CA18 Rebuild help

veecee · Post by **veecee** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:05 pm

dude - 10 grand??? it might cost that much if you dont do anything yourself.

but you say you gonna do it, so it could be more like 5 grand.

it all depends on your shopping list.

a full nissan gasket set for a ca18det is around 2 grand. that should include all gaskets and seals, but there are some little things left out. like the half moon rubbers - those are over 30 bucks each. you need two!!!

anyway - it can be done for 10k, but it can also be done for a fair amount less. its up to you!

Doctor G · Post by **Doctor G** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:17 pm

@ enzio

CA18DE does have oil squirters, but you cannot use the block on your motor. Wasn't sure from your thread if that was your intention though - so just an observation from my side.

I think the CA18DE head may actually flow better than the DET head. Unless it's an import motor, in which case it will probably be the same. Measure the cc's of the dome and compare the two heads. Either way, use the CA18DE cam as someone suggested.

If you're on a budget then re-use your DET rods. Maybe get them shot peened to add extra strenth, but they are good enough for what you have in mind.

Now your pistons are fried right (or should I say "shrunk" ha ha). So you can eiher get some arias pistons or cp. Alternatively I think you should be able to find OEM pistons or similar from local parts stores.

I cannot think of any reason why the cranks would be different, but just check the spacer think that turns the oil pump. If it's diff swap it over.

Enzio · Post by **Enzio** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:06 am

Thx for the advice guys.

Got a lot of prices from QEC, Alert, Rezlo and Nissan. Will try to build the best I can with the available budget.

@VC: With all of the prices in front of me I could rebuild for about R5k in parts - but then it is all no-name stuff from Alert and QEC. I'd rather spend a bit more for something that I know like ACL bearings for instance. The other thing that worries me a bit is that a set of pistons and rings are R570 and R120 exc Vat - that just seems too good to be true....(Nissan OEM pistons and rings work out at R4k)

@DocG: Why won't the DE block work - if all the other components are the same, why would the block differ - different material perhaps? I want to use the DE block because it is still in good nick and from the pics I posted of my butchered motor, that has already been bored 80thou -> Way past the service limit of the block.

Anyway - any more help/advice would be appreciated.

Pinkfluffybunnys · Post by **Pinkfluffybunnys** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 10:05 am

CA18DE does have oil squirters, but you cannot use the block on your motor. Wasn't sure from your thread if that was your intention though - so just an observation from my side.

He can use the block on his car if it’s a RWD, also from what I have read the FWD block can also be used but the back-plate and starter need to be changed

I think the CA18DE head may actually flow better than the DET head. Unless it's an import motor, in which case it will probably be the same. Measure the cc's of the dome and compare the two heads. Either way, use the CA18DE cam as someone suggested.

Sorry there is no increased from what I have researched from in the N/A CA18DE head the casting numbers are exactly the same as the turbo model and the combustion chamber are the same as well all the increase compression comes from the Pent roof pistons.

If you're on a budget then re-use your DET rods. Maybe get them shot peened to add extra strenth, but they are good enough for what you have in mind

The Rods are shot peened stock from factory on the DET model.

Stick will stock pistons if keep the motor under 180KW in my eyes even if you go over then shouldnt be a problem unless the tune is bad.

The cranks are the same from what I have read as well.

The only real difference from the Ca18DE to the CA18DET is the injectors (High impedance) the intake system the cams the pistions and the flywheel (na is lighter to my understanding and the starter gear) I know Im leaving out a few things like starter, water-pump (cant take a clutch fan) and from what I have read as well the bearings.

Gary57 · Post by **Gary57** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 10:10 am

N/A CA18DE head the casting numbers are exactly the same as the turbo model

I have seen 3 different casting numbers on different sx, I still dono what the differences are. There must be some difference if the numbers are different.

How could I find out??

Pinkfluffybunnys · Post by **Pinkfluffybunnys** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 10:25 am

I have seen 3 different casting numbers on different sx, I still dono what the differences are. There must be some difference if the numbers are different.

How could I find out??

