I thought I'd start a thread about the project I've been playing around with over the last 2 years. Progress has been slow for various reasons, but last year I got it back on the road for the first time since 1997 with a CA18DET from a 200sx. Hopefully the following makes sense, as it's a summary from another forum.
This is the the first day I got it:
Nice rust!
First job to do was the front suspension. Naturally I tried to fit some S12 (Silvia) coilovers that I made up previously:
First thing that stood out was a compatibility issue whereby the top mounts were a much different bolt pattern. I fitted the coilovers up front, but with standard Datsun tops on:
It was clear that the rear shocks from the S12 wouldn’t work so I measured up what I thought was needed, and it came to my surprise that the lengths were similar to that of an S13. So I went on a hunt for S13 rear coilovers with very little luck. I came across some s13 coilovers for sale, and I decided to buy the whole set. I then had a re-think and decided to use the S13 coilovers up front as well. This is where things got a little complicated up front. I also had to consider engine mounts and the original engine mounts required quite a lot of work to fit a CA18 to, so I went on the hunt for an S12 subframe. Again more incompatibility quickly sorted out by redrilling the subframe. After a lot of messing around over a long time, there is now a nice cross member with nismo mounts, a brand new steering rack off ebay, shortened tein track rods and ends and brand new swing arms. I got some S13 hubs on, and then the coilovers were in with standard top mounts.
I previously bought some wheels off of SXOC. They were nice 16x8” wheels which would sit well in the arches.
I was about to get them refurbished but thought I'd hold off a month because s13 hubs meant I could obiously use some more decent brakes so I got some Z32 calipers with redrilled discs instead. This was lucky in a way, it meant though that the 16” wheels now wouldn’t fit due to the flat design of the inside face of the wheel. Better I found that out before having them refurbed. I then came across these wheels, pictured the night I got and fitted them:
Things went a bit quiet for a while but I got back stuck in and many thanks to a mate for getting some laser cutting sorted for me to enable adjustable camber tops normally seen with coilovers.
Now the front end was finished, it meant I could start looking at the rear coilovers. Much to my delight they only took a few hours to modify with no angle grinder or drill in sight.
Being originally a carb’d car meant that it only had a vacuum drawn fuel supply from the fuel tank. I was tempted to use 2 external pumps and a swirl pot system, but then I decided I would try to use an s12/13 tank. Managed to get hold of an S12 tank and with some abuse and fettling with the filler pipes it just about fits in place, albeit very tightly. Another bit of luck there. Fuel lines outstanding though
The engine is going to be a fairly pokey CA18DET, and my first concerns was a gearbox. I decided to spend some money on an OS Giken kit, but luckily a 2nd hand box came up.
The next thing on my mind was to sort out the brake lines. I replaced all the brake lines but got messed badly with the braided lines. Lesson learnt from a certain supplier.
I got a job lot of parts off of ebay which meant I had some new chrome to replace the awful rear bumper.
The rear diff (R160) is quite known for being weak. So I upgraded this to the much larger 8" diff off an S12.
I used a bare engine block for testing purposes to fit the gearbox. Cut the hole in the floor back a few inches for the shifter, and then spent some time messing around with props. I've found a nice combo of 2 halves.
Upon assembly with the dummy engine I noticed a rather big issue with the clutch slave cylinder. The aftermarket inlet manifold I intent to use is so big that its was either the inlet or the clutch cylinder. The clutch slave was about 4 cms to long. After a nice visit to a scrapper I ripped a tiny one out of an MR2, and then promptly modified it with a die set, an angle grinder and a welder. Its even the same ratio as the original slave.
The intention was to use an engine as a temporary solution. So I got a curse word CA18DET. Within one minute after getting home I dragged it out of the boot and pulled the sump of to inspect the big ends. All were nice except No.4 was a little poor, so replaced the bearings.
Picture of the traveller engine that I dropped in:
When I came to bleeding the brakes, it was apparant that the master cylinder was too small. Luckily I got from a brakers a Z32 one to match the calipers.
Got the original rev counter working with the 4 coil CA engine. Nice little touch, that will stop me having to have gauges everywhere, and its suitable enough, as I doubt it will ever go past 8Krpm. Although the speedo quite won't be up to the job for high speeds!
Then it made mallory park a few days later for its first major journey in 10 years:
A little bit later I got an S15 diff. Still haven't fitted this in the car, although its in an S12 case.
Then in Jan 08 my mate blew the engine up in his 200sx. He need an engine badly so I donated the one in the Datsun.
Then sometime earlier this year I fitted some M3 brake discs
And then I sat on my back side doing nothing for a long long time....
But a few weeks ago I managed to pull the finger out and the new CA18DET is built.
Brief spec:
1853cc
8.0:1 JE pistons
Pauter steel rods
Tomei 260 cams and vernier pulleys
Tomei solid lifters
GT3076R turbo
Turbosmart Progate 48 wastegate
950cc injectors
CPC custom inlet manifold
80mm throttle body
Custom tubular manifold
OS Giken Flywheel
OS Giken single clutch
OS Giken S14 gearbox
And lots of boost...
A mock up on a dead block and head:
Tasks remaining:
Fit S15 diff to car and solve driveshaft issues
Do valve clearances on engine (solid shimmyness)
Finish assembly I.e. fit water lines, manifolds, flywheel etc.
