how good is a CA18DET??

[driftcrazy]

hey guys just wondering how good good a CA18DET is. if i were to do a CA then a SR wold i be able to push out about the same HP. What r the weaknesses of the CA and the advantages. thanks yall if anyone got any info plz post. thanks..... :bow:

[matlock]

I would just hit the search button and im sure oodles of info would come up, but I don't know if you know anything about CA or SR, but CA is SOHC and SR is DOHC. I am sure also searching on google you would be able to find dyno charts and such for both motors.

[matlock]

There are also a few differnt SR20's there isn't just one (RedTop,Blacktop, etc.)

[phrozen]

no disadvantages of the CA,

the pros:
iron block
hi rev monster
nice torque & powerband
fairly cheap swap with huge potential
weight distribution relocate the battery to the trunk, and if you have a lil sound system you should have close to perfect 50/50 with driver

the cons:
parts are alil harder to find but im sure u can get creative if you have a welder
maybe displacement?, it all depends on what your looking for

its your choice all the motors that came in the 240sx are good motors

[DRFT]

replacemetn parts arent hard to find its just mods take a little more searching thats all.

most replacement parts can be found at kragen.

[mandoz85]

I would just hit the search button and im sure oodles of info would come up, but I don't know if you know anything about CA or SR, but CA is SOHC and SR is DOHC. I am sure also searching on google you would be able to find dyno charts and such for both motors.

Th CA is not a SOHC it is a DOHC. One of the disavantages to this engine is that they are all old. i belive they were only used in the 89-90 s13, so you are buying a 14-15 year old engine.

[Burmonster]

One big advantage......

its cheaper

[the240sxer95]

just curious, is this for your s13 or s14?

[No Motiv]

CA seems good enough....

[driftcrazy]

matlock- sorry but i am not that new to the silvia scene, and CA r not SOHC and i know there r S13,14,15 and black tops for the S-13s. but yea i was looking at the CA first because its definatly cheaper, and the iron block issue. But is the power out put good on em? and torque. i can always rebuild the motor not a big deal. but thanks everyone for the info. plz post more if yall got anymore info.i drive a 1991 fastback swap should be easy right?

[DudeYourSoOOJDM]

A CA w/ a t25 turbo is just as potent as a stock s13 SR.

They like to rev....a big plus

Iron block, a plus....but theyre old. On any CA swap I'd recommend at least a head gasket and water pump.

I like the motor a lot....considering building a beater w/ CA swap.

[ca18guy]

ca18det is DOHC
ca18et is SOHC

So technically there is a SOHC ca but this thread is about ca18det's so thats irrevelant....
I wouldn't buy it just because it has an iron block, the aluminum in the SR block holds high HP very well also and is lighter to boot. How much power are you looking for? The ca18 most likely can reach that goal. It's not exactly a torque monster but the engine never felt strained to me (kind of like a motorcycle engine with better torque, take that as you will)

[driftcrazy]

thas cool i am hopeing for around 450-500hp. is that achieveable for the CA's

[driftcrazy]

i know i will have to rebuild the whole mototr to handel such power but i would have to do the same for the SR too to hold high HP. but i wanna know how hard is it pull that amount of HP out of the SR. is the torque rate about the same as the SR's

[driftcrazy]

anyone know where i can look for some technical answers, like websites or something?

[ca18guy]

If I was aiming for that kind of HP I would get a SR, in recent years they have been making leaps in bounds in making HP on a stock bottom (500+rwhp) There is a steeper learning curve when trying to get a CA to that level.

[240mike]

i had a 85 200sx with a ca18det and it was faster then my 240 with an sr..
at all stock...but after mods the 240 was faster and drifted better..

[the240sxer95]

ca looks like a dope motor =] maybe i should put it in my s14? well... secound thought...

[matlock]

SOrry all I was talking CA18ET I didn't really clarify that, I feel dumb....but for some answers and techincal info just browse around the site and stuff, I am not being a jerk, but there is a lot of info on this site that is exceptionally helpful sometimes its just hard to find.

[elevator]

Takes a hell of a beating well!

[fliprayzin240sx]

I know one of the old mods from NICO whos from Orlando has a CA beast that was putting down close to 400hp to the wheels *cant remembers his SN tho* Id search in there if i were you.

[proj240sx]

yeh NICO has a lot of good information regarding the CA, i looked there a lot when i was considering doing a CA. then i thought about how old they are and at the time i didnt want to spend so much on rebuilding and didnt want a motor as old as the one i already had, haha. depends how much time you are willing to put into it, its a good motor. a lot of people say its "designed" better than the sr and cost more to make, that is why it was discountinued. but who knows.

[Doriftomodachi]

I know one of the old mods from NICO whos from Orlando has a CA beast that was putting down close to 400hp to the wheels *cant remembers his SN tho* Id search in there if i were you.

Keep it real for your car. Get a kouki s14sr :bigok:

[pinoydrifter]

HOw much would you guys estimate it would be to swap in a ca18det. I searched... and found that it would probly be 1800. I just wanted to know if the prices have changed? thanks-

[Nismo1182]

My CA was 1500 and spent about another 500 in misc little parts.

Who cares if the CA is older. SR's arent exactly brand new either. It ALL comes down to how the motor was cared for. Would you want a S14 SR that wasnt cared for, no oil changes, no maintanence, daily abused, or a CA that was very well maintained? This also works vice versa, there are CA's out there that have taken a good beating and not cared for and spin rod bearings due to this.

My CA was perfectly clean, even under the valve covers, the cams where shinny as a new quater.

Ive met Ray, the guy discussed above with the 400+ hp CA19DET (bored over). That WAS fast as hell but alas, he joined the SR guys and the motor is being parted out as I type this.

My CA will someday be like his was but with more power :-)

If you guys have anymore questions about the CA, please feel free to ask me or IM me on AIM: NISMO1182. I know a great deal about this motor and if I dont know, ill ask Ray or Paul (also had a 400 hp CA19DET).

[driftcrazy]

thanks everyone for the infos, i am most likely going to stick to swaping in a S13 SR, even if its more$ i believe it worth it for the long run plus way easier to find SR parts then CA's . but my main reason to peep the CA idead was because of cost and not a lot of peeps use the CAs. but i would not mind dropping the CA in ma ae86 tho. :rofl: lol but thas when i have some money. i know this is off topis but anyone here hve good hookups on som coilovers.

[driftcrazy]

and thank you- Nismo i will be sure to contact u if i have anymore questions. :bow: