Considering the CA...

[Thoughtful_One]

I've been thinking of swapping motors for some time now and I needed some help. I am trying to decide between the SR and CA. I like the fact that the CA has the intial lower cost, and can take a beating, and shares several parts with the Pulsar, but I don't like the lack of aftermarket, and the fact that they are so old. The car is a 1992 240SX and is my DD.

How reliable have you found the CA to be (for those who are running stock pressure and minimal mods)?How much money have you had to spend to get it up and running to the point where you knew you needed nothing else to get it running right?How is stock power? (I know it makes 170 HP @ crank @10 PSI)I don't plan on beating it to death, just something quicker than what I have that has potenial for power growth.

I was thinking of going KA-T, even buying a spare low-mileage motor, but I realized that since this is my DD, I know I would eventually push it beyond it's limits and break something.
Modified by Thoughtful_One at 7:00 PM 4/24/2007

[Jiggyfry]

I cant help you with driving impressions as mine is still on an engine stand. I can say that yes, the initail cost is lower. Parts are not that hard to come by, just have to do some searching and research. I suugest that you include a rebuild of the engine when you consider the CA, as you stated they are older engines and have probably been sitting around for quite some time.

[nismofly]

even rebuilt the ca will run you ~$1,500 less than an sr

im probably going this route too

[ca18detgabby]

I went CA in my 92. It was a bit of a hassle getting it running as the people who sent the motor forgot to send essential stuff such as IC piping, intake, DP, TP, Wiring harness, Working ECU, IACV and one of the coils didnt work. Once I got all the pieces I needed the car runs like a champ. I absolutely in love with it.

For such a small motor it packs a punch. still running the 8psi with a custom intake, SMIC, Greddy DP, HKS exhaust and it is such a vast improvement on the stock KA I had.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2623021 this is my car domain if you want to see it in a 92...

I personally didnt want to be like everyone else so the CA was a great option. I know it will take some work to be even close to Stupid fast but just openning it up next to a GT or SRT4 makes me

[Thoughtful_One]

I went CA in my 92. It was a bit of a hassle getting it running as the people who sent the motor forgot to send essential stuff such as IC piping, intake, DP, TP, Wiring harness, Working ECU, IACV and one of the coils didnt work. Once I got all the pieces I needed the car runs like a champ. I absolutely in love with it.

For such a small motor it packs a punch. still running the 8psi with a custom intake, SMIC, Greddy DP, HKS exhaust and it is such a vast improvement on the stock KA I had.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2623021 this is my car domain if you want to see it in a 92...

I personally didnt want to be like everyone else so the CA was a great option. I know it will take some work to be even close to Stupid fast but just openning it up next to a GT or SRT4 makes me

Very nice. Funny, I have a gold hatch as well. There is a sponsor here that sells a complete CA swap for ~$1150.

I am in the same boat. I hate doing the same thing that everyone does. I have yet to see one CA.

How much money have you had to spend so far to get it running? How can someone "forget" to send all of the most essential things?

[Thoughtful_One]

I suugest that you include a rebuild of the engine when you consider the CA, as you stated they are older engines and have probably been sitting around for quite some time.

That's the only problem. I would've already had my mind set on the motor if it wasn't for how old these are. I want to try and stay away from that due to the lack of space (I don't have a garage). Also, I don't wnat to take it apart, and have it be one of those projects that sits in the corner that is never completed. It's hard to compare since they have such low mileage; it's not like buying an old engine here. Can't I just replace the clutch, hoses, and external wear-prone components?

**Also, I keep reading that the stock turbo is no good due to it's age. Does everyone have this problem?

What clutches are compatible with the CA?

[ca18detgabby]

Very nice. Funny, I have a gold hatch as well. There is a sponsor here that sells a complete CA swap for ~$1150.

I am in the same boat. I hate doing the same thing that everyone does. I have yet to see one CA.

How much money have you had to spend so far to get it running? How can someone "forget" to send all of the most essential things?

my KA wasnt in great shape when I bought it so I didnt have time to do any rebuild. other than replacing a Coil everything I got with the motor ran like a champ. O and I changed my plugs. I would have replaced my fans with electrics and done a FMIC the first time if I was to do it again. Also, do a Koyo radiator at the same time.

