Sr vs CA

[jskateborders]

Not again. fucking noobs.
Lol
Anyways here it goes
I have two motors
As you have prolly guessed, a CA and an SR
I have two cars. Both are hatches.
Both motors have blown hg's
I plan on fixing that
Heres the point.
One car is going to be a daily, and one car is going to be a track slut.
The daily is going to stay stock minus exhaust. Stock boost and all.
The track slut, well, is a track slut. It doesnt HAVE to stay running.
I was kind of leaning towards the sr for the daily and Ca for the tracky.
But i wanted to see what people think.
Heres some points on both engines for those of you who are new to the game
CA
old skool s-chassis motor.
1.8 liter dual overhead cam turbo motor.
Shorter stroke than the sr, also has a much better head design.
"Baby RB"
High, smooth revving motor
99 percent of parts can crossover from the CADE in the Pulsar
At least 17 years old

SR
Higher displacement.
lots of after market support stateside
not as smooth revving but can still get up there
Aluminum block
mine is a 97 blacktop type x
longer stroke, basic, cheaper to make head design
block is however good to 400whp
HG, apparently is not (joke)
35 mpg on a good day
those are just a couple of points on both motors. This is not an informative thread, there are billions of those out here, those points are merely to aid those who are not as familiar in forming a semi-educated opinion.
Also, Ive never driven the CA, so I don't know the gas mileage.
It is a smaller motor, but older, so Id assume the gas mileage would be roughly the same. I live in bfe, so MPG is an issue. True its smaller and with a proper tune, would get great gas mileage... but as a daily, I would not want to touch anything. Then I would begin to travel down that road you all know so well.

But anyways, What do you guys think??

[Irukandji]

SR in track car
CA in daily , 1.8L would get kick ass gas mileage if you stay out of high boost

[motorsnail]

Yeah track the sr that way finding replacment parts will be easy when shit breaks and gearing is a little better for other types of racing as well. Keeping the CA stock just makes more sence to me anyways.

[norcal_black240]

Personally I would go SR in track car and CA in the daily driver. No real reason why I would but thats what I would do. Either engine you put in the track car will be extensivley modified I assume so making good power out of either engine is not a problem.

But I see some good points in putting the SR in the daily. Its a newer engine, probably less miles on it compared to the CA, parts are easy to get for it so if it breaks down you can get the car back on the road quickly. You don't want a unreliable daily driver and a SR would seem more reliable to me compared to a CA.

Since the CA would be a track car if something broke you would have time to locate parts for it. Either way you decide to go should be cool.

[blu808]

I would say have sex with your sister.


That would produce the same answer as this question in the thread.

anal maybe?

[808_Drift]

Well i have had both Sr and CA and both were built all out. I personally like the CA better but this thread isnt a Sr vd CA which is better thread. So even tho i like the CA better i would say put it in the daily ans SR the track. Replace all the gaskets on the CA, oil pump, water pump throw her in and call it a day. All that can be done pretty cheap. Of course since the SR will be built i dont need to tell you to replace things as thats always the first thing to do.

[Ca_laurier]

take this from advice from a CA junky.... you need to do alot of work do hit the 300 mark. great daily driving motor but an sr will be able to put down way better numbers with fewer mods

lol personally i am working on finding a spare ca long block

[MegasquirtCA]

take this from advice from a CA junky.... you need to do alot of work do hit the 300 mark. great daily driving motor but an sr will be able to put down way better numbers with fewer mods

lol personally i am working on finding a spare ca long block


Not really there are quite a bit of us that are hitting 300whp with ease and on stock motors, just upgrade fuel, tuning, and capable turbo such as a GT28R, GTi-R.

Shoot for roughly $1900 my motor has the capability of doing 300whp and that includes price of motor swap, standalone, brand new turbo, and misc crap like maintenance, fluids, intercooler piping etc etc.

