new engine

[slipperywhenwet]

Hi all, i have spun the big ends on my ca18, now i have also prolapsed a disc in my lower back at the tender age of 25 :eek: This has given me quite a quandary, i cant do the work myself due to the injury which is feekin annoying cos i am a qualified mechanic with own facilities etc, do i get someone to do what i feel is a bodge and just throw new shells in there? :no: or shall i bite the bullet and re-engine? :nod:

so the next question is do i put another ca18 in or shall i go for the sr20?

finally does anyone know a good specialist near my parents house in kent?? (thats where the car is) and what is the estimated damage in £££'s

cheers people

Nath

[arry]

wherebouts in Kent are they mate? :)

Personally I'd stick with the CA unless you're doing the work yourself, the conversion would be costly in terms of labour I'd imagine.

[SX Drifting]

It depends what your after?

If you want more power I would try and get the bits and go for a RB26 conversion.
If your happy with the std output have the engine rebuilt parts for the CA18DET are reasonabley cheep.

[Mad Man Dan]

If you want any work done (on CA or pretty much any engine conversion) I would talk to ACM.

They always do the maintance work on my S13
(fitted my paddle clutch for example)

And I'm in the process of helping a friend complete a 2.0 Cosworth Turbo conversion on a Talbot Sunbeam. A car which I plan to drift with next year. ACM made the conversion possible by fabricating a larger transmission tunnel and all the necessary engine and gearbox mountings. The engine sits nice and low too, close to the bulkhead.

Alan is a really talented guy and I'm sure he can help you with whatever you need:

ACM Autos (01474) 332656 :thumbs:

[slipperywhenwet]

arry, my parents live in maidstone, so the general consensous is to go for a ca then, new engine or shall i re-shell it and maybe a new crank if scored???

[Vaughny]

I can also highly recommend Alan at ACM.

And Maidstone is only 15-20 mins down the road from their garage too!

[slipperywhenwet]

only probs is the car doesnt run very well at all, it would need transportation, do they have a truck?? and do you have a number, cheers guys, lets see if i can give myself a christmas present.

[Vaughny]

Alan's brother has got a flat bed recovery truck, so very handy.

Alan at ACM: 01474 332656
Freddie (Al's brother): 01474 335151

Hope that helps.

[arry]

Well the cheap way of doing it is just to source another engine and whack that in there. Of course you then run the risk that the engine you buy might do the same thing some weeks on.

You'll probably find though that if your lump really has spun a shell you're going to need at least one rod and probably a new crank.

[slipperywhenwet]

if i am wanting to keep the car and also to put on a t28 or t3 (dont we all????) then i guess the only way to fly is to rebuild my engine properly, do i need the expense of forged rods or will oem be ok?? sorry to keep asking questions but its my first 200 sx,
cheers for the help so far people

nath

[arry]

stock rods will be fine up to around 350-370bhp. Pistons wont though, they're out at around 320, head gasket at around the same.

You can basically run 300bhp fairly reliably on a standard spec well built engine

[DavidRuston]

Having just had some really bad luck with my CA18 I have a suggestion. Whilst your engine is out and in pieces:

1. Do invest in some forged pistons, saves time taking the engine apart when you realise what a fun weapon you could have had if you'd just gone the extra 10 yards when the engine was of the car.

2. Do buy a metal headgasket - not sure on the technicalities but when you turn that boost up - its extra piece of mind (especially when matched with the forged pistons

[al_S13]

^^^ What dave said. If you do want a RB26 conversion, i know of a kit for sale. 90% of what you need

[SX Drifting]

What sort of part cost is involved in the RB26 conversion?
Dont know why I'm asking cause I've probally spent over £3000 on my CA :cry: and I probally wont like the answer

[slipperywhenwet]

i have looked for forged pistons but cant find any, bren only lists them for an s14, (maybe its just me, not being able to navigate a site) is apex the best bet?
cheers
nath

[Vaughny]

Forged pistons at Apex Link: Forged Pistons (http://www.apexperformance.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=120_130_151&products_id=765&PHPSESSID=0a651b7c51c5815e7de0cc022a4f920f)

[slipperywhenwet]

thanks for the link, i will give the boys a ring today and find out what sort of cash they need, thanks for all the help. :notworthy

[thenickos]

wiseco i think.... :)