Petes New Project.. 56k may need a coffee.

[rexhunta]

Hey guys.

Started a new project.. picked up a CA18DET thats lost compression in 1 and 2, and the owner gave up.. so i picked it up cheap ( $180 AUS). I plan on doing the usual forged pistons, maybe valves, get the head cleaned up and ported, and use it in my silvia.

Picked it up last night, and was too excited this morning, so i have started the quest to find out whats happened.

So heres the motor as we left it last night.



This morning started stripping everything off, old owner told me it had some sort of DE cams in it, i'll find out the specs on the 16 and 18 cams, and i'll work my way to find out how later on.. cams look good inside, theres still oil in the head, so thats a good start..

Got the front cover off to have a look at the cam gears and timing belt, and problem number one.. soon as i took the cover off, the exhaust wheel fell off..Yep, shes snapped off..



So i'll be on the lookout over here for a standard cam just to get me going for now, til i know what i really want..

Also, found it does have a metal head gasket in it, so we'll see if i can clean it upo, or i'll just get another.. Anyways, wish me luck, i'll be doing it over time, so should be fun.

Pete

[Bwana]

Nice find man!! Build that sucka!!

[rexhunta]

Thanks

not wanting huge amounts of HPO from it, just 300 or so, i just want it built enough that i'm not afraid to push it hard like the motor i have in the car now.. poor thing !! lol.

Pete

[float_6969]

Great find! You'll prob just need a new set of valves on the exhaust side and it'll be good to go.

[ca18datsun510]

has anyone mentioned that you might not have compression because of the broken cam? if it broke in a spot were the exhaust valves are open, you wont have compression.

and those valve covers look different then the ones on my na rwd and my det. are they s12 maybe?

[float_6969]

The intake valve cover is from a FWD CA18DE(T), the exhaust is the stock RWD CA18DE(T).

[rexhunta]

has anyone mentioned that you might not have compression because of the broken cam? if it broke in a spot were the exhaust valves are open, you wont have compression.

and those valve covers look different then the ones on my na rwd and my det. are they s12 maybe?

thats what i was thinking too.. maybe cause the cam wheel snapped, is the reason why it lost compression... but the other thing is, why did it snap in the first place ? did the motor lock up ? or has it hydraulic'd in any way ?

Yeah not sure of the valve covers either, but i like the intake one, diffintely gunna use it.

Hopefully should pull the head off this arvo, and i'll have a look if any valves are bent.

Pete

[dattodude]

As the engine is a rebuild, it's most common for this to happen if the cam is not installed in the proper way. The cam journals need to be torqued in order. It's surprisingly easy to damage the cam this way.

[anumeric]

Nice find Rex. Good luck with the new project pics or BAN!

[rexhunta]

Yeah i'll keep posting pics as i go to start the build up itself.. gimme 2 years lol.

okay, did a valve test tonight.. sad to say, but i've got 2 bent exhaust valves in piston number 1.. thats it.. so they musta hit pretty hard..

got some pricing on a complete gasket kit with a metal head gasket, ACL race series, for $350 aus.. i'm leaning towards it, seems a very good price, and it's got every little gasket in it.. seemed like a good price to me.. what do you guys think ?

Pete

[rexhunta]

okay, quick update for tonight.. pulled the bent valves out, and started toying with paint colours so heres some photos.

Top of the block with the pistons still in.. these are still good, so i may even run a standard bottom end yet.. but i'd rather throw something harder in there..



Head..



easiest way for me to remember where stuff goes zip top parts bags !! 1 buck for 50 !!@



and uh, what the motor colour maybe.. hehe

Pete

[rico05]

That pink is more what I was looking for when I painted my valve covers. Great pics! Keep the updates comming!

[ca18datsun510]

i take back what i said before, those valve covers are exactly the same as my na rwd ca.

[matty]

pete that is a sweet colour

pretty close to what im going to be doing mine this winter. im going for more of a darker pink.

go with it, pink ftw

[jdotlim]

nice nice pick good luck with the build and keep us updated...im still finishing my project ill take pictures when finished....i still dont know what color to paint m valve covers

[rexhunta]

Yep guys, will keep ya updated as i go through.

Pete.