CA18DET swap in the Netherlands

[peter]

I drive a lot with my roadster(7000 mls a year) in weekends and holidays and also on the highway, but I don't like the hi revs (4500 rpm) on the highway for a log time and was looking for a 5 speed but it's difficult to find one and get it to the Netherlands. My old 4 speed tranny makes a lot of noise, there are bearings who have to be replaced, but still I have the same problem then with the high revs, and only 104 HP.
That was for me the reason to do a motor swap with the ca 18det who I purchased from a German and has only run 20000 miles after after a revision, I have all the bills and it was done by a Nissan dealer for 4000 dollar, so I hope this engine will give me a long time of pleasure.
I received also all the other parts I need as, the computer, drive shaft, tranny, electric cables etc.
I especially choose this type engine because it must be more simple to swap then a SR20DET, for that engine you need to cut a lot in your chassis.
First I cleaned the engine and tranny but the plugs from the tranny where really tight and it need a lot of force to open them, but I didn't like what I saw, pieces of bearings and needles, so I opened the tranny and a lot of bearings where broken, Time for another tranny
I found one really fast for only 50 dollar, here are a lot of Nissan 200SX but they are mostly very rusty and they take the driveline out and trow the rest to the scrapyard. So a lot of people have more tranny's at home.
This week starts the autumn vacation and it's a good time to take the engine out and try to build the other on in(try to fit it).
I already know that it give me a lot of headache, but I have 4 months too get it ready.
My garage is not so big (7x3,5 meter) but in here I restored my car 3 years ago too.


The bearings from the first tranny.

[S Allen]

Wow Peter-guess you have it all sorted. Should be a good project. Keep us updated as you progress through the process. I am sure you will be happy once you have the swap completed.

Steve

[fj20spl311]

Not to get you distracted from your CA18DET swap, but I would have thought finding a Nissan diesel 5 speed would have been easy to find in Europe.

[spriso]

Looks like a bit of a hack job, but you might want to look at the images tied to this ad:

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/5253942700.html

[RCMike]

Michael, that steering column would scare me, but I realize I am meaner to mine than most..

[Alvin]

Michael, that steering column would scare me, but I realize I am meaner to mine than most..

But but but it " requires no cutting!"

[peter]

That is not what I have in mind.

[pebbles]

That is not what I have in mind.

[peter]

Today I had my first motor mount placed, and I could use the original mount and original place, It's not completed weld but just picked to get the right angle.

The engine is straight situated now and I will go on with the other mount that give me more problems because it's more to the back side.
But I have time and today my angle grinder went up in smoke.
It's already the third one sins I have this car.

[fj20spl311]

Very nice work,
Are you going to move the frame mount on the other side toward the rear of the car?
Top Mount turbo manifold?...The farther forward the turbo mount, the less heat on the brakes....
A dual brake master cylinder would add a safety factor......I have not seen a street car with twin brake master cylinders and a balance bar, but an early car like your would be an ideal candidate.

[peter]

I will try to extend the frame mount to the rear and to make a reinforcement underneath it at the frame, when that works, or I need to make a new frame mount.
And the original exhaust manifold doesn't fit with the steering shaft so I have to change it to a topmount, It didn't fit at a quarter of a inch.

[peter]

does someone know if there is a possibility to change this part, there is now a oil filter adapter with a water-oil cooler, but this thing takes a lot of space, is the part in the engine removable to change it for screw thread?

[fj20spl311]

You mean like this.....




They have been made, but look to be a specialty item

[fj20spl311]

This one should fit in place of the filter.

[peter]

Thanks, but is it possible to get this piece of metal out of the engine to replace it by thread.
And I want to have a filter there but without the cooler.