1985 Nissan 200SX

Damn Nissan and their confusing naming conventions. 200? 240? Ah well, I've decided to post my questions here...

I've come across a 1985 Nissan 200SX for sale up here in Vancouver, BC for CDN$250obo (or about US$156.25). Apparently the motor isn't running but the seller thinks it's just the starter. The interior is just like you'd expect from an 18 year old car and the exterior is the same (the fenders are relatively banged up). Take a look at the only picture the seller sent me.

So my questions are:

Am I correct to assume that it's an S12?

What engine came in this car? Specific outputs? Any other info? Is it worth it to repair the motor if it indeed is only in need of a starter? Or...

Can I drop in a newer engine into this car and if so, what motor would fit? Would the CA, KA, SR, etc. motors fit into the engine bay of this car?

Does anyone have any pictures of other 1985 200SX's (done up or stock) that I can take a look at? Please post them or show me the way to them. I've tried looking on the 'net and I keep getting confused (what with Nissan's changing naming conventions).

Thank you so much for helping.


ps: oh, my first real post. Ah, the days of lurking are over.

Okay, I'll chime in with some help.
You're right, sea, it's an S12. The two engines offered in 85 in the North American market were the CA20E (2.0 SOHC) and the CA18ET (1.8 SOHC Turbo). These are great cars, not much aftermarket support but there are parts available. For the price you don't have much to lose.
S12's actually have a pretty big and dedicated following. The best place to go and find out everything you ever wanted to know about them and talk with other S12 owners, enthusiasts, and experts is Club S12 (http://200sx.computica.net/phpBB2/)
I'm a moderator there, and there's over 160 members from all over the world, mostly in North America though, including several Canadians. As a matter of fact, the Admin of Club S12 is Dan, who is the owner of the only 200SX SE V6 in Canada (that we know of.) The V6 cars were only sold in 87 and 88 in the US. Dan scored one in the Dakotas and successfully imported it. His personal site is classic200sx.com (http://www.classic200sx.com)
You can also get S12 pics and info at my 200SX SE V6 site. (http://www.angelfire.com/80s/tsi200sx)

Hope this helps.

tsi200sx: thanks! yeah, after posting i found your site then leaped to dan's site. both of the sites were super informative! thanks!

here's more info from the current owner when i asked him for more information:

"its an NA'd 2.0 Rwd coupe.... theres a dent on the passenger door along to the rear quarter panel. it has 137K km interior is pretty clean... where do you live? wanna come take a look?"

that's the response i got after asking:

"Can you tell me more about the car? trim level, engine (2.0L or 1.8T or V6?), interior options, mileage, etc. anything else at all. more info would help in my decision making. thanks. are there any other pics you can send me of the sides and rear? interior? would it be possible for you to find out and let me know any other problems the car has besides the dead starter? i'm thinking about making it a project car but i need to know the extent of my costs before i start. thanks."

are there any other questions i should be asking before i take a closer look at it? any inherent 1985 200SX issues i should be aware of?

well, there's no inherent 200sx issues...a CA20E with 137,000 miles on it is barely broken in. These are good motors, if not especially powerful. I've driven a couple 2-liter 200's and they pulled alright right from idle. I actually like that motor quite a bit. It's a twin-plug design, and since it RWD it's pretty easy to work on. I was thinking of someday picking up a CA20E S12 and seeing how much "all-motor" power one could get out of it.
If the Canadian cars are like the U.S. ones, an 85 should have 4-wheel disc brakes and independent rear suspension. The engine was also used in the Stanza, and parts are readily available, even though the cars are relatively rare so you won't see yourself on the road.
Did you try Club S12 yet? There's lots of CA20 owners there, as well as guys that have done various engine swaps. There's also a Yahoo group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/classic200sx/

Oh, yeah, I can't remember if the CA20E uses a timing chain or belt, but if it's a belt that's something you'll want to ask about. The starter should be easily accessible, and I know Pep Boys and Advance Auto (or whatever stores you have) should the starters. I'd get the old one tested before you replace it to make sure it's bad.

tsi200sx: yeah, i've visited club s12 already. nice place.

here's more info on the car:

"the doors both close fine... the drivers side lock is kinda FUBAR'd any key will open the lock... dont ask why... as for the engine... i have no idea if the motor is shot.... some chick sold it to me and she had no idea what happened... but the starter just clicks... so im assuming its the starter... i dont have a garage right now... (new one being built) so i havnet been able to work on it for like 2 months"

hmmm... with all of the mentioned problems, does it still sound worth it now to get it in good clean running condition? I'd have to fix the starter (and godknowswhat in the engine), fix the passenger side door and rear quarter body panels, fix the driver's side lock, fix the other body damages like the driver's side front quarter, etc. not to mention that i'd like new wheels and tires, a new set of springs, a fresh coat of paint, some cleaning up of the interior plus whatever other modifications i'd want to do to the motor. hmmm... what do you guys think?

or i can forget about dealing with the CA20E's faulty starter and drop in a 1987 300ZX turbo motor (3.0L EFI SOHC V-6 205hp - VG30ET ?) found on eBay (and located in my area) at the pending purchase price of CDN$450 (or US$281.25). that is, if it'll fit. will it?

