In Your Opinion

[Pinto]

If this is in the wrong area I apologize and please move the correct area.

The car I am looking at picking up is a 1985 Turbo model.

1. Would swapping the engine to a newer motor be worth the time and money or should I just build the motor in the car.

2. What is the eastiest swap to do

3. Any websites for parts to do the swap that would be a good place to go?

[nismo200sx16]

in my opinion sr20det.
1. what are you going to use the car for and what are you looking to spend. what are your hp goals?

2. ca18det

3. you are at the only place you will find any info or parts. s12 stuff is mostly custom made or adapted to fit from other nissans. only stuff you can buy would be to fit what ever engine you buy. not going to find any s12 intercooler bolt on kits or any thing like that.

[Keith]

I wouldn't waste money on a ca18et if your looking for much over stock numbers.........I bought a remanufactured ca18et, and I only got 160whp @ 13-14 psi out of it before I bent a rod.....and that was with less than 13k miles on it.  This was a couple of years ago, but for the $2300 I spent on the motor itself, I could of gotten pretty much any jdm  motor I wanted for it especially if I were to include the $600-$700 extra I spent in gaskets, and other replacement parts.
IPP sells a performance kit for the ca18et, but it's not cheap......$899 for the rebuild kit with forged pistons.....and another $799 for billet rods.  They claim with the kit the motor is good for 800 hp........but thats an overkill, because the head would never flow that much.
Easiest would be a ca18det swap.....which is where I am at now.  Just waiting for it to arrive.
Sr20 is over rated in my opinion......but is a great motor.  KA-T would be another good option as KA's are strong and cheap, and cheap to turbo

[Pinto]

I guess I am confused. What is the motor that came in the car then? I thinking it was the CA18ET? And what is the difference between the CA18ET and CA18DET?

As for what I am looking for.

Since my superchargered Focus is pushing over 250whp. I want that for sure.

Use for the car? I enjoy racing mostly auto-X and maybe a trip down the 1/4.

I am a car junky I love playing with anything and anytype just to learn about them. (I.E. why I am here)

[Keith]

CA18ET is what came in the S12's. Single overhead....120 hp at the crank from the factory.
CA18DET came in the early s13's, and some late '88 model S12's in Japan.  Dual overhead, alot stronger internals, oil squirters, and crank girdle.  
Search the forum for additional info for both motors

[Pinto]

CA18ET is what came in the S12's. Single overhead....120 hp at the crank from the factory.
CA18DET came in the early s13's, and some late '88 model S12's in Japan.  Dual overhead, alot stronger internals, oil squirters, and crank girdle.  
Search the forum for additional info for both motors

OOOOOOO ok thanks.

So basically I would want a CA18DET

[SmashedGlass]

everyone on here has their own slanted opinions on which motor is 'teh kill!!' so my advice is to search this and the other forums, and then also do a little google-searching for info on the individual powertrains. there are many choices out there, it all depends on how much work you want to do and what your intended usage of the car is. CA's, KA's, SR's, RB's.....hell, people are even starting to tinker on shoving VQ35's in a 12.

[sam31183]

as far as ease of swap goes, the ca requires the least amount of new parts. If you want 250hp you can make it with the ca18det and still have good throttle response and good car balance. If you want more hp then that there is the sr20, the rb20(more parts, more time, more money), and as already mentioned the v6 nissan engines.

[Smalltar_The_Impaler]

Basically, your options are only as limited as your wallet.
There is a comparison forum Here

Some of the points presented are very good, others aren't. You can just look through that section and find out some facts and after that, search your heart away for more info.

There is also a huge amount of info on other car forums such as Hybrid Z, Nico Club and for that matter, any Nissan forum.