noobie to this side of the engine bay

[JDM240LINK]

i am new to the CA forums... i have been found in the RB forums for a while and well i am expoloring all my options and well i found this side moon and well i like it over here... too many hard feelings over there and also i have found that there is soo much to look forward to in a CA... i have a quick question.. iam going to be buying an engine this summer and i was wondering how difficult is it to install the CA18DET.... what parts do you guys recommend with the swap and are there any mounts needed or does it just bolt right up to the KA mounts??? just any information that you can give and also any persuasive thoughts to keep me in this engine... i was sold on the RB25 for the longest time but the weight and the price of install parts was way too out of my boundries... and then i found the CA18DET the long lost brother to the RB.... please help me if you can.. i have noticed you guys really don't have a FAQ over here so i have been having a hard time finding info... and by the way my name is Ryan hope to get to know you all and sometimes i will not beable to get on internet being on a US Navy ship and all but i have email [email protected] any info passed would be greatly appreciated thanks

[r34 gtr]

hey, welcome to the CA forum Ryan! glad to hear you like it here. this has been discussed many times but i detest searching so ill just answer your questions as best i can. aaaaaanyway..

the swap really isnt difficult at all, people say the wiring is easier than the SR but since i havnt done anything to an SR i cant really tell you. the engine bolts up to the stock KA mounts and will go in quite quickly because of its smaller overall size. it only took me a day to get the KA out and the CA in. wiring is the only part thats really annoying but we will all be glad to assist you in any way possible when you get to that point.

the turbos on these engines are usually shot and if not they wont last too long, so its usually a good idea to change out the turbo when you get the engine so as to avoid having to change it with the engine in the car a few months down the line. you can just use a sr t25 for a cheap replacement. the stock smic is crap and its always a good idea to get a front mount if you plan on raising the boost past about 10psi. as with the SR youll need a better fuel pump and other than that its just the usual tune up parts; water pump, belts, gaskets, etc.

it really isnt an expensive swap, even with the turbo and intercooler problems. if you get a motor set you can probably do the swap for about 2000-2500 bucks. ive gotta go to my next class but feel free to let me know if i left out anything.

by the way, i love the engine and now that i have it i would never get anything else for my 240.

-tim

[boost_boy]

Hi Ryan,

Well, one reason why we don't have a FAQ section because we all want to interact with our new members; not just bore them with pre-rehearsed mumbo-jumbo. We are a real and it's kinda sad that most RB and SR lovers don't even know what the CA18 is. Oh well, they'll be alright! Anyway, the CA18DET is very easy to install and is very light on your front end as well. Maintenance parts can be found at your local auto parts store from an 88-89 nissan pulsar with 1.8 litre DOHC motor. There are more than enough people around here willing to help you out and our mods are the coolest, though one of them is a pervert from hell "float_6969". Even his screen name is freaky. but his name is Ryan as well and he's a post whore, so if everyone else doesn't want to talk to you, he will. And since you are a "squid":D, I'll personally answer as many questions as I can as I know your duties will prevent you from always accessing the internet. I was in the Marine Corps for 5.5years until I was medically retired after desert storm. So, welcome aboard sailor and feel free to interact with the gang. Sometimes we have cqck fights about turbochargers and related things, but we don't mean any harm. BTW, my name is Dee or screen name "boost_boy" which is actually a name given to my son by my friends. Once again, welcome............

Dee

[GoofyATX240]

Im with what everyone else said heh can't really add anything, but welcome to the boards....

WATCH OUT FOR FLOATS FINGERS!!!!!!!

[boost_boy]

Quote »WATCH OUT FOR FLOATS FINGERS!!!!!!![/quote] LMAO, he is sneaky and always wants to play the POKEY-DOKEY;) .

Dee

[NeedCAforS13]

we DO have an FAQ section written by the madscientist himself, but its been transferred to the Nissan Articles section of the site. I'll see about bringing it back as a sticky:)

Sean

[JDM240LINK]

Well thanks guys, i have known about the CA18DET but neglected to go down this avenue cause i always heard bad things about it never working... well i have done some research and found out most stuff about this engine... by the way i HATE the SR engine and think the bandwagon thing is very stupid. i am all about being original, and i have always loved the lure of the RB motors. and since the CA is almost a direct relation to it given the iron blocks and high reving nature i am surprized i never went down this street. but glad i took this detour... sounds like a good idea about not having a faq to get in with your members, and it makes this engine more hard to learn about though....

