Front Clip vs. Motorsets

[Neejay]

Ok, rather than continue threadjacking boost_boy's post, I just made this one.

I have A LOT of people advising me to get a front clip to make sure I have EVERYTHING needed to do the swap. The thing is though, what all can I really even use from the swap? I was thinking that maybe I could replace some things that maybe look better/in better condition that my current stuff. I'd obviously have most everything to do the swap (even though a shop will be doing it). I keep reading on boards "If I could have done it again, I'd have gotten a clip...". For the clip, I'd go with Jarco (as they are in town and have a pretty good rep from word of mouth. Havent heard one bad thing about them yet) - $2000

Motorset would be less of a hassle to store and would be a lot cheaper to ship as well as price, BUT Im assuming the stock smic is gonna be missing, but is that it? Im doing a semi-stock swap (not upgrading the intercooler yet, so I'd really need the stock smic). I would be using either dee (boost_boy) or rafic (pulsar). Rafic quoted me $1600 + some gaskets at the end of august. I know dee and rafic know what they're talking about, but seeing as how Ive never done a swap, Im still undecided.

Help!

[iliketocrash]

well with my front clip i got a complete uncut harness, dropping resistor pack, smic and all piping and just plain everything, including ecu. it was especially nice because i was doing the swap myself so it helped to see how the engine was set up and how everything was connected before i swapped it over. i can't really comment on just the basic motor set but i can just tel you what i got.

[F3600]

i did myself my swap with a moterset without any wiring , piping, intercooler ,MAF ,CAS ignitor pack.

it was a litlle longer because i ordered my part on ebay .. its not that bad but next time am doing a swap i want all the part when i start ... i hate downtime

[Trppen37]

I ordered my clip from Rafic..and He went over the engine and replaced alot of the seals.. HE included everything needed to do the swap plus Customer Assistance when I needed his help. All I had to do was order a Koyo Radiator and Make custom IC Piping and buy an IC other than that everything went smooth...

[rico05]

I ordered my motorset from JHot, and they included uncut harness, ECU, dropping resistor, refunded me for the cost of a ignitor and I had to buy a SMIC setup from someone on here. Other than a downpipe, that was it. Total cost was about $1400 shipped for all of it. Another thing to think of: you will have to dispose of your empty clip once you are done. My buddy had to dump it in the back of his father in law's field because no junkyard here in town would take it. It seems pretty common for that to happen, so mabye you can find a recycling place that may take it but other than that, you are prob. stuck with it for a while.

[Trppen37]

if you have a sawzall just saw it up and go around the towns dumpsters and get rid of the whole clip piece by piece..heh

[RMiller]

You really don't need a clip unless you want to use the stock intercooler setup. Most motorsets come with a complete harness, ignitor, drop resistor, ecu. I didn't get the intercooler and piping, but I could have gotten all of that and the radiator and hoses for an extra $200. I paid $1000 from Venus, $1343 shipped and taxed. The motorset was clean. I don't think it's worth the extra hassle and cost for a full clip. Plus, there's nothing else on the clip I could have used. The radiators are the same, but I could have used the intercooler hoses instead of trimming my own. I guess another use for the clip would be for all the a/c pieces. Although, with '89-'90 compressors, they will work w/ the ca bracket with a little grinding.

[mikeh16]

I just purchased my clip from Advantage Automotive over in the seattle area, for $1100. I saved some money by picking it up, but a clip, IMO, is the way to go if you are going to do the swap yourself.

[boost_boy]

Even with a clip, you still have to make some modifications to the engine's harness to make everything work correctly. Not trying to deter anyone from buying a clip, but with the money you save from buying a functioning motorset, you can go out and buy you a real intercooler or a super AFC or something else to go with upgrades. Been dealing with this engine too long to see people settle for that dumpy little heat sink of a SMIC. With a clip, you may or may not get a running engine that's complete with it's hardware, but for some, the completeness of the clip causes complacency; meaning you will just be satisfied with what you have. IMHO, the SMIC depreciates this engine like you wouldn't believe. I've experimented with the TMIC/SMIC and they both are horrible for this detonation prone little engine. If only some of you knew what your intake temperatures were like! Get cute and step past 13-psi of sustained boost and I will gladly help you locate another engine. As long as you buy a motorset with all of it's necessary components, the money you save as opposed to buying a clip will prove to be beneficial to anyone on a budget, as most CA18 owners are. No matter who you decide to buy your engine from, make sure it's from someone who knows enough about the motor's characteristics and not because they are offering some phenomenally low price. Cheap isn't always the best way to go

Dee

[Neejay]

Dee,

So you provide motorsets with EVERYTHING BUT a smic? Whats your email so I can ask for a quote?

[WeldingHank]

I got a motorset from Boost_Boy. and also made my own IC piping with a FMIC setup. it wasn't that much than paying for a clip. $195 for a FMIC and about $75 for all the pipe i needed for the piping. i got the motorset from Dee. and from what i have seen, the FMIC is DEFINATLY the way to go.

