I have a 86 base and and wanting to set it aside from other 7's with a jdm nissan ca18det motor is this possible because i have seen its possible for a sr20det but wondering if the ca18 was?

 

Yes it is possible but considerable custom fabrication will be required and a turbo 2 swap would be cheaper, easier, and faster....

 

I'm with the rotard.

 

whats the rotard?

 

the SR20 has been done so im shure you can do CA since they are almost the same engine.

 

ya sure can do it, the hardest part is fabbing your own motor mounts and knowing which wires off the CA18DET computer need power and are for the fuel pump and cooling fans.
otherwise its not too hard, it will easily fit in there and the CA can be found for dirt cheap.
not a bad motor either, upgrade the internals and you can see 350+ at the wheels on the right turbo and tuning.

 

Most dificult issue is a custom oil pan. Bot the SR and CA have conflict with the RX7 lower subframe. Just get some one to weld it in the opisite side and I think you can bend or figure a way to redirect the oil pick up.
When installing the motor make sure that the axel is not angled. the straightist you can get it to line up from fron to the rear will save you alot of vibration headache and snaped drive shaft Good luck

 

My brother has this motor in his 240sx and is the first documented CA18det in the world using megasquirt.

Either way Owen, just a turbo upgrade and the the CA can do 350whp no problem. THere are plenty of crazy guys in Europe toying with CA's and there are a few doing 498whp on stock block with turbo upgrades and no probems.

Either way pretty cool to see and the motors are dirt cheap.

 

 

this is an oooooold post but i am considering this swap. my buddy has a custom fab shop and has swapped one in his ae86 and its a drift machine!

since he has all the knoledge on the wiring and custom fab...im curious if the trans from my first gen 7 "or maybe a second gen? would bolt to the motor? if not what kind of addaption has everyone done to fit?

im 75% sure my gsl rear diff will hold up to the power the motor will put down...but still a little if'ie on it


thanks