CA questions

[maroon240]

I'm thinking about getting a CA for my s13. How hard is it to do the swap your self ? like from one to ten. I'm to poor to pay anyone to do it. If there is anyone that is in the midatlantic region for pretty cheap, let me know. When you wire up the car does all the clips meet up with each outher, and should I buy a clip or a motor set.

[bias]

I just did it. Easier than I thought. You have to get the engine/transmission, wire harness complete , ecu, intercooler/piping, stock harness, 91-94 gauge cluster and power steering lines, KA speed sensor, soldering iron/rosin solder, electrical tape, engine lift, jack, oil, antifreeze, wrenches, scissors,flat head screw driver, down pipe, exhaust(more than stock),and patience. You have to check your engine very well just in case you need to replace some stuff before you drop it in, clutch,gaskets,bolts,oil seals etc. It's not hard at all if you have help tp get the engine in the bay and transmission mounted.

[themadscientist]

If you are that poor then do not try it. Too many people get ahead of themselves on these swaps and move too early. They wind up with a dead car in the garage with a half-installed CA, RB or SR. It sits for months while they try to scrape up enough money to just get the swap done and then when they fire it up they discover they have a dead cylinder or the turbo is DOA and the car sits for several more months while they try to figure out what to do and how to foot the bill. I would like that to not be you, let me suggest the following.

Don't give up the CA swap idea, it's not a bad idea.

Do your research. Use the search function and dive into the threads to see what pitfalls the others have encountered, what the costs were etc.

Assume the motor you get will need a complete overhaul, it will. You hear those "motor started right up and no problems for a year" stories third hand but don't count on it! Start with the worst-case price for a motorset, then add the price of a full gasket set, bearings, rings etc. Include machine work costs; head decking, honing the cylinders etc. After you have arrived at that price I would add an additional WTF fund for any unexpected suprizes.

When you have accumulated that much money, only then would I source the motor. Only after the motor was overhauled whould I bother swapping it in.

Before this though I would suggest you take a critical look at the car the motor will be going in. The KA is fine for now, you might want to spend a couple of months and your immediate cash on foundation items. Depending on what you expect out of the CA you might need to upgrade the supporting elements; fuel pump, radiator, diff, suspension, guages and engine control.

Wouldn't it be a clever idea to buy something like an SDS now and install it on the KA24 and learn how to use it there. When your CA is in wiring it up and getting it running will be that much easier becasue you have been down that road and made your mistakes. You could sell the OE harness to some less fortunate sould whose motorset's harness was screwed.

What I am going for is think long term and identify any place where the thing could go wrong and assume it will and prepare contingencies. Your enthusiasm will quickly die if you go into this on faith and a shoestring budget.

[MasterZenki]

i agree on that... "Ooh JDM engine for what?? about $1k? im down!" seems nice but once you get it you need to do alot of work on the engine itself and less work on the swap ...my suggestion to you (i wish someone told me this before i did my swap)...save up to build your CA and for mods you want...get em all in prep them all...like they say for cooking "Mise en place"...once you have everything just drop it in connect everything start her up and start tuning it....

i was sucha noob that i got mine dropped it in and worked on it from there...so now mine is running and fully swapped but im just waiting for $$ for IC, guages, and all that good stuff >_<

[bias]

I agree with all that has been said, but you can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink. Some people have to make mistakes to learn, thats life. If they spend money to get everything and it gets stuck in the garage tuff! I think it would happen anyway even after a rebuild and upgrades. Things happen all the time it's up to the individual to have the drive to get it done. I believe that if they were that poor they wouldn't even be in this forum. I have seen places charging like 1500 not including parts. I think maroon240 just used a bad choice of words. I did my swap and I didn't see it being worth $100+ for wiring and $1000-1500 for the swap itself.

[asher4857]

people dont take in mind everything theyre gonna need to buy. Even the little things

1. Lots of oil.. im talking atleast 3 changes worth2. Coolant3. Grease4. transmission Fluid5. Belts6. Hoses7. Extra tool here and there

It all adds up..

[MasterZenki]

people dont take in mind everything theyre gonna need to buy. Even the little things

1. Lots of oil.. im talking atleast 3 changes worth2. Coolant3. Grease4. transmission Fluid5. Belts6. Hoses7. Extra tool here and there

It all adds up..

to the guy planning this swap...in response to the quote....patience and perseverence are good things to keep in mind if you say you are "poor"...look for discounts, coupons, deals....for example i was able to buy a box of (24) x 1qt. Mobile 1 oil for $8 from Schucks...and dont take peoples word for prices...check it yourself...people told me the pressure hose for power steering would run you at least $100 but it cost me $50-60 from autozone...and dont go super cheapo and get all low prices but also go for quality and warrantees...its better to pay a lil extra to get something that will last than to get the cheaper one just to replace it again....check Autozone, Advanced Auto, and places like that...they normally rent tools for a price or free.......that is all.