Intercooler piping
Fit heater matrix
Get 3" exhaust made up
This is the the first day I got it:
Nice rust!
First job to do was the front suspension. Naturally I tried to fit some S12 (Silvia) coilovers that I made up previously:
First thing that stood out was a compatibility issue whereby the top mounts were a much different bolt pattern. I fitted the coilovers up front, but with standard Datsun tops on:
It was clear that the rear shocks from the S12 wouldn’t work so I measured up what I thought was needed, and it came to my surprise that the lengths were similar to that of an S13. So I went on a hunt for S13 rear coilovers with very little luck. I came across some s13 coilovers for sale, and I decided to buy the whole set. I then had a re-think and decided to use the S13 coilovers up front as well. This is where things got a little complicated up front. I also had to consider engine mounts and the original engine mounts required quite a lot of work to fit a CA18 to, so I went on the hunt for an S12 subframe. Again more incompatibility quickly sorted out by redrilling the subframe. After a lot of messing around over a long time, there is now a nice cross member with nismo mounts, a brand new steering rack off ebay, shortened tein track rods and ends and brand new swing arms. I got some S13 hubs on, and then the coilovers were in with standard top mounts.
I previously bought some wheels off of SXOC. They were nice 16x8” wheels which would sit well in the arches.
I was about to get them refurbished but thought I'd hold off a month because s13 hubs meant I could obiously use some more decent brakes so I got some Z32 calipers with redrilled discs instead. This was lucky in a way, it meant though that the 16” wheels now wouldn’t fit due to the flat design of the inside face of the wheel. Better I found that out before having them refurbed. I then came across these wheels, pictured the night I got and fitted them:
Things went a bit quiet for a while but I got back stuck in and many thanks to a mate for getting some laser cutting sorted for me to enable adjustable camber tops normally seen with coilovers.
Now the front end was finished, it meant I could start looking at the rear coilovers. Much to my delight they only took a few hours to modify with no angle grinder or drill in sight.
Being originally a carb’d car meant that it only had a vacuum drawn fuel supply from the fuel tank. I was tempted to use 2 external pumps and a swirl pot system, but then I decided I would try to use an s12/13 tank. Managed to get hold of an S12 tank and with some abuse and fettling with the filler pipes it just about fits in place, albeit very tightly. Another bit of luck there. Fuel lines outstanding though
The engine is going to be a fairly pokey CA18DET, and my first concerns was a gearbox. I decided to spend some money on an OS Giken kit, but luckily a 2nd hand box came up.
The next thing on my mind was to sort out the brake lines. I replaced all the brake lines but got messed badly with the braided lines. Lesson learnt from a certain supplier.
I got a job lot of parts off of ebay which meant I had some new chrome to replace the awful rear bumper.
The rear diff (R160) is quite known for being weak. So I upgraded this to the much larger 8" diff off an S12.
I used a bare engine block for testing purposes to fit the gearbox. Cut the hole in the floor back a few inches for the shifter, and then spent some time messing around with props. I've found a nice combo of 2 halves.
Upon assembly with the dummy engine I noticed a rather big issue with the clutch slave cylinder. The aftermarket inlet manifold I intent to use is so big that its was either the inlet or the clutch cylinder. The clutch slave was about 4 cms to long. After a nice visit to a scrapper I ripped a tiny one out of an MR2, and then promptly modified it with a die set, an angle grinder and a welder. Its even the same ratio as the original slave.
The intention was to use an engine as a temporary solution. So I got a curse word CA18DET. Within one minute after getting home I dragged it out of the boot and pulled the sump of to inspect the big ends. All were nice except No.4 was a little poor, so replaced the bearings.
Picture of the traveller engine that I dropped in:
When I came to bleeding the brakes, it was apparant that the master cylinder was too small. Luckily I got from a brakers a Z32 one to match the calipers.
Got the original rev counter working with the 4 coil CA engine. Nice little touch, that will stop me having to have gauges everywhere, and its suitable enough, as I doubt it will ever go past 8Krpm. Although the speedo quite won't be up to the job for high speeds!
Then it made mallory park a few days later for its first major journey in 10 years:
A little bit later I got an S15 diff. Still haven't fitted this in the car, although its in an S12 case.
Then in Jan 08 my mate blew the engine up in his 200sx. He need an engine badly so I donated the one in the Datsun.
Then sometime earlier this year I fitted some M3 brake discs
And then I sat on my back side doing nothing for a long long time....
But a few weeks ago I managed to pull the finger out and the new CA18DET is built.
Brief spec:
1853cc
8.0:1 JE pistons
Pauter steel rods
Tomei 260 cams and vernier pulleys
Tomei solid lifters
GT3076R turbo
Turbosmart Progate 48 wastegate
950cc injectors
CPC custom inlet manifold
80mm throttle body
Custom tubular manifold
OS Giken Flywheel
OS Giken single clutch
OS Giken S14 gearbox
And lots of boost...
A mock up on a dead block and head:
Tasks remaining:
Fit S15 diff to car and solve driveshaft issues
Do valve clearances on engine (solid shimmyness)
Finish assembly I.e. fit water lines, manifolds, flywheel etc.
Intercooler piping
Fit heater matrix
Get 3" exhaust made up