Nissan 240SX Motor Swaps CA18DET and SR20DET

Maybe that iron block KA in your 240SX just isn't enough for you or maybe your just wanting to complete your Silvia swap with a SR swap. Well no matter what your looking for we can help out with you 240 motor swap. They are a few different 240 swaps out there from the CA18DET swap to an Chevy LS swap. It just all depends on what you are looking to do. If you are looking to drift I'd say stay 4 cylinder just for weight distribution, but if your plans are just to make power then RB or LS is the way to go. But for starters here is a list of the 4 cylinder 240 motor swap and some info on them.

We will start with the first motor swap the JDM 180SX's known as USDM 240 the CA18DET, but the CA18 never came in an USDM 240.

  • Used in S-chassis from 88-90
  • 1.8 liter turbo 4 cylinder
  • Lightest motor
  • All forged internals

This motor is good for around 300 horsepower. Great motor swap for someone isn't looking to get gobs of power out of their 240SX. The bad is this motor is the oldest for a swap so these motor naturally are going to have the most miles on them. Bearing inspection is highly recommended before installing.

Next we have the SR20DET. This motor was used in Silvias after the CA18DET. There are 4 different types of SR Motor Swap

S13 Redtop Motor Swap

  • Used from 91-93
  • Garrett T25G turbo
  • 202hp at 6000rpm (7psi of boost)
  • 203 lb•ft at 4000 rpm (7psi of boost)
  • 8.5:1 compression ratio

S13 Blacktop Motor Swap

  • Used from 94-97
  • Garrett T25G turbo
  • 202hp at 6000rpm (7psi of boost)
  • 203 lb•ft at 4000 rpm (7psi of boost)
  • 8.5:1 compression ratio

S14 Blacktop Motor Swap

  • Used in 94-98 Silvias
  • Variable Timing
  • Garrett T28 turbo
  • 217hp at 6000rpm (7psi of boost)
  • 203 lb-ft at 4800rpm  (7psi of boost)
  • 8.5:1 compression ratio

S15 Blacktop Motor Swap

  • Used in 99-02 Silvias
  • Variable Timing
  • Garrett T28 Ball Bearing turbo
  • 6 Speed transmission
  • 245 hp at 6400 rpm (11psi of boost)
  • 203 lb-ft at 4800rpm (11psi of boost)

The SR20DET 240 motor swap is probably the most popular of the four cylinder engine swaps. This is because these 240 SR swap is capable of 400hp on the stock bottom end. That is crazy for a stock internal four cylinder. The list above is in order of cheapest to most expensive and ease of installation into a 240.