a 1985 200sx? - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

DMCS14 · 09-12-2002, 07:30 PM

My friend just bought a 1985 200sx do any of you guys have info on it? its a htchback 5spd. also do you know where to find some interior panels? thanks

*AceInHole* · 09-12-2002, 07:50 PM

the 200sx came with 3 engine possibilities: the CA20E, the CA18ET, and the VG30E (at least, this is all from memory).  Depending on which engine he had will determine what's available to him, I'd think.

Also, I'm not sure, but I thought it shared some components with the Z31??

AKADriver · 09-12-2002, 08:14 PM

There's nothing really available for either the CA20E or CA18ET (the only engines available in '85).  You can get a header for the CA20E, or a cam.. the CA18ET is a turbo, of course, but it can't handle much boost.  It only ran something like 5psi stock.  The CA20E could be a nice engine if people bothered to make some parts for it, but the SOHC CA motors are just orphans as far as that goes.

CA18DETs and even SR20DETs can be swapped in, but I wouldn't suggest it unless you have the FSM and enjoy wiring because it's a bit different from the S13.  One benefit over the S13, though, the US-spec S12 is designed to mount the ECU on the left side of the car (same place as JDM S13s, opposite side of US S13s) so the engine harness doesn't have to be cut and lengthened to reach.

Suspension parts are tough to get... they're NOT directly swappable with the Z31 despite what anyone says, as far as I can tell the lengths and such are different even though the suspension layout is the same.  If you can manage to dig up a set of good front cartridges and rear shocks, Ground Control's sleeve coilovers work great.

Brake upgrades are where Z31 300ZX parts really come in handy.

The turbo models have a lot of cool '80s-ness that they share with the Z31... they talk, they have an alarm clock in the dashboard, and a FULLY digital dash including a bar graph boost gauge! <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':thumbsup:'>  Also the factory stereo's optional tape deck fit into a second half DIN slot below the stereo slot.

If you need any S12 parts, seek out the cheapest, most ghetto u-pull-it junkyard you can find.  They get S12s by the truckload, often turbos or V6 models.

SR20Fastback · 09-12-2002, 08:22 PM

Talk to Coolerow, He's got one <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='

'>

S13Grl · 09-12-2002, 09:49 PM

SR20, what's your deal with Camppain?

SR20Fastback · 09-12-2002, 10:20 PM

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (S13Grl @ Sep. 12 2002,8:49)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">SR20, what's your deal with Camppain?</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
What my sig? He just kept sayin it all night in the chat room, and I was crackin up each time  <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='

'>

SILVER97LE · 09-13-2002, 02:38 PM

I saw somewhere that a CA18ET puts out 135 HP stock.  That is ridiculous!  My friend has swapped in a bigger turbo and is putting down 180 HP to the ground.  He did some other things too, but I don't know the details.

*ca18guy* · 09-13-2002, 02:54 PM

IMHO I'd rather buy a beat up S13 then a S12.

09-12-2002, 07:50 PM	#2
AceInHole Autox Technician Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: New Haven, CT Age: 43 Posts: 3,961 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: AceInHole Feedback Score: 0 reviews	the 200sx came with 3 engine possibilities: the CA20E, the CA18ET, and the VG30E (at least, this is all from memory).  Depending on which engine he had will determine what's available to him, I'd think. Also, I'm not sure, but I thought it shared some components with the Z31?? __________________

09-12-2002, 08:22 PM	#4
SR20Fastback Nissanaholic! Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: The Bay Age: 39 Posts: 1,637 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Talk to Coolerow, He's got one <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> __________________ Fodive STILL blows goats, I have proof.

09-12-2002, 10:20 PM	#6
SR20Fastback Nissanaholic! Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: The Bay Age: 39 Posts: 1,637 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (S13Grl @ Sep. 12 2002,8:49)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">SR20, what's your deal with Camppain?</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'> What my sig? He just kept sayin it all night in the chat room, and I was crackin up each time  <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> __________________ Fodive STILL blows goats, I have proof.

09-13-2002, 02:38 PM	#7
SILVER97LE Leaky Injector Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 64 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I saw somewhere that a CA18ET puts out 135 HP stock.  That is ridiculous!  My friend has swapped in a bigger turbo and is putting down 180 HP to the ground.  He did some other things too, but I don't know the details. __________________ *Own a '97 Sliver Moss LE[br]>Selling a '01 Sterling Mist Maxima-5-spd with 8,500 for $21,000

09-12-2002, 07:30 PM	#1
DMCS14 Leaky Injector Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: 1 Posts: 103 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	My friend just bought a 1985 200sx do any of you guys have info on it? its a htchback 5spd. also do you know where to find some interior panels? thanks

09-12-2002, 08:14 PM	#3
AKADriver Post Whore! Join Date: May 2002 Location: Springfield, VA Age: 42 Posts: 3,475 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	There's nothing really available for either the CA20E or CA18ET (the only engines available in '85).  You can get a header for the CA20E, or a cam.. the CA18ET is a turbo, of course, but it can't handle much boost.  It only ran something like 5psi stock.  The CA20E could be a nice engine if people bothered to make some parts for it, but the SOHC CA motors are just orphans as far as that goes. CA18DETs and even SR20DETs can be swapped in, but I wouldn't suggest it unless you have the FSM and enjoy wiring because it's a bit different from the S13.  One benefit over the S13, though, the US-spec S12 is designed to mount the ECU on the left side of the car (same place as JDM S13s, opposite side of US S13s) so the engine harness doesn't have to be cut and lengthened to reach. Suspension parts are tough to get... they're NOT directly swappable with the Z31 despite what anyone says, as far as I can tell the lengths and such are different even though the suspension layout is the same.  If you can manage to dig up a set of good front cartridges and rear shocks, Ground Control's sleeve coilovers work great. Brake upgrades are where Z31 300ZX parts really come in handy. The turbo models have a lot of cool '80s-ness that they share with the Z31... they talk, they have an alarm clock in the dashboard, and a FULLY digital dash including a bar graph boost gauge! <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':thumbsup:'>  Also the factory stereo's optional tape deck fit into a second half DIN slot below the stereo slot. If you need any S12 parts, seek out the cheapest, most ghetto u-pull-it junkyard you can find.  They get S12s by the truckload, often turbos or V6 models.

09-12-2002, 09:49 PM	#5
S13Grl Married to the Mob Join Date: Dec 2000 Age: 43 Posts: 3,670 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	SR20, what's your deal with Camppain?

09-13-2002, 02:54 PM	#8
ca18guy Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Clearwater FL Age: 41 Posts: 3,226 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: ca18guy Feedback Score: 0 reviews	IMHO I'd rather buy a beat up S13 then a S12.