I recently replaced my engine with a second hand one which came up well - 180 psi on all cylinders (maybe a bit high for an engine of 96,000kms?)

Anyway put the loom back on and used a chipped ecu which worked fine on my old engine (160 psi). It pinged like crazy even with stock boost.

I got it tuned- they said it wasn't leaning out it was just the timing. However they had to take out so much timing with the chipped ecu that it was hardly worth it so they just used the stock ecu.

I tried raising the boost but even with the stock ecu it pings above 7psi. I changed the plugs the BCPR7ES but made no difference. Even gave it subaru upper engine cleaner.
Only things that were changed were the oxygen sensor (new one put on) and had to re-solder the knock sensor wiring.

Any ideas? I thought it was fine for stock CA's to run a bit more boost? Maybe a sensor is malfunctioning? The only other symptom is white/blue smoke on full boost but that is most likely a turbo problem i think.

something sounds a bit suss,
id say that you have replaced it with a na motor by the compression readings,

does it have a different rocker cover to a det?
where did you get the engine?

Is there an easy way to tell the difference? It was sold to me as a DET.

rocker cover is the same as my old engine
so must be a DET.

yes sounds like its an n/a motor.
Id look at the manifolds rather than the rocker cover, that is if it came with them,
r u running premium unleaded?
i

The rocker covers are interchangable so if someone has tried to pull a swifty they would have made this swap.
It might be worth doing a Google search to see if the non turbo motors have a different engine number prefix.
Another couple of things that are worth checking is that the coilpack loom earthing wire is connected properly and that the spark plugs aren't fouled or gapped incorrectly. Also, if the car has been sitting around for awhile it might be worth dropping the fuel out and refilling the tank with fresh premium unleaded as fuel loses it's octane as it ages.
Hope this helps mate.
Matty

Thanks guys, i'll check all this out. Always use BP ultimate.
When i got the engine the intake manifold had a large gap between it and the engine as a metal bracket had been caught. injector rail bolts had been consequently stripped of thread as they couldn't tighten them. Obviously it had been taken off for some reason. hmmm...

Surely though the CA18DE would lean out/run badly with a turbo hitched on? All that extra air flow = not enough fuel.
Mind you i did swap over my injectors.

if your turbo is leaking oil into the intake this could cause pinging.

brand new ca18det out of a box only had 170psi and for a engine with that km's u should be lookin at around 158psi coz all ca18det has seen rev limiters LOL

just try google it or go to nissansilvia.com

might need to flush the head out theres stuff called subaru upper engine cleaner gets all the carbon out the carbon builds up and raises your compression ration and makes it ping try it and see ac delco also make a similar product depending where u live might be easier to find