Newb Questions.

Post by **BoroBoroS13** » Wed Apr 14, 2004 1:34 pm

I plan on getting a CA18 clip from Venus this week and I would like to know a few things.

1. I want to replace a couple things on the motor but im on a budget so it cant be a full blown rebuild. I was looking to replace the water pump, spark plugs, and head gasket. Is there anything else that you guys would highly recomend I replace before I drop in the motor?

I also want to be sure about a couple things and have a few questions; First off, I have read that you can cut off one of the alighnment pins and make a KA clutch fit a CA18, is this correct?

Second, where can I get a metal head gasket and not have to wait a couple weeks for it to be shipped? I would much rather swap it out when the engine is on a stand.

Thats about all I can think of for now but I will have more soon, thx.

Post by **float_6969** » Wed Apr 14, 2004 1:34 pm

I wish that you had talked to us a little more before proceeding with your purchase. I got my CA from Venus and I'm going to have to replace the rings. I'm not at all impressed with them. I think some other people have had the same problem that I have. Hopefully you won't have to do the same as us. But what's done is done. I would plan on replacing the rings. Most of the time the timing belt and water pump will also need replaced. You'll have to replace the headgasket and rod bearings if you put in new rings anyway. As for the clutch question, just get a SPEC clutch. That is what I have in my car and I'm VERY happy with it. http://www.specclutch.com/ Good luck with the headgasket. I'd just get a stock one from Nissan. They seem to hold up pretty well as long as you don't detonate.

Post by **gani** » Wed Apr 14, 2004 1:34 pm

well i got mine from venus and is still running strong compression is goood all round and just about to upgrade the turbo and also been beating the crap out of it street driftin around town. mine had 50000km on the roller so its pretty nice. im satisfied

Post by **BoroBoroS13** » Wed Apr 14, 2004 1:34 pm

Im picking it up myself today, I would never have them ship me one. More Please info please.

BTW-I hear bad things about spec clutches, like them blowing up and distroying trannies. So I really want to stay away...

Post by **BoroBoroS13** » Wed Apr 14, 2004 1:34 pm

Ohhhh, and what is the part # for the stock head gasket and timing belt. Thx

Post by **r34 gtr** » Wed Apr 14, 2004 1:34 pm

just go to auto zone and get one for a ca18de from an 88 pulsar. the basic parts availability for these engines is wonderful. i got mine from venus and it onle had 36k km on it. then engine is great and though i am now having to rebuild it, it made it 10k km before i neglected to check the oil and it ran out and cooked the turbo and rod bearings. sure it shouldnt have been using oil like that but i could have taken 30 seconds to find out something was wrong before it cost me a fortune. my clip was very clean and has always started right up and run like a champ. it has even recovered from complete loss of oil 3 times and coolant once! i got a good deal from them and though i would not go with them again, i wouldnt say bad things about them.

- tim

Post by **float_6969** » Wed Apr 14, 2004 1:34 pm

I know what story you are referring to for the SPEC clutch. It was on an SR and it shelled the transmission. But if you do some research, the guy was a complete idiot and is lucky he didn't chuck the flywheel off and cut his feet/legs off. He didn't properly brake the clutch in like he was supposed to and he kept beating on it, even though he knew it was slipping. The pics of the flywheel explain it all. The clutchplate got so hot from slipping that it blued the flywheel all the way through to the back side. SPEC clutches are good quality and have been used in the drag racing industry for some time. I think the mustang crowd swears by them. I personally have one in my car and I have NO intention of getting a different brand when this one wears out. I beat the crap out of it and it just keeps coming back. I've even shifted w/o letting off the gas a few times and it just grabbed. That is my ultimate test, personally. I don't do it often, but it's a blast when I do...

Post by **BoroBoroS13** » Wed Apr 14, 2004 1:34 pm

Thx 4 the info float, I will reconsider.

I got picked up my clip today, compression test was like 175 on three cylinders and 180 on the other. Overall its clean and we managed to strip 99% of the clip in five hours, bwahahaha. I am concerned about two things though; 1. My motor had a lot of after market **** on it (Didnt come with the clip thou :/), so I hope it isnt raced out. 2. There was oil in the intake tube going into the turbo but the intake manifold was pretty clean (Hope the motor was just tiped over a little).

Post by **float_6969** » Wed Apr 14, 2004 1:34 pm

Well if the mani is clean, you're probabally alright, but oil in the intake means either a blown turbo or bad rings. The way to find out would be to install a catch can (sounds ricey, but they do actually serve a function) and see if it fills up quickly. If it does (like mine does) You've got bad rings and you want to replace them. OR if you have a way to do a leak down test, that will also do the same thing.

Post by **BoroBoroS13** » Wed Apr 14, 2004 1:34 pm

Found a some oil in the intercooler piping too... Hope its not the rings but only time will tell.

Post by **float_6969** » Wed Apr 14, 2004 1:34 pm

Do/have a leakdown test. That will tell you right away if the rings are bad. Then you don't have to do like I am right now and screw with getting the motor all installed and finding out that you've got to pull it back out and rebuild it.

Newb Questions.

Newb Questions.

Nissan Forums

Infiniti Forums

Datsun Forums

Technical Forums

Classifieds / Marketplace

Nissan Motorsports

General Forums