Too many times I have heard people say that they are having issues with their CA18 engines or have gotten fed up with them. People you have to keep in mind that unless you saw that thing run before, you have not a clue as to what you're getting in to. For whatever reason you all chose to use this motor, it was obviously definitive enough to make you spend your money, so you may as well stop all the little Bee-with an itching and get some compsure about yourselves.
The reason why I'm speaking out about this is that lately I've seen too many CA18 owners complain about their motors either knocking, won't start, this or that. This is start to turn into an SR type forum with all the whining. If you can't fix it, pay someone to do it. Most of you knew from the start that you would possibly catch hell in doing this and you still chose to take it on anyway and all that's good. But if you run into a brick wall, there's more than enough friends and knowledge within this community to help you get this solved, but if it doesn't help, then it's time to either pay someone to do your harnesses or whatever.
To those of you that have gotten your CAs to work, that's fine. But to those that are having problems, keep uyour frustrations off the forums because you are really putting out a negative vibe.
I didn't choose the CA18DET because it was cheaper than the SR20, but more because in my personal beliefs and experience it was a much simpler and better built engine. Those that chose it for cost, and you can't get it to run, now you have a few more $$$s to pay someone to make it run.
If you guys would pay close attention to what I and many post on this forum, I don't think you would be having as many problems, especuially electrical.
To those of you worried about the internal condition of your CA18DET, when in doubt--take it out---and rebuild--for a reliable thrill. That's the slogan I live by.
These engines aren't new and they are not that user friendly, especially if you are a novice and counting on those SR install directions on Heavy throttle.com. You had best to ask or pay a fellow CA member to help you or else you'll lose more than a few dollars. We have to come together collectively to help one another or there won't be too many CA18 owners left. I'm not going SR, RB, VG, KA or FJ for anyone or anything. I'm not abandoning my project because I hit that infamous brick wall. Soi I say this, either help us help you, or stop with all bee-otching and go buy an SR or a cchevy cavalier.
This is not for everyone, but if the shoe fits "Wear it" and wear it well.
Dee
For all CA18DET owners or soon to be owners!
my motor sucks i should have gone with a Sr.
LMAO hell no, i love a challenge especially when it fights back, its just a means to get me to learn more ,and fix it. i was one of those that constantly battled my motor , i was being cheap and ignored the problemn with my rings, i know that lead to blowing my turbo bearings out. so now ive decided to start on the right track , will i cheap out on it?? well parts yes probably but thats cause i dont make that much money, but i make enough to get the important stuff taken care of first , my car will come out this summer/fall it will run and it will be the fastest and most powerfull 240sx in my area. and we have a dozen SRs around. they wont stand a chance.. it takes patients and time to learn but these motors can be fun.
LMAO hell no, i love a challenge especially when it fights back, its just a means to get me to learn more ,and fix it. i was one of those that constantly battled my motor , i was being cheap and ignored the problemn with my rings, i know that lead to blowing my turbo bearings out. so now ive decided to start on the right track , will i cheap out on it?? well parts yes probably but thats cause i dont make that much money, but i make enough to get the important stuff taken care of first , my car will come out this summer/fall it will run and it will be the fastest and most powerfull 240sx in my area. and we have a dozen SRs around. they wont stand a chance.. it takes patients and time to learn but these motors can be fun.
-
ca18datsun510
- Posts: 2050
- Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2002 7:28 pm
- Car: bmw 330i zhp, 91 infiniti m30, 89 240sx, 07 zx6r, 05 trx450r
- Contact:
you guys think you have it bad. at least your cars came with fuel injection. im trying to put this motor in a car that had a carb, and 3 wires going to the distributor. ive come close to giving up, but when ever i do, i just sit back and think about what im gonna have when its done. anyone wanna help with my wiring?
