hey guys a local mechanic in Nth NSW has told me that no one will engineer a ca18det in a 1200 ute is this true??cause mine is already in there and all i have left to do is the speedo cable to match ca18 box and the gearbox mount same as Andrew Dennis (ca18det 1200 coupe) please help as i only bought the car bout 2 weeks ago and dont wanna have to get rid of it thanks for your help!!
P.S here is and idea of what has been done
1980 1200 ute
engineer made and installed X member
wiring professionly installed
2.5-3"zorst
currently doing brake upgrade etc
thanks again

I think your friend is right. The 1200 ute is a little bit too light for the ca18det, and i can say this from expierience. A couple of my friends have tried and noone would engineer it for them. The 1200 coupe is ok with this motor though, maybe that would be the better choice. Maybe fitting a 4AGZE would make u just as happy in the ute? sell the ca18det and buy one of them and fit it in.

fair enough but as if he wants to do that now

there was talk on another thread about this and someone actually linked a rule from RTA that said they should use the weight of a sedan when calculating the allowed displacement, have a browse for that if i can find it ill post on it to bring it up top

yeah i just got off the phone to RTA they said there is no problem with doin it as long as the engineer that does it is happy with the convert,e.g bigger brakes fuel neck zorst mounts etc so i think it will be ok but why would it be easier to engineer it in a coupe???1200 utes with ca18det sr20det and even rigolis when it was first done only had drum rear and 120y front brakes and that passed no probs!!i guess its not what you do but who you know to get it passed by thanks

to be engineered ur brakes only have to be able to handle the amount of extra weight that you put into your car/ute... not the amount of extra power.... although if you've got a quick car it'd be a good idea to have good brakes....

the theory is that as you can only do the speed limit (well supposed to) on pulblic roads...... your brakes must be good enough to stop the weight of your car from 100kph or whatever your highest limit is....

so basically a 400HP CA ute will get engineered with the same brakes as a 200HP CA ute... well in melbourne anyway...

good luck

ok i have just had a run down with a engineer
about my ute..
ca18det in 1200 ute
get enginered
with disc brakes front end have 2 be mechanicaly fitted..and engineered.. exhaust. has 2 pass epa and sound test... all functions of the car must be passable like indicators usaul
mine is gettn mod plated soon as mechanic is done.. included in install.
u are aloud 2 put a sr20det in your ute if u live in melbourne.... engineer said
but as said before u can get anything done if u no a engineer and u pay him well....
eg.. mates ute has 10'' wheels on ass end roll cage the works and is 100% street legal and will prolly run a 9second pass

thanks for ur input just another question who has lowered there ute using lowering blocks and is 3" to much its gotta be legal of course!!thanks

4'' is how much i lowered mine sits very low though just legal..
with 15''
um take your leaf springs out get them profesionaly reset lower then put 50mm blocks in and its a good ride... i wouldnt use blocks if u happy with 3'' lower..
have alook my ute is in PHOTO ALbulm. in work shop its low in the arse end hi in the fron as no motor..

the rta has a document on their website u can download that tells u everything u need to kneow and the formulas for engine conversions, i think 1200rc said it that the weight is measured by the sedan and not the ute this is correct, wish i had the moeny to get a ca18 but im dirt poor haha