CA18ET Project.

[Mattndew76]

I bought this motor for 200$. Pulled the head off and the valves are in great shape, nice color. Pistons and cylinder walls are clean. Just needs the T3 upgrade. The plan for the this motor is to find its home in my 1970 datsun 510. So far for a ECU I have MegaSquirt III. I need to find a Used fuse box and relays. Most people say Go with a CA18DET or KA24 or SR20. But since this was 200$ I think this is the best choice.

Matt

P.S. Im new to this site "hello."

[nissanic89]

good luck to you, the old adage work with what you got isnt always a bad thing. its cool to do something different, we'll all be here to help you, welcome

[RS12Turbo]

From 17 years of experience with the ca18et........I wouldn't waste a whole of money with it....if your looking for lots of power. If your looking for the stock 120 crank hp, you'll be fine.......but I wouldn't push it too far. My original one made it to 245k miles before the rings let go, with lights mods. After that I wasted 2k on a remaned long block, only to get 12k miles out of it, before I bent a rod @ 14psi and 159whp. Unless your planning to get some forged pistons, and billet rods, I wouldn't push it very far......but since you paid so little for it.....take your time, and build it right, and you might actually lay down some decent numbers. Good luck!
Modified by RS12Turbo at 7:45 AM 5/17/2007

[sideways danny]

From 17 years of experience with the ca18et........I wouldn't waste a whole of money with it....if your looking for lots of power. If your looking for the stock 120 crank hp, you'll be fine.......but I wouldn't push it too far. My original one made it to 245k miles before the rings let go, with lights mods. After that I wasted 2k on a remaned long block, only to get 12k miles out of it, before I bent a rod @ 14psi and 159whp. Unless your planning to get some forged pistons, and billet rods, I wouldn't push it very far......but since you paid so little for it.....take your time, and build it right, and you might actually lay down some decent numbers. Good luck!

Modified by RS12Turbo at 7:45 AM 5/17/2007

with DET rods and pistons (a direct fit as a pair) and a DET main bearing girdle the ET bottom end is as good as a DET. I've just built one and looking to get lots of power from it

[RS12Turbo]

If you go through all that trouble.....why not just get a complete ca-det? Don't forget you still have the restrictive ca-et head to deal with

[ca18datsun510]

there is a dude here in the nyc area who is running this setup and seems to be happy with it.

[themadscientist]

I remember a CA18ET years ago that was hurting the first SR20s out, the S13 redtops. He had a rebic, FMIC, full exhuast and an SR20 turbo. It can be done but were it me I would not try to push it past 200hp. I have never worked on a CA18ET's insides but if it looks like the CA20E them rods look like Kate Moss' legs, well actually they are thicker than that. They look like a whole kate moss.

[float_6969]

Yea, those are some skinny rods!

[RS12Turbo]

Here are the ones that came out of my ca18et @ 12k miles

[sideways danny]

If you go through all that trouble.....why not just get a complete ca-det? Don't forget you still have the restrictive ca-et head to deal with

better for low down torque for upto 280bhp though. I've got a powerful DET, I wanted another challenge and it's cost me peanuts

[RS12Turbo]

better for low down torque for upto 280bhp though. I've got a powerful DET, I wanted another challenge and it's cost me peanuts

For each their own, I guess..........good luck with the "challenge"

[themadscientist]

Here are the ones that came out of my ca18et @ 12k miles

how do the rod dimensions compare, are the big ends and pin to pin distance the same? IE can he use CA18DE rods with the CA18E crank and pistons with the pin holes in the pistons bored up?

[MR_F1]

Here are the ones that came out of my ca18et @ 12k miles

how do the rod dimensions compare, are the big ends and pin to pin distance the same? IE can he use CA18DE rods with the CA18E crank and pistons with the pin holes in the pistons bored up?

I'm extremely sorry to Necro this thread, but I'd really like to know the answer to this question. Since I'm new here and I can't PM, nor has my search turned up anything, I apologize in advance. Does anybody definitively know if it's possible?

[boost_boy]

I'm pretty sure the specs are the same as the bearings are the same. I don't have an ET rod to measure, but if you get the measurements off the et rods, we'll be glad to accomodate you with the DET measurements.

[MR_F1]

I'm pretty sure the specs are the same as the bearings are the same. I don't have an ET rod to measure, but if you get the measurements off the et rods, we'll be glad to accomodate you with the DET measurements.

Ok, I have a set from an engine I just tore down, let me get my hands on a vernier caliper and I will get back to you asap. Thanks in advance.

[MR_F1]

I'm pretty sure the specs are the same as the bearings are the same. I don't have an ET rod to measure, but if you get the measurements off the et rods, we'll be glad to accomodate you with the DET measurements.

Ok, I have a set from an engine I just tore down, let me get my hands on a vernier caliper and I will get back to you asap. Thanks in advance.

Ok. Measured it, the small end is ~20mm (19.5mm), big end with bearings still in is 45mm. The wrist pin itself is 61mm long by about 20mm in diameter.

For reference, Rod width is ~17mm, Rod thickness is 14.5mm, length (small end to big end) is 82mm.

Need pics?

[MR_F1]

Anything?

[Rev_D21]

I have a couple of CA18ET MAFs in my parts bin if anyone needs one.

[MR_F1]

Bump to see if boost boy got his hands on those measurements yet.

[Sideways s12]

det rds are the same size as the et rods I have alot of experience with the single cam ca as I have popped 2 of them due to bad tuning (was still learning) My set-up before my ecu shat itself was one off tubular topmount evo3 big16g turbo (8psi) custom fuel rail with dsm 450's stock longblock and fmic with the front facing intake mani from the ca20e at 8psi it was pretty strong my buddy who had the det at 12 psi and some light mods could barely beat me and I have the vid to prove it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBuWuF4s86s

The red car is mine with the single cam the silver has the det.....Just waiting to finish up my det project before I start back on the single cam.....

[MR_F1]

det rds are the same size as the et rods I have alot of experience with the single cam ca as I have popped 2 of them due to bad tuning (was still learning) My set-up before my ecu shat itself was one off tubular topmount evo3 big16g turbo (8psi) custom fuel rail with dsm 450's stock longblock and fmic with the front facing intake mani from the ca20e at 8psi it was pretty strong my buddy who had the det at 12 psi and some light mods could barely beat me and I have the vid to prove it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBuWuF4s86s

The red car is mine with the single cam the silver has the det.....Just waiting to finish up my det project before I start back on the single cam.....

I totally get that. From pics, the small end looks slightly different, and I need to know if the ET pistons/wrist pin will fit the DET rods (stronger).

Have a CA18ET that I'm rebuilding, already has the front facing CA20 manifold installed.

[Sideways s12]

Et pistons/wrist pins will not fit the det rods you'll have to use the whole rod piston set-up.....