ca18 vs. sr20 vs. rb20 vs. ka24-t
Thread Starter
Contributing Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 709
ca18 vs. sr20 vs. rb20 vs. ka24-t
i've heard there are advantages of each. here's what i've come up with so far.
ca18
stronger block- able to take more boost
more potential
cheap
easy install
rev happy
weight advantage over ka and rb
but...
small displacement
old
weaker than rb and sr
sr20
bigger displacement than ca18
easy install
a lot of potential (less than ca18 tho)
weight advantage over ka and rb
but...
expensive due to popularity
rb20
straight 6 (kick ***)
cheaper than sr20
but...
heavier than all others-might throw off balence of the car
hard install
ka24-t
no swap needed
parts available easily in the US
but...
limited to 6-7psi w/o rebuilding
expensive
reliability is an issue
i'm leaning toward either a ca18 or sr20. any opinions? i'd also like to see what the supercharger kit for the ka24 (by unstable hybrids) is going to be like before making any final decisions.
ca18
stronger block- able to take more boost
more potential
cheap
easy install
rev happy
weight advantage over ka and rb
but...
small displacement
old
weaker than rb and sr
sr20
bigger displacement than ca18
easy install
a lot of potential (less than ca18 tho)
weight advantage over ka and rb
but...
expensive due to popularity
rb20
straight 6 (kick ***)
cheaper than sr20
but...
heavier than all others-might throw off balence of the car
hard install
ka24-t
no swap needed
parts available easily in the US
but...
limited to 6-7psi w/o rebuilding
expensive
reliability is an issue
i'm leaning toward either a ca18 or sr20. any opinions? i'd also like to see what the supercharger kit for the ka24 (by unstable hybrids) is going to be like before making any final decisions.
Contributing Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,841
From: NY
Heres some reasons the SR is better than the CA or RB:
SR has a higher hp potential than a CA. Highest hp I've seen outta a CA is around 400+ whp, SR can go around 600.
The CA weighs more than the SR.
The CA has very little low end.
Can't find parts easily.
Really old.
And well the RB would just be a pain in the ***.
Ok the KA-T vs. SR is really tough there very different, but potential is equal.
SR has a higher hp potential than a CA. Highest hp I've seen outta a CA is around 400+ whp, SR can go around 600.
The CA weighs more than the SR.
The CA has very little low end.
Can't find parts easily.
Really old.
And well the RB would just be a pain in the ***.
Ok the KA-T vs. SR is really tough there very different, but potential is equal.
Contributing Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,209
From: buffalo,n.y.
the CA has a more aggressive cam profile then the SR. and the cams are a direct swap in.
the sr and ca have good strong internals. i couldnt tell you exactly how much better is between the two. my main concern is the RB series.
i personally like the CA better then the SR but there arent a ton of parts for it in the US like the SR.
the sr and ca have good strong internals. i couldnt tell you exactly how much better is between the two. my main concern is the RB series.
i personally like the CA better then the SR but there arent a ton of parts for it in the US like the SR.
Contributing Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,209
From: buffalo,n.y.
yeah both engines can make retarded amounts of power.
but look what you have to spend/ do to make it.
once your there it'll always come down to serious maintnance to keep it reliable.
i dont know about yall but with 600 under my "happy foot" something is bound to break
whoops
but look what you have to spend/ do to make it.
once your there it'll always come down to serious maintnance to keep it reliable.
i dont know about yall but with 600 under my "happy foot" something is bound to break
whoops
Contributing Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 500
From: Long Island, NY
The CA is a good choice as an engine. It has a cast iron block, and yes with stock internals the CA can handle more boost. Up to 20psi. I believe the differences in the head that you were talking about rude have to do with the cams. The CA has 8 lobes per cylinder vs. the 4 lobes per cylinder of the SR. Contrary to most beliefs, the CA can take parts from various other Nissan engines. So parts aren't that difficult to find. From what I've heard the RB isn't that bad in terms of throwing off the weight dist. But if your gonna go RB, your better off with the RB25 or RB26. The RB20 makes what 220hp. And SR will get you that much without a sweat, and your weight diff. wouldn't be affected. The KA is always a nice alternative as well. But like you said spitz, it would need extensive re-building to make it worthwhile.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 203
From: slidell,la
Originally posted by Silviaspeed
The CA is a good choice as an engine. It has a cast iron block, and yes with stock internals the CA can handle more boost. Up to 20psi. I believe the differences in the head that you were talking about rude have to do with the cams. The CA has 8 lobes per cylinder vs. the 4 lobes per cylinder of the SR. Contrary to most beliefs, the CA can take parts from various other Nissan engines. So parts aren't that difficult to find. From what I've heard the RB isn't that bad in terms of throwing off the weight dist. But if your gonna go RB, your better off with the RB25 or RB26. The RB20 makes what 220hp. And SR will get you that much without a sweat, and your weight diff. wouldn't be affected. The KA is always a nice alternative as well. But like you said spitz, it would need extensive re-building to make it worthwhile.
The CA is a good choice as an engine. It has a cast iron block, and yes with stock internals the CA can handle more boost. Up to 20psi. I believe the differences in the head that you were talking about rude have to do with the cams. The CA has 8 lobes per cylinder vs. the 4 lobes per cylinder of the SR. Contrary to most beliefs, the CA can take parts from various other Nissan engines. So parts aren't that difficult to find. From what I've heard the RB isn't that bad in terms of throwing off the weight dist. But if your gonna go RB, your better off with the RB25 or RB26. The RB20 makes what 220hp. And SR will get you that much without a sweat, and your weight diff. wouldn't be affected. The KA is always a nice alternative as well. But like you said spitz, it would need extensive re-building to make it worthwhile.
Contributing Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 500
From: Long Island, NY
I don't think the CA redlines at 9K stock, but with modification it can hit those revs. Take that S2000. 
Thanks for pointing out the parts list there too. I think the flywheel off the KA works with the CA as well. There are other parts of course like I said from other Nissan engines, but I can't remember them all.
Thanks for pointing out the parts list there too. I think the flywheel off the KA works with the CA as well. There are other parts of course like I said from other Nissan engines, but I can't remember them all.
