ADDvanced

Goal: Basic bitch B16 A2, just had the head refreshed, valve job, new valve seals, still OEM springs/retainers/valves, etc. Bottom end is fine, cylinders and whatnot all in great shape.

Question: What else should I be doing to this thing, to make it dead nuts reliable, while I'm in here? Is the oil pump something that goes out frequently? VTEC solenoid? Main seals? Just trying to figure out what I can do now so I don't need to mess with it for years once it's in the car.

Also, anyone use a gasket KIT? Buying all the gaskets piece meal seems crazy expensive, but I can't find a kit with OEM gaskets, most of the kits are all china gaskets. Bad idea?

Cheers!

GIZZ - EXV

the stuff is over 20 years old, who knows how hard its been pushed. For peace of mind I changed the retainers and keepers. I don't mind aftermarket gaskets if they are name brand quality stuff. I'm sure Honda outsources some of these seals and gaskets too.

ADDvanced

Yeah, I wound up getting name brand gaskets, but one piece at a time on rockauto and ebay. It was substantially cheaper than buying a kit with everything all at once (name brand). It would have been cheaper to buy a kit of off brand gaskets but I wasn't feelin it.

JRCivic1

What "Name Brand" parts did you get from Rock Auto ? They do not sell Genuine OE Honda parts.

spAdam

iTrader: (1)

You can get a top end set and a bottom end set from the dealer that would have everything you need for a stock refresh. It will save you a few bucks over buying individually.

ADDvanced

FelPro. Victor Reinz. Etc

Name brand isn't ONLY Honda OEM parts, compadre. Name brand means brand names that are legit.

JRCivic1

FelPro makes exactly ONE good part for a Honda... the metal infused oil pan gasket. Big name... Yes... but mostly NOT good for Honda's. Victor Reinz is an average quality brand name at best... and if you bought an exhaust gasket from them, then you are done with that brand. What else ya got... Com-padre ???

Remember that just because a brand is a big name in the Domestic world doesn't mean that they make great parts for Imports. The angle that you should be working is "Who makes the OEM Honda parts ? IF you can figure that out, maybe there is a "work around" so that the product can be purchased directly from the source.

spAdam

iTrader: (1)

Fixed that for ya 👍🏻

wunfstgsr

I would rebuild the entire engine not just the cylinder head, chances are the bottom end has a lot of miles and may be burning oil from worn rings. Last thing you want is to put it all together and find out its burning oil and smoking out the exhaust.

Buy new pistons and rings and re hone the cylinders, use new bearings.

spAdam

iTrader: (1)

100% what @wunfstgsr said