Anybody know if the harness from an S13 with a CA18DET auto is the same as one from a manual? Would I be able to use an auto engine and just whack a manual gearbox on it?

It will work.

The harness for the Auto model has additional wires going to the Automatic Gearbox Computer. You see this in the S13 Factory Workshop Manual (available in PDF on the net). This isn't an issue. If you wanted to run an auto from a manual loom..Things would be very different.

I had a chopped loom from a S13 Auto, and had to rebuild most of it to get mine working originally. But I've run automatic ECUs and manual ECUs and found very little difference between the 2. I've heard that the Manual ECU has more aggressive timing maps, but that could be just a rumour. It wouldn't make that much difference, Getting the ECU rechipped is a good idea anyway. If you get a bigger turbo, and Z32 AFM, then you'd need a re-chip anyway. As for getting it working good enough..no issues.

Make sure that you get the gearbox-engine plates to suit a CA18, because I think that the Auto and Manual gearboxes have slightly different bellhousings (Not 100% on this).

But for a cruiser..using the Automatic gearbox would be pretty cool. Although I'm not sure it would fit neatly in a 1200 tunnel. I think the CA18 Auto gearboxes are huge.

Chris

Quote:Eddie, speaking of manual gearboxes, in case you don't already know, 1200 guys often use the stumpy 5spd with the ca bellhousing. The advantage being the shorter length suited for the 1200 application. Perhaps Chris knows what model of UK Nissan you can source a stumpy from?

The Stumpy Skyline box is from the L24E powered R30 Skylines, They had a large ugly 2.4E badge on the rear panels.

You use the Series 3 (CA20) Bluebird (910) Bellhousing. This allows it to fit on a CA18.

With an Automatic Tunnel, the Stumpy gearbox come up in the original Hole, so the standard Datsun 1200 Console can be used.

Chris.

We didn't get R30 or R31's here at all, only a few imports most of which seem to be auto. We did get that gearbox in C32 Nissan Laurels but they are really hard to find. We also never got 910's with anything other than an L series but I'm guessing the early S12 gearbox would be okay for a bellhousing. The early ones look like an L series box and bolt up to a CA.
Still, I don't think I can easily get hold of a decent stumpy 5 speed and even if I do, when I break it I'll have trouble finding a replacement. :(

Keep your eyes out for a Gazelle (model unknown?). Apparently their gearboxes are stumpier than the S13 silvia ones, and work well too. The are large and tough like the CA's box with "double synchros". I don't know what engine they were behind. Could have been a CA18ET or DET.

Chris

ps. The "double synchros" bit, I think I was told that once. Either way, the CA's box is much tougher than the stumpy skyline box, Andrew Dennis is proof that the stumpy gearboxes are tough enough. My stumpy always minced gear changes. When I drag raced my old car at the track once, it crunched into every gear ..(at 8000 revs) for a best time of 15s flat, wheel spin for 1/2 the track

We didn't get Gazelles either THe only Gazelle I have ever seen was the RS-X that I used to have. The car is gone but I still have the FJ20ET from it.

I think I'll probably have to modify the tunnel to get a normal CA18ET 'box in there as they are very easy to find so if it dies in the future I can just fit another. Shifter might be a bit further back though.