i don't want to be an SR fanboi

[fess13]

I love the uniqueness of the CA and I'm interesting in doing a 240 to 180sx conversion with my hatch. I'm not a gearhead (yet) but i've spent the last two months on these forums learning everything I can about working on s13s and I'm fairly confident I'm ready for an engine swap.

I'm not looking to make a 400hp car, at most I'm looking to get up to 250-290 so that's another reason why I'm leaning towards the CA. However, the more I research CA vs. SR threads I hear people posting about how they've worked on both engines multiple times for multiple years and they say that paying extra for the SR pays off over time because it's a more reliable engine.

That's what scares me, see, as I'm *not* a gearhead and I don't think I'd be keen to spotting issues with the engine. So if I'm not looking to push more than 12lbs of boost and I'm not trying to get past 300rwhp, will I have about an equal amount of frustration between the SR & the CA? Or is the CA going to be a lot more labor & pain no matter what my goals are?

sorry for the lifestory =/
Modified by fess13 at 7:33 PM 1/26/2010

[nismotuner1]

i vote sr. ca is a great motor but parts are very hard to find! and the sr is a newer motor so your chances of getting a cleaner swap are better. way more aftermarket support for the sr.

[beans33]

Kinda depends on how unique you wanna be. Expect to get a good rebuild on it if want dependability. I did mine that way and haven't had a problem since.

[fess13]

unique as in rhd sil80 - and I think the ca18det would be icing on the cake. The fact that it's cheaper than the SR is also a major factor.

Btw i'm not a COMPLETE noob, I do know how to use the search button & i understand basic engine components - I just don't know how to rebuild one. . . or what it even means to rebuild one.

I guess it's time to be reading all those stickies.
Modified by fess13 at 9:39 PM 1/24/2010

[beans33]

yes you will learn alot

[PyR0NiAk]

You don't want to be a fan boy, yet you want a RHD car.

Having an SR doesn't make you a fanboi. It has a TON of aftermarket support. I usually find parts for my SR easier than my brother can find them for his KA.

[mbmbmb23]

You don't want to be a fan boy, yet you want a RHD car.

Having an SR doesn't make you a fanboi. It has a TON of aftermarket support. I usually find parts for my SR easier than my brother can find them for his KA.

The SR has the biggest aftermarket of any Nissan 4 cylinder motor...so no its not hard to get parts for. The CA has a much smaller market...but also has a much smaller following...so parts can be found if you need them and are resourceful.

[fess13]

You don't want to be a fan boy, yet you want a RHD car.

Having an SR doesn't make you a fanboi. It has a TON of aftermarket support. I usually find parts for my SR easier than my brother can find them for his KA.

I've always wanted a RHD car - it has nothing to do with being madjdmtyte. If i built the car to be right hand drive it would be for two reasons - shock factor in a community where they're one in a million - and because it would be original to the 180sx style.

SRs are a very powerful engine and I'm not knocking on them in any way - I just don't like how large the following is. Every nissan meet I go to, 8/10 240s I see have SRs in them. 1 is stock and the other 1 is a ka-t.

I want something that stands out, that has an easier learning curve than the KA-T (like an SR swap), but still pulls hard.

[themadscientist]

[float_6969]

FJ? Talk about a fanboi! Want to do something that hasn't been done before? How about one of these bad boys?

Non-crossflow head FTW!

[r34 gtr]

Then don't be a fanboi!!

My CA only left me stranded once, and that was because I ran it out of gas. It always fired up right away, and if it didn't, it would do it at my house or my friend's house in my neighborhood.

If it wasn't running well, it still always made it to my destination. Terrible rod knock because I ran it out of oil COMPLETELY at Road Atlanta? No problem. It still made the 3 hour drive home. Drove it around for an hour with ZERO coolant in it because I ran over a branch and it pulled off my lower rad. hose, resulting in the block smoking? No problem. Filled her back up the next day and she ran great.

High-rpm 18psi detonation that was so severe (knock monitor on SAFC went to MAX) that it rattled the brains of my passenger and me? She just shrugged it off.

Plus I can get water pumps, oil pumps, ignition coils, valves, bearings, etc. at the dealership.

I'd like to see your aluminum can SR handle that kind of abuse.

MWAHAHAHAHA

[float_6969]

Yea, I overheated my CA a few times before I rebuilt it and it never seemed to care.

Try that with an SR or KA and see where it lands you.

There is little to nothing that's available for the SR that you can't get for the CA.

BUT they're old. I seriously doubt the chances of getting one in good condition are very good anymore. I've been telling ppl to get a cheap one and plan on rebuilding it.

[ragenasian]

Get the CA and join our small group of CA fanboys!

