differences between jdm engines

[skwertle]

this is kind of a newbie post and i'm kind of ashamed to ask this but i can't seem to find the answers to my question anywhere.

ok like most everybody i'm looking to do an engine swap in my 240. but i'm having trouble on what to get. I know the basic differences between the 3 different sr20det's and the ca18det but no one seems to show/explain which one is most responsive to upgrades and what kind of gains you get when you do modify them. Last which one of them has the most potential for crazy mad speed.

Thanks

[ninjak84]

the best ever engines you could put in a 240sx would be these 3 in MY opinion:1: supra's 2JZ-GTE 2: skyline's RB series engines3: silvia SR20DETT

all of them twin turboed, would be good for "crazy mad speed"all of them also, cost more than you probably paid for your car

[Repo Man]

How much "crazy mad speed" do you want? This question also begs the question "how much money do you have?" How fast you go is directly proportionate to how much money you have, or more importantly, how much money you will SPEND.

All of the engines you have listed have great potential. For my money, I would probably buy one of the cheaper SR's or a CA and spend the difference on mods (i.e. lightweight flywheel, intercooler, clutch, exhaust, head work, BRAKES, etc.).

Check out the thread "SR 20's are gay". Paul is a big advocate of the CA, has one, and seems to know a lot about it. I'm sure he would tell you anything you wanted to know about the potential of the CA, and there are several others here that have SR's and could discuss their merits as well. The Fresh Alloy forums have an advanced 240 board which deals mostly with swapped 240's.http://www.freshalloy.com

[Daunttless]

I would disagree, a twin turbo SR20 is worthless.

As far as which responds to what, most performance engines respond about the same to modification, it just depends on how much money you want to spend. There is no simple answer to that question, it completely lies in your application. I would put the RB and 2JZ as approximately equal in response to upgrades, and below them I would put the SR20 and CA18 as approximately equal in response to upgrades. All of them have potential for crazy mad speed. 2JZ is probably the highest for sheer speed factor at easily able to attain 900hp, followed by the RB26 to 700 or so horsepower, followed by the CA to 500, then the SR to 350. Lots of people will disagree with this. Pretty much all engines have the potential for mad crazy speed within their limitations. Those numbers above do not represent their absolute limit, but merely the wall they run in to. At 350 you need to do a lot of changes to the SR, at 500 you need to do a lot of changes to the CA, at 600-700 the RB, at 800-900 the 2JZ. Every engine has potential, and I'm sorry, but thats about the best answer you will get. There is no absolute right or wrong.

Please note, it will cost a ****load of money to put any of the engines to those points, not to mention all the labor. Good luck, and put up any other questions you have. : )

[skwertle]

i went to the unstable-hybrids website and i read how they put a rb20det in a s13. how does that compare?

[skwertle]

plus how much torque will the engines make modified?

[Repo Man]

The RB20 is (correct me if I'm wrong) the smallest engine Nissan put in the Skyline. I have seen a mildly modded RB20DET-equipped Skyline with an auto run a 15.4 at 97mph. Other than that, the SR20DET has the same displacement and is turbo'd. I'm sure it would respond well to mods too.

As far as torque specs, what level of modification do you mean? Many variables there, even with the same parts. Tuning is a huge variable.

[ninjak84]

a twin turbo SR20 is worthless?this begs an explanation, because it is by far the cheapest engine swap for me to buy here in canada. good power, for good money, on a near brand new engine.let me explain: we have a car shop here, that can import written off silvias from japan. as long as the engine is intact, i guess its still good. anyways, the fastest 240's here have done this, and it works really good. a very reliable engine too, as long as you keep the boost at a decent rate.

$5000 (canadian) gets you everything. engine, install, labour, mounts, and he even offers to help you out with it after a while if you want to do work with it.

i cant imagine it being much different in the US. i'd think your shops would offer a TT SR for much cheaper. not a chance that this engine is worthless!

[Jubs180]

why is it worthless?its totally not useable horsepower.

think about it.you have a lil' 2liter 4cyl engine.thats 2 pistons/ 4 whole valves trying to power a turbo.even putting itty bitty t25's on there wouldn't really be effective.the spool up time would be more than annoying.and you wouldn't see any power until you got way up in the revs.

just adding a larger single turbo to a 4cyl would be much more effective.much larger power band. a LOT more power lower end.sr = not good TT engine for street...... maybe for drag..but probably not even that.it would be more of an ego thing if anything.. "yup.. i've got a TT under the hood"

-Dan

[Daunttless]

What he said. You'd have to have an extremely well engineered, completely custom setup for the TT to even be worth it. Or for way less money you could bolt on an aftermarket manifold and turbo and have more power with less lag.

[ninjak84]

yeah, i hear ya now.....thinking about it, it IS a 2.0L 4 cyl engine, anyway you put it....theres only so much you can do with it.....

[skwertle]

ok last question i this thread is which of the 3 SR motors are most prefered by tuners and why?

[Atom12]

Throwing water on a grease fire, a lot of people here would argue that a turbo KA is a viable option. Hey Daunttless, what kind of "changes" are you talking about with the SR and CA? Block reinforcement? Forged piston? Crank work? Just trying to learn.

[JinNjuicE]

Daunttless...why cant you just resleeve a SR20 motor with titanium? Its price is reasonable compared to what you get out of it. With right forged pistons, rods, and other little stuff, you will have a bulletproof bottom end. Please do correct me if I am wrong.

[ninjak84]

geez, where is Dauntless anyways?he better not be off having a life of his own dammit....jk:D

[Daunttless]

Tuners have their own preferences, there isn't a general concensus on what is the "best" SR20. Most choose the S13 SR20 as its low cost provides you with the ability to get more modifications. A lot of tuners prefer it as well because a lot of the changes in the S14 and S15 SR20s have to be removed anyways.

As far as changes, a CA only needs forged pistons, its rods and crank support up to 500hp.

A SR needs all new internals and a resleeving, it also needs better rocker arms and rocker stoppers with a lash killer kit if you want higher cams. I'm pretty sure it also needs crank work and better valve springs to get into the high, high hp numbers.

As far as titanium, I wish. : ) If you replaced all your components with titanium you'd have a very nicely built motor. Unfortunately, you would not only need to pay for all the titanium, and all the labor, but you'd also have to pay for the CAD diagrams. I don't think it'd be easy, but it'd definitely be powerful. However, for that amount of money you might as well start with a better platform ( IE something like an RB26, or something as exotic as the ill fated FJ20 if you wanted to stay 4 cylinder ) and build everything for that in titanium. : ) It would definitely make for a quicker, higher reving, much, much stronger engine. : )

[Daunttless]

Never fear for I am here! : )

Its not that I have a life, its just that everyone is IMing me now to ask questions and set things up for my shop opening. : )

[Atom12]

Well here's some more qustions, are you going to import the CA? Will it bolt directly into an s14? And really, how is your shop coming along?

[Daunttless]

I'm importing CAs.

They bolt in just like a S13 SR20.

My shop is coming along, wish I had more private investment, but I suppose I'll live. My biggest concern is finding a buyer for my two cars. : )