Is there aftermarket support for the CA18ET?

What is the potential of these motors?

Is it more cost efficient to swap something else?

Is there any companies that have parts for this motor or these S12's that they come in?

Thanks for your time, im thinking of buying one

the DOHC ca18det is an ok motor. nothing spectacular. your motor is a less advanced single cam version. if your trying to do anything significant to your car(i.e. more than intake and exhaust) your better off swapping something else in. the aftermarket for the CA motors is pretty small. if you want reliability but dont need tons of speed, swap in an SR20DE or KA24DE. if you wanna go fast, the turbo versions of either motor will fit the bill nicely. the SR20 has x1000 the aftermarket of any KA, and is strong internally. the KA has ultimately more power potential, but isnt quite as strong from the factory. but still its no slouch. the first thing to go on any SR20DET when upping the power is almost always rod bearings. the first thing to go on any KA24DET when upping the power is pretty much always the headgasket.

its sort of a tossup. but ditch the CA if you want to get much more than 200whp reliably.

I drove my friends s12 with a ca18e-t. He has an intake, fmic, and a 3 inch catback. My best time was a 14.7, his was a 15 flat. The car feels alright. As for potential, I'll let you know once he starts his build.

I'd say swap it out for a dual cam CA, but I'm almost 100% positive that the KA would be cheaper.

thanks guys for the replies.

what kind of modifications would u have to make in order to swap in a sr20det or a ka24de? is it difficult? i read that a ca18det would be a direct swap. but im not sure if any swap is legal these days in california.

what would be required for a ca18et to get to 200whp? im not a quarter mile guy, im more into road racing and maybe drifting later on.

ca18et to get to 200whp would at least require a bigger turbo plus a better manifold. but to tell you the truf, you picked the wrong car if you want to road race with it. the s12 was about average back in the 80s when it was new. plus, your suspension options are very limited. youll have to get creative to make it handle better than a crown vic.

sucks you live in cali. you might ask around but if you keep the emissions in, the ka swap might (big maybe) be legal. i dont know for sure though. i just know you cant swap in a motor older than the car...