ca18 vs. ka24det

[sdtouge]

i was wondering what your thoughts on a ka24det with stripped interior vs. a ca with a stripped interrior. i have been thinking about this for a while: if you put in a ca and stripped the interiorer i think with a cf hood and light wieght battery in the trunk it might have a 50/50 weight ballance versus i dont know wheight balance of a kat with gutted interior. does weight distribution even matter that much for drifting. thanks in advance

plus for you ca/sr guys is it hard to get things like oil filters and belts etc.?

[rico05]

It is easier for us to get stuff since a RWD CA series engine was sold in SOHC turbo (200SX SE w/ CA18ET) and DOHC FWD in n/a (Pulsar NX SE w/ CA18DE)

I say comparing KAT to CA is apples to oranges. The KA has cam on bucket valve train, makes great torque, and is already in your car. The CA is cam on bucket, square rod ratio, and is beefy as a mofo.

As for weight distribution: The CA that I reveiced weighed ~640lbs w/ pallet. The KA weighs 493lbs according to SCC. Weight distrubition is very important in any form of motorsport as it will effect the way that the car handles, shifts weight, and what end is more biased to swing or plow. Think of this if you will: The original engineers that designed the S13 chassis did so with the CA18DET in mind, so the dynamics of the car were originally based on that engine. Dunno...just my $.02.

[redamnavit]

Does weight distribution even matter that much for drifting. thanks in advance

Yes, it does. Weight distribution affects oversteer/understeer, among other dynamics of the car's handling. Weight can be compensated for with suspension work (it is in every car) but you're fighting the inherent physics of the car just to get it to neutral BEFORE you adjust it to drive in the style you desire.

Overall a lighter car is also easier to drift without excessive use of power-over technique. Easier to break loose, easier to rein in. This is normal Newtonian stuff; "body in motion tends to stay in motion, body at rest tends to stay at rest".

Yots, I shouldn't be filling the CA forum with this stuff.

Quote »plus for you ca/sr guys is it hard to get things like oil filters and belts etc.? [/quote]

Picked mine up at the dealership last Friday.

[r34 gtr]

well if it means anything to anyone, whenever i spin my car it doesnt favor any end. it spins so well its rediculous, seems to spin around me in the driver's seat. im guessing its pretty freaking neutral.

- tim

[sdtouge]

thanks, does anyone know which engine is the lightest of the sr,ca,kat, or rb25. i guessing its prob. not the rb but you never know

[rico05]

RB25 is about 180lbs more than an S14 KADE (as measured my SCC...come on: it is a 2.5l I6 with a turbo, and a BEFFY transmission). So, the KA seems the lightest w/o turbo, but will loose that advantage when turboed.

[r34 gtr]

i think it would be really close, the sr20 has an aluminum block whereas the ca - though physically smaller - is iron. i think that the weight of the kade, ca and sr will be close enough so that it isnt an issue. if i were you i would just pick whatever you want and roll with it.

- tim

[LoserbabyS13]

I am personally a fan of the CA and KAT. I own a CA powered 240sx. Also the CA with turbo and transmission was slightly lighter than my KA with transmission. I will howver be getting an other 240sx that I will turbo the KA. Like r34 gtr said get what you want an go with it you cant go too wrong in my opinion with either.

[RMiller]

I googled the weights and I got that the ca is 44 lbs lighter than the sr.

[r34 gtr]

cool! thats a nice bit of information i did not know. thanks, and good luck with whichever engine you choose. when buying an engine though, make absolutely sure you get the engine you want because if you dont youll always be thinking "what if..". to be perfectly honest, im kinda like that with the rb20, especially after C and i rode in the jarco inc. rb20 240sx. thing was so smooth, yet so brutal at the same time.

- tim

[sdtouge]

souds good