CA Questions (newb)

Post by **BoroBoroS13** » Sat Dec 27, 2003 6:54 am

I am at the stage where I will be picking a motor for my S13 soon. I was origanly just going to go red top SR20 because you can find just about anything you want for them out there and its not a huge hassle. But, the little CA that I always loved and wanted poped back in my mind and now I cant stop thinking about it. So I have a couple questions;

My goal for the motor is a 300hp daily drivin CA. I need the motor to be reliable, powerful, and responcive (Not cheap). I was thinking that whats needed for this goal would be an engine overhaul and a setup based around the HKS GT2530 turbo. Now, for this goal would you guys recommend any internal work (at least pistons?) or would the stockers do? I would also know what to do about tuning? Do you guys use JWT or should I be looking somewhere else for my tuning needs in this case? If you have any ideas on this it would help me a great deal.

Post by **BoroBoroS13** » Sat Dec 27, 2003 6:54 am

Oh, Im also reading about some trannie falures and people using hybrid SR/CA trannies. Is the CA's weak point the trannie?

I would also like to know exactly what are the weakist points in the CA setup.

Thx for answering all my newb questions.

Post by **Nismo1182** » Sat Dec 27, 2003 6:54 am

You can get a CA to 300 whp on stock internals as long as the motor is in good shape. Just ask Dee (Boost Boy)!

And you need a is a nice sized turbo and basic mods. And from what I hear, its better to go stand alone over JWT.

Post by **alfred183** » Sat Dec 27, 2003 6:54 am

I heard AFTER 300 you start blowing head gaskets and stretching head studs. I'm going for 280 or so myself ^__^

Post by **Myetball** » Sat Dec 27, 2003 6:54 am

BoroBoroS13 wrote:Oh, Im also reading about some trannie falures and people using hybrid SR/CA trannies. Is the CA's weak point the trannie?

I would also like to know exactly what are the weakist points in the CA setup.

Thx for answering all my newb questions.

Don't know what you are reading but the CA transmission is built like a tank. The SR trannies are the ones that can not stand up to high HP for long.

Also, there aren't really any serious "weak points" to the CA. Most of the engine failures you can read about are due to improper tuning at high HP. Make sure you have a good stand alone to manage your engine if you're going for 300hp. I wouldn't rely on JWT.

Post by **float_6969** » Sat Dec 27, 2003 6:54 am

Ok, the deal with the trannies is that THEY ARE ALL THE SAME transmission!!! They have different gears in them, but the construction is the same. The bellhousing and the gears are the only difference. I currently have a CA transmission that has a minor problem. The bearing for the main input shaft is going out. But the syncros are all still good and I don't feel that the transmission is weak by any means.

Post by **BoroBoroS13** » Sat Dec 27, 2003 6:54 am

Hmm, I see that the trannie isnt a weak point. I guess I was mislead by my readings.

As for ECU, im kind of suprised. In the FWD SR20DET community most people use JWT. Most people consider stand alone to be less reliable and more expensive to set up than a JWT ECU. What would be the benifits and do they outweight the extra costs?

Post by **slw240sx** » Sat Dec 27, 2003 6:54 am

JWT would be a complete rip off for a CAmotor , why you ask???

cause i doubt they have ever seen a CA inperson or had one in their shop. you could ask around im sure a few people around here could help with the ECU tunning in the near future. me and my crew being one since we have the equipment and some of the knowledge to do it. im running my own custom chip although it is only for a MAF and speed cut removed

Post by **float_6969** » Sat Dec 27, 2003 6:54 am

After the first of the year, Jon (slw240sx) and I should have a chip worked out for Z32 MAFS, 550cc injectors, S14 SR20 T28 turbo, and 12 psi. We're going to use my car for the testing. After this I will probabally go standalone. The SDS unit is very popular here. Talk to Dee (boost_boy). He has personal experience with it and is very happy with it.

Post by **Xero** » Sat Dec 27, 2003 6:54 am

hey slw240sx, did you ever get your EPROM and get it running? I'd like to hear about that (I'm soooo behind and out of it, don't leave for months and then come back :p )

Post by **Nismo1182** » Sat Dec 27, 2003 6:54 am

Who ever told you that crap about stand alones doesnt know anything. yes they are more expensive and have to be tuned on a dyno but the benefits far out weights the costs. Every single thing on your motor can be tuned rather that JWT $600 reprogram and $100 reprogram every time you change something on your car. Plus theyre tuned to run a little on the rich side.

A stand alone you can tune it to perfection when ever you want or when you add new mods.

The FWD SR20 guys run that because its either that or a stand alone. And most of them wouldnt spend or can afford a stand alone.

Post by **float_6969** » Sat Dec 27, 2003 6:54 am

Standalone is ALWAYS a better option than a reprogram. And I don't care WHAT system you use, it's ALWAYS better. Better if you know what you're doing or you take it to somebody who knows what they're doing. If you don't know how to tune a care, standalone won't do you any good.

Post by **BoroBoroS13** » Sat Dec 27, 2003 6:54 am

Thx, that cleared it up a lot for me.

