Everyone stop buying CA18s

[themadscientist]

Yeah, seriously. If you are not already knee-deep in one just move on. I am completely and totally tired of the pissing and moaning about the damned things from people who don't have a clue about the realities of buying not just this engine but any used engine. The CA18 is one of the oldest of the JDMtyte engines and as such displays more wear that the others except perhaps a redtop RB20.

Reality check boys and girls.

Your motor was in fact pulled from a junkyard. I don't care what line of jedi mindtrick bull**** your vendor told you. Somebody in Japan pulled a Silvia or 180 off the top of a stack and yanked a motor from it that has likely not been started in a year at best and was likely open to the elements in some way, be it radiator pulled or a turbo snatched, something.

Your motor is an oddball, a black sheep, nobody loves it but us, nobody supports it. When you drop one in your car you are signing on with the understanding that you will not be able to surf ZOMGITZJDM.COM for CA18 specific parts. You will spend many sleepless nights surfing E-gay and paying too much for iffy parts because you have no choice. You will occasionally find people here moving stuff but we are fully into anacronism with the CA and most people are finally clueing in that they need to horde, to stock up on parts if they expect to support the engine into the future. You will learn to adapt, to create or you will not survive. If you are just coming in, turn around and walk right back out, you don't have the game or the connections it would take to play catchup.

Your motor is small. There, I said it, it ain't a sin but it is a reality. An engine is an air pump and while there is replacement for displacement that replacement comes at the price of more stress in the form of high boost pressures and RPMS. You bought a 1.8 liter, don't wonder why it has less torque than a 2.4 liter. If you need me to do your math for you, you are completely and truly screwed. The CA is capable if you are willing to admit you have to do it right if you expect it to live at high power figures. If you blow it because you ignored this fact and threw a tired original motor in your car and cranked the boost up, spiked the tach, and sent a rod through your block, don't come here to ***** about it. YOU SCREWED UP and the engine paid the price for your stupidity, I have no sympathy for you and you're a murderer as far as I am concerned. I could prove negligent homicide in any court in the land using evidence posted by you before the crime.

Your motor is unnecessary. There is very few instances when the KA won't get it done. Save for those that are seriously trying to push the envelope the KA24 is totally adequate for the average guy with proper prep. Prep money you wasted on another engine simply because it came in a Japanese-spec car. You didn't pull it because it truly was not able to make power, you pulled it because it wasn't cool. I don't judge you for that but you should at least admit it to yourself because it's sad to watch.

Your motor needs a rebuild. I'll say it again because it needs to be said loudly. YOUR MOTOR NEEDS A REBUILD! 89 was the last year the CA was under the hood of an S chassis, that is 20 friggin years of use, older than many of the buyers are. Even the most religiously maintained, one owner engine, "only driven to Sendai on sundays" is going to be loose and need a good overhaul. Your motor has been beat up, badly. I have lived in Japan for 15 years, I see how they drive and I see how they maintain their cars, they DON'T. Your engine has been bounced off the rev limiter sliding around corners for years until it lost compression or the owner threw it away to get an SR. Know that it has had infrequent oil chages and rusty water coursing through the jackets. It needs help, will you help it? Are you man enough to help it?

AIDA gentlemen

It takes brass balls to drive a CA

[Logan76]

wow, nice read. It makes me wonder about the jdm b16 I just bought lol, in the same boat. I used to own a CA and Ill openly admit it frustrated me trying to find parts, and I got stupid and sold it. I still miss that car everyday.

[sjbsuperman1425]

almost upsets me to know i bought mine last August.. but i LOVE it. i didn't pull a KA and buy the CA to be cool, i bought it because it was cheap, turboed, and i needed an engine. I know everybody has problems finding parts, but i haven't had to much trouble. its probably a problem for those wanting ALOT of horsepower, but for me, 350whp is good enough, then im looking into an SR later on, since I know that this 1.8L isn't small and that 350-400whp is PLENTY in an S-Chassis. im somewhat newer, but i am a true CA diehard already.

i havent really found "IFFY" parts for the CA. CP makes pistons, i found rods (as you may know TMS lol), some still have the Tomei Poncams (Tomei MIGHT still make the Pons but im not sure), and thats pretty much the engine. Clutches can be found along with flywheels, and injectors and engine management. I have found EVERYTHING i will need to get the job done for me. engines dont have to many parts to them. (although the CA parts like the CAS and such will become a pain).

