i think a few people underestimate the ca18. they make 180 engine hp and with a few smart little tweaks, pump around 200-220 rear wheel hp which is around 280 at the engine without any dramas.

From what i have seen and heard from a couple of engine builders, they reckon the ca18 structure is similar to that of the vl turbo (which i have personally pushed to well over 350rwhp with completely standard internals). Rods are strong and pistons are good. I cant see why 300 engine hp is not sustainable, as long as it doesn't 8500 rpm every gear change, it should hang together.

Dont forget, it all depends on how it is tuned.

My experimenting will begin as soon as a ca18 ute turns up in my garage.

CA18DET internals are rated at 220rwkw I'm not too sure what that is in horsepower but still it's a decent amount

Cheers
Damo

spot on damo, just under 300hp. 294.91hp to be exact. just multiply kw by 1.3405.

ISL33P

the CA appears to be a 4 cylinder version of the RB engine, which is plenty strong, but still lightweight. It isn't a bigblock like the FJ, and so wont take as much abuse, but it's not a poxy van engine like the Mitsi 4G, or a farcical farm runabout engine like the subby boxer either!!



I agree with your comments on huge horsepower street cars, I went for a ride up the motorway in Bens 9 second Gazelle, and although it's fun in the same blind terror kind of way that bungy jumping is, just how practical is a car that'll get to 60mph in 2.2 secs , 100mph in 6.5 and be doing 146mph 400 metres down the road????

People die in these things.....

Yeah but you would die bloody happy.


I have 270hp at the wheels and it was great for a week, ok maybe two weeks but then you get used to it and its boring again.
And set up right you can get traction no worries. I have no problems getting the power to the ground.

The cost difference is huge, and theres a lot of compromise in driveability/reliability between say 200 and 500 hp. More than just outright power makes a car fun to drive IMO.Well balanced cars are safer and still heaps of fun. Here's a CA thats supposed to make 550Hp. I think the T25 would fit inside the compressor..

oh please ! people die in these things!
it's ok to have 500hp on the strip but not on the street?
if people are stupid they can die with 70hp

it's not what you got! it's how you use it!!!

my mate has a 1600 with a ca producing 215rwkw (not sure wat that is in horsepower) and that is fairly street drivable, he is hooking up nitros as we speak. also another mate has a 1200 coupe which has been estimated to have around 280rwkw's out of a ca, this one is going to be street registered but probly too crazy for much street use. both have had around $30000 spent on the cars, not sure how much has been on the engine but yeh you get the picture