derokafella

i have an 89 crx hf with the d15b6 in it I have a y8 vtec head just wondering if the mini me swap is worth the time and money or should I just build another d16 from the ground and boost it?

Freemananana

iTrader: (3)

Well, you are talking apple and oranges. Sure they are both round but they can't be compared.

The mini-me is cheap. It puts down about the same HP as a VTEC motor, but the torque will be lower with your D15 block. They are really easy and can be done in a day without very many tools.

Building a D16 from the ground and boosting it is very expensive. You are talking $1000 in forged internals and proper bolts and studs. Then you have to get the entire turbo kit, ect. Expect to spend $4,000 on a set up if you are actually doing it right.

If you have already built a D16 from the ground and boosted it, you should know which of these you want and if you have the time, money, and resources to make it work. The mini-me isn't a waste, but it is not for everyone and some combos work better than others. 110 whp for, in your case based on what you already have, $200 isn't bad. Or you can double that and put down 250~300 or whatever a D-series block's sleeves can handle for 20 times the price.

I recently have seen a couple threads that are amazing though. A stock block D16A6 with a Z6 mini-me head swap with a Toyota Previa super charger putting down 180~ wHP for about $1500 all done and said. Not shabby. Very good on the street.

What are you goals for this build and your budget. You have asked a very broad question and the only reason I even threw you a bone is because I'm bored and I need to practice my typing.

derokafella

that's understandable with how broad of a question it is im not really sure what I was getting at because I get a lot of mixed reactions on the mini me swap idea. im not really sure of my budget even though it seems to be more in the mini swap range not really considering all aspects of building an entire d16. My cars a daily driver and im mainly just looking to get some more power out of it. ive also been told just basic bolt ons from respected companies will give me just as much power as the swap

24TEN

iTrader: (2)

For you specific situation, a mini me swap will put a big smile on your face. You are essentially going to double your power output BUT you have to swap transmissions to match the new power curve (trust me I know from experience!!). Keep in mind that you are starting with a "B6" and that in itself does present a couple of challenges, mainly the pistons and transmission. The piston is highly debatable and I've heard of at least two instances where they "got away" with leaving the 8 valve pistons in there.

Having said that, apples to oranges like "Freemananana" stated is what it comes down to. If you have no experience with type of stuff, do the mini me. It'll be a good learning experience. If you are experienced, skip the mini me and do some thing on the side.

Tyson

why did you buy an HF and want more power?

Freemananana

iTrader: (3)

Mini-me swaps are good for the beginner. You can always opt to buy a D16 block and put the Y8 head on it and buy a 5-speed tranny. All the while still driving your B6 around.

Let me tell you something about bolt ons, and you can argue with me if you like. There is no power to be had with just bolt ons. None. I've seen cars literally lose power from bolt ons. Keep reading. Instance one, the air filter. The K&N air filter is absolutely leaps and bounds better than the factory air box. But you will most likely not see gains from it. Why? The ECU corrects for the added air by pulling timing so you end up seeing the same power. I have seen it on many MANY datalogs and dyno runs. This doesn't really apply to exhaust though. You can increase the flow and decrease back pressure to get better power out of your motor, but not much. It might see peak torque sooner or something like that. But more often than not, even bolt ons will need a tune to see major gains. General rule of thumb, your butt dyno won't be able to tell the difference if the performance mod adds less than 10 HP. That's what I've always been told. However, the placebo effect makes up it's own numbers. If you plan on doing bolt ons for the B6, go for it. But that motor is not a performance motor and the head doesn't flow like a VTEC head. It's also a 1.5L so the torque is less, no matter how small, than a 1.6 or any other motor option for a honda.

Get a budget together, come back, and someone will point you in the right direction. A motor swap, bolt ons, street tune, whatever it is.

I totally forgot about the valves. The Y8 is a 16 valve head which may cause issues with your pistons. But with that said, there are tons of people looking to sell their stock pistons when they go vitara or forged. You can pick up some 16 valve stock pistons for cheap and they won't be that hard to change while you have the head off anyways. I think you have to drop the pan and disconnect the rods to get to the pistons. I've never done it on a Honda so I can't tell you for certain.

You will probably want a 5 speed transmission too, out of a SI if possible. Definitely be an improvement there.

Maybe for looks? I don't know. I bought a standard EF civic and ended up wanting more out of it. The D15B1 is nothing but an economy beater.

Compact22e

Ok, take it easy on me here, I'm really new to the civic world. I have a bone stock d15b1 that I'd like to get a lil more oomph out of (I run it on a dirt oval). I have five wins on the year against Cavis and Neons so not too bad for what I've got. Anyway, I don't really want to mess with wiring and what-not but I heard you can get a pretty decent increase by installing domed pistons out of an 89' Integra since they are the same bore size. Has anyone done this and if you have, what, if any issues were there with clearance between the valves and pistons. And if there was decent clearance, could I get away with taking a little off the head? I don't have any kind of a tuner around where I live and I really don't know the differenct between obd1 and obd0. If someone could point me in the right direction, I would appreciate it Immensely!! Thank you in advance!!

Freemananana

iTrader: (3)

Whoa, don't high jack a thread. If you can't do wiring, don't even think about replacing a piston. The dome increases compression. You need a retune for that. If you shave the head, you need a retune. The B1 is not meant for HP. Change over to MPFI and a 5 speed transmission or go for a motor swap.