SJBsuperman1425's Upgrade Thread

Discuss topics related to the CA18DE and CA18DET series engines.
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s13drifter88
Posts: 1111
Joined: Wed Jun 23, 2010 7:40 am
Car: 93 S13 Coupe CA18DET (Money pit)
1996 D21 Hardbody (Work truck/daily)
!993 Del Sol (Daily)
1987 Pontiac GTA (Drag project, other money pit)
1989 SOHC S13 Buzz Car
Location: Huntsville, AL

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Better be, I got one and got super lucky that the cop didnt show up for court any of the times so after the 3ed continuance they threw it out. I was on Alabama state probation at the time btw, yeah... sweting bullets every court date


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sjbsuperman1425
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Car: 1989 Nissan 240sx
CA18DET
Location: Bay City, MI
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Yea first and last time...jail sucks lol but back to the CA! Here is the Wiring Specialties Pre-Made harness they sent me a few weeks ago.

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Very nice quality. comes with all the metal "inserts" for the connectors to keep them "connected". I haven't put it on yet but you can be sure I will post pictures of fitment and any issues I find. The only thing I saw is that the coil pack harness they provide doesn't have the loop to connect a timing gun to, but other than that it looks pretty awesome. Here is the most recent pic I have. Looks pretty much the same as before, but I did buy all new coils that have a lifetime warranty at Autozone, plus I know the Managers and general manager really good at Autozone so I'll have free coil packs for life, so I re-installed the coilpack cover...lets just say <3 is how I feel lol

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float_6969
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Car: CA18DET swapped 1995 Nissan 240sx (too many mods to list)
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Nice! looking good man.

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s13drifter88
Posts: 1111
Joined: Wed Jun 23, 2010 7:40 am
Car: 93 S13 Coupe CA18DET (Money pit)
1996 D21 Hardbody (Work truck/daily)
!993 Del Sol (Daily)
1987 Pontiac GTA (Drag project, other money pit)
1989 SOHC S13 Buzz Car
Location: Huntsville, AL

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what coil pack? doesnt the usdm ca have a dizz???

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float_6969
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Car: CA18DET swapped 1995 Nissan 240sx (too many mods to list)
2015 SV Leaf w/QC & Bose (daily)
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Nope, coil packs.

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s13drifter88
Posts: 1111
Joined: Wed Jun 23, 2010 7:40 am
Car: 93 S13 Coupe CA18DET (Money pit)
1996 D21 Hardbody (Work truck/daily)
!993 Del Sol (Daily)
1987 Pontiac GTA (Drag project, other money pit)
1989 SOHC S13 Buzz Car
Location: Huntsville, AL

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SWEET!!!

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sjbsuperman1425
Posts: 2889
Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 2:24 pm
Car: 1989 Nissan 240sx
CA18DET
Location: Bay City, MI
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I'm back again.. Finally started to do some actual work to the car. Its only been about a year or two...But heres whats the list of the winter upgrades and parts list:

-Square G6 17x9 Wheels (Props to my girlfriend for a badass christmas gift!)
-Apexi Coilovers
-ISIS Suspension Arm Package
-Energy Suspension..Rack and Pinion, Front sway bar and link, and Rear sway bar and link bushings
-Peak Performance Street Transmission Mount
-Autozone/Duralast L and R front lower control arms
-Autozone/Duralast Front and Rear sway bar links
-HKS 100th anniversary turbo timer
-DIF steering column bushing
-Tein inner and outer tie rods
-Greddy Lug nuts and locking lug nuts

I think that covers it...I got the DIF and rack and pinion bushings on basically along with the Peak Performance mount. Rack is still out of the car, but am putting the tie rods in tomorrow and buttoning everything up until the suspension arm package comes in. I'm thinking the car will ride and look a TON better than it ever has. every bushing i've pulled out so far has been crap. Best $2500 I've put into the car I think lol

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float_6969
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Car: CA18DET swapped 1995 Nissan 240sx (too many mods to list)
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Nice! It's good to hear from you and see you're still working on the car.

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sjbsuperman1425
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CA18DET
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Thanks Ryan! I'm trying to get more active on here and on the car. Work is killing me and my girlfriend and I are trying to buy a house later this year so I'm trying to get the most done I can before that. But it looks like there is still people wrenching away on he CA here and I'm glad to see it. I think we would all like to see what you've done (or atleast me haha)

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sjbsuperman1425
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CA18DET
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Here are some pics...

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more coming soon!

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sjbsuperman1425
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CA18DET
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and FWIW, the exhaust hanger that is on the stock Transmissino mount, BARELY supports the exhaust, but maybe thats just how mine sits. I was worried for awhile that not having that bracket would cause problems, but I doubt it will at this point.

