200sx Ca18det Swap Help!

Hi guys,

Listen. I came up with the brilliant idea of putting a CA18DET into a 200sx last year. My friend was fairly sure he could do it (the most i've done is change spark plugs), but we have shelved the project due to complications. I have a 200sx XE Notchback. Do I need a custom driveshaft made since the CA18DET transmission sits further back than the CA20E?

Also, he is really unsure of the electronics. I have two options, both of which I'm hoping you guys can help with.

1. Does anyone know someone in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia that can do this swap, or part of it (electrical) for cheap.

2. Does anyone want to buy a 200sx XE notchback shell and a CA18DET lol!

I'd prefer to put the car together and have a fun donut mobile. But if my best option is a sale, I can face that fact too.

Thanks Everyone

i think, but dont quote me on this as i dont own an s12, but if you use the front half of an s13 driveshaft it will work with the s13 trans in s12.

all the info is on here, some over and over, just start searching and reading.

if you need any ca specifics, feel free to ask, im not gonna get into the s12 end of it, like i said,ive never owned one. yet.

spliting the driveshaft like that is said to work but you might endup with a nasty vibration, and you'd still nead to modifiy the hole back a few inchs, and the trans crossmember to suport the s13 transmission in the s12. if your car is a 5sp allready and the s12 trans is a c sytle you could just do the bellhouse swap and leave the driveshaft and everything else alone. for your wiring there are a few guides out there and i know some newer ones are in the works, maybe someone who actully has a ca18det swap could answer this better. what year is the s12? mk1 and mk2 diffrences might complicate things

funny

take a look at the ca18det forum on here. The stickies alone will help you tons.

As for the trans, yours will work. Yes that is correct. No bellhousing swap needed. Your car is an XE and thus has a ca20e so your existing trans will bolt up to the ca18det without issue. They are both CA series.

If you have an auto trans then finding the ca18det flex plate may be kinda hard. Custom modification might be your best bet in that situation.

Hi guys,

Wow thanks for all the support. This project would have been dead a couple of different times if not for this forum. The knowledge you guys have has given me hope that this can work out.

To answer a few of the questions raised. My car is a 1987 Nissan 200sx XE Notchback. I don't know if that makes it a Mark 1 or 2. What complications might that create? Also, the car is already a 5spd so there are no automatic troubles.

Also, that's hugely great news if the CA20E transmission can bolt right onto the CA18DET. That will save us cutting a hole for the shifter and getting a custom fabricated drive shaft. I'm wondering though, is the CA20E transmission strong enough to handle the power of a CA18DET? Maybe a stupid question.

Thank goodness I won't have to do a bellhousing swap, cause I don't even know what that is lol.

Thanks again, I'm already leaning way more towards completing this project than selling it off and scrapping it!

87 that would be a mk2 then, the mk1's had a diffrent transmission a b sytle, but i guess acording to iggy the bellhouse swap is not needed which makes sence if the ca series blocks are all the same. the bellhouse swap method only sounds scarry, i have pictures step by step of everything in there, but sadly there not digital style pictures, and my computer sucks. someday i'll send them to someone who can post them for me

The C trans in your car is the same as the ca18det S13 C trans with the exception of the length of the tail. No worries about power.

Like everybody said, you just use the bellhousing and transmission from the S12 and you're golden. As far as the strength goes...Ideally you'd wanna rebuild it cause well..it is a 20yr old transmission. But it'll handle the power just fine. When you start making massive hp and tq, that's when you'll wanna worry about it.

Where are you in BC?

I don't have the time to do a swap..electrical maybe. Definitely not a swap.

I'm in Surrey, and work in Langley. If you wanna come out here one day, I can show you how to do the wiring.

ps: to my knowledge, I'm the 2nd ca18det powered S12 in bc

I'm in Abbotsford, and might wind up needing your help with the wiring eventually. The project has not moved forward as I am planning out the finances. Is there any way to exchange contact info safely on here?

I'm definitely interested in your help with the electrical. How can I get a hold of you?