Jez

Hi, this is my first post and without wanting to sound or look like a complete noob, I have a few questions if I may.
I know I should probably use the search feature, but I dont own a Honda yet and the answers to my next few questions will probably make my mind up to get one or not.

I wont bore you with my background story, otherwise we'd be here all night LOL. Anyway I went and had a look at a Civic today, I've never owned a Honda before and it had this engine in it. I think its a B16, its been turbo'd with a garret turbo, big intercooler, BOV, wastegate, 440cc injectors and a 3 bar map senser. Heres a pic.


Now, the guy who is selling it tells me its running 7psi of boost on a stock motor and claims its a common thing to do with these motors, my experiance with forced induction is to lower the CR!
So, is it safe to do this? if so what sort of power should I expect from a set up like this?

Thanks in advance, Jez

AlexDphoto

You dont always have to lower CR when boosting. Lowering it does help but with a good tuner, its not necessary.

People turbocharge stock motors all the time, whether or not it is safe is up to the components and the tune.

The only way to be sure on what kind of power it is making is to put it on a dyno.

If I were going to buy a car that was already turbocharged, the first thing I would do is get it tuned by someone I trust.

Jez

Yes, getting it tuned would be one of my first jobs if I buy it.

Obviously I dont know the motors history, but all the bits that have been added are good quality parts. I was just looking for some kind of ball park figure on power, the guy thats selling it is a dealer and has no clue!

sanman000719

7psi means the car has probly been running off the gate only for boost

ide get a leak down done on it

ide deffinately get a compression check done before i shelled some money out for it

siblues

iTrader: (1)

First thing I would do is check compression.It doesnt matter if the parts are good quality if the motor isnt going to last unless you plan on rebuilding the motor.

sanman000719

i dont see any vaccum hoses on the blow off or gate either

is this car currently running???

Jez

Yes it is a running car, well alledgedly LOL, it was -20c here today so as of yet I have not seen it running, hopefully going back to see it again next week.

What sort of PSI should I look for on a healthy B16? if thats what it is?

Sorry for the questions but I dont want to part with any of my hard earned cash until I find out the answers.

I presume by leak down test you mean test the boost side of things for leaks?

sanman000719

i ran 28psi on a stock block man made 500+ out it

leak down means filling the individual cylinders with oil then going back to see whats leaks down the mist and by how much

sanman000719

thats also means pulling the head

sanman000719

you are reffering to a boost leak test by charging the charging system to see how much it leaks

Jez

Not very practical on a car I dont own LOL

sanman000719

thats why we listed the compression check also

AlexDphoto

If this is your first honda, then Id honestly pass on this car. You dont know the history, or whats really been done to it. Just asking for problems by buying it.

Unless youre honestly getting a steal of a deal..

AlexDphoto

is it RHD or are civic batteries always there

sanman000719

i was thinking the same thing the battery is on the oposite side wich leads me to think rhd

Jez

Depends what you call a steal of a deal I guess, its for sure on stock internals and surely I'd not be the first person to buy something like this as my first Honda?

Jez

Yes its a JDM RHD.

sanman000719

most of us buy honda's then boost them lol that way we know and understand what we have a little more

AlexDphoto

I just dont like the idea of buying a boosted car with a history that I dont know about.

I bought my car with a few mods on it already, but I got it from a friend of mine who used to own it. I trust him, and it came with a booklet of reciepts for the modifications, so I know exactly whats been done to it.

If you do want to buy the car, proceed with caution. Look over every inch of the car. Especially since its boosted, there could potentially be alot of problems with it.

I agree with everyone else.

Compression test
Leak down test

to make sure the internals are good. Check for any hoses that arent where theyre supposed to be, disconnected lines, etc.

There seems to be quite a bit done to this car, and its your first honda, thus the reason why Im saying be careful with it. But good luck anyways.

Jez

maybe I should go back to my original plan and buy a stock Celica GT4 or a GTST?

Jez

I fully understand what your saying, its not my first FI car, owned a 92 Skyline and an old converted 76 Capri in the past and I'm not a spotty teenager either LOL.
I just came across this and thought it'd be something different, the work that has been done looks tidy and well done. I'll go back next week and see it running and get thte guy to do a comp test on it.

For what its worth the price is $5000 CDN, seems fair as the rest of the car is near mint with with some other nice goodies on it also.

Thanks

AlexDphoto

more pix of it would help too. outside, inside, engine bay, etc.

Jez

Wish I'd taken a few more now, but here's what I have.




Hope these help

SARswimmer

personally, i had a really bad experience with buying a pre-modded car... on paper things looked great, the engine looked great, it drove great, but 2 months later, my $7500 all motor b16a blew up due to something small (i.e- the $20 thermostat)... so be carefull and take all the advice people have been throwing at you... ask the owner about every noise, vibration, and bump the car makes

Jez

Well thanks for your input guys, I'll go back and ask some more questions if they check out I'll get a comp test done and take it for a test drive.

Where will the engine code be stamped on the block? been looking around on this site and it looks like it could be one of a few engines, be nice to know for sure what it is before I go to much further with it.

thanks