-
Spectre_240sx
- Posts: 261
- Joined: Sat Mar 08, 2003 6:42 am
- Car: 1990 240sx SE
- Contact:
Dee, u a real ca18 soldier lol
ca18datsun510I wish u had said this earlier. I got a buddy who gets any motor to run in all sortsa cars. He put a ca18det in a starion in 2 days - customer left the shop sideways. I could have looked at the wiring and made a note. He just did a rb20det into a 240 and had the car driving with ~6 wires connected? ....so it can't be that bad, huh.I've visited aussie sites with ca18/510 swaps with wiring details.I did a few turbo mitsu 2.0L into carb corollas. 1st one, I used the entire starion loom (non u.s.). Not difficult, just a bit time consuming. I take the fuel lines from the donor car and run em under the rolla. Grab a suitable hi perf mpfi car fuel tank, cut out the pickup assy and weld to your datsun tank. I've used iroc tpi, 2gen dsm etc. - inexpensive route and pump is silent.Trust me, 1st time that boosted ca18 presses u back in the 510 seat, you'll bust a nut
remember those rod bearings guys... u don't wanna hear from them
ca18datsun510I wish u had said this earlier. I got a buddy who gets any motor to run in all sortsa cars. He put a ca18det in a starion in 2 days - customer left the shop sideways. I could have looked at the wiring and made a note. He just did a rb20det into a 240 and had the car driving with ~6 wires connected? ....so it can't be that bad, huh.I've visited aussie sites with ca18/510 swaps with wiring details.I did a few turbo mitsu 2.0L into carb corollas. 1st one, I used the entire starion loom (non u.s.). Not difficult, just a bit time consuming. I take the fuel lines from the donor car and run em under the rolla. Grab a suitable hi perf mpfi car fuel tank, cut out the pickup assy and weld to your datsun tank. I've used iroc tpi, 2gen dsm etc. - inexpensive route and pump is silent.Trust me, 1st time that boosted ca18 presses u back in the 510 seat, you'll bust a nut
remember those rod bearings guys... u don't wanna hear from them
Hey ca18datsun510, I can help you with any questions you have about wiring up the CA into a 510.I'm doing the same conversion into my 510 ( except I'm in N.Z )I found the wiring fairly easy...the only part that made it difficult was unwrapping it, so that I could keep it nice and tidy and as hidden as possible.So long as you have all the wiring diagrams of both the CA and the 510, and a pinout diagram helps A LOT!, then you should be right.
I'm just finding it difficult to source a g/box at the moment
I'm just finding it difficult to source a g/box at the moment
-
240 Trainee
- Posts: 749
- Joined: Mon Apr 14, 2003 5:41 am
- Contact:
Which is why I went w/ the SR (many upcoming events and the need for instant, reliable gratification) and why I argue that it's not 'cheaper' to get a CA (which seems to be some people's motives for buying one in the first place...bad motive if you ask me). If you're gonna do a CA do it right, overhaul the sucker and maybe even build it up (depending on what your goals are). You can't expect every 14+ year old CA to start up and take a beating with no problems. As good as the engine is, they are old and may need some TLC before you beat the crap out of them...and the clock aint gonna stop ticking. '_'
Whats wrong with following the heavy throttle faq ..
I did my swap all by myself and some help from my father (to drop the engine). My reason for buying the CA is the lowest cost of the engine and for the engine itself. For multiple reason i think the CA engine is a better *enthousiast* engine. 2-3 years ago, i was reading some webpage about the CA18DET and i was thinking " Damn i love this engine ! My swap is almost finish. Im waiting for my maf and dropping resistor to start the engine. Im hoping for the best but i know that problem may occur so im ready to open my wallet :naughty
ps: thx to pulsar_gtr he responded to all my stupid question and everyone on nico that have helped me in any way !
I did my swap all by myself and some help from my father (to drop the engine). My reason for buying the CA is the lowest cost of the engine and for the engine itself. For multiple reason i think the CA engine is a better *enthousiast* engine. 2-3 years ago, i was reading some webpage about the CA18DET and i was thinking " Damn i love this engine ! My swap is almost finish. Im waiting for my maf and dropping resistor to start the engine. Im hoping for the best but i know that problem may occur so im ready to open my wallet :naughtyps: thx to pulsar_gtr he responded to all my stupid question and everyone on nico that have helped me in any way !
I feel like this was kinda directed toward me but im not frustrated ,im just lost because i have spark and i beleive fuel and its not going... but ill never get mad at or give up on this motor, i love it and i have put so much time into and i have enjoyed scince i first saw it, even if its not running yet.
but im not frustrated ,im just lost because i have spark and i beleive fuel and its not going... but ill never get mad at or give up on this motor, i love it and i have put so much time into and i have enjoyed scince i first saw it, even if its not running yet.-
boost_boy
- Posts: 7051
- Joined: Thu Nov 14, 2002 7:28 am
- Car: B12 sentra w/built CA18DET, B12 sentra w/fully-built CA18DET, S13 coupe w/ CA18DET, S13 hatch w/CA18DET, 2002 maxima SE
- Location: Miami, FL.
