How to Determine Which Generation 180sx My Blacktop Comes From

[gordonliu]

how do I figure out which generation 180sx my blacktop came from?

to preemptively answer or "inb4" some possible questions:

1) it is not a redtop with a blacktop valvecover (has cooling fins at the very least)

2) I bought a clip, and the clip had popups (and was RHD, with japanese buttons and kilometer odometer)

FURTHERMORE I bought the clip from G-Dimension, and they are a very trusted and well known engine supplier in SoCal.

This information should answer any questions about the authenticity or source of the engine.

so please, TELL ME HOW TO FIGURE OUT WHICH GENERATION MY ENGINE CAME FROM!!!

Why do I want to know?

Apexi makes different L-Jetro Power FCs for the different generations of silvia and 180sx

they even have different part numbers.

and yes, I am fully aware that there may be ABSOLUTELY NO DIFFERENCE in the engines (or even the Power Fcs).......

and yes, I am fully aware that most people who walk the sr20det path do not worry themselves with figuring out which generation s14 or 180sx their engine came from and end up perfectly fine with no problems....

I know it may not even be possible to answer this question

If it is possible, then it will allow me to make a much safer choice.

anyway, thanks.

[aceofspds]

I think finding out what kind of ecu you have (ie e5 and etc) will help narrow it down.

[dc1984]

u mentioned u bought a front clip. that should still have the registration plate in the engine bay that will have the year that the car was manufactured.

[gordonliu]

u mentioned u bought a front clip. that should still have the registration plate in the engine bay that will have the year that the car was manufactured.

I only recently discovered this discrepancy. and did not think to check that info.

if you search this forum, you fill find little or no posts related to this topic.

I searched before I posted and didnt find anything.

My initial research into the subject returned the currently held assumptions:

that there are exactly 4 engine types (red s13, black s13 with fins, notch s14, and s15)....

I admit I HAVE seen mentions of the subtle and mysterious descriptors like:

"180SX RPS13 Before Minor Change (Red Valve Cover)" 91-94"180SX RPS13 Mid Minor Change" 94-96"180SX RPS13 After Minor Change" 96-98

(from FRsport apexi power FC L-jetro product pages)

MY GUESS.... is that my engine is a 96-98. I base this mostly on the mileage.... (56K kilometers ~ 35k miles).....

it is either a 94-96 or a 96-99 (91-94 is redtop)....

I will dig further

[DuckyD]

What ECU does the car run on now?

There are actually two S13 Blacktop's, the "mid minor change" 94 - 96 that Apexi mentions. That runs on a E5 ECU (and can also run on a redtop 62/63 ECU with minor problems).

The other is the S13 Blacktop Type-X that uses a J4 ECU. I believe the engine is identical to the "normal" S13 blacktop other than the pin-outs are different (and the Type-X is obviously newer).

So to recap:"180SX RPS13 Before Minor Change (Red Valve Cover)" 91-94 S13 Redtop (62 ECU)"180SX RPS13 Mid Minor Change" 94-96 S13 Blacktop (E5 ECU)"180SX RPS13 After Minor Change" 96-98 S13 Blacktop Type X (J4 ECU)

Edit: There apparently has some differences with the Type-X accessory pulleys but that is unrelated.
Modified by DuckyD at 10:59 PM 2/1/2010

[tdown]

Power FC's were based on what ECU the engine was running off of as mentioned above. If you know your ECU number that will tell you what PFC to get. Or if you have the chassis number off the front clip I can run it through the parts program and give you the month and year the car was made. It should read RPS13-######.

[gordonliu]

Power FC's were based on what ECU the engine was running off of as mentioned above. If you know your ECU number that will tell you what PFC to get. Or if you have the chassis number off the front clip I can run it through the parts program and give you the month and year the car was made. It should read RPS13-######.

What ECU does the car run on now?

There are actually two S13 Blacktop's, the "mid minor change" 94 - 96 that Apexi mentions. That runs on a E5 ECU (and can also run on a redtop 62/63 ECU with minor problems).

The other is the S13 Blacktop Type-X that uses a J4 ECU. I believe the engine is identical to the "normal" S13 blacktop other than the pin-outs are different (and the Type-X is obviously newer).

So to recap:"180SX RPS13 Before Minor Change (Red Valve Cover)" 91-94 S13 Redtop (62 ECU)"180SX RPS13 Mid Minor Change" 94-96 S13 Blacktop (E5 ECU)"180SX RPS13 After Minor Change" 96-98 S13 Blacktop Type X (J4 ECU)

Edit: There apparently has some differences with the Type-X accessory pulleys but that is unrelated.

Modified by DuckyD at 10:59 PM 2/1/2010

NOW THAT is some good information.

edit soon with update.

[OM3GA]

That info should be added to the FAQ for SR's

[gordonliu]

That info should be added to the FAQ for SR's

I will bump my own thread because IF this info WAS in the FAQ (or anywhere else for that matter) I would never have posted this thread.