Super long thread about history of CA, but well worth the read

[OmarM]

This is good history so you guys now where your motors came from. The last sentence in the first paragraph is classic, and last sentence in last paragraph is classic as well. But I will let you read, hopefully you will interpret it like I did. If you go to the site below it has info on all ca engines.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_CA_engine

The CA engine is a 1.6 L to 2.0 L Inline-4 piston engine from Nissan designed for a variety of small Nissan vehicles. It is an iron block, aluminum head design with a timing belt. Earlier versions featured SOHC and 8 valves for mid-range power. Later versions featured DOHC with 16 valves for increased high RPM efficiency and smoother power delivery. It is effectively a Nissan RB block with two less cylinders. Components from valves to lifters, as well as bearings, are similar if not identical to the RB and VG series engines. The motor was expensive to produce being cast iron, so it was replaced in 1991 by the SR series as the primary Nissan 4 cylinder engine.

The CA series engine was the workhorse of the 1980s and was a bulletproof little engine. The power ratings were heavily choked by emissions regulations and Nissan's desire for high gas mileage. The CA design ended in 1990 with the ultimate CA engine, the CA18DET.

CA18DETThe 1.8 L CA18DET was the last version of the CA engine to be released. It produces 169 hp (124 kW) and 168 ft.lbf (228 Nm). It received a brand new DOHC aluminum head with 16 valves. The turbocharger was also upgraded to a Garrett T25 (.60 A/R) unit for increased flow capacity, and as such, was fitted with an intercooler to help volumetric efficiency. Fuel was delivered via Multiport Fuel Injection. Bore is 83.5mm, and stroke is 83mm. This near square design, coupled with the head design, allows CA18DETs to spin well beyond 7,000RPMs, even in stock trim. The CA18DET is a robust built engine considering that many people have produced up to 600hp with modification.

It was used in the following vehicles:

1987-1988 Nissan Silvia S12 GT-X(International market) 1989-1990 Nissan Silvia/180SX S13 (International market) 1989 Nissan Bluebird SSS Atessa (International market) Nissan Exa Turbo (Australia, non-intercooled)

There were 2 versions of the CA18DET availible, yet only one was produced for Japan. The Australian and Asian CA18DETs received 6 port (low port) heads, with butterfly actuated auxiliary ports in the lower intake manifold which corresponded with 6 ports in the head. Below ~3800RPMs, one set (3 ports) of long, narrow ports would be open, accelerating the intake charge to the cylinder. This allowed for quick spool and good low end tractibility. At the 3800RPM change over, not only would the ECCS shift into batch fire (as opposed to sequential) fuel injection, but it also opened the second set of short, wide ports which assisted in high RPM flow. This motor is knows for stronger torque characteristics, as well as faster spool at lower RPMs. However, due to displacement-based taxation laws in Europe, the CA18DET was sold as an option in the 200SX (Euro model) of the S13 chassis until its end in 1996. The later motors received the 4 port (high port) head and intake manifold, as well as revised ECCS ("Electronic Concentrated Control System") parameters. Power was not increased, but high RPM flow was indeed improved, making the 4 port CA18DET the most desirable of the late generation Nissan turbo 4s. Due to superior head design (cam on bucket, as opposed to the flawed complex and heavy rocker arm actuation of later motors like the SR and QR series), many enthusists consider the CA18DET to be the best engine platform since the FJ20/E/T that powered the legendary DR30 Skyline DOHC-RS.

[niscort]

The Australian and Asian CA18DETs received 6 port (low port) heads, with butterfly actuated auxiliary ports in the lower intake manifold which corresponded with 6 ports in the head. Below ~3800RPMs, one set (3 ports) of long, narrow ports would be open, accelerating the intake charge to the cylinder.

6 ports??

Didnt realise the Jdm version was a 3cyl

[sideways danny]

lots of common misconceptions in there

the CA was still used in the s13 outside japan until 1994 for a start

[ragenasian]

Yeah "sideways danny" is correct. The CA was the only available motor in the S13 up until 1994 here in Germany at least. I am not sure about other countries. Also only 4 port design was offered no others, you won't find any other motor in a 200sx here in Germany unless of course it was a swap. Good read but a little off.

[OmarM]

In all honesty not to be rude but you are all wrong. If you read and interpet the wording, it never said it was only offered till 1990. It stated that the last design og the CA series of engines was in 1990. After 1990, the CA18DET was the same motor for those 4 years.

To better explain you have redtop, bluetop, blacktop sr20 motors. Well there was only one version of the CA18DET it never changed after its creation.

Hopefully this explains, and I hope I didnt come off as a smartass. Just trying to justify the article. Its an encyclopedia, I am sure they have done their research before they publish it.

[OmarM]

My whole point of the article is that the CA18DET is a diamond in the rough, It shares many characteristics as RB and VG motors. It has an iron block as you all know and aluminum head. The reason why they switched to the SR wasnt because it was not performing well, but more so because the motor was too expensive for production.

I am looking into head parts such as valves, springs, retainers from the RB and VG and see if they are interchangeable. Might be able to make a 9krpm reving head out of stock nissan parts. This I like.

[rico05]

See, a lot of that is modified by me, since a lot of the info was way off. But I see that someone has gone back in and added/changed a lot of what I put. When I checked it a few weeks ago for the first time, there was a lot of bad info. THat is the best and worst thing about Wiki. Anyone can change whatever they like. I was about to go back and mess around with it some more, but there is no point really, since it will be messed with again.

If anyone feels up to it, go for it.