Ok all, I'm tired of searching for WHAT CAR the ca18/20det & sr20det came out of. Did/have they ever arrived on these shores. If not, it might be poss to buy one from the numerous Jap eng importers round here. I'd really like a drivetrain that does not butcher the body or any other parts. Making it fairly easy to put it back in stock form if wanted. If neither of those engs & trans(don't know what to look for there either) will fit my needs, maybe I'll just go w/ a turboA15. I've been really contemplating a Ford 289 4V HiPo W/ 5 spd(TONS of speed parts EVERYWHERE here). Or, howbouts the SAAB V4(Ford, I believe) from late '60 to '70's? Remember, my brake/clutch/speedo cable/throttle cable/etc are on opposite side of AU/NZ. PS If I have to cut her up...... how much is necc for each conv?(including necc accessories) Much thanks in advance. PSS Don't ever go to pick-n-pull Rancho Cordova,CA,USA.

Toyota Tercel 4X4? Subaru 4X4?

Quote: Wo, Dude. This is your brain on Datsuns.

If you want to put a 289 or 302 windsor in a 1200, theres too much modification to make it fit. Refer to this pic I posted...the owner still has it and is still keen to sell it for $1000 AUS.
John Boston said that Andrew Dennis's CA18DET powered 1200 coupe is as fast as some of the serious sports sedans he has driven. Not much modication (able to get it back to stock) and lots of speed parts. Sounds like best bang for buck....

The CA18DET and SR20DET were not in any US model Nissan. The naturally aspirated versions are readily available in the US. The CA18DE came in a few years of early S12?/200SX's?? and Pulsars, I believe 87-88. The SR20DE came in later model 200SX SE-R and Sentra SE-R's. All of these cars were front wheel drive, so you'd have to get a transmission from something else RWD to work. CA18DET and SR20DET engines from Japanese Silvia/180SX's are all brought to the States through Japanese engine importers and are a little pricey, but one of the only options. Luckily SR20DET's got really popular and they're actually not hard to get in the US now, but still expect to pay no less than $1000. The CA18 is supposedly an easier swap, and much more popular, but either will take a little work, so why not go with the SR anyway? There may be an issue w/clearance of the stock turbo manifold, so I'm not sure if a new turbo manifold will have to be made or not. People who have done the SR20DET 1200 swap are either totally holding back info, or aren't members of the club, so info has been crap. Info on the CA18 swap is readily available in the club. I'm pretty sure I will be doing the SR in the next year or two, so if you do it before me, please take notes and share! Good luck deciding!

-Andy

Thank you! I should have just asked this question a week ago. But, I learned some things along the way. I'll keep looking. Along with not wanting to butcher the car, I also want something I can work on. (medium tech knowledge) And is available in USA.

10 years ago I did some research looking for a good engine to swap into a 1200. The choice I made and gathered up most of the parts for was a CA20. The overall lenght was pretty much the same as the 1200 motor. The weight difference was very small.


My thought at the time was you could get the CA20 or the CA18 turbo. In the state of tune that was offered in the US there was hardly any difference in power between the 2 versions. Seemed to me like a lot of extra hardware for the lack of real power gain for the turbo version. When it comes to tweaking for more power the turbo might have the advantage though.

Never got to do the swap though. Things in the priorities in life changed. Now I'm ready to start playing again...

I'll have to start the research again now that will soon have a 1200! Need to look into the newer motors that have come out since last time I was looking...


Gary

Well, there have been a couple KA24E conversions into 1200's too (Nissan 240SX). Those are a dime a dozen right now, because A LOT of the 240SX guys in the States are swapping them out for imported SR20DET's and occasionally CA18DET's. I've seen complete low mileage engines and transmissions for $0-1000. Some just wanted to get rid of them so if you could pick it up it's yours! I'd go to the 240SX internet clubs if you want one of these for a good deal. There was a green 1200 coupe running the KA24E (SOHC) with Weber DCOE conversion running low 14's in the quarter mile. I would think the later KA24DE (DOHC) engine would do even better, and they have turbo kits available too. It doesn't take much engine to get the 1200 moving fast; my A15 does high 15's in the quarter and that's a mere 300cc's bigger than stock A12. Hey, on that note, you can pick up A14's/15's for next to nothing and build them up decent. It all depends how fast you really want to go and what you'll be using the car for. This is what my A15 has cost me so far, and it has been running hard for 7 years now maybe 100,000 miles or so(and I do run it hard!);

A15 ----$80
Rebuild/cam/balance---$1000
40mm Dellorto's setup ---$300
NISMO header---$300
Tilton Flywheel/Nismo Clutch --- $700 (ouch!)
Malvern pushrods --- $80?
Rebuilt head w/Si valves, dual valve springs, port/polish---$600
-----------------------------------------
Total Cost ~$3060! (I can still add?!)
Puts out about 90hp at the wheels and gets 30mpg in it's current state of tune. It was the ideal setup for me cause it was my first car, and I built it up gradually. No way I could afford that outright. Now I have a real job and enough money to get serious....so when my 1200 comes back to the US in two years, WATCH OUT! OKBYE

-Andy

first of all, where in California are you?
I will be starting the ca18det conversion in 3
weeks, I got my engine from Kwatanabe
for $800.00 us
It was out of something all wheel drive so I
will have to fudge the motor mounts.
the trans I found is out of the CA20
powered 200sx found at "pick your part"
for $75.00 us.
There will be pictures of my progress posted.

Matbighat?? send me an e-mail,,we should do lunch :)
Wubbits

I'm between Sac & Tahoe. Too far to help you. Would love to get info & pics as you go. RHD conversions don't give me enough concrete info to go buy. I need to know 100% before I sink thousands into a swap that ends up hitting the brake mc or similar problem.