CA18DET into B12 Swap

Discuss topics related to the CA18DE and CA18DET series engines.
stewy485
Posts: 9
Joined: Mon Nov 07, 2011 6:15 pm
Car: 1990 sentra b12

Post

I already have a new car... my sentra engine went bad on it about two years ago but I couldn't let my first car go get crushed... I heard of this swap and decided that this could be a fun way to restore its life... What pieces am would i need to get that are not on this site?


stewy485
Posts: 9
Joined: Mon Nov 07, 2011 6:15 pm
Car: 1990 sentra b12

Post

Boost_Boy could i have your email for further questions and on that site it had this correct me if i need more pieces

Shift linkages
shift lever
radiator
pedals
CMC
slave cylinder
clutch piping
radiator fan

and i found axles on advanced auto parts

is this all i need? besides engine and tranny and ecu and engine harness

boost_boy
Posts: 7162
Joined: Thu Nov 14, 2002 7:28 am
Car: B12 sentra w/built CA18DET, B12 sentra w/fully-built CA18DET, S13 coupe w/ CA18DET, S13 hatch w/CA18DET, 2002 maxima SE
Location: Miami, FL.
Contact:

Post

Just pm me and we'll go from there, but be advised, you'll need way more than the stuff you added on your last post as this is a very involved swap.

stewy485
Posts: 9
Joined: Mon Nov 07, 2011 6:15 pm
Car: 1990 sentra b12

Post

sorry boost_boy new to this site and they will not let me personal message yet

boost_boy
Posts: 7162
Joined: Thu Nov 14, 2002 7:28 am
Car: B12 sentra w/built CA18DET, B12 sentra w/fully-built CA18DET, S13 coupe w/ CA18DET, S13 hatch w/CA18DET, 2002 maxima SE
Location: Miami, FL.
Contact:

Post

Provide me your email address and I'll contact you.

stewy485
Posts: 9
Joined: Mon Nov 07, 2011 6:15 pm
Car: 1990 sentra b12

Post


stewy485
Posts: 9
Joined: Mon Nov 07, 2011 6:15 pm
Car: 1990 sentra b12

Post

Just checking in with you Boost_Boy. I know your busy with it being the holiday season but I just need information. Thanks again for the help

boost_boy
Posts: 7162
Joined: Thu Nov 14, 2002 7:28 am
Car: B12 sentra w/built CA18DET, B12 sentra w/fully-built CA18DET, S13 coupe w/ CA18DET, S13 hatch w/CA18DET, 2002 maxima SE
Location: Miami, FL.
Contact:

Post

stewy485 wrote:Just checking in with you Boost_Boy. I know your busy with it being the holiday season but I just need information. Thanks again for the help
You got mail!

livelyjay
Posts: 303
Joined: Thu May 27, 2004 5:05 am
Car: 1987 Nissan Pulsar (CA18DET)
2003 Mazdaspeed Protege
2007 Toyota Matrix
Location: Rochester, NY

Post

boost_boy, thanks for pointing out the Stanza transmission, that will allow me to find another source for my transmission if need be. Mine needs to be rebuilt or replaced because the shift selector is bent and the synchros for first gear are pretty much toast. You said to AVOID the CA18DET pictured below right? Because the intake manifold is inferior. But you also said the transmission is not compatible? Does that have the same transmission code as the USDM version so you can tell the difference? There is a FWD transmission for sale from a JDM supplier in Canada that I was thinking about going for and I want to make sure it will work.
AVOID THIS ENGINE
Image


If you want some idea into the transmission conversion process, I converted my 1987 Nissan Pulsar SE to the 1988 Nissan Pulsar SE transmission. The transmission from the '88-'90 Pulsar SE with CA18DE is the same transmission from the '86-'92 Stanza, at least according to the repair kit listing on drivetrain.com. They carry the same transmission code: RS5F50C

Here's the thread tracking my progress. It begins at post 37 and ends at post 95. You can see throughout what I needed to get it done. Also, for the clutch cable, if I had to do it again I would have just bought a $40 stainless line from Summit or something because it would have been cheaper, prettier, and faster to do than bending hard lines and sourcing OEM soft lines.
http://www.nissanexa.com/showthread.php ... read/page2
Last edited by livelyjay on Wed Dec 07, 2011 10:55 am, edited 3 times in total.

livelyjay
Posts: 303
Joined: Thu May 27, 2004 5:05 am
Car: 1987 Nissan Pulsar (CA18DET)
2003 Mazdaspeed Protege
2007 Toyota Matrix
Location: Rochester, NY

Post

Also forgot to point out something that might help with finding axles. A1 Cardone re-manufactures axles that you can get through parts stores, but the cross references sometimes get messed up. RockAuto sells them and the part numbers that will work with the '88-'90 Pulsar SE transmission are:
Drivers side: 60-6034
Passenger side: 60-6027

User avatar
float_6969
Moderator
Posts: 19853
Joined: Mon Aug 26, 2002 1:55 pm
Car: CA18DET swapped 1995 Nissan 240sx (too many mods to list)
2015 SV Leaf w/QC & Bose (daily)
Location: Topeka, Kansas
Contact:

Post

That is the engine that you DO NOT want. The intake manifold is VERY complicated, the head is different, and the transmission is setup for AWD, so you'll have a driveshaft sticking out under the intake manifold you can't do anything with.

