Is rebuilding my CA18et worth it. Is the engine fun?

I have narrowed down my choices for my car to the CA18et or the KA (and I have been stuck ever since). I like the simplicity and low cost of these options.
What I really want to know is: Is the CA18et a rewarding engine to commute around with?  I don't plan on going crazy with boost if I up it at all), I'll be daily driving it and occasionally doing autocross with it. 

I already have the engine out in pieces and it looks straight.  I even plan on taking it to the Machine shop to look closer, but before I waste my money I want to make sure that I would like to continue with CA power, plus I am having trouble sourcing a good KA (seems like the secret is out that they are worth a damn.) 

What are the experiences out there with it?  Who thinks I should keep it (other than to save another of the ca18et's that still exist).

It seems that either route would cost about the same.

I think its a fine engine. With some well planned mods, you should be able to make ~170hp without worrying about blowing it up or compromising your fuel economy. The advantage of the KA is, the KADE is already making nearly that much power bone stock.

The KA is bigger, makes more umph. But, if you are going for fun, not 'fastest' or 'drift-mode', I think the turbo spooling puts a bigger smile on my face.

Worth it?   If it's not too far gone, maybe glorified refresh, minimal machine work, then hell yeah.  Solid original powerplant, classy.

Fun?  I think my CA20E is fun,  perspective, really.  I'd definitely think so.

I say no.

Now, when I first started here I had a CA18ET. I loved the idea of tuning it for more power. I understood it was weaker than other engines, but I figured I could overcome some of those issues.

That was back in a booming economy, when I was fine with the idea of building up internals. Not so much now.

The nice thing about the KA24DE isn't just that it has that extra power right away without modifications, but also that it achieves it without the aide of a turbocharger so your power is more reliable and linear. Accelleration is more predictable.

But the other thing about the KA24DE is that if you really outgrow the nice power it provides, you can safely boost it with BOLT-ONS to about 7-10 PSI with stock internals and get a lot more power of it. And then, if that's not good enough, you can beef up just a few things inside like pistons and rod/main studs and take it well beyond 400 hp with the right tuning toys.

The KA is a more modern engine, and also more reliable. It also means that most KA's have less miles and less age. Also, as a nonturbo engine, the head gasket, bearings, and other weak points in an engine haven't seen anywhere near the punishment that even a mere 5 psi puts on an engine.

Oh, and the KA24DE's computer is more robust, as is the air metering system.

The money you'll spend to refresh a CA18ET would be better spent on a KA24DE and some suspension work ('lest you forget there is more to a car than the engine). If you need more than that, you can bolt some stuff on. Although with just some hot cams, an intake, and a proper exhaust the KA24DE is pretty damn wicked.

Now... if you're a purist and you want to brag that your car is all original or all factory in setup and just tuned for more power, that's a different story. We have indeed seen a handful of cleaned up and well set up CA18ET S12's on here over the years, but it's not common. Most are leaking, or just tired, and don't look any better than your average junkyard CA20E under the hood.

There's an Engine Swap Guide in the Engine Comparison section of this site. If you haven't read it already, you might check that out. I took the opinions of many people from this and other sites, as well as basic information, and compiled it in one big post.

Talk with Cajun1guy. He rebuilt his years ago, it's his daily driver and he loves it.  OVer the years he has become very familiar and comfortable with the ca18 and I'll wager he wouldn't swap it for anything. It's just a personal preference thing, just like I'm very happy with a ca20 for my daily driver.

I say if the motor was ok before you took it apart then do a basic rebuild slap it back together and have some fun but if it was shitty before you took it apart don't waste your money hold out for a ka and sell me your CA lol

Thanks for the advice everyone.  Arro, I have read your engine swap guide, it's actually what got me started on the KA! (just looking for personal preferences now)  This site has an exceptional list of write-ups.

The engine was in good condition, it looks real good to me, and I would be surprised if it needed more that the minutest machining.  On the other hand, the interior and body are rough (lightly hit on front-left and back-left).  Which is why it has somewhat turned into a budget car and I probably won't touch the suspension (money which would be directed towards my R31's suspension).

The ultimate plan for the S12 is to use it as a daily driver, so the KA being able to use 87 octane has been a major advantage on the list of pro's and con's for each motor, but i do love turbos...

Well you have the r31 for your "fun" car then drop a ka in the 12 and call it good since its gonna be a dd

I just found a running KA with harness, ecu, mounts, drive shaft and trans for cheap. So I guess KA it is!
Post Merge

Maroon8 on 12:43:27 PM / 21-Mar-13I just found a running KA with harness, ecu, mounts, drive shaft and trans for cheap. So I guess KA it is!
Post Merge

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120,000 miles on it too.  I don't even think I could rebuild the CA for twice the price, so I guess my hands are tied. :)

StephenG on 01:40:14 PM / 21-Mar-13
If its not too much to ask, throw up your CA parts in the for sale section :) Good luck with the KA swap.

I would say keep the CA if like stated, it's already in good condition. A minor rebuild and enjoy! I've also been contemplating between a KA or keeping the CA18 and personally I'd rather stick with the CA. I feel like the KA is the easy way out, knowing it has added power and many aftermarket products for it, but my taste right now would be to keep the og-ness of the s12 and rock the single cam turbo.. Maybe a KA is in the future - who knows

Remove ca acquire ka and sell me ca lol...

KA can run on 87, yes... but I've found that my '94 KA24DE likes premium, I'm sure after a tank or two of premium it's revised its spark curve more aggressively.

burritomannn on 08:21:34 PM / 21-Mar-13I would say keep the CA if like stated, it's already in good condition. A minor rebuild and enjoy! I've also been contemplating between a KA or keeping the CA18 and personally I'd rather stick with the CA. I feel like the KA is the easy way out, knowing it has added power and many aftermarket products for it, but my taste right now would be to keep the og-ness of the s12 and rock the single cam turbo.. Maybe a KA is in the future - who knows

Nothin' wrong with the KA single-cam... not gonna be as peppy in NA, but actually it turns out to be easier to BOOST! This, for a number of reasons.. compression is better, cam profile is better for it, and the "bathtub" design of the ports actually makes peak boost flow better.

You would do well to sign up at http://www.ka-t.org. Sure, it's focused on turbo'd KA's, but those guys know the KA engines backwards and forwards, so it doesn't matter if you stay non-turbo or not... they can answer questions quickly and comprehensively that often times we can't. They're all pretty friendly, and I got positive reactions to my KA-swapped S12 there so you should be welcome to post.

Thanks for the heads up Arro! I'll check them out for sure.