rebulid kit vs CA18DET sawp

[A. Buford]

so recently i realized that the quiet ticking noise that suddenly got louder ,on my 1992 240 hatch, was a rod knocking. since i wont drive it til it is fixed...i would like to know some of nico's opinions.

should i go with a $275-$400 rebuild kit or a swap of a CA18DET (with parents permission)??

i'd just like to know nico's thoughts.

thanks,Austin

[240sxJoe91]

well if you have the money ide do the swap...always fun to try something different....Im going to be swapping an Sr20 in my hatch when my motor goes...which seems to be coming very quickly

[bersh240]

ca18det.

[A. Buford]

well if you have the money ide do the swap...always fun to try something different....Im going to be swapping an Sr20 in my hatch when my motor goes...which seems to be coming very quickly

alright, sounds good...

ca18det.

btw...bersh and joe...how much exactly would we be talking about on the CA18DET swap?? i have heard so many diderent things.

thanks

[badbob2121]

parent permission???

[A. Buford]

parent permission???

yeup... i am 16 and they had to sign for the ownership with me.

[bersh240]

about the same as an sr or a lil less.but i LOVE my ca.

[A. Buford]

anyone know a price range for a full CA18DET swap???

[auto alchemist]

well the only problem is the CA is older than the KA, and have seen their share of abuse.

CA's seem to be poular around my area and most of the people who do the swap either rebuild them before they even go in the car or need a rebuild not too long after the swap, and they normally look pretty nasty when they get opened up.

and dont take this the wrong way because im sure there are some CA's out there that are still in really good condition but its something you need to consider when buying and older turbocharged engine.

but either way its just one of those things you have to prepare for, when i got my blacktop SR it had a rod knock, so right after putting the engine in i had to take it out and replace bearings, well that wasnt the only thing that was worn, 100 miles after the new bearing my exhuast cam snapped in half

[A. Buford]

about the same as an sr or a lil less.but i LOVE my ca.

it's slightly personal...but how much was it for yours?

[A. Buford]

well the only problem is the CA is older than the KA, and have seen their share of abuse.

CA's seem to be poular around my area and most of the people who do the swap either rebuild them before they even go in the car or need a rebuild not too long after the swap, and they normally look pretty nasty when they get opened up.

and dont take this the wrong way because im sure there are some CA's out there that are still in really good condition but its something you need to consider when buying and older turbocharged engine.

but either way its just one of those things you have to prepare for, when i got my blacktop SR it had a rod knock, so right after putting the engine in i had to take it out and replace bearings, well that wasnt the only thing that was worn, 100 miles after the new bearing my exhuast cam snapped in half

yeah true, age can sure cause that...from what i have seen.i would plan on rebuilding the ca when i get it...or just not too long after it gets put in.

i love CA's but not having a car for a while...i may just go with the ka rebuild...depends on the pricing.

[OutToWinPAHC]

Take 500 and buy a good used KA motor with as little miles as possible. I like CA's, but you don't know what your getting and it's old.

[bersh240]

i didnt swap mine myself. previous owner did.but i thought it was done pretty well and since im also young and my parents would flip if i told em i was gona swap an engine... i just bought my car cause it was perfect. was swapped and then sat in a garage never driven more than a mile a month.BUT i have the invoice for the front clip from jarco.$2196.00but that was for a perfect engine and the whole clip. 5 years ago. when the ca wasnt such an old fart.

[A. Buford]

alright, yeah. idk, not quite sure. i will probably do the rebuild then. cause if we are talkin 2 grand, i dont have quite that much yet.

[bersh240]

that was for a whole front clip.just the engine swap parts are like 1k.

[kikcaffine]

Dont swap a CA just because its "in your budget".

I think the motor sets are selling for about 800-900 on ebay. I picked up my first CA hatch running and driving for 900 bucks with a blown turbo.......

[A. Buford]

yeah, anyone know a good rebuild kit that is not unreasonably price?

i found this one on ebay..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...ories

[OutToWinPAHC]

Good and cheap.... they dont work well with engine internals, and hookers. Save up, good machine shop, overbore, quality parts..... Or find a low mile KA, freshen it up with some good quality gaskets and seals and call it a day.

[A. Buford]

so are you saying to just piece by piece the parts? like mix and match and get good quality? when i meant cheap i wasn't too literal, meaning this is my one and only car and i just need to get it running soon.

[corbin]

KA-T's have more torque and a better power curve than CA's or SR's. They are also geared better for the strip.
Modified by corbin at 9:02 PM 3/30/2010

[johntom]

since your getting the engine out of the car anyway in order to swap engines, id say go with an engine that is emmisions legal and still fun to drive (ka) honestly ka rebuilds have dvds step by step and im sure the parts that need to be replaced will be less than the whole swap, instead of running a non rebuilt old ca18 its good to know what you have under the hood is reliable

[AZ89two4Tsx]

Buy a CA and rebuild it.

[jbracy7]

go to auto zone give them your make ,model, year. ask for a complete rebuild kit. they might have to order it (if your planning on doing the work) autozone has almost every oem part for usdm nissans

[OutToWinPAHC]

go to auto zone give them your make ,model, year. ask for a complete rebuild kit. they might have to order it (if your planning on doing the work) autozone has almost every oem part for usdm nissans

OEM - Original Equipment Manufacturer. AKA Nissan or a Nissan Supplier. Autozone = Duralast or Carone, not OEM parts, just parts that work.

[Morph]

Buy a CA and rebuild it.

I'd do this. Get the motor and rebuild it. That way you learn tons about the engine and you know its done right. Perfect for a young kid to do b/c you have a lot of free time.

[Seanzyyy]

^agreed. wish i would have gotten my 240 when i was still in high school

[A. Buford]

yeah, i am glad i got it but that now means i would have no ride to school or work (when i get my job back) until i get all of that done with the CA. i only have like $750-$900 bucks.