[SidewayZ-s14]

SR in track car
CA in daily , 1.8L would get kick ass gas mileage if you stay out of high boost

I second that. SR for the slut!:bigok:

[McRussellPants]

r.
Shorter stroke than the sr, also has a much better head design.
"Baby RB"


Do people still think the CA has a better head design for real?



I mean really?




REALLY?

[motorsnail]

Do people still think the CA has a better head design for real?



I mean really?




REALLY?

Look at specs CA does flow better and uses better parts(shouldnt say parts yet materials). Comparing them is stupid I gotta agree though but cant argue with facts on the head sorry. CA head is like a 4cyl rb head more then the sr was built when mass producing and moneys started getting involved:bigok:

[EJ253]

you posted this on myspace like a week ago and i told you the exact same thing everyone is telling you right now


track the SR
daily the CA

[808_Drift]

oh noes i see this turning into a Sr vs Ca which is better thread.... i think i will stay outa this one.
Sr track slut
CA daily
end story :D

[Addicted2Kouki]

if it was me.....


id sell the CA.
buy more parts and a KA.

daily the KA.
track the SR.

gas mileage probly isnt the best outta those but it would be 10000x easier and cheaper for finding parts compared to both of them.
that and i live in socal. so no problems from the cops.
but thats just me.

but if you were keeping them. then yeah. CA daily. SR track.
just stock up on CA parts any time you get the chance.

[McRussellPants]

CA head is like a 4cyl rb head more then the sr was built when mass producing and moneys started getting involved:bigok:


rofl.


thats cute.


Its also like a little RB20 or VG30 or KA24 head, sounds less cool when you compare it to trashcan motors.

[JDMClifford]

well, ca has less aftermarket bolt ons, so it would make sence to use it as a dd, pluss its smaller displacement, so it takes longer to spool a larger turbo. i cant see how .2 leters would mater if you build the motor anyways, if it was me i would use an sr for a race car because the parts are alot easyer to get a hold of, stock parts or aftermarket.

[fliprayzin240sx]

Put the CA in one of the cars, sell it for $10k since everybody and their moms doing it. Then buy yourself a EG civic HF for daily. OR shiet a Hyundai accent gets decent mileage too. I wouldnt wanna have 2 cars with turbo engines on it. Why? Boost happy, gas mileage will go down the shitter and ill be tempted to mod both cars. 2 projects sucks...

[s13Dr1ft]

Put the CA in one of the cars, sell it for $10k since everybody and their moms doing it. Then buy yourself a EG civic HF for daily. OR shiet a Hyundai accent gets decent mileage too. I wouldnt wanna have 2 cars with turbo engines on it. Why? Boost happy, gas mileage will go down the shitter and ill be tempted to mod both cars. 2 projects sucks...


Smart man.

fxkmsglngth

[LA_phantom_240]

No wai! Get a crx with the POS carb'd HF motor. 50mpg easy. Take THAT hybrids!

[White Comet]

the sr will get good mileage if u stay out of boost. i agree on either selling the ca or swapping it in a car and selling.

[nevaland9]

what kind of track racing are you planning on doing and whats your budget?

if your planning on winning any half way decent track events your probalby gonig to need the SR. on another note they might put the CA in a slower class that u can beat on all old minis and VWs and hondas with your 1.8 powa!...but if you want to go fast and be competative go with the SR track car.

just looking to have fun go with the CA i guess...personaly i think hte CA is a worthless motor, id just use it as a coffee table or melt it down and have it cast into something useful like key chains and shift knobs

[ep510]

I track my car with a CA --it is no slouch.

I took into consideration that the CA is an Iron Block and that there have been cooling issues with SR's on the track ( not that you cannot overcome them) --Also high RPM's can cause some issues with the SR's which the CA will not experience ( cam on bucket)

But either one will do you right on the track.

[CKAMC]

CA parts are getting harder and harder to come by, some of the stuff is getting discontinued.

