Ca18DET for rally tips

Hi

I'm building up a CA18DEt for a club members rallycar, I'm not new to building modern engines but would like to know if anyone has any CA18 specific tips?
Basic plan is for a stout bottom end limited to ~8k not chasing crazy power but want something reliable with scope to make more as driver required it with a new head/cam/turbo combo in future

Car has good supporting mods, big radiator,front mount, oil cooler, Autronic ECU, good fuel system, flywheel clutch diff ratio ect etc

Specs,
Ross pistons 84mm, cermanic coated crowns and skirts
chinese H beam rods(spool brand if it makes a difference) and "ARP" bolts
ARP mains and head head studs
New genuine oil pump, with a small bump to base oil pressure
cometic MLS gasket
stock head and valves using 2 std exhaust cams and vernier gears
Head modified for better oil draining

So anything you guys have found that may strike the unwary?

cheers
Andrew

Is there a question?


If I had any it would be: why Ross/ Whats the price on the Ross?
Price on the rods?
Restrictor rule?
Planned comp?
Planned cams?

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

Those turbo CA motors are pretty rare here in the states.

First thought is what's wrong with the nissan oem parts? always had the impression that the bottom ends were pretty stout on those motors. and what john said about compression and stuff.

There was no specific question there, just checking theirs no pitfalls to look out for.
eg "check the oil pump housing near the relief valve, they tend to crack there..",
"don't crank down too hard on the head studs they have low torque values 'cause the threads pull out of the block" etc

But I have thought of two specifc questions.
Do I need to look at increasing the sump size? I've seen a lot of drift guys do it but I suspect that's more so they can say they have "ABC brand" extended super Dorifto hextik sump for 7.8kw ATW increase.
I've planned to machine the unused ribs off the front of the harmonic balancer. As it's an actual rubber bonded balancer and not just a pulley is it likely to fail?
Looking at the design it seems that most of the rubber is in the part that we're keeping but I haven't done this before on any engine.
Obviously it'll be marked so we can check if it's slipping/debonding just seeking any tips from wiser minds.


John
Pistons, rods, gasket come as kit, so yeah basically due to budget. They're a bit heavier and agricultural compared to other options but still way ahead of oem.

No restrictor - none needed with 2WD cars in Australia now.

static comp - slightly higher than 8.5:1

Cams - as stated using 2 OEM exhaust cams. Again budget issues, I've yet to verify but owner has told me they have a little more lift and duration than the inlet and with adjustable gears cam be timed to work in the inlet.

Also budget is why we're leaving the head alone, Basically work in stages, run it for a few seasons then when it's due for rings and bearings/there is some spare money around build up a good head for it.

Brandon,
I wasn't sure how common they are over there, here in aust. we can import cars that can't be road registered here and get them logbooked as race/rallycars so the S-chassis Nissans with CA and SR engines are pretty common.

Not using oem stuff cause it's ~15 years old and to buy new OEM pistons/rings, add rod bolts to stock rods, close and hone etc would be dearer and heavier than what we've got.

Quote
buerckner
T
John
Pistons, rods, gasket come as kit, so yeah basically due to budget. They're a bit heavier and agricultural compared to other options but still way ahead of oem.

No restrictor - none needed with 2WD cars in Australia now.

static comp - slightly higher than 8.5:1

rod bolts to stock rods, close and hone etc would be dearer and heavier than what we've got.

OK so what's the price for the pistons, rods and gaskets?

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

$1190AUD , including ACL race series bearings

Quote
buerckner
I wasn't sure how common they are over there, here in aust. we can import cars that can't be road registered here and get them logbooked as race/rallycars so the S-chassis Nissans with CA and SR engines are pretty common.

We can only really import the engines, and there used to be some CA pervs who preferred them over the SRs but the SRs are a lot easier to find, and it seems like RB25/RB26 engines are gaining ground for engine swaps for that chassis anyway. The engines fit, cost about the same (for the RB25, anyway) and more displacement and more valve area means more power capability.

---

Pete Remner
Cleveland, Ohio

1984 RX-7 (rallycross thing)
1978
Silence is golden, but duct tape is silver.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/23/2013 06:53PM by Pete.

I've got a tip for any that find this thread,
Don't try to machine the front two pulleys off the harmonic balancer, despite outward appearances the one rib closest to the engine isn't well enough supported and will fall off.

We've gone with a 20% powerbond Balancer as a replacement and will decide when it arrives if it's worth trying to break that in the lathe also

Two more tips.... learnt the hard way.

Don't shim up the oil pressure relief valve in the oil pump as they have plenty of flow/pressure to cope as they are. Apparently they use the same(or very similar) pump in the 6 cylinder RB series.

put in new lifters, it only takes a couple of dodgy ones to result in ZERO compression.

It's all good now after a heap of extra hours work and will head to it's first stage rally next weekend.

Quote
buerckner
Two more tips.... learnt the hard way.

Don't shim up the oil pressure relief valve in the oil pump as they have plenty of flow/pressure to cope as they are. Apparently they use the same(or very similar) pump in the 6 cylinder RB series.

put in new lifters, it only takes a couple of dodgy ones to result in ZERO compression.

It's all good now after a heap of extra hours work and will head to it's first stage rally next weekend.

OOOOps.

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

Quote
john vanlandingham
OOOOps.

yeah you should have seen the owners face when it spat the oil filter oring out and puked all over the floor.

Quote
Randy Pausch
Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted. And experience is often the most valuable thing you have to offer.