i have just started to rebuild a 1974 1200 ute.

I looked into all the engine options

SR20DET, FJ20DET, 12a, 13b, and 13BT, and the CA18DET

Basically the "easiest to fit" when it comes to engineering is the CA18DET.

the rotors are classified as being too big and so are are the 2lt. i was advised by 4 different engineers that the CA18DET was the best "legal " engine

I have opted for the CA18DET and after some research this seems to me to be the best option.

At the end of the day I wanted a 2lt turbo, I am rebuilding the engine with 84mm forged pistons therefore increasing the capacity to roughly 1950cc well thats close enough to a 2lt for me and I will have less engineering issues.

So its easier that way.

looking at the actual conversion I beileve the CA18DET is easier due to its smaller size, there is still alot of modification that needs to be done (the tunnel mainly) but there are alot of parts and information avaliable to help with the conversion just a matter of taking the time to look and read up.

I also flicked through the 1/4mile log and had a look at the engines and times. It seems a lightly modded CA18DET wil push a ute to a low 13, thats quick enough for the street, I am building towards a mid 12 and that seems more than manageable out of the CA18DET.

I suggest looking at what you want out of the car and seeing what others have done to achieve the same or similar results and using that as your blueprint.

Sam.

So, sr20 non turbo is fine. how come it can't be turbo'd?

DattoSunny i have a CA 1200 coupe, only mods are mines chip and t25g turbo, motor is still untouched from importer, the coupe ran a 12.8 on sat, on street tyres. if i can hold boost i'm hoping for a mid 12,

From memory Lagwagon's CA wagon did a low 12 with a T28, higher boost and slicks.

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Nope. But people do it anyway.

sounds the same as australia.. ive seen a few utes and sedans with SR's and FJ turbos and they are apparently legal... then ask someone else and its not.. im confused

I saw MYDRUG, the white SR powered 1200 ute at summernats this yr.. rips a good skid!!!

MYDRUG SKID

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Well, the thing is, since all these engines are ex-Japan they aren't legal to put in ANY road car here, only for race use.

Fortunately, with the older cars (70s and back) they rarely even open the bonnet when doing an inspection.

My SA built ute had a factory label on it when I got it showing the weight as 725kg. That's for a 1981 model (round headlight, chrome bumpers, a14). I have some specs on the later ute showing it as either 758kg for the base model or 772kg for the 1400 champ (again, an SA model)

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geez...they are that light

In NSW the tare weight used to calculate engine swaps is taken from the heaviest variant, so use the wagon weight when converting (around 780-790 from memory).

There was a dude at the Ettamoggah on Sunday who had an SR20DET ute. I asked him how he got it engineered, he said it was an old conversion done before the RTA changed the regs to their current format.

If you live in NSW and want one just take it down to Canberra to have it engineered. Apparently that's how mst people get around the NSW laws these days.