100 bucks for new ECU50 bucks or so rewiring the whole messed up Wiring harness15 bucks for drop in resistor (from a 1G DSM)100 bucks for 4 new coils wiring harness and plate(could have just bought the coil but I wanted to have extra incase I had another one having an issue)20 bucks in custom piping and old piping I already had from other cars(see the injen intake in blue on the intercooler piping)30 bucks for intake from enjuku(could have made myself but SOHC MAF is the same size)200 bucks for greddy DP from an SR (could have ebayed for 50 bucks)50 bucks for enjuku test pipe(probably could have made my own)

had nothing but trouble getting incontact with the guy in canada who sent the motor so after 3 weeks of fightig to get anything I just went out and found the right stuff on my own. (Sean (needCAforS13) got a call or 2 from kerry..... cant say thank you enough to sean for all his help.... even if my accordian IC makes him laugh)

[ch187]

alright thoughtful one, ive give you my opinion/impression. i bought a front clip from STI. i did not rebuilt it although i did pull the oil pan off and girdle to check the bearings. everything checked out. i intended to buy a second ca and rebuild it, i just didnt have the time for that. as far as replacement parts and aftermarket parts, its not that bad. you can get everything you need stock at nissan or the autoparts store. theres not as much aftermarket but theres enough to make pretty much any kind of power you want, just not the variety. the ablilty to use a lot of parts from the SR was a big seller for me except i found out the hard way after i bought it. i was sent an auto clip so they asked me what parts i needed and they sent them to me. i ended up using an s14 sr transmission, sr clutch, sr flywheel, sr flywheel bolts, see where im going? clutches are a hell of a lot easier to buy becasue of that.

as for being a DD. i wouldnt suggest it unless you have another car you can use or you are doing a complete rebuild and a pretty much stock swap. i wanted a clean swap so i upgrade to fmic, ss manifold, full 3in. exhaust, mbc, and 11psi. of course you are going to run into problem, mine being oil and exhaust. im running straight dp because i had to pretty much take the dp ssac sent me and completely re-do it. i had to cut both flanges and welded in an 8in flexpipe which has taken me a month to finally do. i used an ssac manifold so the turbo sat a little lower, i had to redo the oil return which has also taken a month fix, mainly because i didnt know what i was doing so i had to try something and keep fixing it. ive never had/driven/ridden in a turbo car so it was all knew and the fact that i was 15 and didnt even have my license when i built my car.

driving impression. im used to my brothers that have always had mild KAs so when i first drove it, it felt so good. as jeremy from top gear would say. "that thing is like driving an explosion" haha, that car had about 800 more hp than mine so.. i mean im used to it now but like i said i was 15.

suggestions. stick with the stock manifold for a bit. stick with stock boost for a bit. so that means stock intercooler, which means a stock swap. thats really where i ****ed up. i wanted to do that but, i wanted a clean swap. it attracts a hell of a lot of attention though, my car is 5 different colors and has ****ty chrome wheels on it too... alright im done.

[Thoughtful_One]

So you say that a modified CA is not a good DD, or in general a CA is not good for a DD? I plan to have a near stock setup for now.

[ch187]

no its fine DD. i worded that wrong. i meant to say unless you have another car while you rebuild the engine. i think i ca would be good for what you want.

[nismofly]

how far would you take the rebuild?

i was thinking metal hg, arp hardware everywhere i can put it, change all the gaskets, get everything nice and clean-like

but im hoping to avoid doing any machine work and stuff like that, which quickly eats into the cost benefit

[ch187]

no sir. no metal headgaskets. ever. unless you completely rebuilt it. the surface of the head and block have to be machined. i would, for a minor rebuild. head gasket, nothing fancy. gaskets, ARP head studs if you plan on going to or above 300hp, and all your bearings on the bottom end, and a new oil pump, also check the rings if they are bad, remove and replace.

[Masterdebater]

i got two ca motors and a transmission with everything i need to run it.change the turbomine runs like a champ and never rebuilt it.175 hp at the crank stock. at 10 psi ud put prolly 180-185 at the crank. u can use a clutch off of the ka on it too just remove the guiding pin.oh and GREAT gas mileage compared to ka lol

[Thoughtful_One]

It looks like this is the route I want to go. Although, I am still waiting on a few more responses from the SR section before I fully make up my mind. I will create a hypothetical list of costs for the swap and post it on here too.