I get pi$$ed on here because EVERYBODY even the CA guys complain about parts and this and that when you can still find them. like TMS said, it just "takes time".

To all the new CA purchasers, buy it, but remember what TMS said, for parts, YOU HAVE TO SEARCH THE WEB, but they are there! dont let him discourage you. There is still alot of information tucked away on this Board that can be found on almost ANYTHING about this engine. just be prepared and dont make dumb posts and SEARCH SEARCH SEARCH! good luck!

[superJoy]

I couldn't agree more.

[ca18detgabby]

i dont gotz brass ballz

Ps I enjoyed the read. I enjoy people buying them state side......... once they give up on the CA, it makes for sourcing parts that much easier. I currently have 5 1/2 sets of coils, 3 CAS, and a **** ton of other parts when something else wears out.

btw, what cant people find ? most anything basic I can get at local shops and aftermarket stuff....... well it is called MODIFYING........ so I figure that not just slapping something on comes with the territory.

[float_6969]

Whatever, I'm with TMS. Don't buy anymore. Leave them alone. You're just going to ruin it and tell your friends it's crap. Save your money. Let me have all of them instead.

To correct you though, in Europe, the CA lived in the S13 until '94. Just had to throw that out there.

[themadscientist]

i dont gotz brass ballz

What would be a comparable metaphor, "brass boobs"

You got something else that can get you as many of those as you want. Balls are overrated, ask the guys from that comet cult.

[DALAZ_68]

What would be a comparable metaphor, "brass boobs"

You got something else that can get you as many of those as you want. Balls are overrated, ask the guys from that comet cult.

BRASS OVAS....

i got mine...simply to be different...i realized today im the only proper street running CA in SoCal...

its scary...but i got into it to be different and to learn, which i have...and i still got a$$ loads to learn, i guess TMS could blame me for some of the dumb dip **** questions asked here...

but i will press on with this 1.8... this year it will get a much deserve rebuild and i cant wait...

i do wanna take this time ot thank TMS Gabby and Float, for answering my question...as dumb as they may have been

[float_6969]

You're only as dumb as the questions you ask. Oh wait...

[themadscientist]

You're only as dumb as the questions you ask. Oh wait...

Avoiding comment shoud earn me sainthood.

[float_6969]

They won't give you sainthood. They tried priesthood and now those alter boys will never be the same.

[r34 gtr]

TMS you really have too much free time, don't you.

[themadscientist]

guilty

[DALAZ_68]

Float - probably...but the dumbest questioned is the one not asked i feel...though failure ot search, thats were it get yah

TMS - the children, stop touching the poor children

[ganma_ca]

I think all that 50,000 mile BS is a bunch of crap if you ask me. I think someone said that one day and everyone that sells a JDM motor says oh yeah it might be 50,000 miles or maybe 100,000 miles lmao!?. You never really know unless you are really dealing with someone who is reputable and had the odometer with the engine/or takes a pic of the od. with the vin on the clip they jack the motor from;) I think most people look at the CA and see an invincible motor that has all top self parts and this well even if it's a 20 year old motor it still only has 50,000 miles on it!!!!(supposedly) which is nothing and the parts should still be fresh. But most tend to forget about 20 years lol. And as with most engines that old it needs a little freshening. But saying an entire rebuild is necessary kinda frightens people and they think $1,000's and $1,000's of dollars which in some cases is very much not needed. Just because someone tells you to go out and spend a wad doesn't make much sense. Unless you really bought a heap. 18's are really well engineered for the most part, and as long as you know what to look for you don't have to break the bank prepping one. My advice it helps if you know the history of the motor some what before you buy it. (which for those of you dealing with companies you get some mileage for answers and that's it) For those of you who buy them second hand from someone who used it already find out as much assssss possible! Was it over rev'd alot? Frequent oil changes? Compression test in front of you? Rods, and rod/main bearings ok?Was it ever over-heated? Does the engine set you are buying have USED parts from another motor installed inside? There are a lot of questions you should ask yourself weather you are buying from a company or from an individual. I say keep buying CA's to keep this community alive. Sure everyone has complaints and themadscientist I bet you've even complained a few times back when you first started too!. So yeah it's inevitable there will always be complaining with any engine swap period that is attempted, just a fact of life. If you can't deal with it just get off of your man periods lol. For most folks they are virgins to engine swaps and haven't encountered the hurtles that may present themselves. They don't know what's down the road less traveled, and we do see quite a few people who start with the ca and can't finish. Oh well more parts for us.But complaining about complainers lol??? C'mmon show some luvvvv (I'm not targeting anyone because I'm just as guilty). But for some its hard being a newbie I think we should support more people building CA's after all it's what generates a semi new aftermarket of custom parts made for us, the more people we have the better!!!!!!

