Guys i have been reading heaps of info regarding the above two named engines... My initial plan was the CA18 given the success on the track that Andrew has had with his 1200 although now looking at what is and isnt available for both engines, it seems that life is going to be a lot easier with the "still in production" SR20.

Even the basics or bolt on mods and parts are readily available for the SR20 but it seems that anything for the CA18 is near non exsistant!

I am about to embark down the path of building a serious little car and i am now in two minds about what engine i want to use.

Those of you with experience and those with a more technical approach to the question... your comments are welcomed with open arms....

Firstly what bolt on mods were you thinking of buying? Maybe the bolts ons you are thinking of are availalble and someone here might know from where.

Lots of guys fit A15's and there are not a lot of bolt on mods for those engines either.

ca v sr thread
try searching.

i am sure there is stacks of bolt ons around i know there is even stroker kits for them!!!

old argument.

CA18det = street legal.
SR20det = newer, little more power, heaps more parts globally, many more of these engines in Australia, so more parts for a long time.

Both are pretty good engines, both have their downside. Steet Legality is the main reason so many of us chose the ca18det.

If you can't chose what engine, you're going to have trouble choosing a colour

The SR has been out of production for awhile now.

As has been stated previously, most choose the CA for registration purposes. Other reasons are that they are significantly cheaper than an SR to purchase and fitting kits and knowledge are quite easy to come by because so many people have done the conversion.

You are correct that it is easier to get parts like Power FC's, winged sumps etc for an SR. I'm sure this situation will only be tipped more in the SR's favour as the years go on too. That doesn't mean the same parts are not available for the CA, it just means you need to look a bit harder.

It's a tough decision so, if you can, get a few rides in different converted cars to see what you prefer.

Good luck with your decision mate.
Regards Matty

Go the SR20!!! I love the fact that they are easy to maintain. Due to the timing chain, there is no regular belt changes which is great! They also have an alloy block....The SR makes really good torque. In my ute, it hammers!! My brother is in the middle of his VVT NA SR20 conversion(2QK4U) The SR is a realy nice engine, it has a nice note and you can pump some serious horsepower through them with the standard internals!!! Aside from legalities, it is in my opinion a great engine!!

I went for the CA because it fits in the 1200 engine bay a whole lot nicer (from what i've seen) without the need to recess the firewall or have the intercooler sticking through the grill.

CA's are a whole lot cheaper than SR's, and while there may not be as many of them, every man and his dog that owns a CA powered 180sx or silvia is upgrading to an SR these days which means that there are heaps of unwanted CA's laying around.

Its possible to get 300rwkw out of a CA, (fairly comfortably) which is waaaaay more than neccesary for a street car, so why go through putting a SR in when a CA will do?

The only thing i haven't really looked at is what it will cost to build a 200rwkw SR compared to a 200rwkw CA.

Please pick this comment to bits if I said anything wrong.

Quote:

unlike the CA which doesnt always break and need maintenance

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a block that pistons like to go through when decent power starts to come its way


hahaha i love the 12OOU v SR Bro rivalry

Its all datsun love here

Vote 1 CA18DET........

Seriously though - How fast do you want to go?

1200 + CA18DET with a T28 (SR20) ball bearing turbo & some RB25 injectors & you're looking at 11's.
Which (I reckon) is just about as much power as you want on the road.

If you're off to the track, you're gonna have all sorts of fun getting the power to the ground even in stock CA trim.
I mean the A15's give the CA guys plenty to think about at the track due to usable power.
So it's a case of bigger isn't necessarily better for the track.

Beyond that - bigger turbo, forgies etc, etc..... $$$$$$$$$!!

If you want faster again, then you're probably looking at a drag-specific car anyway.
In which case you may as well go down the SR20DET path as you don't have to worry about rego etc.

ie/ My two cents = SR20DET for the strip, CA18DET for street .

Arent CA's renound for busting big ends all teh time and have alot of spark problems, everyone uprgades to aftermarket coils. I havent heard to many great things about SR's there heavier arent they? I think the big fad now is RBs into 180s dam rice rocket drift pigs

11's! i havent seen to many CA 1200s run 11's without mods to diff, tyres, links etc etc.. but yeah coops is right that power wise to price wise CA's are the go, but as what was said earlier i would like to see the price differnce bettween doing up SR v CA with similar mods and times.