[Masterdebater]

i was gonna do sr but my friend has it so we wanted to see the differences.sr def. has a power difference and has a different power band thobut im more comfortable playin with the ca because its iron and not alluminum. theres alo of room in the engine bay too with the ca. the head is designed alot better than the sr too because its cam on bucket design. not much to break at high revs except main engine bearings haha

[Thoughtful_One]

i was gonna do sr but my friend has it so we wanted to see the differences.sr def. has a power difference and has a different power band thobut im more comfortable playin with the ca because its iron and not alluminum. theres alo of room in the engine bay too with the ca. the head is designed alot better than the sr too because its cam on bucket design. not much to break at high revs except main engine bearings haha

Well yes, for the same pressure, the SR is putting out about 30-35 HP more at the crank so that is to be expected. What does the power feel like on the CA? Are your and your friends swap close to stock?

My ultimate goal in the end is to make a safe ~220 WHP. I think this is plenty for what I will be doing with it.

[ch187]

i would never in my life by an sr. weve got kas cas and now vhs and soon to be getting into qrs but no srs for us. ****ty weaksause head, aluminum block and way overpriced. i just picked up a freakin vh45. the thing is visually like 2 ka's if not bigger. displacement wise is 300cc shy of being twice as big but all aluminum reinforced, aluminum girdle, reinforced block skirts, not to mention its a 90 degree V8. yeah...301hp 331 tq, stock.. that to me is the sickest motor nissan has ever developed but to each his own.

[Reno]

why isn't the t3/t4 turbo a popular choice for the ca's? i mean the gt28 is more popular.. :/

[Thoughtful_One]

How much have you guys spent in TOTAL to get your car running? This includes everything, even the purchase of the motor. I spoke to a performance shop and they said that parts are not easy to come by for the CA and that it is pretty old, whch are two reasons that keeping me from going this route.

The thing is that the SR redtop came in the, I believe 91-93 JDM S13s, which is almost as old as the CA (88-90). What difference does one or two years make?

You mentioned that a rebuild is a good idea, buy why is it necessary if it has such low miles? Why would bearings need to be replaced if they are not used, but still immersed in oil?

I read the CA sticky and it said I can use the KA clutch, but what about the flywheel of I wanted to switch to something a little lighter?

What was one major problem that you have had with your CA?

[Thoughtful_One]

even rebuilt the ca will run you ~$1,500 less than an sr

im probably going this route too

How do you figure this? On average, the CA is $11-1200. Rebuild parts will be $5-600 (not sure)? The redtop SR, through one of the sponsors, has it for $1750...

[ca18detgabby]

How do you figure this? On average, the CA is $11-1200. Rebuild parts will be $5-600 (not sure)? The redtop SR, through one of the sponsors, has it for $1750...

and a rebuilt CA SHOULD be alot more reliable than a non-rebuilt SR. we didnt have to replace anything that came with the motor aside from a single coil which I got 3 of for 45 bucks.... Atleast in my case the car is basicly how they sent it plus an upgraded exhaust and intake system....

[CadetLD]

Well all I can say is that my car came with the CA in it already so i cant comment on swaping the motor. However. The turbo and coilpacks were blown. Easy fixes. Got a BB S15 t28 (inconel guts i think) for about 600 bucks. Yes i know thats pricy but for me it was worth every penny as Ive heard they spool quicker than s14 t28s. Thats a plus because CAs are not quick spooing engines to start with in anything past factory boost. The downpipe had to be modified to fit my exhaust. Custom Oil and water lines had to be made to fit the turbo. I guess the s14 turbos had a flange on the intake side to fit the maf/ filter tube, mine didnt so one had to be made. The coils were easy fix bacause you can get them from a pulsar nx. Other than those problems It make a killer DD. Its every bit as fast as an SR. Just more topend than lowend power. Even with the bigger turbo i still get awsome gas mileage. I havnt done the math but its around the same as my bone stock KA (coupe) if not better when i stay out of boost. Just treat it with care and try not to eff up anything major internaly becasue thats when things get REAL pricy. JDM CA18DET bottom end is way diffrent than USDM CA18DE (so im told). And recently looking at aftermarket Pistons/ rods it can cost $1000+ easily. On the bright side stock CAs are pretty hard to blow up if you know what you are doing and take good care of it. One thing to consider is the transmission. I dont even know if i have CA or SR transmission but im guessing its the CA transmission, anyways, my car seems to have REAL short gearing compared to say a stock KA 5spd. Like it has a shorter final gear aswell as my 4-5 shift only drops around 1500rpm between the two. Im not complaning because i rarely do any highway driving and it makes driving around town much more fun (rev mathcing/heeltoe and stuff lol). Sorry for long assed post but it should give u an idea. - Shane