CA18.VS.SR20

[s13zilvia]

One of my freinds says the ca18 is a better built engine and therefore can overall handle more HP. I disagree, what do you guys think?

[kandyflip445]

I think that with enough money you could make more than enough power with both. Well now that I've got that out of the way for all the other people that would say that....I think it would be easier to make more power with the sr20. It has a larger displacement and over here it is easier to obtain parts to further it's performance. Personally I haven't seen a ca18 myself but I've heard it's pretty good for tuning too. Overall Nissan just makes good stuff. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hehe.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':hehe:'>

[s13zilvia]

I agree totally, but my freind is trying to say that since the sr20 is aluminum and the ca18 is cast iron, that the ca18 would handle more power. He is just an 18 year old kid so I dont put much faith in what he says cause he just doesnt have the experience. Even though I am just curious to see what others think, thanks.

[ca18guy]

Both will have high maximum HP. ca18 is iron but the sr has a thicker build so even though its aluminum they use more of it to make up for the strength lost in not going iron. I doubt most people would have to worry about reaching the max output of either engine that they would worry about there block breaking.

[kandyflip445]

The sr is aluminum but it has steel sleeves in the cylinders. I have also seen aftermarket sleeves for the sr20det...they were on the japanese JUN site. I bet JUN USA could get them though. I haven't heard of anyone using these though so it's questionable how much more boost/cylinder pressures they could sustain. But if they sell them there has to be something to it right?
Oh and I'm 18 too. Don't think that just cause of a persons age he doesn't know sh*t. That person has just less time to learn. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hehe.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':hehe:'>

[kandyflip445]

I forgot to add that HKS sells cylinder sleeves for the SR20 also. $500 for them on their website.

[Jeff240sx]

I'm just gonna say that horsepower is a function of torque and rpm. &nbsp;If you can tune an engine to have a broad torque band (cams and large turbo) than the engine with the revs will win. &nbsp;The sr can be tuned to 8k rpm fairly easily, and possibly a little more (my knowledge of these motors are pretty limited.) &nbsp;But on the other hand, a CA can rev to 10K rpm really easily. &nbsp;If you could make even a little torque at 10k rpm, you have nearly double that number of HP. &nbsp;But like ca18guy said.... something usually always breaks before the block does.
-Jeff

[mixedwell]

SR vs. CA very argueable, &nbsp;but from what i kno...

the CA has a cast iorn block and cast iorn head(?). the problem with this is that iorn doent allow the engine to cool fast enough during idle. The SR is aluminum head but it hink has an iorn block (the KA is like this too right?) the CA and the SR will have almost the same amount of max hp but as far as stock internals are concerned, the SR will eat the CA alive. the SR is also a newer machine. newer machines always benefit from newer technologhy. but the CA was very advanced for its time thats why nissan switched to the less advanced SR. people stuck to the SR becasue gobs of power is very easy to get (FMIC, more boost, = lots of power on stock internals) also if you look at the CA it looks like a samll RB motor. the RB is a very strong monster. lots of their parts are identical, mostly becasuse of influence from the Skyline. if you look at hondas B series motors, the H22s are very common to the B16/18s. thats the influence! hahah maybe im just talkin outta my ass. anyway, what i want to know is why the VTC in the (s14+) SR gets trashed by people when they build a bad ass SR.
holla

Silvia... CA or SR i'll still love you <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/inlove.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

[Jeff240sx]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (mixedwell @ Nov. 25 2002,4:49)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">the problem with this is that iorn doent allow the engine to cool fast enough during idle. The SR is aluminum head but it hink has an iorn block (the KA is like this too right?)

the SR is also a newer machine. newer machines always benefit from newer technologhy. but the CA was very advanced for its time thats why nissan switched to the less advanced SR.

people stuck to the SR becasue gobs of power is very easy to get (FMIC, more boost, = lots of power on stock internals)

hahah maybe im just talkin outta my ass. anyway, what i want to know is why the VTC in the (s14+) SR gets trashed by people when they build a bad ass SR.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Iron and cooling doesn't really have a huge problem. &nbsp;The KA is iron, the 427 hemi was iron, the 454 in the '69 Vette was iron, and many of the new engines are iron. &nbsp;
The SR motor is an aluminum alloy. &nbsp;Not iron.
The SR new generations are newer machines, but the CA was still put in cars when the SR was first put in cars.
People didn't stay with the SR cuz of "gobs of power easily". &nbsp;They did because parts were easier to get and SR was new, and had more power up front.
I think you are talking out your ass.
And finally,
VTC makes tuning for max hp harder. &nbsp;If you want to build a drag car... most people use the s13 motor, or disengage the VTC on other models.
-Jeff

[s13zilvia]

Kandyflip445, your name says it all. You arent going to have the experience I ever have cause youre five years behind the curve, maybe more, it all depends on how long you have been tuning cars. I meant no disrespect, just that he didnt have the experience for me to take him all that seriously. No hard feelings. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hehe.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':hehe:'>

[kandyflip445]

Right like you know a lot about cars....just look at your reply on the post about thr SR20DET Question.....not very intelligent. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> "No hard feelings." <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/withstupid.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':withstupid:'>

[s13zilvia]

Look little boy, I told you I meant no disrespect. I hope you have fun candy flippin, that will make you so much smarter. I was changing trannys when you where sucking on your moms tit. Ass!

