i own a ca18det 1200 ute weighing 920kg with 130kw atw.
turbo - garrett gt25bb
ECU - e8 haltech
exhaust - 3" all the way through
tyres - low profile 15"
diff - shortend r31 (not sure if its LSD)
just about everything else is stock.
so please list all other mods that can be made with APROX COST AND POWER INCREASE as well, thanks.

Pigdog did a whole bottom end rebuilt (forged pistons) for $1K or less (his thread is not too old)

what brakes are you runing

upgrade turbo, bigger intercooler, boost control,.. but the ca18det are dinosour engines now go sr20det or do what ive done 13b out of a rx8 and its 184kw and thats stocker.. you will spend so much money on mods that will take heapsto get to my base power..

my CA so far

when stock it would have had 120ish rwkw with just a t25g 9.5:1 comp instead of 8.5 450x300 front mount and 2.5 inch exhaust

now fully rebuilt with wiseco pistons and spool rods, ACL race series bearings, gates racing belt, ACL metal head gasket and ARP head studs
$2500 all up for bare engine

t28 $350
gtir injectors $100
Haltech e6x $500
boost T $30
when its actually together with a tune it should be good for 180rwkw pretty easily

you shold have more than 130rwkw with your setup if its got a decent tune depending on boost

datto13b, im assuming thats 184kw at the fly. considering most ca18dets with bigger turbo($350-500), injectors($100) and AFM($200) with a Dr Drift tune($??) can get near 180rwkw i wouldnt say thats a whole heap of money to get your base power

Pigdog has the right idea.

My CA was rebuilt by the previous owner, running a T28 BB, Microtech ECU, standard injectors, FMIC. I have some 650cc injectors coming and a proper tune. WIll post up more info later on

main thing to do is to actually rebuild a CA. due to there age and willingness to spin big ends its always a good idea to atleast have everything meaured up and cleaned so you know what your dealing with

ive had 2 CAs now that have spun big ends for no apparent reason apart from waning to annoy me just as ive finished an engine conversion. both ran fine before going in the car and then for a short time in the car

but once you have something you know isnt going to die straight away it should be more than enough fun with just turbo injectors AFM and a tune

it might not be alot to some who know alot more than others about pulling engines apart and knowing the ins and outs. to boost the CA is possible to the 180kw mark and im sure lots of people have, but once something goes wrong on the CA you find more issues, unless your your own mechanic, but a SR20 at 180 kw is sounding more like achiveable savings for the average joe...if you go the extra step your 120ish kw will not compare to the gains of a 220kw s15 sr20det. and a 13b rotary will pump well over 500 kw tuned right... and that only with 3 moving engine parts....

how much power you want?

thanks for the feedback so far guys. to answer some questions, im running r31 struts and brakes and im aiming at 160-180kw atw.
at this point gtr injectors with a bigger pump looks like a reasonably inexpensive upgrade, can you think of any others?