kA24DET VS CA18DET

[pulsar gtr]

Guys with 240s

I am curious, I love the ca18det, and I think it is one of the best engine Nissan ever built, but if I got a 240sx with the Ka24de engine, wouldn't be better to put a low compression pistons,big turbo, big injectors and a good ecu. After all it is a 2.4L compared to a 1.8L, and remember we are comparing both engines as if they are both turbos.

I am not trying to start an arguement here, but for self knowlege. Both engines have cast iron blocks, I know that the ca18det is a very reliable and powerful engine. But the Ka24de it is also know for being a tough engine.

Do you guys lean towards the ca18det because it is cheaper to do, ( I doubt it), or what is the main reason.

My opinion, a 2.4L turob charged, can get easier Hp ( I wouldnt' say more than ca18det) and being a 2.4L you can also get more torque.

Please correct me if you think I am wrong and I would appreciate any input.

PULSAR GTR

[Syntax360]

i think a lot of it involved the CA being built for turbo and the KA not. I doubt u'll get a huge response. These guys have exhaustively defended the CA time and again. i know u prolly here this a lot, but search :-) . Personally, i think (and will soon be putting my money where my mouth is) that u could get away w/ a low boost KA that will make....acceptable...power cheaper than installing the CA and modifying it. I think the KA-T has been done for 2k, give or take, where as the CA setup I wanted cost in the neighborhood of 6k (granted the CA would rip the KA-T i have in mind apart). I guess it really just boils down to preference and funding.

[pulsar gtr]

Ya I agree with you, and don't take me wrong, I am a dy hard member of the ca18det, but what I was wondering is the cost I guess, I am not trying to start any arguements, and I did search , but results on the Ka24DET weren't likable, I also noticed in order to achieve a good horse power with the Ka, you have to spend lots of money, more than the ca18det, and I agree with you that the Ca18det is already set up for the turbo .

Thanks for your input.

PULSAR GTR

[Syntax360]

the way I see it, unless u already live in japan ur gonna spend outragous amounts of money on either route (to do it properly). I look at it this way: Dauntt will do the swap for around $3400. That's a little-better-than-stock CA18DET that surely doesn't break the 200hp mark. For that money, I'm confident the KA could be done and produce over 200hp and gobbs of torque. But then there's alway that "my engine wasn't built for this" factor when using the KA. If I had the money, I'd do the CA for the potential and peace of mind (and a little originality...every kid has a SR20 around here, but I've yet to see a CA18), but since i'm on a college student budget, I have to settle for the next best thing.

[Simmsled]

im a college student on a strict budget..... Capn Crunch, Dominos Pizza, 2% milk, and Budweiser.

[Spectre_240sx]

Change that dominos to tombstone and you'll have a bit more free cash to buy Heiniken instead of budweiser

[boost_boy]

I'm surrounded by 240's with all the swaps. The SR20 ones seem to be breaking alot (Wonder why). The Boosted KA boys I know all have run away from the KA and went to the RB25DET except for my boy at BYP. He had made gobs of power with an internally stock KA, but it did not come without the lost of some pistons. Tired of using stock pistons, he tossed a pair of forged ones here recently and so far so good. For everyday street driving, I'd take a boosted KA over the CA and the SR. But for all out battling top speed style, the little "Revver that could" would walk away from both the SR and the CA at around 150 mph. I guess it's just personal preference. I'm installing an SDS efi system on an S13 with a stock CA and I can't wait to finish. I should be firing it up tomorrow sometime and can't wait to compare it with my friends SR powered S14 in which I installed the same standalone system. I'll take the CA18 for my sentra over anything else.