CA18DE-Turbo'd... questions?

[NeedCAforS13]

Hey guys, I got my CA18DE motor this afternoon, and I have a few questions...

1) About the coolant/oil lines for the turbo. The old DET block had holes tapped in it, that attached to lines that went to the turbo. The DE block has no such holes (DAMN IT!) so I need to know how to do this?

Can I tap them myself, or is this something only a machine shop should do? It looks like it has the coolant return hole already there in the block, but it has a bolt in it to plug it. The oil feed line, however, is just a round spot on the block (looks like it wants to have a hole but there is none...)

I assume I can use my old coolant feed line that went behind the head and my old oil pan... so its only really the one oil feed line that I need. Suggestions?

2)Is there anything else I should consider doing/ or have to add when turboing this CA18DE? I have a new headgasket/ head bolts/ complete gasket set from Nissan... anything else you would suggest doing?

Thanks (pictures coming soon:D)

Sean

[Trigger]

yo if its an oil line your needing just put a "T" connector where the OPS is and run a line from that to the turbo...not sure about the coolant...maybe i am sure there is a way to run it off the coolant hose..but thats how i did the oil lines on the civics that i have turbo'ed and it works great....just have to make sure you get it tight or it will leak

[NeedCAforS13]

hmm... i have the coolant lines under control... they are all hooked up. its just the oil feed line... I might look into that:) thanks! anyone else?

Sean

[Trigger]

it works great for me and the OPS is alot easier to get to on the CA then the damn D series motors

[NeedCAforS13]

OPS = oil pressure sender I'm guessing?

Sean

[Trigger]

yes

[Nismo1182]

Might just tap off the OPS when I get a bigger turbo. The stock location is awfully close to the exhaust manifold to get a decent sized line up in there.

Did you pick up those parts, Sean?

Get pics of that motor! Or better yet, I want to stop by and check it out

[NeedCAforS13]

Sorry, about to head into school for the day I don't finish today until around 5ish... I can get your stuff at work next time I go in:)

If you want to come over and check out the motor BRING SOME TOOLS!!! I want to pull it apart, but this screwdriver only thing is really hampering my progress (I left my tools at work!!!) specifically the socket with the hex fitting to remove the head bolts:D

Sean

[boost_boy]

Are you going to change the pistons? If you are popping off the head and oil pan, you may as well get you a fresh set of rings, stick them on the turbo pistons and roll out.

[NeedCAforS13]

I have no turbo pistons? the old ones are f'd up, and I don't have money for forged ones... the plan was high comp DE pistons for now:) but how hard would it be to change the rings... I might go ahead and do that...

Sean

[themadscientist]

I have a DET shortblock left over from my CA20DET experiment, you want the pistons in it?

[NeedCAforS13]

Ooooohhhh sure why not:D I'm still undecided as to whether the DE high compression pistons will be more fun as a daily driver or if I should put some DET pistons in? your opinions Mike or Dee please:)?

Sean

[boost_boy]

Put in the DET pistons "Sean". You'll hate yourself later if you don't. Changing the rings is very easy and can be ordered pretty cheap.

[themadscientist]

If you had the DET block with the piston oilers I would say use the DE pistons but with the higher compression and 91 octane gas on domed cast pistons it sounds risky.

[NeedCAforS13]

I do have a DET block remember;) here is what I have... suggestions on what I should do:

CA18DE: complete motor, good everything (basically completely together, I just got it yesterday, and am tearing into it right now)

CA18DET: good block/ rods/ crank/ bad head w/ good cams, springs, lifters, valves... in a state of disarray in my garage... its down to bare block, bare head, crank is on my workbench, oil pump was busted removing crank and everything is off the motor. It needs bearings, pistons, and gaskets (and whatever machining is needed to make everything work again, hone the block, install the rings, install the bearings)

I see my options as this:

1.) wait another month or 2 for $$$ to rebuild my DET block with DE (or DET?) pistons and DE head and new bearings, gaskets, etc...

2.) go with the DE block/head/ pistons and turbo it now... I can afford a new upper gasket set (including headgasket) at the current time, and run with that.

I am very interested in running a high compression motor, as it seems like it would make for a fast around town kind of car...

Thanks,Sean

[Trigger]

i would say throw that motor in as is and start saving to rebuild the DET...the DE motor should work good enough for now til your ready to throw the beast back in there...atleast that is what i would do.

Tim

[CA19DET]

i think what you need to do sean as you have the two variants of the CA18 hanging around is scrap the two and build up the DET,

if not get some new rings and install the mains girdle on the DE block..

or just use the DET block with DET pistons rings, oil squirters and most importantly the main girdle..

[NeedCAforS13]

the DE has the girdle no? let me go pull it right now... i want to see once and for all!:D

Sean

[NeedCAforS13]

OK I can say 100% that a CA18DE (RWD from an s13 Silvia) DOES have a crank girdle(I'm looking at mine right now)... and the same thick rods that my DET had:D... so it looks like the ONLY difference is the piston oil squirters!

Sean

[boost_boy]

Throw some turbo pistons and new rings in that puppy and be gone; screw the oil squirters.

[NeedCAforS13]

sounds like a plan... wanna come install new rings with me dee? i have no idea how to do it (I might just bring the motor to work with me, and see if the other mechanics can install them for me:))

Sean

[boost_boy]

I would love to , but it's such a piece of cake, you can really do it yourself.

[NeedCAforS13]

you wanna walk me through it on the phone some time;)?

Sean

[boost_boy]

Not a problem, just make sure you have a ring expander when you call and we'll go through it. After the 1st one, you'll be a master at it.

[NeedCAforS13]

excellent:D thanks Dee! (should I order standard size rings? the ca18de ring set is like $70 from Nissan with my price;))

Sean

[float_6969]

When I did it, we didn't have a ring compressor, so we used a cofee can and a band clamp. Worked great and much cheaper!

[boost_boy]

Standard is the way to go! I will be doing the same thing to the other CA18DE, but this one is going to get a custom header manifold, bigger turbo and possibly rewire the harness for my old JWT ecu, z32 afm and 550cc injectors.

[boost_boy]

Quote »so we used a cofee can and a band clamp[/quote] Hate it or not, but the ghetto-styles are definitely in full effect:D .

[float_6969]

Man, I live in Kansas. Ghetto-style and hick-style are the ONLY styles we have!

[McAdam]

Have you considered just throwing 2 headgaskets on the CA18DE to lower the compression a bit?? Maybe even a 2mm HKS gasket that you can re-use on your CA18DET when you get it. its an old trick, but it should work. Should be fine for street use if you can get the compression to about 9:1 or so. Keep the boost down low, like maybe no higher than 10psi, and you should be good to go.

McAdam