Is it a CA18 or a SR20?!

[Mad Max]

Hey guys, was wondering if you could help me and a mate out. We are unsure as to whether his Silvia (Q) has a CA18 or a SR20. So I was wondering if I could borrow your knowledge and help us out Here are the facts:

It says 2 litre on the engine casing.

It has SR20 on the sticker on the under side of the bonnet.

It says CA18 on the metal stamp next to the import stamp.

It is a 1991 model. (I think, it may of been imported in 1991)

We are unsure which to believe, the company in which he bought it from said it was a CA18 so it doesnt matter if it is, he didnt get ripped off or anything, we are just interested.

Cheers for any help in advance

[jmp]

Got a photo?

[SeriesIIGTST]

Does it look like the engine below?

If so, it's SR20 and 2L, if not, it's CA18 and 1.8L

Cheers

[dkonig]

If its a Q, it will look basically the same as the one in the picture, but not exactly, essentially, if its a Q, and the rocker cover is silver then its an SR20

[pentae]

mad max:

Is the boot badge a circle or more square?

The SR20's have a circle, the CA18's have more of a square boot badge.

Also the SR20's have round halogen lights (99% of the time) and the CA18's have the better looking square headlights.

dkonig: Be careful not to spread misinformation.. SR20's have a red rocker cover, CA18's should have a silver one.

To confuse tihngs even more, it might be a CA18 with an SR20 Engine dropped in it.

But yes, '91 models and above are SR20's.. And no, it would have certainly not been imported in 91.

[pentae]

So with all of the above said, to confuse fellow import drivers, I drive a turbo SR20DET Silvia which is completely debadged including the boot badging and has the CA18 style headlamps.

[urbanoperations]

CA18DE only ever came out with a RED ROCKER COVER, SR20 came out with SILVER, RED and BLACK rocker Covers, Silver usually non turbo, red turbo and black VCT turbo.

[dkonig]

I have not spread any mis-information, the third silver rocker covered SR20DE I have owned is parked in my driveway.

silver rocker cover with distributor rather than coil packs is from S13 Q

S13 K had the red cover and the coils

LATE S13 K had the blck rocker cover with coils but NO VVT (not sloped at the back of the cover)

S14 had the black cover but sloped at the back for vvt

S15 sort of grey colour, also sloped at back

Attached a pic of my DE (and yes I know thats a turbo on it

[2fardown]

Pentae: You say the CA18 only came out with a silver rocker cover?? Well the CA18DET powered 180sx sitting in my driveway says differently.....its RED.

[NA_R33]

and the ca18de powered silvia in my driveway also has a red roacker cover, its not mine though, its a mates.

[urbanoperations]

CA18DE were all Red Rocker covers except for a CA18e which was a carby smaller version of the R31 pintara motor CA20e, the ca18e which had a silver rocker cover, but this motor was only ever a Single overhead cam jusst like the CA20e.

[pentae]

Yeah you guys are right.. unfortunately It still doesnt help this guy figure out the answer to his question.

If the engine doesnt have a T on the end who cares anyway.

[Guest Sphyncter]

ive got a ca18de red rocker silvia. dont worry about the badging and stuff cause thats no good to ya. you should be able to go from the metal stamp (next to import stamp) because these are meant to be changed whenever engine is changed (duh!) because it should have engine number on it and stuff. i know mine has had a 2L in it at some stage, but its back to the 1.8. check the metal badge, if that says 1.8 then id say its 1.8. as the guys said, without a pick we can't help ya.

as for headlights guys, mines an 88 and its got the round globes, not the square!!

-Pat

And this has been my 2 cents.....