Ca18det

even though i've been wanting to go ka-t, i met this guy in class today who has a 240 and a ca in his garage but doesn't have the money to put it in.. would i be making an impulse decision to go CA? its only about $1500 for everything (CAD), except exhaust and intercooler, and its all legit. i think it would be a bad decisiopn cause i've been wanting the ka-t for so long.. but its either get the CA in by the time the snow is gone in the spring or wait till a year from now.. i don't want to make a bad decision just so i can be boosting.. i'm not looking for pros/cons, i know them all.. if you guys had that opportunity, would you do it?

add: i'm using this car for a daily driver, i'm not looking for over 260whp.

not looking to give you pros and cons, but why do u have to wait a year to do the ka-t? is it cause u dont have a 240 at all so you'd have to buy one with a ka and then have to get some more paper to buy the turbo set-up?

i don't think it would be so hard to figure out that i already have one, and fyi i've had it for more than a year..
the reason i'd have to wait is because the ka-t would be much more expensive..

Its up to you. I'd prolly be impatient and get the CA18. Its a good engine. Def capable of putting out 260whp...

thats my point exactly, but its not exactly what i wanted.. i think i might be making that impulse decision.. we'll see how it goes but i still want to hear from the rest of the guys

btw shawn carter, whos car did you think was in my sig?

2.4L>1.8L.
CA18DET is a good engine though, rev friendly, iron block and already FI. If it had more displacement it would be golden.
my :2cents:

Its up to you. I'd prolly be impatient and get the CA18. Its a good engine. Def capable of putting out 260whp...

Ditto. It'd be damn hard for me not to jump on the CA, especially if the guy lets you come and check out the engine so there's no doubt in your mind the engine is in good condition. Now that I think of it....HELL YEA I'd go for the CA. Just like Pavlo said, very good engineered engine, plus lighter. Keep the KA somewhere safe just incase you wanna go that direction in the future. Whichever way you go, its all good in the world of turbo's, but if it was me, I'm more impatient than Courtney Love in Amsterdam, I'd hit up that CA in a heartbeat. Good luck man.

My friend has the CA and it pulls strong on a stock setup. It is a perfectly good engine. Ya the 1.8 thing might hold you back a little on torque compared to the KA-T.

id get what ive always wanted and wait for the ka

Let Fate be your judge.

go over to his house and do a leakdown test on the motor. if you feel happy with the numbers buy it. if they suck dont.

260WHP is nothing hard for a CA. you could prolly get 280+ with the S15 T28 and a new Headgasket. plus Even the SR T25 is an upgrade and those are a dime a dozen.

id say go for it, but then again i dont hear of many CA's these days so you would be unique. Im an impatient person, go for it and save the KA in case you want to go KA-t later and sell the CA. Have fun with the CA and not be sad for another year IMO...

yeah the engine is in great condition. i'm not sure if a leakdown had been done but i'll make sure it is done along with compression as a double check. it'd also be nice to know what numbers it puts up.. so i have 7 months to make $2gs.. not hard..

the other side of this all is going back to torque.. the reason i didn't want an sr was because of the difference in tq.. as you all know, tq=hp.. but since the ca is already FI then its pretty much got about $1000-1500 worth of work that i would have put into my ka.. so its a real toss up.. i'll do some more debating

For the money spending on the engine and install, I would much rather turbo the ka. In those 7 month and 2g you could be turboed, but once again it is completely up to you.

well $2gs american is like $1600 CDN.. i'd need atleast $2500CDN to boost at 6psi.. and thats MINIMUM..

This is totally off topic, but your signature picture reminded me of it, is that lazy eye thing with your headlights a kit? or a trick?

i say CA

1. seems like you have a good jump on other shit to make your car fun it will be plenty fast with just the CA

2. more potential for revs if you spend a couple g's later on with internals and valvetrain shit = more race motor than drag motor

3. does seem like it would be cheaper

4. ive liked the CA since i saw this

http://www.tomei-p.co.jp/_2003web-catalogue/e039_ca18det.html

This is totally off topic, but your signature picture reminded me of it, is that lazy eye thing with your headlights a kit? or a trick?

i'm gonna put more pictures up right now, you'll see what i did

i say CA

1. seems like you have a good jump on other shit to make your car fun it will be plenty fast with just the CA

2. more potential for revs if you spend a couple g's later on with internals and valvetrain shit = more race motor than drag motor

3. does seem like it would be cheaper

4. ive liked the CA since i saw this

http://www.tomei-p.co.jp/_2003web-catalogue/e039_ca18det.html


i wouldn't mind a race car, but i don't think the frame would handle it over a long term period, and i'm not about to spend money on a roll cage. i'm definitely not going to drift and drag is a maybe.. i like taking fast turns and going wot out of them to straightaways. i'm not too sure i'd get the same results with a ca than i would with a ka-t