Im also interested in that chip you guys are talking about. Sounds a lot like the mods I was planing on doing for my S13. I think its pretty cool that you guys are doing something needed for the CA community. Good luck and I hope to hear more about it soon.

Post by **boost_boy** » Sat Dec 27, 2003 6:54 am

You can run 300+whp on a daily driven CA18DET powered vehicle by using a decent fuel system, an efficient turbo, bigger injectors and all this can be done on an internally stock CA18DET. If you're a cheapy-cheap-*ss, change your goals immediately because the quest will run you a few extra dollars.

Post by **slw240sx** » Sat Dec 27, 2003 6:54 am

actually for a daily driver sometimes a standalone isnt always best, they can be rather tempermental on every day basis.

float, just let me know we have a program ready remember youll want to dyno it to help us get the fueling close enough with out being damaging.

Xero, yeah we got the Eprom stuff working i was actually running a chip till my turbo blew out, same weekend that we were going to upgrade the injectors and chip again, so i havnt tested a chip that had modification to the fueling

float i have some 450s for sale if you want them, im goin to 550s since im shooting for about 400 to tha wheels.

Post by **boost_boy** » Sat Dec 27, 2003 6:54 am

Quote »actually for a daily driver sometimes a standalone isnt always best, they can be rather tempermental on every day basis.[/quote] I would say that's not totally true! My (2) JWT ecus were very temperamental on an everyday basis. The SDS does not use barometric pressure sensing, only map; and it feeds off the water temperature sensor and air temperature sensor as well, which makes it no more different than a factory system. It all boils down to who's the geek behind the tuning and how well he/she knows the engine they are dealing with.

You actually can run this system in closed loop function for cruising and program the closed loop function to cut off at a certain rpm. To those that use systems that require laptops, they a have to go through a bit more lugging that thing around, but I'm sure most standalones offer this feature as well.

If you burn a chip and it's values aren't correct, that usually would spell disaster for a hard-head booster who just wants to go fast because most limiters get removed in chip burning leaving the user's failsafe options very limited. If there's no failsafe for AFM operation failure, which will more than likely create a non-startable condition, then the user is up a creek without a paddle.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is those who burn chips are the deep down experimenters who are willing to risk tossing some engine to further develop their chip burning skills and to create a good chip. I have been down that road with a well known ecu reprogrammer and it has cost too many engines, hence the reason why I went standalone am now responsible for writing my own programs and am extremely happy to say "money well-spent and knowledge well-gained". "Jon" I wish you much success at writing programs for nissan ECUs and it would be more than a pleasure to see someone supercede JWT products.

Dee

Post by **Spectre23** » Sat Dec 27, 2003 6:54 am

I have a source in Japan for getting your CA ECU reprogrammed. He deals a lot with all Nissans. He ownes a tuner shop there. I think he told me $400 shipped for the ECU reprogramming. Of course shipping it to him in the first place is up to you. I bought some 444cc injectors from him and they arrived in under a week. I have friends that have bought from him too, and they have all been impressed with his services. Also, he is very knowlegable and helpful when it comes to Nissan engines. Let me know if you want his email address.

Post by **quest** » Sat Dec 27, 2003 6:54 am

who is doing the programming/tuning is critical.jwt has put out some sloppy tuning occasionally. Freshalloy had a post where someone monitored the timing curve for jwt ecus modified for boost... they all showed identical ignition curves, despite 10 vs 20psi vs inj or mafs used - verryyy conservative at that! An msd btm could do the same thing, alot cheaper and on top of that its adjustable... right there and now.There are florida guys tuning SR ecus that make ~360-395whp on pump and perform crisp apparently. They do CA also, ask 'em.Piggyback controlling your fuel and timing can push u far, but just as with standalone, tuner better know what he's doing. Great for those who wanna learn to tune and squeeze more outta their setup.Standalones remove the limits of the oe management. I'd go this route if my goal was 400 and up..... or if I had no ecu/loom

Post by **float_6969** » Sat Dec 27, 2003 6:54 am

jon - I'm going to have to wait till after the first of the year. I still need to get the Z32 mafs. i've got brand new 550cc NISMO injectors, and once I get the new compressor blade for my S14 BB turbo, I should be ready to get it all in there. I've still got you in mind and when I'm ready to go, I"ll let you know.

Post by **slw240sx** » Sat Dec 27, 2003 6:54 am

most limiters get removed in chip burning leaving the user's failsafe options very limited. If there's no failsafe for AFM operation failure, which will more than likely create a non-startable condition, then the user is up a creek without a paddle."

we are actually working on the limiters on the burnt chips i think it will still be there just a lil higher then stock. im not the technical math guy doin the programs , but we have acess to a dyno wideband and all the other equipment needed to safely monitor the car while chipping .

we would have had a crack at a norris designs chip but i washed it in the washing machine and broke the pins on it. if any one wants to volunteer a burnt chip for a week we can copy it and see what all changes are on it

CA Questions (newb)

CA Questions (newb)

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