SR is still a great choice since parts for it wont be discontinued for quite a while.

an SR cools just as well as a CA... anyone thats completed high school would know that.

I doubt that anyone can make a CA perform better than a SR and make it worth wild... unless your a dyno queen.

SR is balanced quite well... fuck I would put a CA on the same level as a RB20... fanboi motor level that is.

[ep510]

CA parts are getting harder and harder to come by, some of the stuff is getting discontinued.

an SR cools just as well as a CA... anyone thats completed high school would know that.

I doubt that anyone can make a CA perform better than a SR and make it worth wild... unless your a dyno queen.


you are right CA performance parts can be difficult to find. But they can be found if you know where to look.

As for the cooling issues

Please take a look at a few of the comments below

Although you can drive pretty hard at the drag strip or on the street without any immediate fears of overheating, a trip to the road course on a day with temperatures hinting of summertime can send engine temperatures soaring. Without careful monitoring of the gauges, the temps can easily skyrocket, sending your motor to SR20 heaven

Here is a link to where that paragraph is from
http://www.nissanperformancemag.com/april05/projectracer/


another Comment from a different forum
KOYO ALUMINUM RADIATOR

Performance: Monitoring my temp via my Techtom MDM-100, I immediately noticed a significant drop (10 degrees Celcius) in normal operating temperatures after the installation of this bad boy. Over heating was always an issue with our cars, especially while racing. This radiator helps to significantly reduce the chance of that occuring

http://www.sr20forum.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/86


I am not saying the problems cannot be cured ( I did infact graduate HS Thank you) --But that people should be aware of them. My point was what I used to decide which motor--The CA does not have the same issues as the SR in this respect.

PS no Dyno Queen and the little CA has impressed some of the JDM Yo --Bandwagon people with how well it goes on the Track. Any Well set up 240 with a decent motor ( CA/KAT/SR/RB) will impress people!

[Antihero983]

if it was me.....


id sell the CA.
buy more parts and a KA.

daily the KA.
track the SR.

gas mileage probly isnt the best outta those but it would be 10000x easier and cheaper for finding parts compared to both of them.
that and i live in socal. so no problems from the cops.
but thats just me.

but if you were keeping them. then yeah. CA daily. SR track.
just stock up on CA parts any time you get the chance.

bah, KAs are NOT reliable. at all. i had one pretty much stock for 4 years, and its left me stranded waaaayy too many times.

back on topic.

CA for the daily, SR for the track. both motors are reliable even under boost, but youll get better mileage out of the CA....

done and done.

[CKAMC]

blah blah blah

http://www.alamomotorsports.com/blitz/oilcooler.jpg

I guess you have never heard of one of these.

[ep510]

I guess you have never heard of one of these.

Yup

So what kind of track days do you run? What tracks?

[CKAMC]

Yup

So what kind of track days do you run? What tracks?

I don't see how that retains to this argument of motors,

in fact, if everyone loved iron blocks so much then wouldnt every track car have a CA or RB? :cj:

SR is good and people know it, especially those that know how to take care of one.

[ep510]

I don't see how that retains to this argument of motors,
in fact, if everyone loved iron blocks so much then wouldnt every track car have a CA or RB? :cj:
SR is good and people know it, especially those that know how to take care of one.


I never said the SR was a bad motor--Quite the opposite in fact. I was responding to your comments regarding cooling issues with the SR. You can believe them or not---doesn't really matter to me either way. I like the CA and contrary to your opinion, I feel it is a great little motor. The fact that it has an iron block appeals to me in case there is an overheating issue on the track--the iron block should hold up better than an aluminum block (in my opinion)

As far as driving on the track. It seems there are alot of "experts" out there without any real practical experience. What works on the street does not always perform on the track.

[EJ253]

overheating issue on the track--the iron block should hold up better than an aluminum block (in my opinion)


no one cares about your opinion.
post up some facts that iron hold up better than aluminum in this situation.

just because it weighs more doesnt means its stronger.
look at steel in comparison to carbon fiber as an example.