- Contact:
Quote »I feel like this was kinda directed toward me but im not frustrated ,im just lost because i have spark and i beleive fuel and its not going... but ill never get mad at or give up on this motor, i love it and i have put so much time into and i have enjoyed scince i first saw it, even if its not running yet.[/quote] I didn't personally direct it towards anyone inparticular. But it's sad to see a once thriving and happy-go-lucky community running around whining like "Wo is me:( ). We all need to get it together and stop sulking in self-pitty. But then again, if the shoe fit, I will not acquit;) !
Dee
Dee
even going sr won't get you outta the woods... buy u a little time maybe, but I've seen lotsa sr bearing failures also, with some sending a rod thru the block. More common than u think. Looks like an 'old nissan 4cyl thing' to me.If u want boost cheap and have a healthy dohc ka, turbo it. There is a guy on freshalloy that; hacked a $150 ss auto header/ used sr t25 & 370s + safc on his stock ka24de and ecu. Dyno'd 275hp/310tq to the wheels. U won't see that from ca or sr with such little effort or $$$
mmmm
ca18det forged slugsbig camsupgrade valve traingt25rbig injectorstubular manifold
and beating up on every SR20det around here thinking they are bad asses cause they got srpower... its so rewarding!!
getting asked stupid questions about the motor, annoying yes, but you leave those people looking at you like your some kinda nissan god.... thats the icing on the cake
ca18det forged slugsbig camsupgrade valve traingt25rbig injectorstubular manifold
and beating up on every SR20det around here thinking they are bad asses cause they got srpower... its so rewarding!!
getting asked stupid questions about the motor, annoying yes, but you leave those people looking at you like your some kinda nissan god.... thats the icing on the cake
mmmm
ca18det forged slugsbig camsupgrade valve traingt25rbig injectorstubular manifold
and beating up on every SR20det around here thinking they are bad asses cause they got srpower... its so rewarding!!
getting asked stupid questions about the motor, annoying yes, but you leave those people looking at you like your some kinda nissan god.... thats the icing on the cake
ca18det forged slugsbig camsupgrade valve traingt25rbig injectorstubular manifold
and beating up on every SR20det around here thinking they are bad asses cause they got srpower... its so rewarding!!
getting asked stupid questions about the motor, annoying yes, but you leave those people looking at you like your some kinda nissan god.... thats the icing on the cake
-
boost_boy
- Posts: 7051
- Joined: Thu Nov 14, 2002 7:28 am
- Car: B12 sentra w/built CA18DET, B12 sentra w/fully-built CA18DET, S13 coupe w/ CA18DET, S13 hatch w/CA18DET, 2002 maxima SE
- Location: Miami, FL.
- Contact:
Quote »If u want boost cheap and have a healthy dohc ka, turbo it. There is a guy on freshalloy that; hacked a $150 ss auto header/ used sr t25 & 370s + safc on his stock ka24de and ecu. Dyno'd 275hp/310tq to the wheels. U won't see that from ca or sr with such little effort or $$$[/quote] I agree with you on this, but even the KA is notorious for bearing failure and oil pump failure which usually leads to a hole in its block. The CA is no exception to this rule! Oil pump goes, rod gets bent, rod says it's too hot in block:firedevil and the little rod finds it's way out of it's mother's hot womb and into your engine bay area
! And now you're all sad on your rod's venture into the new world:D (I know-I know.......I'm an @$$.
Dee
! And now you're all sad on your rod's venture into the new world:D (I know-I know.......I'm an @$$.Dee
boost_boy wrote:I agree with you on this, but even the KA is notorious for bearing failure and oil pump failure which usually leads to a hole in its block. The CA is no exception to this rule! Oil pump goes, rod gets bent, rod says it's too hot in block:firedevil and the little rod finds it's way out of it's mother's hot womb and into your engine bay area
Dee
LMAO..... you have no idea how funny that was to me!! thats exactly the way i would have said it to him in person LMAO