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Turbo Conversion, How Do I Tap In Oil Lines?

That_timothy

By That_timothy,
in Engines & Forced Induction

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That_timothy Community Regular

That_timothy

Posted
Posted

Morning guys.

I'm midway through collection parts for doing a ca18de+t conversion to my bunky s13 that I'll be rolling around in during the week. I've collected almost everything I need, but I'm now stuck on how to attatch my oil lines. The general consensus is that you "tap a line into the block" with absolutely no more said on the matter. Does anybody have any more information on what I'm actually looking to do here? What I gather from my reading is that one oil line should tee off from another oil line at the back of the engine, while one should get attached to the block at some point. The point I'm really stuck on is working out where to place my hole that I'll be tapping. I've acquired myself a free short motor, figured I'd just do it on that while it's out of the car and transfer it in, so I can take it entirely apart and get any debris out, that's a non-issue.

Just intensely curious about hole location, and also water lines. Nobody ever mentions running water lines on a de+t. What's with that?!

PS: instinctively people are going to want to say "JUsT bUy A sR20 tHeY r GrEaTz LuLz". Seriously, not interested. People will argue that 1500 on an sr20 is really cheap, but then totally forget to realise that I'll be having way more fun with my ca18 that cost me under $200 to turbo, because I will have spent the extra thousand dollars on jelly that catches fire when you rub it onto elephants tusks.

89CAL Grand Master

89CAL

Posted
Posted (edited)

If it's anything like the early RB30 blocks there should be a round area that is cast so it protrudes slightly from the block which you would need to drill then tap out. From memory there are to on the 30 block but I'm not sure if they are both oil galleries or not. On the rb30 block these points were near the bottom on the exhaust side I'm pretty sure

Basic info and I've never tapped these lines so probably not much help but maybe it will

Edited by 89CAL
SKiT_R31 Experienced

SKiT_R31

Posted
Posted

I don’t know anything about CA18's, BUT just tap straight into the stock locations...?

If it doesn’t have the factory feed lines (which btw are you 100% sure it doesn’t?) just do the typical N/A+T trick that everyone does on random car's, T piece into the oil pressure sender for the oil feed, and drill any where random for the oil return. Only rule's are the return must be below the turbo and never go against gravity, has to be in a low pressure zone above the oil line. Some times you can get away with tapping straight into the sump, other times it has to be a bit higher (just know where the oil level in your sump is, it's usually pretty clear to nut out. Some people even simply remove the dipstick and drain straight into that hole...

As for water lines, its pretty much easy street - probably why it’s not mentioned. Just find any random water line on the engine to tap into and re-route, I bypassed my plenum and throttle body and just ran the waterlines in & out from that.

Make sure you run good quality thick hot-weight fully synthetic oil, also might be a good idea to get an oil cooler but it’s your call.

Happy boosting ;)

StealthX Veteran

StealthX

Posted
Posted

Maybe try an oil filter sandwich from eBay. I use a cheap no brand one on my car, has been fine for 30,000kms. They sit between the oil filer and the block, and have 2-3 1/8 npt ports to attach oil pressure gauges and feed lines. Search for "oil filter sandwich" and look for one for your CA.

Oil return must return oil to the sump, so tap a hole just above the oil level, make sure it seals!!! Common spot to leak from, caused me epic headaches...

Water lines can be taken from the radiator hoses too if thats an option, but for a RWD car like yours, the heater hoses are probably easier. You can find adapters on eBay too.

Good luck dude!

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