[JDM240LINK]

and Dee I have heard a lot of good stuff about you and when i get the money i will most likely get one from you... also who do you guys goto for a complete engine rebuild... i don't like risking anything.. i am going to do a whole engine rebuild along with a port and polish and the whole bit.. just looking for a straight block/head/ and a strong transmission and the other stuff to come with a motorset... also how many miles do you normally have on those engines??? and what is the recomended turbo you guys like.. no wars needed just a good delivering daily driver that has a nice kick in the @$$. looking to do some circuit driving too for fun.... i know i a T3/To4 is kinda too big for normal applications in a 1.8 just something that spools nicely for that engine. looking for reliable power about 250 lbs of torque....just a fun car to drive.. don't like waiting for boost... thanks for the warm welcome guys i hated being in the RB forums it wasn't any fun... too many fights and all.... i just like talking about cars and bs'ing around.... talk to yall later....

[boost_boy]

A good turbo for fun would probably be one of the S15 BB units or an S14 T28 or even the GTi-R's unit will suffice. As for a built motor, you can always pay for one in advance and save you the dramas, but you will have to specify what you want done (ie rings, bearings, oil pump, etc). The trannies are strong enough for the task, so I wouldn't sweat that one. As for mileage on a CA, it all depends. It's like the luck of the draw. You may get one with low mieleage or you may get a well used one, best way to know is a vusual inspection of the camshafts, dipstick, crank angle sensor seal, leak down, and a compression test. Hope this helps.........

Dee

[JDM240LINK]

thanks dee that does help alot, i have been looking thru the past forums learning what i can.. hard to peice everything together but i am learning..... it seems the more i learn the more i like the sound of this engine... going to have to get a hold of you in a few months...but i feel alot safer building my own engine.... going to bulletproof it and make it fun and reliable... thanks

[float_6969]

ALRIGHT!Now ya'll gonna make me come up in here an represent!

First of all, Ryan, welcome to the CA section of NICO. We're a quirky bunch, but we love our motors, and we love people who show some sincere intrest in learning more about it.

Secondly, you have a VERY good name. Kinda sexxy. I'll bet the ladies love it. Oh yea, my name is Ryan too btw! Heheheh

Edited due to easily misconstrued statementsThirdly, The RB and VG share many characteristics of the CA motor. If you take the heads of all 3 and lay them side-by-side, besides the difference in length, they all look very similar. The RB and CA, are closely related in my opinion. Most of the required upgrades have been covered. I also like to tell people to be prepared to replace rings, as it seems a lot of motors have been coming over with bad ones. Not all, but some. But if you plan on a rebuild, then don't worry about it.

Lastly, as for the rest of you dolts......

Quote »There are more than enough people around here willing to help you out and our mods are the coolest, though one of them is a pervert from hell "float_6969". Even his screen name is freaky. but his name is Ryan as well and he's a post whore, so if everyone else doesn't want to talk to you, he will.[/quote]Yes, Sean and I are the coolest. Much cooler than some weirdo with Big Salty Balls. And I'd rather be a whore than a slut. At least I'm getting paid. Oh wait, I'm not getting paid. CRAP!

Quote »WATCH OUT FOR FLOATS FINGERS!!!!!!![/quote]Don't even try that. I KNOW you played that game more than once. You probabally not only smelled your fingers aftewards, you licked them clean!

Quote »LMAO, he is sneaky and always wants to play the POKEY-DOKEY.[/quote]Your girlfriend didn't seem to mind when I played that game with her....

Ya'll better recenize my a-thor-a-tie!

[boost_boy]

Quote »Your girlfriend didn't seem to mind when I played that game with her....[/quote] She says you're a perv, but a pathetic one at that. And take it easy on salted balls. That's waaay too much information for our new members:pface .

Dee

[Dori Dori]

Thirdly, The RB and VG series motors were actually based off of the CA motor. If you take the heads of all 3 and lay them side-by-side, besides the difference in length, they all look the same. The RB and CA, are more like brothers in my opinion. The CA is like the RB's older brother. Nissan kinda did the learning on him, and then had it perfected when they got to the RB.

:bsflag

[NeedCAforS13]

well not completly bs, but I would agree that its a stretch to say the RB and VG were "based" off the CA... its kind of a myth that people spread around. The CA is not the RB's older brother... more like second cousin twice removed :pface they share many similar characteristics in head design, but you can find similarities between most nissan engines!

Sean

[Dori Dori]

I'm sorry, I've just seen that turn from rumor to 'fact' over the years and it's really bothersome.

[boost_boy]

In all actuality, the CA series have been out for more than 20 years. The CA16/18DE was introduced in 1985-86 model year cars such as the sunny which later made it's way to the U.S. and introduced in the then new KN13 pulsar's SE model. Soon to follow would be the CA18DET in 1986 and then the second generation in mid 1987 which is what we're basically using today. So for reference, there were the older VG30DE and DET engines found in cefiros and leopards in Japan in 1987-1988 which share similarities with CA16/18's head design/technology. The along came the introduction of the RB20DE and DET which also use some of the same parts found on the CA16/18DE engines. Head design was pretty much inline with the CA16/18DE motors with the addition of two more cylinders and more displacement. Then the evolution of the RB25 then onto the RB26 which still used the technology found on the older, but very useful design of the CA's DOHC series.