[kandyflip445]

HAHAHA! I said "no hard feelings." You must have missed that. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/butbut.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':but:'> Don't get your panties in a bunch, just havin some fun. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hehe.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':hehe:'>

[s13zilvia]

Sorry I forgot the &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hehe.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':hehe:'> &nbsp;at the end, I wasnt really pissed. I love to F around w/ people, its fun. &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/devil.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':devil:'>

[andrave]

well I read a couple things on this and the general idea I got was that the ca18det was not a very good engine for tuning and parts were hard to get.
So I passed over an engine, tranny, and ECU (no harness) when I had the chance to get them for 700 bucks.
It was the only time since I've had that much money, and the cheapest I've ever seen that combo go for, and reading up since then, I have kicked myself repeatedly for not hooking myself up.
The ca18det is much harder to get parts for in the us, if you look on ebay there are many parts for the sr20, and usually only a few for the ca18det. &nbsp;but you can order parts from japan just as easily, and now that nissan has picked up nismo in the US and companies like motorex and king motorsports will help you import shit, its really not much worse than the sr20.
The sr20 is an aluminum block, but it has enough reinforcement in it that it weighs about the same as the ca18det.
max hp on stock displacement, stock blocks, on both is around 550... more than that and you have to bore em out. &nbsp;I have seen a stock sr20 bored to 2.2 with a 100 shot on top of a t04 600 bhp turbo build.
Anyway, it seems like everyone is running sr20's, I dream of a light pressure high revving ca18 these days.. maybe 9000 rpm redline? &nbsp;
its only some cams, pistons, rods, knife edged crank, ignition, injectors, manifold, turbo, and fuel pump away... well, that and the corresponding management modifications.

the bottom line is that the bigger sr20 might have a lil torue on the 1.8 but as far as HP both can spin in out pretty even. &nbsp;Since the 18 is a little smaller it might take a little more but for street builds they are pretty even.

Of more interest to most street guys is that the sr20 tromps the ca18 if they are both stock..... more torque and flat out power.

[Siddhartha]

This thread is responsible for me registering . . . .

Who gave you the idea that sr parts are easier to find?? Many sr20de parts won't fit the sr20det.

ca18de parts all fit ca18det except for the pistons (or so I've been told).

ca18det has iron block, meaning it'll take a little more to crack it. I personally like ca more, but not just for techincal reasons. Soon, everyone and their brother will have an sr20det. I wanna be semi original.

[AKADriver]

FWD CA18DE -> RWD CA18DET stock stuff crosses over about as frequently as FWD SR20DE -> RWD SR20DET stock stuff. &nbsp;You can use plugs, oil filters, etc. but if your IAA valve breaks, forget it.

Before anyone mentions it, don't even think that anything from the RWD CA18ET is useful for the CA18DET <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sly.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':sly:'> &nbsp;Clutches will swap, that's it.

What people mean when they say SR parts are more available is that aftermarket parts are more available. &nbsp;The SR has a bigger aftermarket - even in Japan. &nbsp;More US companies support the SR. &nbsp;It's the popular choice so it has more support, it's as simple as that.

CA vs. SR is an argument almost as old as KA+T vs. SR.

My take on it: 1996cc > 1809cc.

[hopeful]

is the RWD ca18et from a nissan 200SX valuable at all?

[AKADriver]

No, it's junk. &nbsp;Less power than a KA24E and it's unreliable and weak to boot.

[hopeful]

what about the ca18de from a nissan pulsar? on the turbo and exhaust of a ca18et? how many valves does each engine have...wut a newb...

[AKADriver]

If you want to go through the hassle of a custom turbo kit, TURBO THE KA!!!

The CA18DE is an underrated little (and I emphasize LITTLE) NA engine, but turbocharging it is a waste of time when CA18DETs are available and cheap and will actually fit in the S13 chassis (the Pulsar CA18DE is designed for FWD mount and will not fit in a RWD car). &nbsp;It's also a waste of time when the engine that's already in the car has more displacement, more torque, more horsepower, and has a bunch of well-sorted turbo kits available.

The CA18ET and CA18DE(T) share basically nothing, manifolds won't swap, and you would NOT want the CA18ET's restrictive and crack-prone exhaust manifold and tiny turbo anyway.

[hopeful]

thas tite... i was actually askin for a nissan 200sx application

what are the differences between the ca18de in the pulsar, and the ca18det except ofcourse the turbo...

[AKADriver]

FWD mount vs. RWD (though there were FWD CA18DETs also, from the late '80s Bluebird SSS). &nbsp;This includes things like the intake manifold design, and the electrical systems which are typically very different.

compression ratio, oiling system, cams, and RWD CA18DETs have coil-on-plug ignition vs. distributor.

[hopeful]

damn...

how much boost can either handle?