Ca18det?? - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

Millers Sileighty · 03-31-2013, 02:08 AM

What's up guys! So here's the deal I'm planning on doing a swap in my 92 hatch and so far I'm leaning heavily on the CA18DET I've done my research and to be honest don't trust most of what's said unless it comes from ZILVIA members so my question is what are the pros and cons of the motor what parts will I need and what parts do u recommend getting right away or soon after the swap. how easy is the swap (1-10) 1 being easy and how much do you think the parts will cost. I'm not that into the SR's never really been a huge fan. Oh and btw my 240sx has a Ka24de at the moment so not sure if I can use any of my current parts for the swap. Any info is good info guys thanks and I appreciate the time.

Frank_Jaeger · 03-31-2013, 03:16 AM

I have no experience with CA18s. From what I remember, they're iron blocks and kind of like 4 cylinder rb motors.

Honestly unless you get a good deal on a set, it's a terrible idea. SR and KA parts are 100x easier to come by. I'm guessing it should be about as much work as an SR to drop in, considering it came stock in S13s. But that displacement...

Bambi · 04-01-2013, 12:07 AM

Do it. Baby RB. My friend did and today we paint another friend's engine bay so it looks pretty for his CA18DET. I was going to get one too but I'm going KA-T for other reasons.

Don't take the 'harder to find parts for too seriously. They may not be an easy "oh I'll just check CraigsList real quick and pick up a _____ for my CA today" kind of deal but they sure as hell aren't impossible to get. I you want them you'll find them.

Now, before this goes any further. This question has honestly been asked A LOT. I believe there's even a very recent thread before yours posted too. Google is your friend, your same question has been asked many times before so there's many answers and lots of advice out there. Just find it.

s13.hernandez · 03-31-2013, 11:43 PM

If your "not a huge sr fan" you should just totally sr it....

Croustibat · 04-01-2013, 05:30 AM

It is an engine. No voodoo magic involved. It is quite a good 1.8L turbo engine, well designed and all, in the 80ies. No variable cam timing, hydraulic lifters. But it just is that. Know "flaws" are crank breather clogging easily, and small oil capacity. Couple that to the shittiest oil gauge ever designed and you are in for a world of "CAs are shit, it died, i checked and there was oil" - when in fact there was not.

And like every engine you could get, it will need a rebuild.

Now the question is WHY do you want a ca18det ? It looks like you just want look/sound, so get an rb20 instead. If you want a screaming 4 pots, a well built ca18 is perfect. But it will never sound like a 6 pot, and it will never have the power and torque delivery of bigger engines (when they are built the same way).

03-31-2013, 02:08 AM	#1
Millers Sileighty Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Chino Hills Posts: 18 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	Ca18det?? What's up guys! So here's the deal I'm planning on doing a swap in my 92 hatch and so far I'm leaning heavily on the CA18DET I've done my research and to be honest don't trust most of what's said unless it comes from ZILVIA members so my question is what are the pros and cons of the motor what parts will I need and what parts do u recommend getting right away or soon after the swap. how easy is the swap (1-10) 1 being easy and how much do you think the parts will cost. I'm not that into the SR's never really been a huge fan. Oh and btw my 240sx has a Ka24de at the moment so not sure if I can use any of my current parts for the swap. Any info is good info guys thanks and I appreciate the time.

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03-31-2013, 03:16 AM	#2
Frank_Jaeger Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Port Charlotte, Florida Age: 29 Posts: 1,352 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	I have no experience with CA18s. From what I remember, they're iron blocks and kind of like 4 cylinder rb motors. Honestly unless you get a good deal on a set, it's a terrible idea. SR and KA parts are 100x easier to come by. I'm guessing it should be about as much work as an SR to drop in, considering it came stock in S13s. But that displacement...

03-31-2013, 11:43 PM	#4
s13.hernandez Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Chino Age: 32 Posts: 27 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	If your "not a huge sr fan" you should just totally sr it....

04-01-2013, 05:30 AM	#5
Croustibat Nissanaholic! Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: France - Toulouse Age: 41 Posts: 1,851 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	It is an engine. No voodoo magic involved. It is quite a good 1.8L turbo engine, well designed and all, in the 80ies. No variable cam timing, hydraulic lifters. But it just is that. Know "flaws" are crank breather clogging easily, and small oil capacity. Couple that to the shittiest oil gauge ever designed and you are in for a world of "CAs are shit, it died, i checked and there was oil" - when in fact there was not. And like every engine you could get, it will need a rebuild. Now the question is WHY do you want a ca18det ? It looks like you just want look/sound, so get an rb20 instead. If you want a screaming 4 pots, a well built ca18 is perfect. But it will never sound like a 6 pot, and it will never have the power and torque delivery of bigger engines (when they are built the same way).