They all used belts instead of chains.

They all have true cam to lifter technology as opposed to the rocker arm stuff.

They all used the same oil filter.

They all had similar style fuel rails in which nissan though was so cool, that they gave the GTi-R's SR20 the same fuel rail.

Valve covers sport similar identities.

Performance characteristics are identical in the fact that they are free-revving engines (no rocker arm restrictions).

Cast iron blocks

And all have their own merits!

So to call it BS is not warranted when in fact there is evidence that supports the claim that the technology used on the RB DOHC series as well as the VG DOHC series were used on the smaller CA DOHC engines.

Dee

[Dori Dori]

Your logic is so flawed. Characteristics are similar, sure. But to say that the RB and VG were designed from a CA is a false assumtion. Every bit of information I've ever seen regarding the history of the RB or the VG both state that each motor was designed from the ground up each with their own intentions. Nissan borrowing past technologies from their own research is completely understandable and I'd accept that in a heartbeat...but if you think that a timing belt, oil filter, lifter style and valve cover look are the blueprints for an engine, well...

[boost_boy]

In that era everything had belts (ie, 7m, 1gg, 4AGE, BP, CA, even in 1989 the 4G63). But I ask you Dori Dori, where in my post (Since you say my logic is flawed) did you see me state that Quote »But to say that the RB and VG were designed from a CA is a false assumtion.[/quote] ? You didn't and now you're assuming. You should really read what I wrote because in a nutshell, it basically says that all these engines share some of the same technology and similarities and I merely pointed out what those similarities were, POINT BLANK.

Or was it the post about the rocker arms that got you blinded? Unfortunately, the SR20 is a decent engine, but it shares no parts with the ones that share similar technology. It's cheap! Powerful, but cheap and you get so defensive when something SR related gets thrown into one of our posts.

I think anyone can read and reread man and see that I didn't say such an animal.

You should reread your own post: You straight-up contradicted yourself: Quote »Every bit of information I've ever seen regarding the history of the RB or the VG both state that each motor was designed from the ground up each with their own intentions. Nissan borrowing past technologies from their own research is completely understandable and I'd accept that in a heartbeat...but if you think that a timing belt, oil filter, lifter style and valve cover look are the blueprints for an engine, well...[/quote] And besides, which one do you have in your car and which one of these have you rebuilt or tore-down? Last I remember you were interested in the SR20 and I do remember we have an SR20 forum for you to get your groove on in. If you're not bringing anything collective to the CA table, then don't post. You seem to jump from forum to forum with jibberish and flawed assumptions.

Dee

[boost_boy]

Quote »And all have their own merits![/quote] And don't forget that I posted this either........ LMAO

Dee

[float_6969]

DoriDori, I apologize for misstating myself. I'll make sure to be clearer with the things that I say on the boards. Apparently being lax in my sentence structure allows the meaning of what I’m trying to say to be too vague and is too easily misconstrued. What I meant by my statement was basically what Dee (boost_boy) was saying. You are right that they didn't take the design of the DOHC CA head and directly put that on the DOHC RB and DOHC VG. But if you look at those 3 heads, side by side (I have personally seen the DOHC CA and DOHC VG side by side, and many pics of the DOHC RB) it would be very hard to say that the technology used to create those designs didn't originate from the same source.

[NeedCAforS13]

you all are saying the same damn thing! we can all agree that Nissan shared technology between many of its motors of the day.

Dori Dori was just pointing out the fact that every damn kid that sees my motor says "hey I hear the CA is an RB but just with 2 less cylinders" or "hey look at that, its the RB's little brother" which is stupid and wrong. He just was trying to dispell that myth, not create controversy:) Dori, I for one say you're welcome in either forum! Who's to say what motor is right for you...

Sean

[float_6969]

We ARE all saying the same thing! I just wanted to make it clear that was what I was saying. BTW, where the heck have you been Sean? I haven't seen you on AIM in forever. I think I'm haveing some Sean withdrawl symptoms or something! Hehehe

[NeedCAforS13]

I've been trying not to fail differential equations:( So far I got an F, a C, an F, and I think I just got an A on yesterdays test... and we only have the final left and thats it! I've been studying my a$$ off... hopefully it will pay off in the end. I've also been working alot, and helping my friend with his SR install (which I'm kinda lost on but I'm learning:))

Other than that my CA is running well, its shimmed up to 9 pounds and running excellent. I need to get my exhaust done (I have a greddy SP axle back, and some mandrel bent 3 inch piping) I just need to make it!

Sean