Thinking about going CA

[Idahos13]

Hey guys, I have been thinking about saving up to do a CA swap. I just have a few questions. After you buy one, seeing how these engines are older than a sr, should you go through it and see if it needs rebuilt? How many people on here have had to actually rebuild there CA before putting it in?Do you have to get the ecu tuned if you change the CA t25 for the SR t25? I'm guessing you probably don't.Any info on my questions and any info on the CA would also be a great help thanks! And sorry if the questions seem noobish I'm still trying to learn about the CA's to see if I want to go that direction.

[skunkmonkey]

dude... honestly, think about what you are planning on doing with your car. it's a 1.8l motor... so if your planning on trying to make huge hp numbers... this probably isn't the motor to go with. it's old, you should rebuild... most don't, it craps out on them, then they complain the motor is crap. i could go on and on... but yeah...

no, you don't need to tune if you swap it out with a sr t25. with stock boost you don't anyways.

coilpacks tend to burn out, because of how it was designed. crank angle sensors crap out too... it's old, it's expected. a $280 replacement too... you can always find used... but you know how that goes... who knows how long it's gonna last.

there isn't as much aftermarket support for it either, but there is enough for what you'd want to do. it's a fun little motor, but it has it's limitations like everything else.

[Idahos13]

Thanks man, I appreciate the info!

[ca18detgabby]

dude... honestly, think about what you are planning on doing with your car. it's a 1.8l motor... so if your planning on trying to make huge hp numbers... this probably isn't the motor to go with. it's old, you should rebuild... most don't, it craps out on them, then they complain the motor is crap. i could go on and on... but yeah...

no, you don't need to tune if you swap it out with a sr t25. with stock boost you don't anyways.

coilpacks tend to burn out, because of how it was designed. crank angle sensors crap out too... it's old, it's expected. a $280 replacement too... you can always find used... but you know how that goes... who knows how long it's gonna last.

there isn't as much aftermarket support for it either, but there is enough for what you'd want to do. it's a fun little motor, but it has it's limitations like everything else.

wow lots of miss information there......

yes it SHOULD be rebuilt, If bought a motor out of the junkyard in the US I would rebuild it........ why would japanese be any different?

there are several people out there who have built big and reliable numbers out with their CA, and IMO the stock motor is far better suited than any soda can motor for reliable 300+hp. with a little head work and pistons you are set for even more.

what aftermarket part are you in search of? the stock intake or exhaust manifold...... both have shown to be soild for atleast 350whp consistantly. come to think of it there are very few things I could think of that there isnt someone who sells it off the shelf(or atleast did at one time). the difference is there isnt an overabuance like SR s***.(I would rather have quality over quanity ANYWAY)

I have 2 CAS up for sale right now and used ones are very easy to locate. Asuming you even run one....... as you dont need a CAS with megasquirt anyway and is nearly as cheap as getting a tuned ECU and a decent working harness.

what limitations are there for a CA? I mean other than its need to induce more air than it is physically able to do? The ONLY limitations are budget and QUALITY tuning.

Ps coil packs wear out....... so do plug wires.........

[Idahos13]

Thanks alot, I would rather go CA and be different than go SR and just jump on the bandwagon like everyone else.

I know that with upgrading the t25 with a SR t25 can put you at almost 200hp with these motors. To me the CA has a lot of potential and If i can pick one up cheap I most definately will run with it!

How expensive is the rebuild for these engines?

[projectcar240sx]

i say figure out what you wana do with the car and go for what suits it best the high rpm suited me best to keep my wheels spinning for drifting im gona be easily over 300 hp but im not going for a drag car im happy with even under 400

[Idahos13]

Ya i'm not going for a strickly autox, drift, or drag car. I want to do those but I just mainly want a engine I will have fun with with some good hp. And to me going CA is probably a good choice. So what if you get a good one off a website, like it has good compression. Would you still rebuild it?

[meminto]

If it has verified compression and a warranty I personally wouldn't worry about rebuilding till it really needs it...

However, if you really want to be sure, a stock freshen up would be worth the dollars for the piece of mind... considering it would be a bastard to go to the trouble with the conversion only to have to rip the motor out again...

At the end of the day, unopened examples are getting long in the tooth and electrical equipment is in the same boat...

There is plenty of aftermarket support for the CA if you look...

[float_6969]

As it has been stated, finding a good condition CA is becoming very hard to come by, and if you really want to be happy with a CA swap, I would HIGHLY recommend planning on a rebuild, and some sort of standalone. I would plan on this before anything else.

If you want a really FUN, RELIABLE, car to drive, do a stock rebuild, get an S15 SR T28 (GT28), 550cc injectors, Z32 MAFS, FMIC, 3" turbo back exhaust, fuel pump, Nismo FPR, and a stage III chip. That turbo is very responsive, and can get you very close to 300RWHP. If you don't think thats enough HP, drive an S13/S14 with that much power, and then come tell me it's not enough power.

[jynxtrix]

As it has been stated, finding a good condition CA is becoming very hard to come by, and if you really want to be happy with a CA swap, I would HIGHLY recommend planning on a rebuild, and some sort of standalone. I would plan on this before anything else.

