ca18det swap for sr20det

Skylines Little Bro · Oct 10th, 2004, 04:15 PM

i recently purchased an 89 silvia k, obviosly it came with the ca18det. Now i know there both good motors, but i want and sr20. how would the swap go, like would the sr fit right in, what may i have to change? all in all what i need to know is it gonna be less expensive too swap or to build the ca18 to perform as well as the sr20???

azRPS13 · Oct 10th, 2004, 05:53 PM

How many miles on the engine? Heres the deal... It would be cheaper to get a SR though in My opinion... Cause all you need is A motor set and complete wiring harness... But also in my opinion If you spent a little more you could have a CA better than a STOCK SR and maybe Mildly tuned SR... All you need is a FMIC, S15 T28, Boost controller, Tuned ECU, and a Z32 MAFS... Hell, while you at it get a nice suspension

Skylines Little Bro · Oct 11th, 2004, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azRPS13

How many miles on the engine? Heres the deal... It would be cheaper to get a SR though in My opinion... Cause all you need is A motor set and complete wiring harness... But also in my opinion If you spent a little more you could have a CA better than a STOCK SR and maybe Mildly tuned SR... All you need is a FMIC, S15 T28, Boost controller, Tuned ECU, and a Z32 MAFS... Hell, while you at it get a nice suspension

so you think to tune the CA would be the better way to go eh. oh ya the motor has only 35 000 miles on it.

So lets say thay if you put the same amount of money into the CA as it took to swap for an SR the CA would have more power?

azRPS13 · Oct 11th, 2004, 03:02 PM

Of course... Your either gonna put money into building the engine you already have to make it faster or more powerful, compared to buying a stock motor to replace the motor you have. The CA is a great motor! There is alot of potential in it. It can be equally or even better than the SR depending on what you do to it. That is why I put it in my car over the SR. Hell, I wish that motor came in my car, I would be alot closer to my goals by putting all my swap money on it. I would say the the only downfall of the CA is that it is not as popular as the SR. Which means that Its not as easy to find aftermarket parts for it.

Skylines Little Bro · Oct 15th, 2004, 12:07 PM

Right on that just made my decision. uhh does the ca have forged internals, and whats a safe horsepower for the motor with stock internals

azRPS13 · Oct 15th, 2004, 02:42 PM

You start having headgasket problems around 400hp but there are member that have gone past that and still have the stock headgasket... That little iron block for some reason loves to take abuse.... but 400hp would be around the limit

kaptainkrollio · Oct 16th, 2004, 01:00 AM

if it starts to have problems at 400, then i'd probably keep it to around 350. just to avoid needless risk.

azRPS13 · Oct 16th, 2004, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaptainkrollio

if it starts to have problems at 400, then i'd probably keep it to around 350. just to avoid needless risk.

If you have the money to get that far you can afford a metal head gasket

Nizmodore · Oct 16th, 2004, 03:48 AM

CA18DET's have ceramic coated pistons, but no oil squirters......They can take quite a hammering before melting......

The reason Nissan stopped makeing the CA18 and started on the SR20, was due to the fact that the CA18 was an expensive motor to build....and just because the CA18 has a cast iron block, don't say its heavier. The SR is about 30-40 kg heavier than the CA18......Also its smaller and more compact......

To stop head gaskit problems, just O-ring the block. It should survive. If your really keen go to a copper head gaskit.....

Some people say a CA is a RB minus 2 cylinders....this is NOT true. The front of the blocks etc is totally diffrent.....

Check this link.....

http://www.nissanforums.com/showthread.php?t=73122

azRPS13 · Oct 17th, 2004, 04:24 AM

Wow... I thought it had oil squirters.... ooops... Thnx Niz

Skylines Little Bro · Oct 19th, 2004, 02:37 PM

well i dont plan on making 400 hp for a little while anyway, so is that the only part that will need too be built up or should i worry about upgrading anything else

azRPS13 · Oct 20th, 2004, 02:40 PM

Well... With a upgraded turbo, Boost controller, FMIC, Stand Alone System, Exhaust, Ex mani, Bov, Cooling sys, and lots of tuning... you can see 400hp fairly soon.