A first attempt to learn about the CA18DET--help me out.

[Projex240]

I am used to working on ka-t's and like the idea of the ca. Its iron block, turbocharged, and affordable compared to the sr20. Plus, the best quality is that its unique. There arent alot of people that have it, and those who do are still learning and making headway. I would like to start a new project soon as i have found a s13 chassis with no motor for an UNBELIEVABLE price of 100.00(an old lady owned it and her husband died shortly after the rod spun a bearing --is what i beleive happened to it). Its a 93 shell with PERFECT interior and other than the blown motor, is immaculate. This will be the new home of my CA. Unfortunately, after about 3 hours of searching on the subject, and trying to peice together what I need to know to get this thing rolling, im not coming up with too much. The info is scattered and what is there is good, but i havent been able to find some really good definative info yet about what is needed to install the motor. I have seen the interchange guide, and i know that some parts fro the sr will fit the ca (ignitor, transmission, etc) I have heard that the ca can use 300zx TT pistons as an upgrade. I have also read that from the sheer age of the motors, that they can be problem children and the turbos that come with your motorsets almost never last. Soooooo. When this thing gets underway, I wont be putting the motor in stock--it will be built first. I dont mean refreshened, I mean BUILT. Headwork, cams, bottom end, turbo mani, etc---you get the dorifuto. Even though I have worked on them plenty, i have never owned an sr powered 240. Therefore, i am used to having to custom fab everything for my KA-T. This will be a nice change being able to order off the shelf parts from companies like hks, toda, tomei, greddy, etc.

My first question. Where the heck do I get the wiring done? I dont like fooling with wiring at all, so id rather have a shop do the conversion for me. Ill pay for it for a good price--gladly. Also, where can I get a good aftermarket turbo manifold? I have used jsg manifolds in the past, and like them, but i am looking for a tubular or equal length manifold if theres on available to the masses. Cams--wheres the best place to order them from? Intake manifolds--does greddy make one like they do for the sr?Turbos--other than teh gt25r and the s14/15 turbos--what are popular choices.Revlimits--what the heck is the stock rev lmit? WHat is safely attainable of stock setups, and built setups. I have seen topics with 9k in the discussion, but wanted some clarification. I intend to become a knowledgable person about this motor. I hope you all can help me out in doing this.

Thanks,

Josh

[euroboy]

well if a shop will do the swap for you then you don't really need to know the how to.jun arias cp all these make aftermarket parts for ca if you got the dough.other than that i am not sure on the 300zxthe max you can go is a t28 then after that a t3 or larger you either need a costum exhaust mani or weld the ends your choise reallyon a t25 there is no need why you should be able to go above 7500, even that is too much i thinkat 6500 a t25 will loose efficiency.to go to 9k would be plain stupid on stock motor.need to upgrade valve train and maybe the bottom end if used once in a while and definetly the bottom end if go to 9k regurlarlycams, jun tomei etcintake mani hard to get, ours are pretty good but like i said if you got the dough any performance machine shop will design one for you.exhaust mani aftermarket, haven't seen one around so your local shop can do one for you if you really in for that. I would check the flow of the stock one and then go from there.

[NeedCAforS13]

if you want to chat on AIM sometime, I might be able to help out more, but here's afew of my thoughts on the questions...

SR ignitor fits but you need to re-wire your plugs, so why? CA ignitors are like half the price of SR ones, or you can get a pulsar or Q45 one from a junkyard for free (5 finger discount )

If you're "building" the motor, don't cheap out with OEM 300z pistons! I don't know if they work, but I wouldn't say they are too much of an upgrade. There are afew companies starting to carry CA pistons, so grab a set from one of them:)

Wiring is easy, so you could probably do it yourself, but if you insist on sending it somewhere, I know a local guy that does amazing harness work for good prices... he does all Enjuku's harnesses/swap work.

Also, I don't know why you don't think you'll have to custom make things anymore, because there is almost NO "off the shelf" available CA performance parts... its nowhere near SR parts availability yet, and you're more than likely going to wait months for parts from Japan... so just continue making those custom stuff like you did with your KAT;)

what kind of manifold do you want? Dee (boost boy) has a shop in Miami making custom tubular t3 manifolds (Search for pictures and pricing) for around $400 IIRC. the t3/t4 setup is what most people recommend for CA's. There was a big arguement on the GT25R vs. T3/T4 afew months ago that is worth reading (again search for it in here) I don't have much experience with different turbo's as I am running an SR turbo, which was a bolt on affair, so I won't comment on which one's I think are better.

JGS tools manifolds are pretty well liked, but they don't stock our CA flange, so it'll be a little more pricey than the KA manifolds... SSAutoChrome just started making CA manifolds, but they're bottom mount t2 flanges, and are not equal length. I also am somewhat iffy about the quality of their stuff.

