So if any of you know me, you will know I love my CA18 without exception. But it has done 140 000km since the last refresh and 140 000km at over 200kw is pretty damn good going.
When I bought my SX a little over 8 years ago my goal for the car was "to build the car Nissan should have", this cannot change. So over the years I have done just that, every mod has been with OEM ideals in mind and of course reliability has always been paramount. I have had probably the most reliable SX I know, and I know a good few. Drivability was better than OEM, thanks to Wolf 3D ECU and literally 100s of hours of tuning.
Now it's time for the next chapter for my SX, she currently sleeps in the garage and is a car for Sunday drives. I love this car, no really I do, not like most people, it's way worse. Car is in my PreNup and my Will, so I will keep her for ever, hence the plan to make this build last 20 years.
I have decided to rebuild the motor with no short cuts and no budget, only the best will do. The plan for this build is to last another 20years, don't laugh I actually mean that.
Parts list is too long to mention but a main goodies are CP 9:1 pistons, K1 Rods, full ARP bolts, cometic gaskets, ceramic coated manifolds, bla bla bla. Rods are 110g each lighter than stock, this was the reason I opted for them. At the power levels I'm aiming at, stock rods would have been plenty but 110g is a huge weight saving. I haven't weighed the pistons yet, but there should be a decent saving there aswell.
The machining has been done and all the bits are ready to be assembled. Busy CC the combustion chambers and port matching the manifolds, once done it will go for flow matching to ensure each cylinder flows the same.
Keeping to the original goal and with drivability in mind I cannot change my current turbo. I have thought long and hard but my current TD04H 15T will stay. I will upgrade the thrust bearing, Mellet make an upgrade kit that changes bearing, wheel retainers, clips etc. This turbo is good for 440hp or so which is plenty and the 9:1 CR will help achieve that. The car was currently running around 200Kw on the wheels and that was enough, I would be happy with the same power and a bigger safety factor built in.
Here a few pics of the goodies I have so far.
This is the Enginebay before the motor was removed.
Intake ports after 140 000km, you really gotta love Water/Meth.
The OEM look I have achieved.
