gday guys i just wanted to ask a few questions about putting a CA18DET into my coupe, wanted to know from some of you CA guys could give me advise about tunnel modification and hiding a good size intercooler behind grill and how some of you guys modified the radiator support...

your help would be excellent

cheers
Mr_1200

Few questions.
1. Auto Tunnel, just put a box section around the shifter hole as I used the S13 box.
2. Measure the intercooler to fit in the radiator section (that's what I'm doing) Keep it less than 55mm thick. I didn't butcher my radiator support, I actually put more metal in. The chrome strip across the bottom of the grille, means we can't make too many changes to the beaver panel. It's just not worth butchering the stainless trim. Unless you have 3 of them.

I removed the bonnet catch reinforcement bar, I might make up a hidden black steel frame when I'm 100% sure about the intercooler size.

If I was building a race car, I'd make up a removable front panel, I'm building a show car, so I'll put the engine in the hole, then lower the crossmember, and put the gearbox on, raise the lot, and then bolt up the steering.

Cheers,
Chris

If your coupe was originally a manual and your using the silvia gearbox. Minor mods are required. I had to cut a new gear stick hole, strengthen it and weld a plate into the original. I also did some minor panel beating with the hammer to give a little more clearance. Not a big job.

With the radiatior support. I have a intercooler (600 x 140 core) below the front bumper which required minimum mods to the radiator support. I am currently re-thinking this approach. My engineer advised against cutting up the radiator support which is why I went this way.

Jarrad

yea i have a manual tunnel
i have seen ones done with small sections cut from on top of the tunnel then raised

i was very interested in how to munt a cooler and how much space would be wise to cut as my car is being painted berfore the conversion and will be running a mild 1400 a series for a couple of months while the ca is getting overhaul.
im not after freaky good engine bay but trying to keep things neat.

I would fit the CA-18 and all the extra bits to the engine bay before painting.

Its alot easier to cut, weld and make things fit.

Plus you dont want to scratch your new paint.

Jarrad

not so much near the firewall but on the inside of the car, how much do the standard auto tunnel and the standard manual tunnel differ?

How about using a water to air cooler from PWR? I am helping a mate put a ca in his ute and that is what he is going to do. The cooler is quite compact and will fit between the rocker covers and radiator. The coolant radiator is quite small and will fit behind the grille. The bonus is short inlet piping and good throttle response, and they are more efficient than an air to air type.

If you've seen a manual tunnel, I can share a photo of an auto tunnel:

http://shoeys.com/ipw-web/gallery/alb ... 00/P1010029_002.sized.jpg

Chris

OK Here what i have done so far.
I cut the orginal manual tunnel completely out and made the new 1 as wide as possible.I also moved the handbrake mech back.

i have a custom alloy radiator which is bout 50mm thick im not sure on the other dimension il measure it up when i get the car back.
My intercooler will sit behind the grill using spacers and will have a core size of 450X300.

cheers luke