Hey I have one of those, what do you call them, um FJ's?



Yeah yeah I just like posting pics

[r34 gtr]

Yeah, they are definitely old now. When I get a real job after I graduate this May I am going to seriously buy all my new parts double, so I will be covered when they stop producing stuff for it. I assume that time is coming.

[PyR0NiAk]

Then don't be a fanboi!!

My CA only left me stranded once, and that was because I ran it out of gas. It always fired up right away, and if it didn't, it would do it at my house or my friend's house in my neighborhood.

If it wasn't running well, it still always made it to my destination. Terrible rod knock because I ran it out of oil COMPLETELY at Road Atlanta? No problem. It still made the 3 hour drive home. Drove it around for an hour with ZERO coolant in it because I ran over a branch and it pulled off my lower rad. hose, resulting in the block smoking? No problem. Filled her back up the next day and she ran great.

High-rpm 18psi detonation that was so severe (knock monitor on SAFC went to MAX) that it rattled the brains of my passenger and me? She just shrugged it off.

Plus I can get water pumps, oil pumps, ignition coils, valves, bearings, etc. at the dealership.

I'd like to see your aluminum can SR handle that kind of abuse.

MWAHAHAHAHA

I'd like to see your antique CA produce more impressive dyno sheets than I can count on my fingers and toes. Everyone gets so excited when they make 280whp from a CA. That's depressing. If I'm going to swap a motor, it had better, at least, make some real horsepower.

Edit: I don't even know why anyone who knows anything about a car would actually put their car through all of that... That's as bad as the dude who blew up the ka in my S13 before I bought it.
Modified by PyR0NiAk at 5:54 PM 1/25/2010

[r34 gtr]

Jokes on you buddy boy, my CA currently makes ZERO horsepower because I blew it up doing donuts and other dumb s***.

I put it through hell and back regularly because I loooove it. In fact, I recently loved it so much I broke a ring land and sent a piece of the ring through my oil pump. Fun ensued. Still managed the 200 mile drive home like that though! Woot!

Seriously, don't try and reason with me. I am insaaaane!! Mwahaha!!

[CakeEater]

Just a reminder that your SR is almost just as old and s***ty.

The real reason I love my CA is the fact that when I have a lapping day at the track all I've ever seen are the SR guys having to come in every couple of laps because of heating, mechanical, and other misc reasons.

I can beat the s*** out of CA for however I like and still just keeps on taking it.

Oh and it does produce some real power and is basically a stock engine.

[sjbsuperman1425]

I'd like to see your antique CA produce more impressive dyno sheets than I can count on my fingers and toes. Everyone gets so excited when they make 280whp from a CA. That's depressing. If I'm going to swap a motor, it had better, at least, make some real horsepower.

Edit: I don't even know why anyone who knows anything about a car would actually put their car through all of that... That's as bad as the dude who blew up the ka in my S13 before I bought it.

Modified by PyR0NiAk at 5:54 PM 1/25/2010

why even come in here and try to prove a point? You are rambling because someone doesn't like an SR boo hoo. GET OVER IT! Its an engine for crying out loud lol.

CA is fun, everyone has SR's. I've had no problems with mine and i overheated it 3 times, boost 18psi on stock turbo by accident, and drove it with all the original components that came with it in the "swap package". I wouldn't recommend it, but hey, i did it

bottom line, do what you please. SR, KA, CA are all old. i mean S14 KA's are 15 years old!

[fess13]

thank you guys this has all been very helpful information

[ca18detgabby]

I'd like to see your antique CA produce more impressive dyno sheets than I can count on my fingers and toes. Everyone gets so excited when they make 280whp from a CA. That's depressing. If I'm going to swap a motor, it had better, at least, make some real horsepower.

Edit: I don't even know why anyone who knows anything about a car would actually put their car through all of that... That's as bad as the dude who blew up the ka in my S13 before I bought it.

Modified by PyR0NiAk at 5:54 PM 1/25/2010

are you lost? you might try --->

what is " real power" anyway? what kind of numbers is your SR putting down? Last I checked the SR wasnt putting down 300HP w/o work either....

[ca18detgabby]

I loved My CA before I sold it. car was nothing but reliable and as for the "aftermarket"....... it is totall quality or quanity.

the SR guys can keep their ebay shiz. beyond that I can find ANYTHING at the dealer, autozone(which is something SR guys have issues w/) , other makes/models, and aftermarket supporters.

I cant say much bad about my CA, the only thing that failed on me was 20+ year old OEM water pump BEARING....... superb motor that had many likenesses to our old GNX(S). I do miss the car, but my 6spd VQ is just too much fun.