[ep510]

no one cares about your opinion.
post up some facts that iron hold up better than aluminum in this situation.

just because it weighs more doesnt means its stronger.
look at steel in comparison to carbon fiber as an example.

Why should I bother. No one else bothers with facts here--just bashing people. ( I wonder why I bother posting on this forum)

Although my belief is in the different expansion rates of aluminum vs the iron block and the resulting warpage that can occur.

See ya

[a_ahmed]

To break the ca is better omg, sr is better omg trend.

How about something different? Sell the SR and CA and get an LS1+T56. Much better gas milage at 1500rpm in 6th gear cruising 120km/hr... plus massive torque, flat power output, v8 sound, still light frontend more or less considering its an aluminum small block, probably newer than the SR or CA if you get a 2001+... cheaper to make massive power, already comes 300whp stock.

Haha I love to be different :P No I don't have one, just thought this was a neat answer compared to everyone's sr vs ca trackslut/dd answers. But I definetely want one. I bet you could have a daily and track car more reliable than either with an LS1... and alot more power, alot more usable power, alot more reliable possibly only NA power... no worry of blowing things up... easily accessible aftermarket...local... just something different...

That's what I'd do if I had an SR and CA... and a spare s13 hatch... sell all 3... and make one bad ass daily driver/trakc slut in one.. more reliable than either if done proprely... more powerful... more lasting... i can only see the pros. Only way I'd get a CA or SR in my hatch is if i got it free.. not worthwhile spending 2000-3000 for imho.. for only a <200whp old fi motor

*awaits to get bashed*

[Addicted2Kouki]

no one cares about your opinion.
post up some facts that iron hold up better than aluminum in this situation.

just because it weighs more doesnt means its stronger.
look at steel in comparison to carbon fiber as an example.

iron blocks are almost always stronger.

ie. - reason why RB's and 2JZ's have iron blocks.
even KA's.

aluminum has the tendency to warp under overheating.

[superJoy]

I'd say sell one and get a real daily

Probably sell the CA

The SR really is better for a track car. More aftermarket support, and CA requires dedication. Also considering you have an SR already, I'd say there's no reason not to go with that... newer, less to worry about, everyone and their cousin knows how to work on it

I have a CA, I rebuilt it 100% using only parts purchased from Advance Auto and my Nissan dealer (hint: '88 Pulsar NX SE, '85 200SX Turbo) So no, OEM-replacement parts are not hard to find at all. But aftermarket shit is much harder than SR to find, sometimes irritatingly so.

And the whole "mini RB iron block" crap? Umm who cares. RB's aren't too hot themselves...

That being said, I do like the iron block on my CA. But it shouldn't sway your decision at all, the SR isn't going to explode or anything.

[motorsnail]

no one cares about your opinion.
post up some facts that iron hold up better than aluminum in this situation.

just because it weighs more doesnt means its stronger.
look at steel in comparison to carbon fiber as an example.

Opinions suck....

I still dont see the argument. If you bought the CA because it has a iron block your stupid because it will still break and still get hot. Go build something:fawk2:

[240trooper]

personaly i like KA's , sr's/rb's are just to hyped up , keep it easy and cheap, ka's are strong if u put in time and money , i had a 89 sohc with 193k ran very strong no problems passed smog with ease. I allso like the feel of the sohc than dohc ,dohc is smooth and sohc is a lil rough. I like tha raw feeling ... But i wouldnt mind a ca/sr for a DD , id build the KA to KA-T

[jskateborders]

personaly i like KA's , sr's/rb's are just to hyped up , keep it easy and cheap, ka's are strong if u put in time and money , i had a 89 sohc with 193k ran very strong no problems passed smog with ease. I allso like the feel of the sohc than dohc ,dohc is smooth and sohc is a lil rough. I like tha raw feeling ... But i wouldnt mind a ca/sr for a DD , id build the KA to KA-T
I am dd a sohc right now. It sucks. IT eats gas (compared to the sr) its underpowered, and I have to downshift to get on the interstate.

