Hi

I'm looking at doing a heart transplant on my 1200 ute from a a15 to a ca or z18det
I know the ca is a better motor ... Faster ect easier to parts but does require a little modification to fit it to the ute, I'm kinda limited to resources and most of my tools I don't have with me. I'm wondering what kind of mods I would need to do to fit the z18det to my ute .... Eg engine mounts gearbox, has anyone done a z18det conversion to a 1200ute ? I've had a little look at tech wiki and didn't find to much ..

Cheers sean

Seriously need like 15g to do basic job. CA would be much easier because you can buy conversion kits. In saying that its not a walk in the park, many people fail^sell up half way through. Z series is a waste of time would be better adding turbo to the a series

Ca, way easier to find parts for them now

your going to need similar mods to fit either engine, the z18 wont be an easier choice i dont think

Well depends. Dont they mount similar to an L series?
Any how ca18 ftw.

twin cam A series with boost, different and quite doable!

I know someone who can sell you a perfect twin cam A15 ready to drop in for around 3800

will save you alot of time and comes with motec ecu worth 2-2.5k alone

Well if the z18 has the same mods .... I might as well pay extra an go the ca18det ! I'm kinda in two minds about it really Ive picked up a original sunny ute b122 here in Nz good condition inside an out with a A15 standard motor in it no rust in it but does have some bumps in the panels ... I kinda do but but don't want to #OOPS# with it lol !! I've got another ute sitting in the shed back home in Australia with brand new floor pans and Maddat trans tunnel ca fitting kit ... All new panels just waiting for me when I come back !! But I not sure if I'll come back .... Ahh I just wanta finish my build

Bagging Z18's make baby Jesus cry lol. Ca18 is the easiest way to go mate if you want a hassle free conversion as everything is available off the shelf. In saying that every man and his dog has a ca in there 1200 so z18 or turbo a series would be cooler :)

Been there done that, A Z18 Turbo into a 1200 Ute years ago for Wayne Selby, Yeah one of those Selby's of Suspension fame one of my mates.
This Ute was Burgundy with Simmons wheels, Custom dash, Formula Ford Master Cylinder mounted on top of the Steering column support (Hooks up perfectly with the standard cable clutch pedal and use a BDA escort type separate fluid reservoir)

VW Passat wagon rear Koni shocks, Armstrong Stanza struts (The Grey Aussie made ones used the bigger stub axle compared to the Jap ones but had the small strut bodies)

Custom mounts for the cross member but the big killer is the need to replace the whole Tunnel and part of the Firewall to properly fit a Z 18 Engine but particularly the gearbox into a 1200.
We used a whole front cut from a Bluebird SS to do the Job and I still have a translation into English of the Japanese Wiring Diagram for that ECU setup for a Z18 that we did for the Job.

Heaps easier is either the Nissan C18 or a Toyota 4AGE done them all into 1200's and all the turbo's have the same issue, Because the Ute is so light it is real hard to make the Turbo load up properly and make boost so 3.7 Diff gears and sandbags in the back help.

You may have seen the Ute as it was featured in Fast Fours and Rotary's but the Mongrel who put it in claimed he and his mates built it, There was a reply regarding that aspect in the next issue of the magazine but like on page 58 what a Joke, Even the Engineer who certified it wrote to the Magazine on our behalf as he considered it one of the best and neatest conversions he had ever certified but as usual somebody else claimed the work as their own.
Happens more than people realise

Z18 swap is not particulary difficult, is nearly the same as swapping in an L18. Turbo makes it more complicated. Z-series is the 2nd generation of the L-series engine - so oil pans and mounting is the same as fitting an L-series engine.

Stu got 168rwkw on 15psi and E85