[zombieslider]

any engine is gonna make power if you put money into it, weather its a ca, sr or domestic 4cyl so that remark you made is completely pointless.

I'd like to see your antique CA produce more impressive dyno sheets than I can count on my fingers and toes. Everyone gets so excited when they make 280whp from a CA. That's depressing. If I'm going to swap a motor, it had better, at least, make some real horsepower.

Modified by PyR0NiAk at 5:54 PM 1/25/2010

[float_6969]

Everyone gets so excited when they make 280whp from a CA. That's depressing.Modified by PyR0NiAk at 5:54 PM 1/25/2010

LOL, does your SR make 280whp? If it did, I'm pretty sure you'd be excited about it. Have you actually driven, much less owned, a 300hp s-chassis car? It IS something to be excited about. It's damn fast. Is Corvette fast? No, of course not. But it doesn't matter what motor is making the power, 300HP is nothing to scoff at in an S-chassis. It'll beat, or at least hang with, most of the other cars that you would run into on the road.

And from experience, traction becomes a serious issue over that mark regardless. I ran my S15 T28 @ 21psi once, just to see what it was like. It spun my Falken Azenis at will up to 4th gear.

[PyR0NiAk]

any engine is gonna make power if you put money into it, weather its a ca, sr or domestic 4cyl so that remark you made is completely pointless.

You missed the point there... The point is, it's a lot easier to make the SR have more power. Hell, a KA is as well.

LOL, does your SR make 280whp? If it did, I'm pretty sure you'd be excited about it. Have you actually driven, much less owned, a 300hp s-chassis car? It IS something to be excited about. It's damn fast. Is Corvette fast? No, of course not. But it doesn't matter what motor is making the power, 300HP is nothing to scoff at in an S-chassis. It'll beat, or at least hang with, most of the other cars that you would run into on the road.

And from experience, traction becomes a serious issue over that mark regardless. I ran my S15 T28 @ 21psi once, just to see what it was like. It spun my Falken Azenis at will up to 4th gear.

My car is still waiting on cams and injectors, so I can't say yes to my SR right now, but as far as driving one with more than 300, friend of mine back home has a ka-t with 400+ whp. So as far as being in one, yes. I've also been in 300+whp hondas as well, which weigh LESS than a 240. I'm sorry. I just don't find it that impressive. Wasn't by any means trying to pick a fight. If you look, I didn't attack the CA until R34 made the comment about the SR.

As far as the ebay shiz gabby. This is the reason I buy from reputable dealers such as CIP, Enjuku, and JWT. I don't think Greddy, HKS, and Garret fall into the ebay category. So last I checked, I don't have any ebay shiz.

Hell, the last thing I bought off ebay was a gauge pod that I bought 3 years ago, which THAT isn't even going in my car. The only reason I even came in this thread was to give the guy helpful advice, which was 100% good intentions. I explained the advantages of the SR over the CA because I, myself, once thought of getting a CA. When my power goals were well over what most people were getting with their CA, I opted for the SR. If you can show me even 3 rom tuned CAs with 400+ whp, I'll take back what I said. The plug and play option is definitely there for the SR though. Hell, I'm sure some of you saw codyace's thread. Some S3 cams and a .64ar 2871 along with a supporting fuel system and he has like 403rwhp. To me, that's impressive.

As far as the dealer thing, I'd probably go aftermarket with most stuff I'd buy at a dealer anyway. Enough people have SRs that if I really want oem, I can get it from someone on here.

Sorry for the long post, I just think people were taking me the wrong way. The OP said he was afraid of a lot of mechanical work. I dropped my blacktop S13 SR in with a few pump changes and a mishimoto thermostat. Car ran great. Then I went to Iraq, came back, and then bought a GT3071R and started ripping s*** apart again.
Modified by PyR0NiAk at 2:52 AM 1/26/2010

[PyR0NiAk]

The real reason I love my CA is the fact that when I have a lapping day at the track all I've ever seen are the SR guys having to come in every couple of laps because of heating, mechanical, and other misc reasons.

Refer to Gabby's ebay shiz comment. That explains most people's issues. A colder thermostat and some E-fans and the overheating problem is fixed.

[float_6969]

You missed the point there... The point is, it's a lot easier to make the SR have more power. Hell, a KA is as well.

Explain easier. Most ppl make about the same power that SR's and KA's make with the same mods. Remember that the main difference is that you run more boost on a CA than you do on an SR or KA with the same turbo. EG, you can run 21psi on a CA w/an SR T28 and get away with it (barely). An SR won't hold 21psi to redline, and IDK if you could even get a T28 to make 21psi on a KA. It's about mass air flow. So given the same MASS AIR FLOW, between the motors, the CA makes the same, or better power than the SR or KA.