"This engine runs great, has 60,000 miles (or 132,000 kms if i'm not mistaken) on it. It comes complete and ready to drop in. Included is intake manifold (complete with injectors), exhaust manifolds with TURBO, starter, alternator. The car was crashed in the back end no damage to engine or other front end parts. Injector recall has been done. Can do timing belt before shipping for cost of belt."

here's the eBay page... (http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1788129432)

so for around CDN$700 (or US$437.50) for both the car and the 300ZX motor, does that sound like a good plan? it'll be a smokin' S12!

hmmm, now i wonder how much the bodywork and installation of the motor is going to cost... (can't really do it myself as i live in an apartment downtown.)

First, the good news. If the starter is clicking on the CA20E, you may have no other problem than a dead battery. That clicking is actually the starter relay. Do I dare ask if anyone has tried jumping the thing?
And, the bad news. A VG30ET will NOT drop straight into an S12. A VG30E non-turbo will go in if you get the right tranny and mounts, but if it's mounted like the factory-V6 SE cars, there isn't room between the motor and the firewall for the turbo's crossover pipe. The firewall will have to be modified, which is usually done with a sledgehammer. There's a thread on Club S12 in the VG30E Mods section with lots of discussion about the VG30ET swap.

damn. oh well, there goes the idea for an easy V6 turbo swap. though i guess it's not too too complicated. i'll take a look at that thread in club s12. or i guess i can just tack on a turbo to the CA20E at a safe boost level. easier that way i guess. or... i can just be happy with the CA20E. :p

and no, to my knowledge, no one has tried to jump start the motor yet. d'oh. didn't think about that. :(

and tsi200sx, thanks for all your help! :wave:

Glad to be of help. On the subject of turbocharging the CA20E, the bottom end is not as strong as the CA18ET, so as you said you have to be careful to keep the boost at a safe level. I know of at least one guy who is a member of Club S12 who runs a CA20ET, so there's some knowledge there about that, too.

yeah. ah well. perhaps my quest to have a smokin' S12 will be put on hold for now. :( still want that VG30ET in there though. damn! :D

does anyone know whether an SR20DE or SR20DET will be any more difficult to drop in? will there be any hood and engine bay clearance issues? thanks!

edit: hmm, apparently they do fit but i wonder if i'll have to lose power steering or the a/c. hmm... :confused:

You should be able to fit it all. I know it's been done.

I just realized that you and I are both in on the same conversation about this on Club S12. Guess I'll stop repeating.

tsi200sx: heh. that's ok. it takes a few repeatings to get things into my thick head. :p

hey TSI, just out of curiosity, which engine would you choose to put in an S12 200sx: ca18det or sr20det? what i really want is an rb25det, but i think that's just a pipe dream. and do you think i'd need a new driveline for the new motor to work?

Well, I'm not a turbo guy myself. I know of a couple people who have swapped SR20DET's into S12's. One of them is a member at Club S12, his name is Miker and he's from the Phillipines. He would know about any driveline changes required. The CA18DET should be a direct bolt up, since the 200SX turbo (84-86) used the CA18ET. Both engines have about the same tuning potential, and several people I've talked to believe the CA18DET is superior to the SR20DET in terms of boost potential because of differences in the bottom end.

thanks

I've read that the ca18det is an unlikely relative of the vg30 motors, sharing much of the same technology and even some parts. I was wondering, though, if the ca18e(t) and the JDM version--ca18det-- share the same block or bottom end... Is converting to a JDM motor as simple (I'm using the word 'simple' loosely) as bolting on a DOHC head?

Wow dude I haven't seen that car in so long, I don't think it's even available here in north america i dunno lol.. i saw it in north africa ;) Ah memories

wow i'm glad i came across this thread, i'm an owner of a 1997 200sx se-r love it. a friend of mine was offered a 1986 200sx that is RWD, which has a 2.0 in it. which now i know is the CA20E. The asking price is $400, its a daily driver runs great, interior is in good contion and has 210,000 miles on it. He was going to buy it, gut and auto X it. I'll have to route him to Club S12 for more info, thanks guys!

Howard

i know this thread hasnt been activ4e in a while but.......a girl i know just got an 84 200sx. she wanst to know if she can fit an sr20det into it, and i think she can, but i cant find any sites about it. the club s12 likn works, but none of the links on that site work. any suggestions?

I have a ca18det that I'm installing into my 84 200sx turbo. I'm looking for some help with some of the electronics. I have all he engine electronics, a wire harness from an 88 pulsar ca18de and an ECM from the same car.. what problems may I run into? ... plus I have a digital dash.

I have a 1985 Nissan 200 SX, that has 85,00 original miles on it, and runs like a champ, no rust, and very straight except one dent in right fron quater panel that is no big deal as its not creased, and not to big. The big problem with it is the interior, the prior owner had kids, and well they make stains, and spill things etc... I would like to know if anyone knows where to get after market parts, like carpet. seats, door panels, even a newer style dash would be cool ( its all digital now ). Even some of the newer clear tail lite, and stop lite covers would be kinda of cool.
I found this place in my search for such mentioned parts with not luck at all. Can anyone reccomened where I can get said parts ?

Club S12 is the best spot for all these above questions. If you found the links didn't work, you might have been using the old URL. The new URL is www.club-s12.org
Zildjian, if you go to the forum on Club S12, there is a message I posted two days ago entitled "S12 stuff on eBay" (or something like that), one of the links in that message is for full S12 replacement carpeting.