If you want a really FUN, RELIABLE, car to drive, do a stock rebuild, get an S15 SR T28 (GT28), 550cc injectors, Z32 MAFS, FMIC, 3" turbo back exhaust, fuel pump, Nismo FPR, and a stage III chip. That turbo is very responsive, and can get you very close to 300RWHP. If you don't think thats enough HP, drive an S13/S14 with that much power, and then come tell me it's not enough power.

Float, you rock!AMEN.

[Nali]

there isn't as much aftermarket support for it either, but there is enough for what you'd want to do. it's a fun little motor, but it has it's limitations like everything else.

Every time i hear this i have to go club a baby fur seal.

There is more than enough support for the CA, what crazy parts are you looking for that you cant find in the US? Unless you are trying to do some super crazy engine mods, which would need custom fabing anyway, the CA has tons of support.

Since ive owned the CA ive never reach a point where i had to order something from outside the US. Everything can be gotten stateside.

On Topic

As Float said, this is a good place to start

S15 SR T28 (GT28), 550cc injectors, Z32 MAFS, FMIC, 3" turbo back exhaust, fuel pump, Nismo FPR, and a stage III chip

And slowly move up from their if you really need more power.

[projectcar240sx]

just remeber dude this swap will be alot harder then an sr with sr you have the world at your finger tips cus every swap wiring websit and there mother can do the wiring

[Buddyworm]

^Wiring is the same.

Find a motor, do a leakdown test, throw it in the car and rebuild when it pops. That's what I'd do anyway. As long as it's not making knocking noises I wouldn't be overly concerned. Just clean the hell out of the idle control stuff. That gives everybody problems.

Float's the resident expert though. Follow his advice if you want a fresh start. Either way these motors are tougher than they're given credit for.

[projectcar240sx]

the only insult i hear about ca18 is they are older then sr20

and we are 1.8

[Nali]

just remeber dude this swap will be alot harder then an sr with sr you have the world at your finger tips cus every swap wiring websit and there mother can do the wiring

Unless hes wiring it into an S14 or S15. it would be the same as doing an SR swap.

Can be done in a weekend with a couple friends and some vodka.No need for a shop.....Ever.

[float_6969]

The wiring is no different than wiring in a red-top SR with the exception of having to run a wire for the knock sensor, and maybe hooking up the butterfly valves if you want.

[Idahos13]

Wow, thanks guys for all the help! I apreciate all of your info. I'm not planning on making a bunch of hp, I just want a fun engine with some go. I have already found alot of aftermarket parts for the CA's so its definately not hard to find parts. And I have a S13 so it will be the same as a SR. As I have said thank you very much for the advice guys and girls.

[sjbsuperman1425]

the hardest thing to get your hands on with the CA are Tomei cams. I remember awhile back ppl never being able to get them, but idk if thats changed or not.

i bought this engine because it was cheap. i didn't research it, or ask questions or anything i dont believe. i was lucky and didn't replace anything like i should've and still have a very good running engine, but haven't check the compresssion or done a leakdown so idk. a rebuild is evident for me, but i'll cross that bridge when i come to it. good luck with w/e you choose to do!

*side note*: i saw an SR20 for my first time last night, and it looked MONSTEROUS compared to the CA haha

[Idahos13]

Thanks man! And there are some local guys around my area that I got to see what a SR20 looks like in person also, and they are prety monsterous.

[Idahos13]

So as my understanding you can get the FWD pulsar ca and turn it into a RWD engine? but they dont have a crank girdle, oil squirters or 8.5:1 pistons? So if you ever needed to get a extra head couldn't you just take one from a pulsar at the junk yard and switch the intake manifold with the DET manifold?

[mbmbmb23]

You'd need the RWD engine mount brackets, wire harness, intake manifold, exhaust manifold, etc etc. You are better off buying some shmoe's busted project motor for $500 and rebuilding it.

[Nali]

*side note*: i saw an SR20 for my first time last night, and it looked MONSTEROUS compared to the CA haha

Nahh, you must have it twisted. The CA looks monstrous compared to the SR. The SR has sweet curves and looks very pretty, the CA minus the Coilcover looks like the RBs very angry midget cousin.

The CA is especially impressive when people see it, discard any chance of it being quick, and then get decked by it.

[chrismo240sx]

i want a CA soo bad, unfortuantely DWI are expensive and flushed away 4g's, time to start saving again i guess.

..sorry for jacking but all this reading about the ca is making me jealous.

[Idahos13]

You'd need the RWD engine mount brackets, wire harness, intake manifold, exhaust manifold, etc etc. You are better off buying some shmoe's busted project motor for $500 and rebuilding it.

Unfortunately there is no one in idaho with CA's that i could just buy one

[/QUOTE]

i want a CA soo bad, unfortuantely DWI are expensive and flushed away 4g's, time to start saving again i guess.

..sorry for jacking but all this reading about the ca is making me jealous.

It's all good man I really want one too now.

But like I said before couldnt you just get a head from a pulsar for a spare CA head if you ever wanted too, and swap the intake and exhaust manifolds?