That was the original CA18DET. They designed it to fix an inherent flaw in 1.8L and smaller motors, which is a lack of low end TQ. They were pretty successful in that regard as with was often noted for it's low end characteristics, but it came at a price of A LOT of complexity (means lots of stuff in the intake manifold to fail) and SERIOUSLY choked off the top end.

The other problem is that it will be next to impossible to find any gaskets or parts for that head/intake manifold. They were only sold like that for a few years, and weren't very common, and was NEVER available in the US. AFAIK, that was a Japan only engine.

Sentrastic
Posts: 25
Joined: Sun Apr 03, 2011 9:28 pm
Car: B12 1990 Coupe Sentra
Location: Elk Grove, CA

Post

2 Years later...new updates. Nearly a full complete car!

More pictures on the way!

Image

User avatar
float_6969
Moderator
Posts: 19853
Joined: Mon Aug 26, 2002 1:55 pm
Car: CA18DET swapped 1995 Nissan 240sx (too many mods to list)
2015 SV Leaf w/QC & Bose (daily)
Location: Topeka, Kansas
Contact:

Post

Congrats! Vids?

Sentrastic
Posts: 25
Joined: Sun Apr 03, 2011 9:28 pm
Car: B12 1990 Coupe Sentra
Location: Elk Grove, CA

Post


livelyjay
Posts: 303
Joined: Thu May 27, 2004 5:05 am
Car: 1987 Nissan Pulsar (CA18DET)
2003 Mazdaspeed Protege
2007 Toyota Matrix
Location: Rochester, NY

Post

What's the deal with your exhaust (size, materials, cat/catless, etc)? Sounds pretty good, while my Pulsar exhaust sounds loud as F (no cat, 2.5", stainless, single resonator, single muffler).

More pictures please!

Sentrastic
Posts: 25
Joined: Sun Apr 03, 2011 9:28 pm
Car: B12 1990 Coupe Sentra
Location: Elk Grove, CA

Post

livelyjay wrote:What's the deal with your exhaust (size, materials, cat/catless, etc)? Sounds pretty good, while my Pulsar exhaust sounds loud as F (no cat, 2.5", stainless, single resonator, single muffler).

More pictures please!
Its a 3" pipe starting from the down pipe all the way back, no cat, magnaflow exhaust. My down pipe is however like 2 to 2.5 inches wide. :blush:

I have a buddy that owns a specialized exhaust shop, just need to bring him the turbo flange, and I'll be making it 3" all the way back with mandrel bends.

More pictures!

Ain't she beautiful?
Image

3" Piping till the down pipe
Image

The first start up (About last year) Disregard the ugly red wire covers everywhere... :rolleyes:
Image

User avatar
float_6969
Moderator
Posts: 19853
Joined: Mon Aug 26, 2002 1:55 pm
Car: CA18DET swapped 1995 Nissan 240sx (too many mods to list)
2015 SV Leaf w/QC & Bose (daily)
Location: Topeka, Kansas
Contact:

Post

Nice!!

User avatar
StalkerDellaNote
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat Apr 29, 2017 10:36 pm
Car: '87 B12 Sentra
Location: Palmdale, CA

Post

I'm terribly sorry for this ancient necro but I haven't a clue where to begin, my e16s died yesterday and I've gone from a position where I wanted to do an engine swap, to where I might have to, because why not upgrade and fix at the same time, but I'm at a loss, it's carbureted and IDK what it'd cost to do the CA18DET swap when I have to do a fuel injection conversion.. The folks in here seem to know what to do, what I need to buy/get to do it, and roughly how much it may cost.. I'm really starting to regret the B12 purchase and thinking I should've shoveled out the extra money for a B13, but it's my first owned car and I'm not the richest lad in the world, any and all help would be appreciated, maybe Sentrastic, if you could provide a rundown on what your project took? I do have a little nest egg, and I'd rather dump it into my B12 and get it fixed up quick than have to buy yet another car, I beg for y'alls help :frown:

User avatar
float_6969
Moderator
Posts: 19853
Joined: Mon Aug 26, 2002 1:55 pm
Car: CA18DET swapped 1995 Nissan 240sx (too many mods to list)
2015 SV Leaf w/QC & Bose (daily)
Location: Topeka, Kansas
Contact:

Post

You need to start a new thread please.


Return to “CA18DE / CA18DET Forum”