[heh1910]

I have a suzuki Vitara 1990 and the engine is shot and needs a new one,
i have sitting in my shed a Silvia s13 engine will it mount up right will it work?? need a bit of advice

[Gwagensteve]

No. It won't mount right up. Or "work"

It is possible to fit a CA or SR engine into a vitara, but it is a major job. Lots of fabrication and problem solving.

Steve.

[heh1910]

if i customized mounts it might work, its a CA18de

[tanshi]

as steve said, it can be done. but there is a lot more too it than mounting right up.

wiring, custom mounts, custom exhaust. radiator hoses / radiator mods.

is it school holidays?

[henno]

tanshi wrote:

is it school holidays?

Yep.

I just completed a drive from Bris-Cairns and all of the crazies were out in force.

[Gwagensteve]

And then sort out an engine to gearbox adapter, or a gearbox to transfer case adapter, driveshafts, EFI loom and computer, radiator, cooling etc etc. it's a big job.

[SierraDan]

Shifter ends up where the transfer stick is.

[Gwagensteve]

Hektik. Does it rip skids better with the shifter there?

[atari4x4]

Totes

[vet 180]

I have an s13 sr20 in my vitara.

Things to consider:
You will need a gearbox adaptor
Custom engine mounts
Custom intercooler and piping. It's not the easiest to route the cooler piping depending on the size you want. Have a good think how you want it an mock up with cardboard before buying.
Body lift if you want to shut the bonnet and keep 4x4
Custom wiring
I would use an s13 radiator most likely an eBay alloy job as they are more universal.
A decent clutch to hold the power

Spare diff's

It is worth it though

[vet 180]

Ohh you also have to machine the sr20 flywheel to fit in the vitara case and the custom bolt the clutch cover to the flywheel.

If I was to do it again I would look into the pathfinder gearbox and 2007+ rubicon axles with solid front axle conversion. There are plenty of vq to sr off the shel adaptor kits and you get a stronger gearbox. I do not know the side of the transfer or the pathfinder transfer strength though. I would need to research. I think the rb30 patrol box will work a bell housing swap

[Gwagensteve]

Wow that sounds like a whole mess of maybe. Yuk.

[tanshi]

SO the OP is talking about a non turbo one, SR20DE they make around 90-102kw. they are big, cast iron block aren't they?

The Suzuki J20 makes about the same kw and will bolt up to vitara gearbox.

not much more work than a g16.

im bias because I have done one into a sierra and loved it but that's just me

sr motor seems like a waste of time and effort.

[droverdave]

No SR20 is alloy block and head. The CA18 has a cast iron block.

OP, this is a suzuki forum, thus everyone is biased towards suzuki engines. Vet 180 has done what you are asking about, and thus might be your best bet for more information. Ask the same question on a nissan forum and everyone will be biased towards nissan engines.

Just remember with enough time and effort, you can put any engine in any car, just have to weigh up if the time, cash and effort is personally worth it.

I personally think its quite a good idea. The complicated part for you is going to be attaching the engine to the gearbox. Once you have that sorted the rest should follow easily. (as easily as a custom engine conversion can be).

[tanshi]

IF he was looking at a DET I can understand it.
but for no power upgrade from a j20 the J20 is much much easier.

[droverdave]

Just realised op said it was a CA18de.

Throw that engine in the bin, waste of time.

[JrZook]

Interesting fact: Even though the CA has a cast iron block, the complete engine is only like ~6kgs heavier than the SR20 complete.

Whats the weight of a J20?

[atari4x4]

droverdave wrote:

Just realised op said it was a CA18de.

Throw that engine in the bin, waste of time.

no love for the baby rb. they can be a good motor if built by the right peeps.

[droverdave]

Oh its a good motor, don't get me wrong. But they are just getting too old now. and there are just better options out there. we put a CA18det into an AE86 many yrs ago, great fun. CA18 is brilliant for its day, but i reckon its day is gone...

[tanshi]

nothing in the way of exact weights, but I wouldn't expect it to be more than 100kg

[tanshi]

"from what I can find, G16 is around 104KG (230lbs) with everything fitted, water & oil & including the rad."

I rad full of water is gonna weigh 10kgs?
so g16 about 95kg wet.

[vet 180]

For a CA18de it simply isn't worth it. It produces 131 hp (98 kW) @6400 rpm and 159 N·m (117 ft·lbf) @5200 rpm. There are cheaper and easier ways to achieve that with bolt in Suzuki parts.

So to answer the original OP. No, the answer is no.

[chris77]

done both ca18de and j18 swaps in a 413 . much more work in a CA engine but I bolted it up to a Nissan nirvana gearbox and flipped the front different to match . If I was to do another I would sell the CA and put the money towards the job , especially with a vital a to start with as it bolts to the gearbox etc .
chris

[vet 180]

chris77 wrote:

done both ca18de and j18 swaps in a 413 . much more work in a CA engine but I bolted it up to a Nissan nirvana gearbox and flipped the front different to match . If I was to do another I would sell the CA and put the money towards the job , especially with a vital a to start with as it bolts to the gearbox etc .
chris

Interesting and with the Nissan box was it the ka24 box with just a bell housing change or by box with adaptor plate or can you use the vg box with the ca bell housing?

[chris77]

I just swapped the bellhousing/front half of the ca box onto the 4x4 pick up box . Used the ca clutch etc . Was simple enough , however the front output is on the left hand side , so I cut and shunted the front diff to make it a l/h side diff and swapped over the axles side to side .

Not sure there would be room in a vitara to move the diff , never looked at it .

Cheers
Chris