The only reason I even came in this thread was to give the guy helpful advice, which was 100% good intentions.

I appreciate this and I'm not trying to pick a fight, but I also don't want mis-information spread around, and there is A LOT of that regarding the CA and what it can and can't do.

When my power goals were well over what most people were getting with their CA, I opted for the SR. If you can show me even 3 rom tuned CAs with 400+ whp, I'll take back what I said.

http://www.sxoc.comhttp://www.nissansilvia.com/I don't have time to do the searching for you, but NICO isn't the best place to look for high HP CA's. This motor isn't popular in the US for some reason, but it's quite popular in the UK and Australia. I promise you that whatever your power goals were, the CA would have met them just fine.

The plug and play option is definitely there for the SR though. Hell, I'm sure some of you saw codyace's thread. Some S3 cams and a .64ar 2871 along with a supporting fuel system and he has like 403rwhp. To me, that's impressive.

I agree that the 400hp route has been laid out a lot better for the SR than it has for the CA, but once again, it's a very attainable HP on a CA and doesn't require anything more than what you would need for the SR.

As far as the dealer thing, I'd probably go aftermarket with most stuff I'd buy at a dealer anyway. Enough people have SRs that if I really want oem, I can get it from someone on here.

Granted the SR's popularity has made getting parts for it relatively simple, but it's still not, "walk down to Advance Auto and it's on the shelf" simple.

Sorry for the long post, I just think people were taking me the wrong way. The OP said he was afraid of a lot of mechanical work. I dropped my blacktop S13 SR in with a few pump changes and a mishimoto thermostat. Car ran great. Then I went to Iraq, came back, and then bought a GT3071R and started ripping s*** apart again.

No worries man. I don't think anybody's upset, just trying to keep the record straight.

[themadscientist]

If I was stateside I would just stick with the KA. Don't see what all the JDM engine BS is about. My loyalty to the CA is based upon the car coming with it and it serving my quite well. The SR, meh. My feelings on the sodacan motor are well documented. If my car came with one originally, ok, I would roll with it, but jump through hoops to swap it, nope.

[PyR0NiAk]

Explain easier.

I agree that the 400hp route has been laid out a lot better for the SR than it has for the CA, but once again, it's a very attainable HP on a CA and doesn't require anything more than what you would need for the SR.

You kind of explained it yourself. What I was meaning by easier, is the easiness of looking online, finding NUMEROUS 400+whp cars to figure out what route you want to go, ordering some bolt-ons that you can get from any popular dealer, and then bolting it all in and ordering a rom tune. It doesn't get much more user friendly when it comes to modifying a car than that.

If I was stateside I would just stick with the KA. Don't see what all the JDM engine BS is about. My loyalty to the CA is based upon the car coming with it and it serving my quite well. The SR, meh. My feelings on the sodacan motor are well documented. If my car came with one originally, ok, I would roll with it, but jump through hoops to swap it, nope.

I wouldn't call an SR swap "jumping through hoops." Splice the 2 wiring harnesses together and it's plug and play. The only further modifications I had to make was space for an FMIC and I adapted some RB25 mounts. A friend of mine had them lying around, and it wasn't hard to make them fit my chassis. All I had to do was make the hole bigger where the mounts go. (On the chassis, not the motor.) To be completely honest with you, it was easier putting the SR in my car than it was getting the KA out of it. The only interference it had was the steering rack coming down by the turbo. I have absolutely nothing against a CA swap. My brother wants to put one in his coupe, and I'm sure I'll be helping him through it whenever I take leave this summer.

fess, I recommend you do some research. I got a little defensive toward the whole SR fanboi thing, because it's a stereotype label that gets annoying. You can see how defensive the CA guys (and gal) get when you insult their ability to create horsepower. Both motors do appear to be strong platforms. My only real argument was, if you MUST have a swap, the SR will be much more laid out for you. Although, there are numerous people on here that I'm sure would help you with any information you need about the CA.
Modified by PyR0NiAk at 11:32 AM 1/26/2010

[r34 gtr]

I'm a CA fanboi.

[Tkca18det]

You can find everything for the SR and its kinda hard to do the same for the CA, however the feeling that you get when you pop da hood and everyone is expecting to see an SR and they have no idea what the CA its all about , is kinda fun.

Mine is 242 WHP with a couple of simple mods nutting fancy and stock internals, ran with 18 psi stock by mistake no problems

Had SR before and sure you can do a lot but my friend´s SR spends more time in the shop than my CA and we have the same mods and same WHP

CA is cheaper!! and if you do a rebuild you ll have a good engine for quite a while.