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cbh148
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Car: 2000 Civic Si, 1993 240sx Hatch CA18
Location: Huntsville, AL

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sjbsuperman1425 wrote:and FWIW, the exhaust hanger that is on the stock Transmissino mount, BARELY supports the exhaust, but maybe thats just how mine sits. I was worried for awhile that not having that bracket would cause problems, but I doubt it will at this point.
I don't think I've ever once used that hanger. Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever seen someone's s chassis in person that used that hanger. Needless to say, no issues.

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float_6969
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Yea, I tried to re-use it once and that exhaust shop told me not to bother.

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sjbsuperman1425
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CA18DET
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I just got everything back together. Steering column was put on the splines on the Rack incorrectly so had to tear that off last night and fix it. Now just waiting for everything else and for taxes so I can get my coilovers!

New turbo timer
Image

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cbh148
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Car: 2000 Civic Si, 1993 240sx Hatch CA18
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good stuff. let us know how you like that steering bushing (if you can feel it). how hard was it to install? and how shot was the original bushing?

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sjbsuperman1425
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CA18DET
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the orignal was useless..it was cracking, extremely flexible, there was a nut loose on the column that holds it on. I dont have power steering and haven't driven the car (nor will I for a few months), but i'll be sure to check back when I get to drive it. But I also replaced the inne and outer tie rods and the rack and pinion bushings as well so I'm pretty excited to see the difference. Pulling it out of the garage seemed a TON smoother than before but there is ice on the driveway so I'm not exactly sure if that had anything to do with it..

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sjbsuperman1425
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CA18DET
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Some photos to eat ;-)

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Sideways s12
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Car: 84 turbo s12
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how much did the wiring run you I need to rewire my ca I'm dreading doing it because i hate wiring lol....

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sjbsuperman1425
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CA18DET
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Got the harness free of charge because I sent them mine to use for R&D :-)

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float_6969
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He was the Guinea pig for Wiring Specialties.

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sjbsuperman1425
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Yes I was, and I am yet to put the harness in yet..

nickhebert
Posts: 301
Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2012 4:55 pm
Car: 1990 240sx
Location: NH

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I put my harness in in like 10 minutes. It was super easy and I would really recommend buying a new harness then dealing with an old one.

Sideways s12
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I wonder how close the wiring for the s13 is to the s12.....

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sjbsuperman1425
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CA18DET
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totally UNSURE on that one Sideways.. haha I'm sure with a little wiring modifcation it wouldn't be to hard.

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sjbsuperman1425
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CA18DET
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Well guys, I ordered the BC Racing Coilovers and the Isis Control Arm Package. Using my federal tax return to pay for the parts..February cant' come soon enough. Decided to save some money and go with the BC Racing coilovers. Same spring rates and all just different color basically..

Its been snowing and in the negative digits here so I haven't touched the car lately. had to order a new headlight switch because my headlights weren't popping up when I would turn them on. They only did when I flipped them to brights..

I did manage to get the rear sway links and bushings on. Poly bushings are a PITA to work with and it took me forever. My fat butt on the garage floor got pretty cold and numb. Also had to fix some threads the kids at my old high school screwed up when they helped me install the VLSD a few years back.

Everything is still coming together. Getting some tires for the rims in a couple weeks. I'm thinking 225/45R17 all around for now unless someone else has some good opinions to run on an S13 where I wont have to roll the fenders..wheel is a 17x9 +15 offset lol
Last edited by sjbsuperman1425 on Sun Mar 31, 2013 9:56 am, edited 1 time in total.

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cbh148
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Car: 2000 Civic Si, 1993 240sx Hatch CA18
Location: Huntsville, AL

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just roll the fenders if needed (and you probably will, which is a good thing because it means your wheel fitment is not sunken battleship poopie).

and don't forget some to pick up some aftermarket outer tie rod ends (if not just new inners and outers together) that have a longer shank to them to compensate for being slammed/lowered and reduce the hellacious bump steer that you'll get from the stock/tien outer tie rod ends.

Sideways s12
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sjbsuperman1425 wrote:totally UNSURE on that one Sideways.. haha I'm sure with a little wiring modifcation it wouldn't be to hard.
I know when doing a ka swap its not that many wires to deal with when using the Ka Harness I would think it would be about the same I just don't want to spend the money on something that is completely useless to me...anyway sorry for the thread jack lol....

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sjbsuperman1425
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CA18DET
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So I basically have the most awesome girl...she buys me an OEM Nissan cigarette lighter and some Muteki lug nuts for the new wheels for Valentines Day.. +1 for me!

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Then i bought these for myself ;)
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Still waiting on the ISIS Control Arm package to arrive. Supposed to be here Monday so I might start disassembly tonight and get it all done by next weekend. Just need some rubber for the wheels and roll the fenders and I'm set for the summer.

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sjbsuperman1425
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CA18DET
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put in some work last night!

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cbh148
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Joined: Tue Dec 01, 2009 6:53 am
Car: 2000 Civic Si, 1993 240sx Hatch CA18
Location: Huntsville, AL

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^^^ looks ready for a test drive


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