abadkevin

So, I have this little situation and I wanted to get some opinions. I am deciding to swap my eg with a jdm d15b or b16a, but I don't want to deal with smog/ref a lot. I'm leaning more towards the d15b, because of the easier swap and the motor of my d15b8 is pretty much equivalent to the d15b, which I won't have to deal with ref. But I am getting a lot of people saying to go with the b16a, because of the more power and that it would be more worth my money to invest in the b16a. So, now I am stuck in the middle again and wanted to hear some of your opinions. Basically, I want to hear how you guys would go about it and how would you deal with smog/ref. Thanks in advance.

TAGS-ej

B16 all the way *** single slams if u do ur swap correct and harness is wired up correctly with correct ecu and no check engine light and motor is in good conditions u wont have a problem

abadkevin

Yeah, I know, but is there still problems with reffing jdm motors or is that all done with now?

delsolproblems

The title of your thread sounds like a joke. Any work spent installing a d15 when a b16 is an option is an insult to your car. Have you ever driven a b16?

hatchy89

ur alwayz gonna have problems...

TAGS-ej

Lol so crucial

abadkevin

Yes, I have driven a b16, but I dont really care which motor I have. I would be contempt with either motor.

SoCal EJ1

There are no more smog refs in CA. Therefore, if a cop asks you to pop your hood and it's not an engine that came from the factory (or equivalent replacement), it's illegal. No questions asked - You get a fat fine, end of story. There's no BARing the motor anymore - you'll just have to hope you don't get your hood popped, as well as hope you have a smog tech that will work with you when it comes time to register your car bi-annually.

abadkevin

So does that mean the d15b would have a better chance of passing, because its equivalency with the d15b8?

ek ridah

well im from hawaii and thank god we dont have those smog tests....so b16 FTW!

delsolproblems

The b16 swap won't be much more difficult than the d15. Usually if someone says they don't care which choice they make, I say go with the cheaper one but I just can't bring myself to here. They've become a little outdated now but the b16's were impressive motors imho.

abadkevin

^ Yeah, I know the b16 is better, but the d15 sounds more reasonable than the b16, because of the honda scene out here in San Francisco and with the cops.

SoCal EJ1

Yes. It looks stock so won't raise any flags if they choose to pop your hood. I've been fortunate enough to have only been popped twice and only ref'd once (by an ill-informed officer). If it looks stock, no crazy intakes, header, FPR or anything that doesn't look 100% factory, they won't ref you.

D Griff

Eww, get the B16. Why would you swap a D15 to a D15? 20 more horsepower? I don't know, D15B swaps aren't worth it in my opinion.

nothing_shocking

The D15B has 60 more hp than the B8.

And the d15b is like the d16z6, not the d15b8.

As far as the swap goes, move out of Cali and get whatever the hell you want... I hate Cali... My vote is for the D15B though.

delsolproblems

It should be noted that the D15B's 130hp is measured at 6500 rpm and the b8's 70hp is measured at 4500 rpm.

Salvi-EJ1

Damn cali and its strict *** laws. Sucksss

Tyte-S

d15b hands down.

Tyte-S

Boost down the road for more power if you want. You're looking at about a grand from hmotors shipped. You can't really beat that for 130hp/114lb.

tuck1crx

j swap it and say fvck bacon!!!

sloassSi

why are you even debating???? if you have the money and are trying to decide, b16 is the obvious choice.

Tyte-S

Not really the obvious choice in terms of bang for your buck or in terms of ease of install.
D15B is a good motor with adequate power and will net you great gas mileage. Also, it is the least likely to get noticed if you do get asked to pop your hood.

20-EM2-05

Mine as well get a B16A2/A3/C1 and get the equipments to ref it in cali.

Korman

I agree. It is a matter of making something legal vs. making something *look* legal.

You can make some B16's legal in Cali. Do a bit of research and your labor will pay off in the end. So with the B16 you can have an engine that is legal, even if it looks like it isn't.

On the other hand, D15B will, to the best of my knowledge *never* be legal. Almost no way in hell. It will *look* legal but never be it.

So on one hand you have an engine that might get the evil eye, but you got the paperwork to defend you. On the other you have an engine that might not raise any eyebrows, but if you do end up getting caught, you're effed.

And there is more. You actually can modify the B16 legally as long as you buy parts/kits that are 50-state legal. These parts will have a CARB Exemption number. As long as you install the parts as listed and keep the paperwork, you will be safe.

On the other hand, if you were to get equivalent parts for the D15B, they would not be legal even with CARB E.O. #'s because they are not on the engine they are exempt for. You could get in major poopie for that.

In my opinion, all signs point to B16'age. BTW, I mean USDM B16's. Only way to make it legal. You can do it as long as the engine meets the standards that were set forth at the time of vehicle manufacture. Basically the engine has to be newer then the vehicle it is going in.

D3vin

I think this might help, but laws do change overtime.

http://htarchive.org/showthread.php?t=2717816