Ok, so yeah this question has probably been asked a million times, but I couldn't find any good comparisons. I'm looking into a complete swap for my hatch, and will eventually be going turbo. I've read good about both motors and how they respond to boost. I'm leaning towards B16a because of better tranny, vtec, and that high end power. But a couple questions:

1. Is one substantially stronger than the other, as far as accepting boost?
2. which is your choice?
3. most reliable at 250whp?

 

dont go off the tranny you can alwasy mate different b series trans together, personally i have had both of these with a turbo, with a big turbo b16 takes a little longer to spool but, im a big fan of vtec, and boost together, i say go with the b16

 

vtec+boost=ftw!!!!

 

Sounds good. Thanks for the input so far, anyone else?

 

B16 is the way to go. both setups being identical the B16 is going to make more.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by skUnK2jdm &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">vtec+boost=ftw!!!!</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

b16t all the way!

 

The ideal combo IMO would be an LS/VTEC using the B18a bottom end and the B16a head. Be sure to run ARP headstuds if you plan to rev it beyond 7300rpm. Also, i think a GSR tranny would be the best choice for that combo.

If that isn't an option, i say B16. It may not have the low end torque that the LS has, but with the higher redline and better flowing VTEC head, you can still pull a lot of power out of it.

 

Seems like everyone is going towards the B16. What about the more displacement the B18 has? I don't know, I've just seen so many nice ls turbo setups on here. I would eventually throw a Vtec head on it after a year or so. Considering that, go with the ls to start?

 

if you have the money to spend just buy a GSR. it hands down the best B vtec motor all around. IMO

 

If this is a stock engine build up. VS each other. My vote is LS.

if both HP of the engines will have the same goal, go LS. you'll save cash and gain a great power band that'll pull hard down low and feel beast on the street. No need to down shift to pass grandma who is riding 50mph on a 65mph limit highway.

oh and to add. if you daily driving... IMO the ls setup is good on gas too. no need to constantly stay above 5,000 to get momentum going.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JDMs1eeper &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If this is a stock engine build up. VS each other. My vote is LS.

if both HP of the engines will have the same goal, go LS. you'll save cash and gain a great power band that'll pull hard down low and feel beast on the street. No need to down shift to pass grandma who is riding 50mph on a 65mph limit highway.

oh and to add. if you daily driving... IMO the ls setup is good on gas too. no need to constantly stay above 5,000 to get momentum going.</TD></TR></TABLE>

clearly youve never driven a car with B16 gearing? i drive around in 5th gear on the street with a B16 trans and i dont have to dowshift to speed up from 40-55. this is on a vtec motor. short gearing &gt; torque

 

Thanks again for the replies. I know that JDM knows what he's talking about, he has had some amazing ls turbo setups. Props to you man! I think I'm going to go ls. I was going to get a complete jdm ls swap, but I found a ls longblock with 180kms (110miles) for 500 in town. Decent deal I'd say.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CoreyR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">if you have the money to spend just buy a GSR. it hands down the best B vtec motor all around. IMO</TD></TR></TABLE>

best option hands down

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CoreyR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">if you have the money to spend just buy a GSR. it hands down the best B vtec motor all around. IMO</TD></TR></TABLE>u forgetting about the type-r or ctr

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by crowder13 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">u forgetting about the type-r or ctr</TD></TR></TABLE>

nope im not. GSR is better all around. capable of making more power safely in stock form and much cheaper. if i was talking all motor sure ITR would be better but im not.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by crowder13 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">u forgetting about the type-r or ctr</TD></TR></TABLE>

For the price, a GSR w/ ITR cams is a much better buy...

 

Yeah man, if I was going all motor I would just get a gsr with type r cams, way better deal and then they are pretty much identical. But yeah, I found a b18a for $350 which is a killer deal. 180xxxkms, perfect compression, passed air care last 8 years perfectly with records. I think it's a good deal that I should jump on.

 

jump on that ls motor and get the turbo system on it. you can always make it an lsvtec later on. either motor try for a gsr trans. its the best mix for the street i think

 

Yeah man, I'm totally taking up this offer. I will still need to get a obd1 dizzy and injectors, but other than that it's pretty much the same as a b18b. I'm going to get my p28 chipped so I can run it as well. Either way, it's going to work out cheaper than a complete jdm swap.

 

$$$ vs. Horsepower vs. Daily Driveability vs. Daily Comfort (for those with 3inch exhaust).

An LS swap is a very practical swap if the goals are within the stock B series power range. Other options you'll Spend extra money to achieve the same goal.

Just my opinion i guess. And Ive boosted both Nonvtec and Vtecs, and used all the trannies... many many times. Just my 2cents.

 

all b series engines have the same typical threshold 300hp. in my opinion being that i have had a ls turbo and driven many b16 turbo cars i say ls for these reasons.

1. torque wins races, horsepower sells cars.
2. unless you care about how much boost you have to run to meet a goal ls once again is the better choice.
3. a good set up on a ls will cost less than a b16 swap so with the money you save BUILD THE LS. this making more power is a realistic possibility.
4. you can always do the vtec conversion later on and not have to pull the engine.
5. gas mileage is not really a situation considering your tranny choice and if your tuner knows what he is doing.

if i can think of a few more reasons i will reply again. good luck on whatever choice you make.

 

IIRC, the faster roads in Canada are usually like 120km/h, which is like 72mph. Nothing is more annoying to have to stand a B16 tranny buzzing your motor just below VTEC engaugement while in the slow lane. It also sucks having to shift into 5th in the 1/4 mile.

The B18 has the torque & good enough gearing to be more than responsive with a decent turbo on it. If this was a built motor, the best bang for the buck is a B16a head, built b18b block, and a b16/gsr trans with an LS 5th.

You could do this by getting the B16 now, buying a B18B longblock for cheap w/trashed trans later, then keeping the 5th gear & building the motor while still driving the car.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Schister66 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The ideal combo IMO would be an LS/VTEC using the B18a bottom end and the B16a head. Be sure to run ARP headstuds if you plan to rev it beyond 7300rpm. Also, i think a GSR tranny would be the best choice for that combo.

If that isn't an option, i say B16. It may not have the low end torque that the LS has, but with the higher redline and better flowing VTEC head, you can still pull a lot of power out of it. </TD></TR></TABLE>

How would ARP headstuds make any difference when revving beyond 7K RPM when it's the rods/rod bolts that is the weakest link in the LS short block?

 

i say b18c1 if you can afford it. ... you get displacement, a little more torque, and vtec.