CA18DET i need help. Parts i need?

[TroubleSum240]

HI! I have a s13 Coupe Wanting to swap KA24E with CA18DET. i have the CA motor already just no trans. but i have ecu and wiring harness. i'm sorry i know this could be a headache for some but can someone make a list of parts i will need to do this swap?
i hear that with a CA bell housing can be used with KA Trans. is this safe? i have no clue on what i need or what KA parts i can use. i would greatly appreciate any help that anyone can offer to me. also am i getting myself into an expensive project? i want to be as cheap with this as possible i'm not rich. but i don't want to be dumb with it.

Feel free to PM

Thanks!

[boost_boy]

Are you at least mechanically inclined? If you don't have the $$$s to toss at a CA project, then you should stick to an aspirated KA or something along those lines. Turbocharging costs and the vendors out here can care less about tough economic times. If you're not mechanically inclined, but have some dough to play with, then you should pay someone to set it up for you. As for a bellhousing, if you buy an engine set, then your problem is solved. Good luck with the cheap route, it almost never works well with forced induction applications.

[Noxy]

I'm just gonna through this in here as well because you were talking about a bellhousing. I found a very cheap complete long block and started a side build on my S13 between projects to my B-chassis. It didn't have a transmission, and it took me A LONG time to find one, but I'm not in a rush to finish. If you are adamant about a CA18 get a complete swap (even though most people do =P), because spare parts aren't as readily available.

[TroubleSum240]

Thanks guys, @boost_boy - well i am mechanically inclined and i have a few friends who know better than i do who are going to give me a hand. i just want to make sure i got everything before i take out the KA and find out that i can't find what i need. i got a friend who can help me get parts so the money problem is not that bad i just don't want to be spending an arm and a leg. as for the KA mine is kinda in a bad place. the reason i am considering the CA swap is because if I'm going to be spending close to the same amount to fix the KA i would be spending to do the swap, i would much rather have the CA. I've always wanted to turbo my 13 and now seemed like a good time.

@ Noxy - as for the trans i hear you can use the KA trans with ca bell housing. is this a bad idea?? i guess i could just get a trans if its gonna cause me a lot of trouble going the other route.
Thanks again for your insight guys... appreciate it

[sjbsuperman1425]

Buy an engine set that includes the Engine, Trans, ECU, wiring harness. Its the best route and runs you $1300
next, a FMIC, and preferable full exhaust. Rougly $400-$500 (CXRacing has good stuff)

I actually think thats about it...There really isn't much needed to do this swap. I would recommend a new water pump, timing belt, tension and idler pulley's, and a gasket set to freshen it up. All in all you're looking just over $2100 to get it to a point where it should run decent enough and make you happy. BUT, and this is a big butt, do NOT treat it like many others. As boost_boy has said, a lot of people take the cheap route and they end up unhappy (i have seen this with my friends RB swap). buy the engine set, intercooler and exhaust and do what maintenance you can and you should be in good shape. But this really isn't an engine that can be skimped on and really needs some TLC and a good loving owner. People who abuse it..well they lose it haha

[TroubleSum240]

@sjbsuperman1425 - Well here's the thing... i have a motor, ecu, wiring harness, and exhaust just no trans. i hear you can use CA bell housing on KA Trans? is this safe?. i guess what i really want to know is, how much of my KA parts are compatible with the CA motor such as: mounts, alternator, power steering, ect.. stuff like that. but i will be getting a new water pump, timing belt, tension and idler pulleys, and gasket set. thanks for your help!

[Noxy]

Yup, you can use the CA bell housing on a KA trans, the only problem is finding one. Last time I had seen one on any forums was over a year ago, but they are out there. As for compatible parts, you can use a lot of things from other Nissans such as the 1988 Pulsar since it had a naturally aspirated CA in it. Since you have a KA24E you'll need power steering lines from a KA24DE, and for motor mounts you need CA18 specific mounts because the engine sits at an angle (easiest mounts to find are Nismo mounts, but they're kinda pricey). Most of what you need to know is in these few articles that are also at the top of the CA forum:

part-numbers-crossover-parts-between-us ... 14952.html
float-6969-s-official-ca18det-upgrade-g ... 18448.html
faq-s-common-upgrades-d-i-y-upgrades-no ... 14953.html

Oh, and as superman said these motors are kinda touchy and a lot of people skimp on things just to have it blow up on them. Do things right and treat it well and you will be rewarded. And as always, don't compare the CA to an SR since it always leads down a bad road

[TroubleSum240]

Thanks you so much Noxy. don't worry i will not skimp on this swap..

[sjbsuperman1425]

the bellhousing is going to be your only problem in my opinion...good luck!

[TroubleSum240]

Shoot got more questions. is it hard to find all the brackets for the power steer, alternator ect...

[TroubleSum240]

Thanks sjbsuperman1425 i'm gonna need some luck hahah

[sjbsuperman1425]

how much did you pay for all of this? lol Seems like you are missing a lot of stuff..:/

[TroubleSum240]

@sjbsuperman1425 - missing some. got 2 motors for $400 went halfers with my brother (so $200 for my half). i have motor, ecu, wire harness, injectors, 550cc injectors w/tuned ecu (to SR turbo i believe), flywheel, coil packs, SR turbo, CA turbo, Exhaust manifold. maybe a few more things. i am missing a good amount of stuff now that you mention it LOL.. it's gonna be a mission for sure

[Noxy]

That's what makes it fun! Like an expensive worldwide scavenger hunt...Except for the trans, you have most of the hardest stuff to find.Oh, and I think Yon has a couple parts you could use, he's a good seller.

ca18det-leftover-parts-sale-t512205.html

PS- I like to post links...

[TroubleSum240]

@ Noxy - Haha oh great just what I wanted an expensive scavenger hunt! Well hopefully it's not too expensive and I can obtain what I need. But it is good to know that I have some hard to find parts (made my day with that). Oh yah and he was a good seller very honest he warned me about having trouble finding a trans I just didn't think it would be his bad. Lol. Well if you got some good places where I can get some of what I need shoot it my way. Looks like I'm gonna need help with the scavenger hunt.

[sjbsuperman1425]

dude seriously, if you have the extra cash flow, buy a complete motorset. you'd have alot of extra parts (which is nice with these engines) and only be in around $1500. I can even probably get you a good deal on one too if need be to where you'd be in around $1300 for both.

[cdkilla]

Hmmm... I have a spare transmission laying in the garage if your interested...

[TroubleSum240]

@sjbsuperman1425 - yah. i don't got that kind of cash. i was gonna get stuff piece by piece its easier for me to do that way then to drop $1500 all at once. this way is kinda my only option at the moment. but i will defiantly keep that route in mind who knows i may run into some $. Thanks!

@cdkilla - how much you want for trans? and where you from?

Also i got a friend who is a vendor so if y'all looking for stuff I'll talk him into giving y'all a good price. but he can't get a lot of CA specific parts Thanks for all your help. i knows its a headache.

[cdkilla]

Freeport, IL. It definatly would be the easier route to get a swap, but I can relate on not being able to drop $1500... Luckily I got my complete swap for $800, unfortunatly it blew up within 15min of start up... Too bad iLLgarbage doesn't stand behind the stuff they sell /rant... but back on topic, I'd be willing to hook you up, shoot me an e-mail [email protected] and we can talk numbers if you're nearby.