Ca-det auto transmission w/ 5spd transmission?

[RS12Turbo]

Is it possible to use a ca18det auto transmission ecu with a 5 speed transmission? Will the ecu throw codes or anything?Any advantages or disadvantages with using the auto transmission ecu?

Thanks

[yourmomsrps13]

someone correct me if im wrong but i believe you can and you wont have the fuel cut/speed limiter. thats an advantage if you ask me

[capwred]

yes you can use one.and yes it will still have the speed cut.mine does and use the suto transmission that came with my clip.

[RS12Turbo]

So it sounds like then I CAN use a 5 spd transmission with a auto ECU with no problems?Does the neutral safety switch from the 5 spd transmission get wired in, or can it stay unplugged? I'll be using my "B" 5 spd ca18et transmission and lower engine wiring harness, and it has the neutral safety switch.What about the flywheel? Which one do I need to use in place of the one for the auto transmission? Any idea if my ca-et flywheel will bolt up? Also how about the starter........does the ca-det use the same one for both the 5spd and slush box?

Thanks

[fluent]

You will have to use the CA18DET manual starter motor & flywheel (make sure you machine and balance to clutch) and Auto ECU works fine with Manual Box (I'm using it atm, its slightly richer at Idle then the Manual ECU I believe).

[RS12Turbo]

You will have to use the CA18DET manual starter motor & flywheel

Is there not a U.S. equivalent flywheel and starter I can use?

[fluent]

Sorry mate, can't help ya there...I'm in Australia! :P

[RS12Turbo]

Worse comes to worse, I could get an aftermarket flywheel.How about the starter? Does the Auto starter differ from the manual starter?

[fluent]

Yeh, the Manual Starter is different from the Auto Starter

[float_6969]

You may have trouble with the flywheel portion of this project. IDK if there is any USDM flywheel that is going to work for you. You can try a CA18ET flywhee, but AFAIK, nobody's done it, and we don't know if it works or not.

You CAN use an SR lightweight flywheel, but it's larger, so some modifications will have to be made for it to work. The bellhousing on the trans has to be ground down, you have to find a gear reduction, hitachi brand, starter from a CA18ET, and use a Maxima clutch IIRC. (maybe you can use a regular SR clutch, I'm not sure) It's been talked about before, you'll just have to dig for it.

[BACARDI_DWB]

just wondering why do you want an automatic transmission?

[RS12Turbo]

just wondering why do you want an automatic transmission?

I don't...........I have to use my S12's 5 spd CA18ET transmission anyway, because a ca-det 5 spd transmission is longer which will require hacking on the S12 chasis and custom drive shaft to make it work. A ca-det front clip /w auto transmission is about $700 cheaper than a 5spd clip......so thats the only reason I am considering getting one, but if it is going to be a pain in the arse to find parts to make it work, I'll just get a 5spd clip.I have heard that a ca18et flywheel won't work, because it has less bolt holes than a ca-det...... I do have a ca-et fly wheel, so if it will work, that would be great......can anyone confirm? I did see an aftermarket flywheel listed for a ca-det somewhere for like $250 new.Someone on club s12 has used a ca20 starter on their ca-det project, but I don't think they have cranked it yet...they just said it bolted up.

[float_6969]

The CA18DET flywheel is connected to the crank by 8 bolts. Do you realize what you're getting into from a wiring standpoint? From what I've heard, wiring a CA18DET into an S12 is a headache due to the S12 having the ECU and body harness's combined. I could be wrong.

Bolting the S12 trans up to the CA18DET shouldn't be a problem as long as you've got a trans that was designed to bolt up to a CA18E(T). As far as the computer is concerned it won't care if you've got a 5spd hooked up. If you can find a CA18DET (rwd) flywheel, you should be all set, aside from the wiring.

[RS12Turbo]

Well, from what I've read on club s12 the wiring doesn't look too bad, pretty simple. There are multiple members on there that have done the swap in their ca20 and ca18et cars.Here is a "how 2" that someone did to swap one into a s12.......http://www.club-s12.org/forums...14859

I believe the ca18et fly wheel is also 8 bolts....but something is different than the ca-det one....maybe it's the bolt pattern??

[oversteer180]

The wiring isnt too bad. Good luck with your s12.. I used to have an 84, and they are fun little cars.

[Dattebayo]

On the left, CA-ET 6-bolt. On the right, CA-DET 8-bolt.They are also different thicknesses...

Not compatible!

[RS12Turbo]

On the left, CA-ET 6-bolt. On the right, CA-DET 8-bolt.

Not compatible!

Ahhhh, haaa!! I kenw there was something different between the 2.......i just couldn't remember what. Thanks for clearing that up.

[RS12Turbo]

you have to find a gear reduction, hitachi brand, starter from a CA18ET

So my ca18et starter WILL work then?

[float_6969]

It's supposed to. I've never done it so I can't verify that info.

[Indecisive]

wasn't somebody saying that it bolts up, but the teeth count or the teeth design wasn't right and it wouldn't properly crank over the engine? I think it may have been sean that was saying this, but I'm not 100% sure.