CA18DET Swap Transmissions

[240_fun]

I've been looking into swapping out my KA24DE cause its getting kinda old (120*** miles) As you can prolly tell im a total newb to forums. However I do know how to do pretty much anything (without a lift or) on my car (I'm waiting for a new clutch right now so i got my transmission and driveshaft lying on a jack in my driveway). I want a CA18 but what are the pros nd cons? I heard that it revs at like 4000 in 5th doing 70. I cruise round 75, 80. Not too gas efficient. If I used a SR or KA transmission would that fix it?

[boost_boy]

Uh-oh

Dee

[Masterdebater]

haha uh oh...dees about to go off on someone for not using the search option im sure... the ca transmission is just much weaker than the ka and sr so ppl usually swap them.IIRC it will leangthen the revs a wee bit more but dont quote me on that.

[ca18datsun510]

^wtf are you talking about much weaker?

anyway, the ca/ka/sr trans' as well as some z31 transmissions are interchangeable, but you have to split it in half, and use the front half that goes with whatever engine you are using.

for the most part its a bellhousing swap, but its a bit more, you got deal with a bearing, and putting it back together isnt always the easiest thing in the world.

my suggestion is, use the search button, anything you can think to ask has been covered, trust me.

if not, feel free to hit me up on aim, chugger2k, otherwise your threads will most likely get answered half ***, then locked.

[240_fun]

IIRC?Ok so CA bellhousing with the KA TrannyDo you know it that will fix the 5th gear high revs tho?I search and nothing really relavent comes up...either that or maybe I just need to look harder...sry Dee lolWhat about using a KA clutch assembly on a CA flywheel (cheaper?).Sry if this has all been covered b4 but honestly can't find anything relevant with that search... sry I'm a newb but ya gotta start somewhere i guess...

[lostmenoggin]

try searching for single word phrases like, clutch, transmission, etc. and you will come up with more responses. you can use a ka clutch on a ca flywheel, but you need to remove one of the dowel pins on the flywheel for it to work. that wont change the revs though.

IIRC = If I Remember Correctly

[driftin8ez]

IIRC?Ok so CA bellhousing with the KA TrannyDo you know it that will fix the 5th gear high revs tho?I search and nothing really relavent comes up...either that or maybe I just need to look harder...sry Dee lolWhat about using a KA clutch assembly on a CA flywheel (cheaper?).Sry if this has all been covered b4 but honestly can't find anything relevant with that search... sry I'm a newb but ya gotta start somewhere i guess...

The CA's Power band is up in the rpm. So even though you are cruising at 3500-4000 rpm your barely on the pedal so your not using much gas at all. Remember it is a 1.8L not a 2.4L. Also the CA transmission isn't weak it is the same as the KA and SR from 1-4 and a slightly shorter 5th gear. Keep the trans if it's good and get yourself a set of 3.9 gears for the rear. that will bring down your rpm all around and also it is alot lease hassle than swapping bell housings. I still pull nearly 32mpg in my 1.6L miata. Cruising rpm you ask, 4500-4700 rpm.

[240_fun]

right now i have a j30 vlsd in the rear which if im not mistaken is a 3.9. gas is a b**ch. I think if i went with a CA Id keep my KA transmission and get it rebuilt. Idk how hard it would be to do myself so im not sure if that would be a good idea. Plus i heard you need a press and i dont own one. I want the turbo of the CA but I like the torque of my KA so if i got a CA would the boost make up for the drop in displacement? If I did everything on my own what am i looking at cost wise with a fmic and electronics.Btw how do u like ur miata?Ive always wondered. they seem like pretty sick little cars.

[Masterdebater]

^wtf are you talking about much weaker?

anyway, the ca/ka/sr trans' as well as some z31 transmissions are interchangeable, but you have to split it in half, and use the front half that goes with whatever engine you are using.

for the most part its a bellhousing swap, but its a bit more, you got deal with a bearing, and putting it back together isnt always the easiest thing in the world.

my suggestion is, use the search button, anything you can think to ask has been covered, trust me.

if not, feel free to hit me up on aim, chugger2k, otherwise your threads will most likely get answered half ***, then locked.

once again dont quote me on that yes u can use the ka clutch but the dowel pin must be removed as said above, but u must also drill out the bolts holes a bit.

[driftin8ez]

right now i have a j30 vlsd in the rear which if im not mistaken is a 3.9. gas is a b**ch. I think if i went with a CA Id keep my KA transmission and get it rebuilt. Idk how hard it would be to do myself so im not sure if that would be a good idea. Plus i heard you need a press and i dont own one. I want the turbo of the CA but I like the torque of my KA so if i got a CA would the boost make up for the drop in displacement? If I did everything on my own what am i looking at cost wise with a fmic and electronics.Btw how do u like ur miata?Ive always wondered. they seem like pretty sick little cars.

i'm very confused as to what you want to build here. from what you have been saying in this post your going to be very dissappointed with a CA. they have little to no torque down low even when built. you have to rev the piss out of them if you want to really get going all of which uses alot of gas even at stock boost levels. i would look into an sr or maybe an rb if you want torque and better gearing. oh and Miata= Fun, Fun, getting laughed at, and then more fun. lol

[ca18datsun510]

Miata= Fun, Fun, getting laughed at, and then more fun. lol

its true, ive seen him.

[Masterdebater]

if ur not on boost every hour of the day then ull get better gas than the ka. and as for torque, ehh.

[240_fun]

Hmm...I've heard good things bout the CAYou think the loss of the low end is worth the top end power?I hear SRs are overrated, wut bout RB20s or KA-T-s?I promise im searching them, just wanna know if any of you guys have had experiances with them.Just trying to look for something on the sorda cheap side. When ur 17 its hard to pay for life...

[ca18datsun510]

heres a quick brake down that i think most will agree with.

ka- if you want a moderatly reliable, torquey daily driver type car

sr- if you want a toy, somewhat reliable, but not to be surprised if it brakes and gets expensive, but real easy, been done time and time again.

ca- if you want a project. if you like a challenge, enjoy doing research, things like that.

not to say that any of them cant be reliable, but ca's tend to be more for people who like working, experimenting, tinkering.

[Masterdebater]

thats all us ca owners have left lol

working, experimenting, tinkering.[/QUOTE]