CA18DE pulsar into CA20E s12?

Started by feline · Mar 9, 2013 · 11postsSMF 2010–26

felineMar 9, 2013, 3:05 pm · #1

On my weekly junk yard walk today I found a CA18ET in a FWD pulsar. I was wondering how hard it would be to plod that thing into my s12?
I am guessing that the manifolds would need to be switched for some RWD friendly ones. what about bolting to the stock CA20 trans and engine mounts? i tried searching but all I found was people attempting to mix and match heads didn't see anything about using the entire engine.

ne2rkMar 9, 2013, 5:00 pm · #2

firewall vs. distributor is the conflict.

felineMar 9, 2013, 5:11 pm · #3

Dang it whats the fix? a dizzy out of a s13, or just scrap the idea?

ne2rkMar 9, 2013, 8:12 pm · #4

From what i read over the last two years. scrap the idea. Give it a few days of this post being up and someone on clubs12 that knows what they talking about might shine some light on this situation. What i learned... if it hasn't been done. i might not be possible. or if it is possible. we all be doing it. and if someone with skills can pull it off. in the end it still be cheaper to just get a ca18det motorset. i see them pulsar's in junkyard and i think. dang! what a shame we couldn't do something with it.

night_s12Mar 9, 2013, 8:54 pm · #5

I'm pretty sure its the same problem with the maxima vg. And the front wheel la. The dizzy is just in the wrong spot. Gotta change the head I think is all.

IggyEGuanaMar 9, 2013, 11:14 pm · #6

ne2rk on 05:00:18 PM / 09-Mar-13firewall vs. distributor is the conflict.

there is no dizzy on the ca18de/ca16de. i assume thats the engine he really meant.

the swap is 100% doable. you just have to forget the idea of it being like a ca18det. use the pulsar harness and ecu. the accessory drive setup is different on the fwd engine. it might work as is or you could junk the powersteering and custom mount the alt in the normal rwd location. the over-the-valvecover manifold obviously will work. it follows the same design principal as the ca18et in the s12. a lot of ca18/ca20 parts needed to make it mount in the car rwd will bolt right up. like the motor mounts and oil pan etc. idk if the crank is 8 bolt like a ca18det or 6 bolt like a ca20e/ca18et but either way u can use rwd flywheel and clutch setups as is it was a rwd engine all along. and of course any CA trans will bolt right up. wiring it in will be similar to wiring a ca18det or sr20 or ka24de. just keep in mind the fwd CA has high impedence injectors not low impedence. in fact iirc they are side feed like a sr20/ka24. just take a close look at the motor and you'll figure it all out.

good luck
Post Merge

oh and you'll need to fab an exhuast downpipe that clears the steering column and motor mount. hopefully the fwd manifold will allow for that. otherwise you'll have to souce up a rwd ca18de exhaust mani

felineMar 10, 2013, 1:04 pm · #7

IggyEGuana on 11:14:08 PM / 09-Mar-13there is no dizzy on the ca18de/ca16de. i assume thats the engine he really meant.

the swap is 100% doable. you just have to forget the idea of it being like a ca18det. use the pulsar harness and ecu. the accessory drive setup is different on the fwd engine. it might work as is or you could junk the powersteering and custom mount the alt in the normal rwd location. the over-the-valvecover manifold obviously will work. it follows the same design principal as the ca18et in the s12. a lot of ca18/ca20 parts needed to make it mount in the car rwd will bolt right up. like the motor mounts and oil pan etc. idk if the crank is 8 bolt like a ca18det or 6 bolt like a ca20e/ca18et but either way u can use rwd flywheel and clutch setups as is it was a rwd engine all along. and of course any CA trans will bolt right up. wiring it in will be similar to wiring a ca18det or sr20 or ka24de. just keep in mind the fwd CA has high impedence injectors not low impedence. in fact iirc they are side feed like a sr20/ka24. just take a close look at the motor and you'll figure it all out.

good luck
Post Merge
oh and you'll need to fab an exhuast downpipe that clears the steering column and motor mount. hopefully the fwd manifold will allow for that. otherwise you'll have to souce up a rwd ca18de exhaust mani

YEA! thats some good news! *dances around* I think ill try to pick it up then to be entirely honest I don't really have any plans on boosting it, and even more honesty I really just love the look of the CA dual cam valve covers>.> Now that I know its not just a imposable task I will head back to the yard and take a bunch of pictures and really study it, maybe just buy the damn thing as long as the price isn't insane. Also I will be using a automatic box will I be able to use the CA20 flex plate and torque converter? but if the worse thing is having to modify an exhust, my wrecked CA20 gona be hitting to road REALLY FAST.

IggyEGuanaMar 11, 2013, 11:43 am · #8

idk if you'll be able to make an auto work. i think that motor has an 8 bolt crank like the rwd and sr. if anything you'll need a flexplate from a rwd ca18de auto. they made autos so with some hunting you should be able to find it.

felineMar 11, 2013, 6:41 pm · #9

I didnt look to see if it was a 5 speed or auto but would the FWD flex plate work? gut says no, but maybe a ca 8 blot flex plat is the same.

It looks like i am just gona have to buy that engine and see what all I need to do once I have the car and the engine in the same place.

IggyEGuanaMar 12, 2013, 12:43 pm · #10

i know the fwd flywheel and clutch config is different that the rwd and wont work. try out the flexplate and see

I_heart_VVLApr 28, 2013, 11:59 am · #11

You'd have to get an importer to source you an auto trans from an 89-90 180sx non turbo. Otherwise I would ust be on a lookout for a CA18DET S13 trans, unless an S12 CA trans bolts?