[Sixways]

My 89 pulsar has been sitting in my drive way for about 4 months with a blow motor and a leaky tire. It has the wonderful ga16i, and all of it's shitty glory.

I have been considering possible motor options. The motors of choose are the CA18DET and an SR20det. I'd like to use an sr20 but I think that the costs of the motor and the hustle of the swap with the custom fabed mounts would be too much. I like that the ca18det will fit right in there with no fuss. I was going drop a ca18de (no t) a while back but the long block was lost, but I still have the mani's, ecu, and harness minus the S-terminal. I would like to get into the 300-400hp rang with ether motor. So which one would be more practical for the cause?

 

[Crazy-Mart]

if you want aftermarket support go with the SR engine ... youll get lots of problem getting stuff for the Ca (if not problem it will be $$$).. those days you can get pretty much anything for a SR in used, so in the long run it will cost less or maybe as much. since you got a lot of parts it might be good to get a Ca18det, depends on wath other parts you have. from 175hp, should be fairly easy to go up to 250whp.

 

[Sixways]

What kind of mods are there for the CA? All I've really herd of was a stroker kit by I don't know and more boost. I don't really like the idea of getting most of my power from boost.

 

[Crazy-Mart]

there is as much mods you can do but they will have to come from japan as mostly no one around here been modifying this engine ... check out Jun racing,Tomei... ect.. mostly all those jap racing garage. difference will be the higher pieces prices since youll have to get them from there (usually).

If you dont like to boost hard, my guess is that it wont be engines for you. And youll have to forget about a 300hp all Ca18de motor. On the Sr side taught, you could get the newer SR20VE, SR16VE that has about 170-200hp.. but still would be a lot of fabrication.

 

[Mervic]

One big turn off with CA18DE/T motor is the ignition system. It breaks and fails quite often and expensive to replace making it unreliable. Boost_boy (CA18DET guru) recommends to replace it with an aftermarket system like the SDS. The CA is quite robust and could easily handle 300hp with high boost and good fuel management. My opinion, it (high boost) is the only way you can make a lot of HP out of small motor.

 

[Gsolo]

One big turn off with CA18DE/T motor is the ignition system. It breaks and fails quite often and expensive to replace making it unreliable. Boost_boy (CA18DET guru) recommends to replace it with an aftermarket system like the SDS. The CA is quite robust and could easily handle 300hp with high boost and good fuel management. My opinion, it (high boost) is the only way you can make a lot of HP out of small motor.

with good cams and headwork i think you could get little over 200hp n/a from a ca18de. thats a bit pricey though. Personally i believe in the CA, but if you want aftermarket support SR only downside is mountings.

 

[SuperStock]

Im a CA fan cuz it drops into the b12/pulsar with relative ease compared to the SR. that aside, i'll agree with crazy mart; parts for the CA18DET can be spendy cuz it has little aftermarket support.

Id go with the CA for overall simplicity. The CA community may be small, but they can help u get your project sorted.

 

[Sixways]

I wasn't saying that I wanted to go n/a with. I just don't want to make 300hp on a stock motor with 30psi and a 2" muffler-mart special. I'd like to find a cam/gears or something that makes power with out adding a lot of cylinder pressure. I would like to use this car as my daily and it won't last long under extreme boost pressure, but I guess I could get a 2 stage boost controller and risk the higher boost when I race.

 

[SuperStock]

well id just get a pulsar NX SE which has the CA18DE stock.
itll save u a lotta hassle. u get all the performance suspension bits to start, and u will have the motor u want.
done

 

[Sixways]

I've been thinking about that. I don't really have much cash right now, as is the cast with most people looking to do upgrades around here. But I have a Jeep Wagoneer that I could sell. I got it for 250 from a friend because it has a rusted out freeze plug and I have the motor out and all I just need to finish that, which should be this weekend. I AM going to fix my pulsar soon, with the help of e-bay Maybe then I could see both for an SE or a sentra or some other great little nissan.