CA18DET in an s14

[s14-ca18det]

I'm looking to put together an '97 s14 project, yet with a CA18DET swap. Looking to make it a drift car, with a wide powerband. Bigger turbo internals, body kit etc will all come later, for now I'm just focused on researching the potential problems that may show up during the swap itself, or even if the swap will work. Can't really find any info of anyone else doing the swap. I would like to go ahead and try for myself but I'd rather do my research first.Any and all information would be helpful. Thanks.

[float_6969]

It can be done, but the process is going to be similar to a redtop SR into an S14. You will have to graft the CA harness into the S14 harness as the S14 has a common harness for the wipers/abs/engine/etc, whereas in the S13, it is a separate harness for the engine and the body.

Mechancially, everything bolts right up, so no real issues there.

As for a wide powerband, IDK if this is really the motor you would want. Anybody will tell you that the CA doesn't really perk up until about 3K. With cams and a good turbo, you could make decent power from 3000 - 7000. if that is wide enough for you, then maybe it will work, just keep in mind that you HAVE to keep the revs up with this motor. If you come into a turn in too high of a gear, you'll know quite quickly.

[s14-ca18det]

So the same idea would go if the car was a '97 240sx(USDM) right?Just change the harness on the CA18DET to the redtop SR20, therefore matching the harness of the 240sx?

[volcomskater773]

no he means wiring it up will be like wiring up a redtop. isnt too hard but its a little time consuming going thru each wire.

[float_6969]

Exactly. What I'm saying is that if you can find a "how to" to wire a redtop SR into and S14, then it will work the same way for the CA.

[s14-ca18det]

Any chance you guys could guide me to a post or link that has these diagrams? Because I've been looking since you guys first replied to this post, and I still haven't found any good information about red top swaps in s14's.

[volcomskater773]

http://om1kron.blogspot.com/20....html

skimmed thru and this one seems ok it has multiple diagrams so if it doesnt help i ll look for another one.

[s14-ca18det]

Hey thanks man I'm sure it'll help.

[volcomskater773]

happy to help.

[volcomskater773]

any luck so far?

[s14-ca18det]

nope truth is i dont even have the car or engine yet but I'm doing all the research I can before hand.

[jynxtrix]

it's fun, it's not that hard, and even though mine isn't boosting correctly just yet, I'd say it's well worth it. you get alot of interesting looks from other 240 nuts when you tell them you've got an s14 with a ca in it. Alot of them think it's a bit of a downgrade, but when you're just in it for the fun of it, it's worth it. I've got a 95 s14, the wiring harness will be different than your obd2 compliant 97, but similar enough to not really cause any headache, the wiring harness is damn near IDENTICAL to a red top sr motor, right down to the wire colors in most cases (at least it was with mine). the only thing i couldn't get right was the speedo. I had to wire it direct for some reason and do the s14 speedo mod to get a correct reading. just make certain you solder EVERYTHING! I had so many bugs do to wire spices and crap. Anyway, lesson learned there. Mine also started out as an automatic, so i had to do the auto to man swap, along with the ca swap, and make sure you get the entire ca drive shaft, because you need to use parts off of it, and the part of the s14 drive shaft to make the drive shaft for your new franken boosted car, lol. I ended up trashing my ca transmission and swapping my bell housing onto a ka transmission because I couldn't find the right style yoke for the drive shaft (no other 240 uses it except the CA transmission) ca engines are NOT as hard as everyone says to find parts for. Not in stock trim anyway, and so far they have been proven to be WAY cheaper than SR parts are (at least in stock trim), just make sure when you go to the parts store you ask for 88 nissan pulsar NX parts, and specify the 1.8 not the 1.6 (though alot ofthose fit too).Anyway, sorry if I threw a novel out there, make sure if you really want to do this, you ready to take a little crap, cause people will talk smack about your ca motor. the best thing you can be thankful for though, is that you aren't still driving one of those boring Ka's, lol.

[s14-ca18det]

hey thanks for all the info you gave in that novel you wrote me. Really all of it is something that really is just gonna save me a few headaches in the long run. Like I didn't know parts to the Pulsar engine mathed up with the CA. Thanks again for everybody's input and help.

[jynxtrix]

no prob! I gotta get this project finished so I can start looking for an s-12 to build now