fred92htch

For the money, isn't the b16a (seccond gen) a better buy? Does it take to mods better than the b18c? I'm mean like turbo or s/c. It is only about 10 hp lower and what, around 13 ft lbs lower in torque. Wouldn't the difference be made up for with mods. Is the b18c really that much quicker? I'm trying to make this decision too...which swap gives the most bang for buck. I'm also trying to factor in weight.

fred92htch

Forgot to tell you...going into a 92 hatch.

Jonathan_ED3

TORQUE
a few pounds in torque is alot more effective than a few more horsepower.
i have a 92 CX HB with a b18b1....142 hp, 127 lb. tq.
i can take most b16a powered CRX's and b16a powered 5g hatches in the 1/4 unless they're heavily modded. only on a road course would the b16 be more effective, and even then, i don't know how much more if you had the same tranny in each.

BigZ88

I would like to add to this by asking what is with a b16 head on a b18 bottom end?

Jonathan_ED3

it's called ls/vtec....the theory is high revving vtec motor with tons of torque. although it's very expensive to do it properly cuz you have to build the engine if you want it to last. ls/vtec in my book--

3.3.3

what do you exactly mean by that? be more specific

will it bolt up? = yes
is it an advantage? = yes, for none VTEC equipped b18 motors

BigZ88

Actually, I have seen people who said somethin about putting a b16a2 head on a b18c bottom.... ??????? seems strange to me

3.3.3

im gonna have to disagree with you. hondas lack torque. thats why a lot of hybriders are going the LSVTEC or CRVTEC route as opposed to straight swaps.

by combining a low end torquey block with the VTEC technology, you have good low end torque and the kick of VTEC in the higher RPM level.

you can achieve better "at the wheel" numbers with the combinations. however, it is quiet an expensive swap. properly built that is.

3.3.3

why is that? what seems strange to me is fools swaping in b16 into there tegs. thats retarded.

IMO, if you want the most bang for your buck, CRVTEC.

Jonathan_ED3

disagree all you want. ls/vtec is too freakin expensive to do properly. if you're going to be spending that much money go turbo LS....vtec and 8k redline isn't everything. i seriously don't know what the obsession with 'vtec' is a 'kick'? wow....why not have an engine that revs up SMOOTHLY?

DX Generation

A B16 head flows better than a B18...

Why would I rather have a B18c? Better torque. I plan to go all motor, and that I think is the best motor out of the two. Now if we are talking Forced Induction, then maybe the B16 is better. So unless you are going turbo, spend more on the B18c. I see too many Si drivers out there getting smoked by cars which are supposed to be "slow".

hoya_10fintec

and also if b16 head is bolted onto the b18 block.. it make a bit more compression...

RedHatch

what if you plan to turbo? what engine then?

3.3.3

are you missing the question here? yeah your right, its expensive. so is BUILDING properly a turbo motor. why sacrifice reliablity for boost?

get your facts straight, then TRY to prove your point.

the FACT IS, spend money, and youll have a RELIABLE, motor.

doesnt matter which route you go, NA or FI.

3.3.3

you can use any motor really, but its compression. you have to lower your compression. all motors are different. a R motor has way higher compression than a b18b motor.

a good platform would be a LS motor.

Jonathan_ED3

dude, my facts are straight. that's why i said lsvtec--
people talk about ls/vtec as in best 'bang for the buck'...i believe you said that yourself...but it's really not. the best bang for the buck when you start spending that much would be a swap. and if i'm going to spend that much money to build the motor, i'm going F/I so i can always crank up the boost. maybe i'm just mad at ls/vtec cuz my friend spent 7k on a setup to have it go to the crapper 8 months later


BTW, Fred----- Your VQ powered Maxima (even though it is an auto) will walk a b16 powered EG after about 50mph. my bro has a 92 Maxima VE auto...i can kill him off the line, but if we do a punch from about 20 mph, he's right there with me and says 'see ya' at around 50mph



[Modified by hot_EF, 8:10 PM 4/12/2002]

fred92htch

Wow. Lots of good discussion. I definately want it to be faster (straight line race) than my Maxima. Thanks for all your opinions.

fred92htch

What kind of mods do you have on your b18b1?

fred92htch

TORQUE
a few pounds in torque is alot more effective than a few more horsepower.
i have a 92 CX HB with a b18b1....142 hp, 127 lb. tq.
i can take most b16a powered CRX's and b16a powered 5g hatches in the 1/4 unless they're heavily modded. only on a road course would the b16 be more effective, and even then, i don't know how much more if you had the same tranny in each.

(I thought it woud print your post the first time.)
Let me try this again...What mods are you running with the b1?

ExospeedAMcrx

LS vtecs are unreliable if built by an unreliable engine builder. If done right, (and that’s the only way we do it) it will last as long as a built GSR or built SOHC.

Our LS VTEC with CTR pistons and new bearings, oil pump, etc with Vtec head and prepped to go is about $2400 only. Way less than a turbo kit.
And that’s with new head gasket and tapped VTEC head for LS block, steel braided lines.
Includes the head and ls block as well.. no core needed.

This setup has gone low 13’s on basically a stock car with no other bolt ons.

So to say its unreliable and too expensive is wrong. You guys just had a bad experience and were overcharged.

For 7K I have shipped a complete LS VTEC swap with rebuild, with tranny, ecu , axles, shift linkage, swap mounts, DC header, ITR cams, cam gear, ARP head studs, new head gasket, new oil pump gasket, Stage 3 clutch kit, resurfaced flywheel, Intake pipe, new timing belt, spark plugs and NGK wires.
I hope you guys got sumthing like that for what you spent.

Was the oil pump replaced with your friend’s LS VTeC? When I hear that people say their VTEC conversions only lasted 6-9 months, It usually is that the shop never replaced the Oilpump to a GSR unit.
Its like running a turbo on high boost all the time with no intercooler. And daily driven..
Sooner or later that motor isn’t gonna last long.

Wil

3.3.3

ummm...i dont recall me saying LSVTEC is the way to go.

torque is what matters. hp doesnt mean anything to me if the car doesnt haul ***.

FnkyChnkyMnky

how about some more answers to the original post? the pros/cons between the regular ol' b16's n b18's.

-james

allmtr

i dont like too much torque. all it does is spin tires.

B18C5-EH2

WRONG

The B16A head will yield LESS compression due to the slightly larger combustion chambers as opposed to the B18C P72 head.

Add ITR pistons and your problem is solved and you still maintain Honda O.E quality.

DragII

I'd be happy to race an B18b Turbo car vs my B16 Turbo....provided we have the same set up.