Open to engine swap suggestions

Alright guys, right now my car's got the CA20E in it. My goal for this car is to have a multipurpose car that can do a little bit of everything. I really want to try my hand at drifting, but I'd like to do a little auto-xing, road racing, and of course, drag racing with it. Not building it to any specific rule book or anything, just want some good power in an awesome little car.

Another reason I'm doing the engine swap is because our machine shop has a reputation for building American motors, and I need something to show the import crowd that I can build an import motor with the best of em. That's why I was thinking KA24DE and build a turbo setup for it. I'm going all out on the bottom end, and then I'll probably end up building my own T3/T4 hybrid turbo setup. I'm shooting for 400 rwhp, which I think is pretty easily obtainable with this setup.

But with all the other setups I've seen on the board so far, it's got me wondering. I didn't want to go JDM, because I'd spend so much shipping a front clip or whatever over that I'd have no money left over to build it up. I can get a KA for next to nothing with all the SR20 swaps going on around here.

I also will soon have a VG30E and tranny out of an 87 200SX, but didn't really want to use that, but with a 300ZX turbo setup it might be an option. Anyway, let me know what you guys would do!

Here's another question for ya. Where are all the CA18DET's coming from? JDM? Australia? Are they actually that easy to get in the US? I found out the CA18DE was in the Pulsar NX, would that be a drop in place of the CA20? If so, I might just do that and build my own turbo setup for it. Hmmmm, descisions, descisions...

ca18det's are comming from Japan and Australia. The usdm ca18de and jdm versions are different beasts by a long shot. Don't let that stop you from turboing a NX motor, but don't expect a robust block or a great flowing head...but really, up against a well sorted KA-t the ca wouldn't do much damage. As far as the import crowd goes, try to source your KA from somebody with a crummy SR swap. When things go bad you could step in and either do the work for the sr owner or score the motor cheep and build it up your self.

Well, my buddy called me last night and said he found a KA24DE that I could probably get for free. Said a rod broke in it, but it didn't bust through the block. So, I figured for free, I can't lose anything but the gas to get there. Bad part though, is now I'll have to track down every little bit and piece to piece it together...

I found a couple CA18DET's on ebay for around $900-$1000, so I'm still considering that...

I'd go RB20, or what I want to do... 4AGE

I thought about the 4AGE, but if I'm gonna go through that much trouble, I'll stick with nissan and build a KA. The RB20 has the same problem with all the JDM motors: $$$$. If I import a motor, I won't have any money to build it up with.

RB is a straight 6, so fairly substantial mods would be necessary.

The VGs are a tight squeeze, if you plan on track racing the car, expect time under the hood. If you've got racing experience, you know how much breaks.

For racing purposes, I'd either go ca18det, or KA24ET. I'd stay away from the KADE

What's wrong the the KA24DE??

Same thing as the E but with a much better DOHC head...

The CA18DET is still a pretty big possibility since I can get them for under $1000. Found one on ebay today for $700 with motor, tranny, ecu, harness, manifolds and everything. But not sure how much shipping would be...

What's wrong the the KA24DE??

Same thing as the E but with a much better DOHC head...

The CA18DET is still a pretty big possibility since I can get them for under $1000. Found one on ebay today for $700 with motor, tranny, ecu, harness, manifolds and everything. But not sure how much shipping would be...
KA24DE or KA24E will still require the same hassles as an SR. Custom engine brackets, drive shaft to list a few. Would be a unique swap but if you are going to go thru the hassle of fitting that engine i would go SR.

Cant wait till my SR is running but if i could have got a CA18DET it would have been running weeks ago. Such a easy swap its almost complete drop in.

But you're still missing the point. I can get a KA24DE for next to nothing. I haven't seen an SR20DET with all the required extras for less than $2K. I'm wanting something to show off what our machine shop can do, and I'm not gonna spend $2K on something just to tear it down and put another $1500-$2000 in the internals.

I'm not too worried about the fabrication stuff. I've worked on race cars long enough that that stuff doesn't scare me anymore... :)