haywire ca18det Please help!!!!!!

Alright here is my everlasting struggle to transform my american s13 240sx into what nissan intended this car to be. I started with a Ca18det built by a local engine builder, I traded the engine (which included Ported/Polished head, high lift/ high deration cams, forged pistons, hks adjustable cam gears, custom built intake manifold with Q45 throttle body <60mm>, and thats it) in exchange i painted his car. The agreement was that after his car was done he would help me get the engine in the car and properly tune it. Well since then he has left the state with a freshly painted car. So i am left with this engine that i know very little about. I bought a front clip and have used the fuel injection system on it, as well as a/c system and all accessories. I constructed my own top mount turbo manifold with an external tial wastegate. I chose a turbonetics T3/T4 turbo with 3" exhast behind it and 2.5"-3" I/C piping. To help control my fuel and the Skyline Maf I am using a Apex S-afcII (poor man's management I KNOW!). Well now you are brought up to speed. The engine will start but has to be forced to run, by playing with the throttle and rough at that. I am led to believe that the timing may be a bit off. Once the motor backfired and a flame blew out of the brake booster port :uhoh: . I also believe that there is just a really bad fuel mixture. I am not sure that i want to invest in a stand alone system.

Basically my questions are:

1. Can the stock efi with the S-afc and a mod chp control all the additional boost, and the gigantic throttle?

2. If my cam timing is off how can i Tell? besides the markers on the gears, they have proved unreliable due to the fact that the gears are adjustable with 30 degrees of movement in each direction.

3. Does anyone have a rope that i can hang myself with so i dont have to mess with this car anymore?

In all honesty i would deeply appreciate any help i could recieve on this matter. I have been fiddling with this engine for a good year. All i want to do is to drive my car again. Please help :confused:

I'm only posting to get this thread to the top again. I know some people can help you, they just haven't looked yet or are being lazy. I wish I could help. I would say the best bet would be to find someone who can tune, and have them take a look at it. Good luck.

First the timing is ECU controlled.
You can adjust it somewhat with the timing sensor, Unless he didn't line the timing marks when he built the engine and put the timing belt on.
2nd if you are not using a stock airflow meter (maf) you need to have a ecu that is properly mapped for that. So your best bet is get a stiock MAF and ecu and taking the timing belt cover off and look at the timing marks on the gears and make sure that they are ok.
You can get an english version of the ca18 det nissan manuals online I have seen them in Australia. I live in Japan and can help you get some stock parts if you need. You might want to look at some pages like skyliners downunder and they may have info also.

the SAFC2 can fix the singnal to safely use the larger MAF i mean it works for my sr20 im running the Z32 maf which according to some is the same[well size as the skyline one]

i don't believe it to be the throttle, but i wouldn't really know

just wait for the other more knowledgeable members to help you

just keeping it on the top of the treads... i don't know much about the CA18.... but it sound like a timing problem... did u up grade the cams?? maybe thats causing the rough idal???? sorry... good luck!

It sounds like you just havent compensated for your new MAF yet. plus the Timing could be off by a bit. Id think you would be better off with a Standalone (even a non D-Jetro Power FC would be better than piggyback) but the SAFC is definantly capable of getting this thing to run. If you have the Stock ECU/MAF you should be able to make the car Idle/Run Decently (unless you have Ubar high duration cams) but you wont be able to get on it. that should help you figure out if the ignition/cam timing is off. then once you get some money have a competent tuner figure out the skyline MAF and tune the AFC on a dyno.

I dont want to give you advice on the cam because Im not positive about what I know. www.zilvia.net will have more help that AF could ever offer.

Good Luck