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deadghost
03-01-2010, 11:51 AM
Was chatting with a buddy all last weekend about the motor. My curiosity is running through the roof on the engine, and I wanted to see if anyone out there has any decent pics, builds, and opinions to share. granted I would prefer a SR any day over that motor, but being the Nissan enthusiast I am, I wanted to see what it could offer and do.

Please post pics, reference material of any kind to the ca18det motor, and any opinions are welcome to the engine characteristics.

DALAZ_68
03-01-2010, 11:55 AM
you want a place were info is abundant for this motor...u need Nico's CA18 section...

this forum is SR dominated and a lot of sand baggers here who think its a waste of money...just a thought

ILoveMyRHS13
03-01-2010, 12:25 PM
I love the CA. I would never swap one into my 240, because if I ever need random parts, not a lot of people in the area have a CA so parts would take longer to get.

The baby RB is an impressive motor.

Taniguchi_Is_#1
03-01-2010, 12:40 PM
http://www.feast-power.com/rsf/demo/img/s13.jpg

RS feast silvia. you can read the Nov. 2002 issue of sport compact car for a feature, if you like. that was probably the coolest thing i had ever seen when that article came out. i think i wanted a ca18 for the 2 years after i read that. it is a nice engine, but lacking on parts availability. an interesting note is that it has a square bore and stroke, so you can rev the shit out of it, which you'll need to do, since it is only 1.8. go to nico for more ca18 stuff.

DALAZ_68
03-01-2010, 12:42 PM
but lacking on parts availability.

thats a constant misconception...there are plenty off parts to scavange here in the USA for said motor...and like any other motor, if someones willing ot spend for it, companies will make it...:wiggle:

BlitzRPS13
03-01-2010, 02:27 PM
Very underrated engine.. i've been beating on mine for 3 years and haven't had any major issues.

sLiDewAys
03-01-2010, 02:58 PM
I started the CA18 faq almost 5 years ago when i believe there were only a few registered tuners here on zilvia. Parts are scarce and if you want quality be prepared to A) wait weeks for parts arrival or B) Pay out the ass for the parts.

There are tons of companies now offering parts for the ca18, REPUTABLE... Probably not but that is whats available here stateside. You can contact Jap Parts Specialist. He Lives In japan and will ship you Ca18 parts for a resonable price. I picked up an HKS Gt2510 Ball Bearing turbo, Z32 Maf & Mines VX Rom ecu for the ca18 off of him 4 years ago for about 1100.00 USD. Also there are tons of companies that offer FMIC kits, Mistubishi Purple top 440c injectors work with the ca18det and also the ka24E MAFS will work with a re-wire.

Do a bit of research before you make this decision, since the ca18 is aging every year most of the ones that are readily available are CRAP. make sure you get a first hand pick at your clip before purchase, ask for leak down and compression test. also start up if they can!. good luck with your decision and project!

babyjesus
03-01-2010, 03:19 PM
ive always dreamed of getting one, and always get hype when people talk about the CA,i love the way they look and how they're known to be able to rev for days, cast iron block (if i remember correctly)
-personally i'd love to see more of them, or own one for that matter, but since i have an s14, CA just wouldn't be right

DALAZ_68
03-01-2010, 03:58 PM
a guy in nico (one of the mods actually) is doing a CA18 into a 14...might wanna chat it up with him...

sLiDewAys
03-01-2010, 04:00 PM
yeah. my olc ca18 would see 8.5 grand all the time. never any problems :)
high reving and great mid range. Though the low end sucks MAJOR!

NeedCAforS13
03-01-2010, 04:03 PM
Check Nico's CA forum. I helped get it started back in the day... As much as I hate to direct traffic from zilvia to Nico (because outside the CA forum, Nico pretty much sucks), it's a really good section. Go read all the stickies. sLiDewAys and I (and many other guys) contributed a lot to those stickies :)

Here's my old CA18 in my coupe... fun motor.

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o186/SOlsenA6/DSC03463-3.jpg

Wouldn't do it again though. SR is just so much easier to make power. Aftermarket SR20 parts are EVERYWHERE. Stock CA18 parts can pretty much all be purchased at Nissan/autozone from an 88 Puslar SE with the CA18DE engine.

sLiDewAys
03-01-2010, 04:09 PM
^Owe a lot to you NeedCaforS13. You made a lot of things possible for us. Always confirming parts for us dummies back then haha.

DALAZ_68
03-01-2010, 04:23 PM
Check Nico's CA forum. I helped get it started back in the day... As much as I hate to direct traffic from zilvia to Nico (because outside the CA forum, Nico pretty much sucks), it's a really good section. Go read all the stickies. sLiDewAys and I (and many other guys) contributed a lot to those stickies :)

Here's my old CA18 in my coupe... fun motor.

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o186/SOlsenA6/DSC03463-3.jpg

Wouldn't do it again though. SR is just so much easier to make power. Aftermarket SR20 parts are EVERYWHERE. Stock CA18 parts can pretty much all be purchased at Nissan/autozone from an 88 Puslar SE with the CA18DE engine.


hey hey, dont forget the young buck here who already did a write up on timing belt and W/P replacement... :naughtyd:


lol

nice looking motor...i hope mine comes out looking half as nice...

Antihero983
03-01-2010, 05:59 PM
I <3 this thread. Even though I just tore my meniscus tendon in my left knee, I'm still hoping to have mine running by late spring.

There's a dope AE86 with a CA in it kicking around youtube as well.....check it out.

I'm just not sure what colors I want for the valve and timing covers.

superJoy
03-01-2010, 06:05 PM
My shiz

http://i47.tinypic.com/111sa6p.jpg

Got it running early '08, been daily driving ever since. OEM rebuild, SR turbo, ARC intercooler, other junk. Reliability > performance for this fella.

NICO has and always will be a great source of info for the CA18DET. I've learned almost everything I know about this engine from that board.

P.S. If you know what you're doing you can find parts all over. Like I was able to get 4 replacement coil packs from a pick and pull for $12. (Hint: 88 Pulsar NX SE) Or like, a $25 water pump from RockAuto (85 200SX Turbo) Just gotta know where to look.

Now performance parts are a different story. Haha.

sr20detconv
03-01-2010, 07:42 PM
Loved this engine the 2 years I had it. But no low end and no top end.......midrange is great atleast. Had sr20 t25 @ 12psi with catback and fmic wich aws a lil better then stock. Great engine but I love my sr20 more.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/sr20detconv/silvia/10.jpg

Xbroke_kidX
03-01-2010, 07:48 PM
I love CA's!! I just drove my friends Ca18 powered s12 at buttonwillow last weekend. Such a great motor. If I still had an S chassis it would for sure get a Ca. And Steve is right. Parts are not that hard to find.

DALAZ_68
03-01-2010, 08:05 PM
just took this for you guys...lol

messy i know...its not gonna get better till i pull it...


http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac274/DALAZ_68/IMG_0809.jpg

kriss
03-01-2010, 10:57 PM
heres my old CA18DE+t haha

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d85/anmlrx/PIC_0001-10.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d85/anmlrx/PIC_0003-10.jpg