Google it, read through some of the other countries sites. Everything I have read so far indicates other wise there is no benefit to fitting a N/A head flow wise or comp wise.
I will find the link to a US site where the guy measures the intake ports and valve sizes of two 4 port heads on being N/A and everything comes out the same.

Also a question you have to ask yourself is why would Nissan have two different head designs, Its not like they had a type R model (head is ported in factory), heads will be produced from a single Spec sheet from Nissan the only thing that could change is how it is cast like the Opel C20 cosworth vs the other heads and the 3SGTE with a Yamaha head but the ports are different on the last one.

I would like to be wrong on this one; it would make a cheap increase like the CA18DE cam mod

Gary57 · Post by **Gary57** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 10:35 am

No I wasnt saying that the DE flows more air than the DET, I just want to know what the different casting numbers mean.

Enzio · Post by **Enzio** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 10:38 am

Thx for the info guys.

If I have to replace the pistons (which I'm 95% sure I will) - The CP forged piston kit is R6k and Nissan OEM pistons and rings are R4k. Cheap unknown replacement stuff is about R1k for pistons and rings.

So it'll prob have to be back to OEM Nissan then.

veecee · Post by **veecee** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 11:22 am

arias forged pistons are 4k. comes with rings.

thats why i went that route, cos it was roughly the same price as nissan pistons.

you can get from turbo and nos connection in jetpark.

there is another member of the forum running them.

Vlade · Post by **Vlade** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 12:29 pm

Gary57 wrote:Vlade I thought those CP piston you have keep the CR the same??

I guess 8.3.. stock pistons have a flat top mine have a dish about 5mm deep

Doctor G · Post by **Doctor G** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 8:02 pm

Okay the reason I stated that NA CA18DE head will be better (if it's not an import) is because back in the day when the sentra 1.8i 16v was released it was marketed with 103kw.

However the testing etc showed that it didn't quite measure up to this figure and turned out to be closer to 97 odd kw. The 103 was the Japanese KW rating which uses a different measure from europe and sa models.

So in order to save face nissan had some work done on the ca18 models head and headers and the result was 100 real kws. If you look you will see that all the sa ca18de models came out with tubular headers from the factory. The rest of the work was done on the head.

As for the rebuild. Just flow your head anyways then it doesn't matter which one you use.

Pinkfluffybunnys · Post by **Pinkfluffybunnys** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 8:58 am

Hay Docter G

Is there a site or any posts where I can check this info out? Sorry for asking but its the first I have heard of this not saying your info is incorrect just don’t want it to be a rumor

A guy in my area named Jakes (Not good with Afrikaans names) he worked in the Nissan motor sport division for most his life before retirement we have spoken about the CA18DET and CA18DE a number of times both the production and Motor sport models and this was never mentioned look again I hope I am wrong here more flow = More power easy upgrade for the CA18DET people on the forum

Enzio – Can I ask a favor? Can you take a good photo of you intake ports and exhaust ports on that CA18DE head? Maybe use a little “carb cleaner” to remove some grim I have a stock CA18DET head at home will take pic’s then we can compare I think this will be a good indication

To be honest I really interested to see my self, if its true Im going to kick myself for spending so much cash to port my head.

Gary57 · Post by **Gary57** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 9:03 am

Well Pink I have seen 3 different casting numbers and the CA18 motors, so there is a difference. How could we find this info out??

Pinkfluffybunnys · Post by **Pinkfluffybunnys** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 9:11 am

Well photographic proof will work, we can put an end to this once and for all although I think there will still be arguments

I will take pics of my Head over the weekend. If you have a spare CA18DE head there do the same

Info from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_CA_engine

The CA18DE is a 1.8 L DOHC 16v (1809 cc) engine produced from 1987 through 1989. It produces 131 hp (98 kW) @6400 rpm and 159 N·m (117 ft·lbf) @5200 rpm. It has the same head as the CA18DET, however it did not use a crank girdle nor piston oil squirters that are found on the CA18DETs.

Stange Im sure the CA18DE has oil squirters , but Im sure it has no Girdle.

Gary57 · Post by **Gary57** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 9:15 am

I can take pics of the different numbers if you want

??

I dont think there will be a visable difference but its worth a look.