Opinions please...

[S14Dorikin]

Ok, this is my first post, so please dont hammer me, but I didnt want to register till I officially had my 240. My name is Tony and I recenly bought a '96 240SX and have the sole intentions of drifting, and no I'm not brand new to it like some of those wannabe Formula D kids, been into it for 5 years now even though I'm only 19.

Ok back onto the reason for my first post, as I'm in the CA board and was reccomended to come here by Ray at Enjuku seeing as how hes been in my exact position. The position being I have a 96 240/S14 and as most people stuck in the SR vs CA war. I've heard good and bad things about both and wanted the opinions of fellow 240 enthusiasts with experience. I know the facts on the engines as far as HP, alum vs iron block, lobes per valve, etc... But as far as installation and parts I wanted more info. By the way I want to hit around 400-450 to the wheels.

From what I've heard the CA is a harder and more expensive swap to do in my particular car than an SR, and the CA is constantly blasted on how its older and aftermarket parts are harder to find. Based on what I will be doing with the car (drifting), the type of car ('96 240), and obtaining parts I wanted you guys to give me some input. I've looked but most people I see doing swaps on my particular car choose the SR or an RB but I wanna be more original and get the more reliable motor for what I'm doing. Thanx, I know that was long...

[float_6969]

Ray is the only guy who had a CA in an S14 and from what I heard *paul had an s13 w/ CA ryan*, the wiring wasn't that much different from wiring in an S13 redtop.

The maintenence parts availability is bull-hockey. I can get almost every singe part for my motor from either an 88 Pulsar or an S12.

Definatly still fits the original part of your quest.

The horsepower levels that you are shooting for are going to definatly take some work, but completely do-able on a CA.

What about KA-T?

[S14Dorikin]

I know maintenence parts are easy to come by because of the pulsar's CA18DE but I was talking about aftermarket parts as in Turbo parts, cat-backs, intakes, piping, ecu, internals, etc...

I just feel like putting in a JDM engine and I dont quite like the whole KA idea 2.4 and I dont know how long mines is gonna last as it is, so if Im gonna wind up buying a new engine ne wayz....why not try something different...I know its a lot of money but Im proud to say, "I work for my S#!T"...lol

[silvia_ca18det]

if you are looking for a drifter ca18 (like i am doing) but dont wanna spend lots of time looking for the bolton aftermarket parts then i dunno if this is the engine for u, but that being said....all the parts u will need for 400-450 hp should be able to be sourced easily.....custom pistons or tomei pistons, tomei rods, cams, valves etc they are still made by tomei from what i can tell but they do come with i nice sized price tag! garret makes AWSOME turbos for dirt cheap that will support that power GT3071r garrets biggest t2 flanged turbo that will support 300-450hp also is available in a t3 externally gated model! intercooler kits are also available by greddy still and can be found used easiyl on "yahoo japan" u are basiclly shooting for the same hp numbers i am.....to be safe i am replacing everything with new parts cuz i am goign to be POUNDING on the motor hard drift after drift and i want nothing to break fast! but yeah hope that helps out a bit

rob

[S14Dorikin]

Yea thanx...dont worry I'm willing to put a lot of time, effort and not to mention money into my baby...I got plenty of competition and motivation from a few of my boys who have legalized a few R33's and R32's so I need to keep up with them heh heh...I know its going to take time which is my only main concern lol...But yea I'm glad to see some other people are in my position and can help out...


Modified by S14Dorikin at 10:04 PM 9/16/2005

[c-rad]

CP makes pistons for $480. You don't need to be all JDM whorish and buy "CA specific" stuff. SR intercooler kits work fine... Catbacks? That's chassis specific, not motor specific. Intake? Make a universal one with a 3" air filter. Injectors are MSD-style so they are easy to find. Cams pop up on ebay once in a while, just be patient.

Also, if you are looking at or beyond the 400whp level, you're going to need a standalone EMS like a Haltech or SDS. Forget about the stock ecu...

Just out of curiosity, you say you want this for drifting, but then you say you wanna keep up with your friends Skylines? That's kind of like saying you want a car that owns both the auto-x course and the drag-strip...it's either one or the other, but not both. A high-power CA is going to be bouncing off the rev-limiter all around the drift course. And a quick-spooling lower-end torquey powered CA will be owned on the top end by your buddies skylines.

[float_6969]

You used "lower-end torque" and "CA", in the same sentence. That's funny...CA's...Torque...That's just funny....

[c-rad]

You used "lower-end torque" and "CA", in the same sentence. That's funny...CA's...Torque...That's just funny....

You know what I mean... a quick-spooling turbo that will move the power band lower in the RPM range.... AS$

[S14Dorikin]

Yea I know, Its gonna be for drifting and I've heard the CA is good for high revs and can take the abuse. I was just reffering to the fact my friends have all worked hard for what they have and waited years and saved up a lot of money to get what they have, so I'm willing to do the same in order to get my car where I want it. And just mess around with my friends skylines even though I dont plan on full time dragging, just be able to cruise in the same block as them lol... ;o)

[sdtouge]

if its a drift car, it doesnt sound like youve drifted before and you absolutly do not neeed that much hp to drift. stock ca is fine for drifintg. 450hp and someone new to drifting would be raelly out of control.

now if you having a proffecional driver drift your car thats another thing.

[S14Dorikin]

Yes I've been drifting plenty of times with my friend and his '90 240 since I didnt have one yet. I want mines to be buit up for competition but still streetable not just for fun in parking lots, thats why I said 400-450

[c-rad]

Yes I've been drifting plenty of times with my friend and his '90 240 since I didnt have one yet. I want mines to be buit up for competition but still streetable not just for fun in parking lots, thats why I said 400-450

A 400whp S-chassis can run mid 11s and trap 120+ mph. That is HELLA FAST, and a lot to control. I would start with moderate goals of 250-300whp and see how that suits you before you dump all that money into a built motor.

[NeedCAforS13]

^^YES^^ I'd like to know if anyone who comes on here saying "blah blah I want a 400whp s-chassis blah blah" ever driven a 400whp s13 or s14? I have, and holy crap its not even funny how scary that would be trying to drift. Power comes on so hard and fast I'd be backwards before I could say "holy turbo lag batman". Get a 300whp car running well and then come back asking how to make more power. If you know Ray, talk to him about making 400hp in a CA. He was right around there IIRC.

Sean

[S14Dorikin]

Well I've been in and driven my friends 300+HP SR powered '89 and yea it was hella fast, but I never planned on dropping 400+ at once, I plan on building up slowly of course that way I can get used to my car as it grows and see where I like the feel at. after all I'm only 19 its not like I'm makin tons of money as it is. I was just tryin to find some info on parts to build up a CA cuz I didnt want to go the usual route of an SR since I havnt seen too many 95-98's with a CA.

[Skyline25GT-T]

300hp for and ca18det powered s13 its strong enough for drift even with 17 or 18 inch wheels in an s14 chassis its practicly the same maybe 20 or 30 hp more that u can get with cams, besides that the ca18 in high revs sounds alots agressiever than the sr20 i would go for the ca18 but maybe cause i own one either any of them would be a great choice but 400 or 450 hp seem like to much power for amateur drift or ur going professional, and i think that with gearbox the ca18 is lighter than the sr20 even if it has aluminium block.

Gian Carlo
Modified by Skyline25GT-T at 6:09 PM 9/17/2005

[S14Dorikin]

Ok, cool. Thanx.