I'm replacing a dying motor in my 98 GS-R. I bought a JDM B18C from Attarco in Berkeley, CA. Had the motor and the car taken to the shop that's going to do the work. Shop calls me up and says that the motor I bought is from an automatic. Apparently it has slightly different cams, and makes a little less power than a manual B18C. They offered to swap the cams over from my old motor, for an additional $100 labor, but didn't seem to think it was really worth it. I don't want to spend any more money than I have on this anyway, so it's OK. However, I'm curious what the exact differences are. I never knew that Honda sold the B18C with a manual tranny, but I read elsewhere on honda-tech that it was an option in Japan. Any thoughts?

 

actually they did make the b18c1 auto in japan. its actually the same engine with the auto tranny from the b18b. the ls engine. i dont think there is a difference in the cams. just the tranny and ecu. someone correct me if im wrong. i was stationed in japan and one of my buddies thats still there has one. he just told me its the same. he said the head was the same.

 

everything is the same... with the exception being the tranny and the ecu.

*there is no internal differences... don't let the shop make money off of you like that.

 

After searching the archives, I did find two threads about this where there is some debate as to whether the cams are different. Some say they are, some say they aren't.

Just for the record, the shop didn't try to convince me to swap them over, they said literally, "it won't make much difference." But if I wanted to they gave me the option.

 

Also, just out of curiosity, how can you tell an auto motor from a manual?

 

I know were talkin about the b18c here.. But it's a fact that in the b16a cars, the cams are different from the manual engines and the auto engines.. The auto's cams are not as aggressive as the manual cars cams.

I suppose its very possible it could be the same thing w/the B18C..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by omehegan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Also, just out of curiosity, how can you tell an auto motor from a manual?</TD></TR></TABLE>

The ecu, vin number, and of course, the tranny.

 

This isn't a full swap though. I only bought the engine, no ECU, tranny, etc. VIN though, I guess that makes sense. Although do they use the same VIN system in Japan as US?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by omehegan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">do they use the same VIN system in Japan as US? </TD></TR></TABLE>

im curious too

 

There is an equivalent system, but it looks like the ID would basically be different. I suppose if you did a lot of this type of work, you'd know how to look up the other types.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V...umber

 

No difference.. Only ecu and transmission and the shop could tell it was from an automatic because of the flywheel.. When u buy a motor it comes with the flywheel still attached**manual transmission and on an auto it will have a flewplate.