprience with the electronics on a CA18DET? All that I read say that its a stable motor with potential out the ying yang, but are there any special problem areas I need to caution for?

Anyone around here in the Delaware area? I live in the middle of the state. This is exciting.

tsi200sx · Apr 29th, 2003, 08:07 AM

Oh, Dude, at Club S12 click on Forums..that's where all the info is. Go on the forums and run a search for what you're looking for..there's over 12000 posts.

nicon87 · Aug 6th, 2007, 06:59 PM

is it possible to get a CA20E block and put the head and turbo system from a CA18ET?

big-murph · Aug 18th, 2007, 02:56 AM

if it has the 4 banger sr20 if it has the vg then vg30dett thats if you want raw power
if you dont i dont know what to tell ya