About the only shop that carries CA stuff is SPL parts, and you'll have to talk to Alan about them. They are a Tomei dist. but they might be able to get JUN, HKS, etc... any parts will be coming from japan, so again, expect a lengthy wait!

Welcome to the CA section:) make sure you read the old threads... there is SO much info in them!

Sean

[Jezz_s13]

How much do JGS charge for a top mount CA manifold?

Do they do a CA equivalent to the better SR manifold?

[Projex240]

I am not positive on which pistion i would choose yet. I would lean towards CP since they are a company that has been designing piston for winston cup cars for many years. The intake manifold isnt HUGE concern, But i would like to have one. Cusotm is coolw ith me, But there is a certian amount of available parts that are off the shelf that i have seen. Aftermarket coilpacks, ecus, cams (which arent available to ka-t owners in turbo grinds unless theya re custom --jwt cams drop compressionway too much when used on a turbo car--were tlaking down to about 130 psi on all cylinders). I simply like the idea of the CA and its "JDMNESS" and since im not the bandwagon type--the sr isnt my first choice. The ca will be much more satisfying for me to work on---I will holler at you needca--as soon as i figure out my AIM probelm. We had a heck of a storm last night and ever since, i cant get my aim to sign on....weird.

[NeedCAforS13]

haha I blew up my monitor yesterday, so I'll probably be away for awhile... I'm using my roommate's computer, but he doesn't have AIM:(

Sean

[Projex240]

Download it for him--it take slal of like 3 minutes and its free and you can put your name on his computer--

I asked in the other thread but it cant really hurt to ask here too---where could i buy a ca for around 1000-1300? I am ready to rock this project.

[NeedCAforS13]

http://www.jhotexports.com/nissan_engine_sets.htm

jhot has had good stuff in the past, and its within your price range:)

Sean

[Projex240]

sweet--i am liking the way the price is looking. Is there any feedback on what the quality of the motor is? What is the most common problem wiht these motors other than the age of the turbos? Any seals that I need to pay special attention to before the motor goes in the car? I have looked and seen the deal wth the ca's turbo. The seals will be al new when it goes in. Replacing seals with the motor out of the car rather than in...

Are there any sensors that go out alot? ignitors? the ecu--how is it with the upgraded ecus? Im trying to get all of this outof theway before i get knee deep in the swap ad then have to stop inthe middle.

-Thanks,

Josh

[NeedCAforS13]

rico05 has a jhot motor, and he says its good quality:)

just go get a gasket kit. its the easiest way. I guess I got lucky and was able to get my stuff though Nissan, but according to some people who have recently gone looking, Nissan doesn't sell alot of the gaskets anymore:( I would try finding a felpro gasket kit, and going from there...

my stuff I replaced:

as far as sensors, there really isn't any one sensor that goes bad... wait till you have the motor installed, and replace as necessary:) water pump is something I would highly reccomend, as are rod bearings.

Sean

[Projex240]

when replaceing the headgasket ( i hope im not getting to far ahead of myself)--is there a refernec i can use for timing and and/ or a write up on the putting the had back on and lining the timing up?One other thing--what kind of realistic power can thee thins put out with a turbo upgrade and bolt on parts? Considering the age and overall condition of the motors, Ill be building it--should 350-400 be tough to get?There was a guy who had a ca with like 400 HP--he had a pic of him flying a plane in his avatar. Basically, theres three things want--a custom intake manifold, a custom tubular manifold, w/ a t3/t04e turbo--or simply an s14 or s15 turbo, and a nice clean setup under the hood. Oh--and an s13 fron end. This will most likely be the only JDM project i ever do with my 240. Im not a BIG fan of the sr20 althgoutht hey are qcuik. I dont like bandwagon shyt.

I need more info--

feed me as much as you can-

p.sp--my aim is back up- AIM --- Projex240

[NeedCAforS13]

my AIM is SOlsenA6... I'll be on for awhile:)

the guy with the flying avatar is MovingViolation240 who has since moved on the SR's and s14's, but yeah his CA s13 was awesome. It was also built with a trust manifold and all sorts of fun stuff... not just turbo and bolt ons.

go t3/t4 instead of t28 if you're looking for big power... the t28 is a great street turbo capable of 250+, but its not gonna get you anywhere near 350 or 400...

Sean

[Projex240]

Oh--ok ., I know that guy--hes selling his sweet *** s14 sr now--

sucha shame.Im goign to order a motor that built already toa ca19 i think. I see alot of them already done going for a very affordable price.

what you think?

[stealthj]

what MAF is better to use, CA16de PULSAR or KA24E?

i need one and im buying one or the other whats the diff and which oens better?

[midnightclubbaa]

is it common to rebuild a CA motor as soon as you get it

[NeedCAforS13]

not a complete rebuild, but it does require a bit more than most motors, just due to the age of the motors... these motors are just as old as a KA24E!

Sean

[midnightclubbaa]

what should be replaced when you get the motor