CA18DET Swap...

[Fastback180]

Okay, I found a real good deal on some CA's (around $800) and they're all in good condition. The only thing is they usually don't come w/harnesses. So anyways, I was wondering how many people on here have sucessfully completed a CA18DET swap? And what are the pros and cons to it. Besides it being some what hard to aquire parts for it. I'm really thinking of doing this swap before I go off to Houston for school. I'd appreciate it if someone could give me some heads up. Ohh and by the way, I've been all around Google and there isn't really any review of a CA18 swap. Some tech info, and prices, but mostly jack chit.

Ohh, another thing to add. The only shipping I will do is from my house to the Importer and back. Which is a 5min journey. So kids who are thinking of swaps should really check any local engine importers. It will save you alot from that shipping charge.

[transient]

All I can say is get a front clip. You're going to be much happier paying a little extra money to get everything you need.

[DuffMan]

Well, the wiriing diagram for the CA18DET is easy to find (its even on zilvia's front page somewhere). It uses a different type of ecu plug than usdm or sr20det S13's, but if you have the plug, you could fix it.

[SxMachine]

Ca swap is the sh*t man. I wouldn't recommend buying one without the harness tho (like u said some parts are already hard enuff 2 obtain). They are worth it, a high-revving, iron block, 4 cylinder RB that doesn't take much 2 get a little extra HP from. Stock internals can handle about 14-15 psi (still pushin it tho) i still recommend a head rebuild and metal head gasket 4 anything over that (and numerous other mods).
A friend of mine squeezed 275bhp out of his stock interns before head rebuild with minor fuel system upgrades, aftermarket i/c, ecu remapping and s15 t28 (which bolts up to the stock ex mani by the way). Here are some sites with CA18DET perf parts and info all got good links ta info as well. Unstable can help u 2.http://www.norrisdesigns.com http://www.users.bigpond.com http://www.afterdarktuning.com http://www.takakaira.com http://www.sxoc.com http://www.paddy.co.jp

[Fastback180]

Thanks a ton bro. Yeah it's $800 flat. And they have 2 in stock, one RWD and one FWD. I was like what the hell? FWD? They don't come w/harness or ECU, which I thought they did come with. :mad:

[SxMachine]

That jdm ecu might be a little hard to come by. Its up to u. $800 which is damn near $900 after taxes ship/handling. $300 maybe more 4 Ca18det jdm ecu, $100-$300 for wire harness and various other things that would come with a clip. So your looking at the cost almost of the front clip with more work and time spent trying to piece it together! I'd rather just get the clip and be over with it.

[blatch]

It's always a good idea to get a clip. You get extra spare parts, anyways.

[Fastback180]

No shipping prices, the $800 is a flat price. They have an ass load of engines in stock there. But damn.

[S13CRAVE]

FYI, a CA18DET can hold more than 14-15psi on stock internals. The pistons are forged from the factory as well as stout rods. The block is iron so you can boost pretty high. The turbo gives out early but w/ a metal headgasket you can boost pretty high


~Ian

[andrave]

I just got my loan and I'm getting my ca18det for 800 from Noyan. I found a guy on 240sx.org selling a full wire harness with mafs, injectors, coilpacks, and ECU for 350 shipped to my door.
so my friend and I are driving out this weekend to get the engine, and we are gonna swap early next month.

suweet.
I'm probably going to use a starion intercooler and a stock sr20 downpipe to save money.

[Fastback180]

Ohhhh sweet man. Hey hit up my e-mail. I live like 5mins from Noyan. They're good. This guy Pete that works across the street from me at Electromotive got his SR there. Anyways...

[N1ceDrgn]

...Have it, did it and I am done.. I brought mine with me back from Jpn and did the install myself last October. It took all of about a day and a half. The wiring took another day to do.. In and out again, I had it done in about 3 days or so. I used the wiring diagram from for an SR to connect the CA harness with the KA body harness. I ran into a problem with the stock water gauge however I didn't need it. I just pulled it and haven't had a problem since. If you're comfortable getting into the guts of a car, you shouldn't have any problems. If you have any questions, let me know. I've been messing around and tuning CA's for about 5 years now... If you can, let me know some info on this shop that you were mentioning. I'm trying to track down another non-HICAS power steering pump for a CA...

[andrave]

OK the wiring is the big part I'm dreading... so the SR swap wiring details will all work for the CA?
I have a sohc car, too...
if you have aol, my SN is aandrave, I'm always looking for more tech on the CA....

[N1ceDrgn]

I don't use AOL but I'll look around.. I use MSN and Yahoo.. The SR wiring diagram from http://www.heavythrottle.com/ The wiring under the install faq. Take it from me, just swap out the pin connections. I went ahead and cut n' soldered the connections. all you have to do is match up the wires and you'll be alright.

[andrave]

hey, my msn screen name is [email protected]
I am on that usually every night.
swapping out the pins seems like the way to go, I guess I'm going to look into one of those pin removal tools.

[N1ceDrgn]

If you do a lot of wiring, it's not a bad thing to have. I am on right now and I will be again in a little while... Look for my id in Hotmail..

[four]

Originally posted by andrave
I just got my loan and I'm getting my ca18det for 800 from Noyan. I found a guy on 240sx.org selling a full wire harness with mafs, injectors, coilpacks, and ECU for 350 shipped to my door.
so my friend and I are driving out this weekend to get the engine, and we are gonna swap early next month.

suweet.
I'm probably going to use a starion intercooler and a stock sr20 downpipe to save money.

im planning to get from NOYAN toO! Let me know how it goes.

[andrave]

I will defitnely post back up here, but the owner said he didn't think he would be getting in any more ca's unless someone ordered them, said the sr's are a more profitable motor for him.