[ganma_ca]

P.S. Aside from pissing and moaning on these boards about horrors I talk to myself sometimes and to my CA and ask it why it does what it does lmao

[themadscientist]

Are you feeding the neighbors to it? Very Little Shop of Horrors.

Like most of the other engines out there, my CA18's biggest problem is the *** behind the wrench.

[ganma_ca]

I actually feed it SR"s muahahahahhaaaaa!

Well I am the "Monkey" behind the wrench whoaaahahahaaa!!!

Ha ha ha so corney it hurts!

[themadscientist]

[ganma_ca]

^^^^ OMG lmao!!!! Evil Monkey!

[bradt]

Good read. I love the CA because I guess I must be a masochist....

[DALAZ_68]

i love it because it confuses people

[r34 gtr]

I love the CA18 because I have never driven a 240sx with any other motor, so I have nothing to compare it to.

[ard]

well, the biggest problem is that anybody can buy that engine, and after a "good" read on some kind of forum they decide that I want more boost.and that leads to trying to squeeze the last drop of **** from CA18 without proper maintenance.i saw a lot of ca18's and sr20's with spun bearings, dead turbos, rod stickin' from block side and etc...but if you take care of your engine, it will last at least for ever (until next rebuild ).

[Ca_Silvia]

I agree about the 50k BS but i know a guy locally 160psi across all 4 cylinders stock everything. So there are gems out there.

[zero_gripS13]

i love it cause it touched me and now im touching it hahahahahhaha..

and mine was second hand and screwed so i got another swap with a dead cyl and together im am doing a total rebuild on one of these screwers and its almost done... i lost my job so as soon as i get another one its going to get bored honed balanced and head redid and then put together by me which will cause it to spew my cash load i invested onto the floor in many shiny peices but i will learn something and continue dammit this motor owns me!!!!

[ca18detgabby]

I wish I had a evil monkey that lived in my closet.

[PapaBurgundy]

You guys just gotta do what I did, buy a motor in a million pieces!! Then youll know what condition its in and rebuilding is unavoidable. But if youve never seen an assembled CA (like me) and its missing half the parts (like mine) expect to cry alot and spend 6-8 months of wrenching on it. I occasionally wonder why I didnt replace my blown KA with another one, but when I think about the fact that I've personally seen and fondled every part of my motor and how intimate our relationship has become with the constant bonding moments, I wouldnt have it any other way. Also its not an SR and it sounds better than one so its impossible to resist.

[mbmbmb23]

When you drop one in your car you are signing on with the understanding that you will not be able to surf ZOMGITZJDM.COM for CA18 specific parts.

Hahahahaha....what about ZOMGITZJDM.com.au? =)

[boost_boy]

HaHaHaHa . float6969, you're next! You guys can recall the days when I spent minutes of my precious life trying to help these folks understand a few things about the CA. TMS, beautifully put, but some of our enthusiasts have only begun to cause more gray hairs to grow. Bottom line from another hard-core enthusiast to you new "Thunder Cats" that think you have a baby RB, don't rebuild the motor, but don't expect it to live long. Don't bad mouth the CA because yours blew-up. I've cleaned-up alot of wanna-be's with my CAs over the years to include your beloved SRs and KAs and don't even talk about your B series stuff from honda. You don't spend no money, you shouldn't whine. Love the CA and love the guys that abort them as well . See my sig. I really mean what I say.........

Dee