[Neejay]

Even with a clip, you still have to make some modifications to the engine's harness to make everything work correctly. Not trying to deter anyone from buying a clip, but with the money you save from buying a functioning motorset, you can go out and buy you a real intercooler or a super AFC or something else to go with upgrades. Been dealing with this engine too long to see people settle for that dumpy little heat sink of a SMIC. With a clip, you may or may not get a running engine that's complete with it's hardware, but for some, the completeness of the clip causes complacency; meaning you will just be satisfied with what you have. IMHO, the SMIC depreciates this engine like you wouldn't believe. I've experimented with the TMIC/SMIC and they both are horrible for this detonation prone little engine. If only some of you knew what your intake temperatures were like! Get cute and step past 13-psi of sustained boost and I will gladly help you locate another engine. As long as you buy a motorset with all of it's necessary components, the money you save as opposed to buying a clip will prove to be beneficial to anyone on a budget, as most CA18 owners are. No matter who you decide to buy your engine from, make sure it's from someone who knows enough about the motor's characteristics and not because they are offering some phenomenally low price. Cheap isn't always the best way to go

Dee

Good points. I kinda have storage problems, so I guess a motorset would be easier to store. A little under $750 for a greddy vspl ca18det intercooler kit from enjuku (emailed ray and he said they can order them specific). Bleh...thats a LOT more than what I was plannin...but I guess its technically only an extra $300 if I were to order a $2,000 front clip from jarcoinc.

If I didnt plan on rasing boost, NO autox, track, drag, would it still be wrong to START with a smic?

Semi-stock swap, install parts:- Nismo Motor Mounts ($180.45 performancenissanparts.com)- Walbro 255 fuel pump ($100 ebay)- Nismo Fuel pressure regulator ($97.95 - performancenissanparts.com)- greddy o2 housing (sr20) ($205.01 Shipped - optionimports.com)- ProjectSilvia 3" downpipe ($140 Shipped - projectnissan.com)- Greddy BOV/Hotpipe Kit ($290 - srparts.com)- Blitz Auto Turbo Timer ($65 ebay)- boost and oil pressure gauges($???)- Autometer Dual Gauge Pod ($30 - ebay)

Im not planning on keeping the smic, just to at least get the swap done. I was gonna swap to a greddy vspl kit in the future.
Modified by Neejay at 5:25 PM 9/26/2004

[nocwage]

So those Nismo motor mounts work with the CA18?Damn I should get some of those.. especially since the DP i'm ordering doesn't have a flex piece..

[240DRFT]

I just purchased my clip from Advantage Automotive over in the seattle area, for $1100. I saved some money by picking it up, but a clip, IMO, is the way to go if you are going to do the swap yourself.

mikeh16: can you give me some more info on Advantage Automotive, cuz i'm in the seattle area and i'm looking around for engines, thx

neejay: i'd go with the motorset, theres not that much more useful stuff that comes with the clip

[Neejay]

I talked to this shop that Im leaning towards going with. I havent gotten all the details yet, just the the main details.

Im looking at $1200 for the installation, and $300 for the rebuild parts (minus rings and bearings). I dont know the price of the aftermarket parts yet though.

He also said the price for the motorset (dont know EXACTLY whats included just yet though) is about "$1500-$2300 depending on the condition of the motor" ....Which makes it sound like for $1500 I would be getting a crappy motor. I really didnt want to go through the trouble of having it shipped to me and then having to carry it to a shop, but seeing his prices and knowing that I have a truck...I might just have to order the motor myself.

[mikeh16]

[QUOTE=240DRFT]mikeh16: can you give me some more info on Advantage Automotive, cuz i'm in the seattle area and i'm looking around for engines, thx

Yeah, here is the web site. I don't know if they will have a CA in stock, but the had quite a few cars there when I went to pick up the clip. I am also under the impression that they can get anything you want; it just takes a little while.

http://automotive-advantage.com/

[Myetball]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...S%3A1

Seems like one helluva price but never heard of these guys.

[Neejay]

I just purchased my clip from Advantage Automotive over in the seattle area, for $1100. I saved some money by picking it up, but a clip, IMO, is the way to go if you are going to do the swap yourself.

Lucky you. They quoted me $1500+shipping. Its weird how the world works...its all about money. I heard that in the past years, people got clips for $1k or so, now that people want them, they drive the prices up so they can make more money. Oh well, guess thats just the world we live in.

[madsentra]

I was quoted 700 for shipping alone from automotiveadvantage.com... a different company only charged me 170 for the whole front clip in shipping.... so... iuno

[Neejay]

I was quoted 700 for shipping alone from automotiveadvantage.com... a different company only charged me 170 for the whole front clip in shipping.... so... iuno

Who did you get it from?

[madsentra]

oh.. lemme clarify, thats what i was quoted, i didn't actually buy it ..... yet maybe? I was quoted 170 from a company called All japanese engines at alljapaneseengines.com. Charlie is the guy to talk to there.

[drftnassmofo]

this may be a stupid question butare yall talking about the ca18det...or can u find sr swaps for 1300????