Convenience is always my route. I know if I ever waited to get what I really wanted I wouldn't have settled for the only feasible alternative for a RWD L6 turbo ride(bought 87supra vs my dream of R32skyline). And even more so, I wouldn't be fixing up my KA vs getting a RB25DET for my 240(which would probably satisfy me forever).. therefore, I know I would end up with the CA if I were in your shoes lol.

thats my point exactly, but its not exactly what i wanted.. i think i might be making that impulse decision.. we'll see how it goes but i still want to hear from the rest of the guys

btw shawn carter, whos car did you think was in my sig?

i dont really know, it seemed odd to me and i thought u had one i was just trying to peice together why you would need to wait and i guess i just mis-interpreted what you had said thats all man. no big deal, sorry if it offended u in some way.

no no i just thought it would be obvious.. no worries

Well you do get a jump start on internal strength..

Why couldn't the gaylords at Nissan just put forged pistons in the KA?

Go KA.It's worth the wait and you'll have more power if you go KA-T than a stock CA18.Youd already have a headstart (aftermarket BOV,FMIC,etc etc)
Oh and who can forget about the torque...
Also not alotta aftermarket support for the CA18 compared to the KA.

I say KA-T.I love mine and don't regret it:smile:

haha its too bad nobody's got a ca here cause its such one sided persuasion..

haha its too bad nobody's got a ca here cause its such one sided persuasion..

Get the CA :evillol: I have a KA and love the ideas I have for it, but trust me. If that deal were anywhere near me... I would call visa today(for one of those 0% for 1 year deals), after the install my KA would hit a crate as back up. Boost controller and that CA would have major hell to pay :smokin:

NOTE: I'm assuming it comes with a turbo because you said in your initial post quote "except exhaust and intercooler"

I still say if I picked up another 240 and began to upgrade it, I would just get a CA18DET and daily drive it while messing with my KA-T. I think ~250whp is plenty for a daily driven car. But of course, when is enough enough?

Plus the CA will be cheaper than the KA and prolly make more power vs money than the KA. Of course, KAs own in power potential, but you mentioned that ~250whp is plenty. Well then buy the CA, and build the KA for more later.

And you can't beat the reliability of a factory turboed car...

I still say if I picked up another 240 and began to upgrade it, I would just get a CA18DET and daily drive it while messing with my KA-T. I think ~250whp is plenty for a daily driven car. But of course, when is enough enough?

Plus the CA will be cheaper than the KA and prolly make more power vs money than the KA. Of course, KAs own in power potential, but you mentioned that ~250whp is plenty. Well then buy the CA, and build the KA for more later.

And you can't beat the reliability of a factory turboed car...

u know i think this is the most valid point made yet and i totally agree

Also nice that you can get parts for the CA, so I actually might as well change my opinion. Like nissanfantaic said, build the KA and get a CA for daily driver, not a bad Idea in my opinion.

i wouldnt offer him 1500$ for it. i would offer him 800-1K for it, he probably paid 1200-1500 for it. get a deal on it. If you are wanting torque you wont really have any, but it will put you back in your seat still. they are nice little motors sometimes quite the pain for problems and trouble shooting, but so are almost all turbo motors. I have had my Ca for about 3-4 years now and i love it. for the money it cost me to have pistons,cams and machine work done i could have bought a SR or turboed a KA, but i have a motor that will be ready to put down upwards 500Hp and doesnt complain when my foot gets a little heavy in the corners and i ring it out to 8500rpms over and over.

do some research check out nicoclub.com we have a huge CA section.

Jon

More boost=torque.

More Potatos = More Power for Lightbulbs

More Potatos = More Power for Lightbulbs

get the ca, i would, but then again i ended up w/ an eclipse instead of something turbo'd....:screwy:

and tq=hp isnt entirely accurate.
its more like tq + rpm = hp

a ca has potential to make PLENTY of torque given a properly sized turbo and correct tuning. especially at 250 or so hp.

HP=(torqueXRPM)/5252

i wouldnt offer him 1500$ for it. i would offer him 800-1K for it, he probably paid 1200-1500 for it. get a deal on it. If you are wanting torque you wont really have any, but it will put you back in your seat still. they are nice little motors sometimes quite the pain for problems and trouble shooting, but so are almost all turbo motors. I have had my Ca for about 3-4 years now and i love it. for the money it cost me to have pistons,cams and machine work done i could have bought a SR or turboed a KA, but i have a motor that will be ready to put down upwards 500Hp and doesnt complain when my foot gets a little heavy in the corners and i ring it out to 8500rpms over and over.

do some research check out nicoclub.com we have a huge CA section.

Jon

thanks a lot man, i appreciate the input. i'll check out the nico forum