[White Comet]

what gas mileage would the mentioned ls1 set up get?

[240trooper]

well mine was in good shape for 194k, burnt a lil oil but no leaks and was pretty strong, freeway driving was great and i was getting about 23ish mpg flooring it. I beat a 93 525i 2.5l inline 6 in 3rd gear and his car was in nicer shape and lower miles, but then agian my as a early 89 , 2/89 the compressing was diffrent not 8.6 like all other sohc it was 9.1;1 bout 150hp ish ,

[White Comet]

nice, w/ my sr i've gotten about 30 mpg if i stay out of boost. but a v8 is def fun

[jskateborders]

nice, w/ my sr i've gotten about 30 mpg if i stay out of boost. but a v8 is def fun
hmm, thats weird, I had boost leak out of bent valves and I was always in boost and I got like 30 on mine. Thats boosting it all day long...

[RevKid]

sell both and buy a another s13 with a kade n build that with rest of the money

[Maxstyle]

I love my CA. But you have to have a passion for it to build it and not be frustrated all the time.

[White Comet]

hmm, thats weird, I had boost leak out of bent valves and I was always in boost and I got like 30 on mine. Thats boosting it all day long...
dang thats not bad at all. to clarify the best tank i got was 35mpg, and when i saw out of boost i shoudl have said minimal, i never hit full boost during that tank though and kept the throttle steady. maybe got it to 5 psi of boost or so, just to see what good mileage i could get

[chituntang]

I like a fully built CA more than a SR...
If CA's 1.8L makes you feel bad, get a stroker kit. I mean it is your track car and you are going all anyways.
If you buy swapped engines without radiator, I have no idea why not. Not something expensive compare to what you spent already, an insurance over your investment, and you can run longer and have more fun, LOL.

[motorsnail]

I like a fully built CA more than a SR...
If CA's 1.8L makes you feel bad, get a stroker kit. I mean it is your track car and you are going all anyways.
If you buy swapped engines without radiator, I have no idea why not. Not something expensive compare to what you spent already, an insurance over your investment, and you can run longer and have more fun, LOL.

Build anyting it will be fast just FYI.........Dont care if its a ford fiesta, it can be as fast as "YOU" can make it. These threads that turn into this motor is better then the other is stupid you build anything it will be what "YOU" built slow or fast.

[!Zar!]

The ca was replaced with the sr by nissan. I mean really.

[Ca_laurier]

The ca18 does have alot of potential

but really this thread is YET another thread of a topic that has been covered millions of times

i like cruising in my stock ca and until i build one like my previous ca18 really it doesn't put out enough juice.

[ChicagoS14]

The ca was replaced with the sr by nissan. I mean really.

yes, but not because it was better, mainly because the SR was cheaper to produce then the CA. :wavey:

[jskateborders]

The ca was replaced with the sr by nissan. I mean really.
nissan brought the 200sx back fwd....

[tougemaster]

Me SR Daily, No CA for me i know is a good motor but i like more power also CA is like an old 4AG.. but more power.
In Japan, most my tunner friend keep their SR in there 180sx. Depent what you aim for... POWER = SR, Smoother Rev = CA.

ADD:;

I know this is the SR and CA threat but if you in USA with the stock KA I will just keep it KA. but also agree with people said to SR on Track and CA daily. But i have KA for daily (save money, out trouble with cops, enough power for TOUGE). I have one coupe with SR about 268 WHP POWER!!! but I drive REALLY careful on the street. but KA i dont have to care about anything just push the car when ever i want but... NO POWER AT ALL on straigh = = but still have fun in touge.

[f22_2_KA]

I think both motors are pretty proven its a matter of what you want though.