Engine ideas for around $3500
#1
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Texas
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Engine ideas for around $3500
I have a 92 civic Hatchback SI. Im debating which was to go. I eventually want to boost. Question is to go B16, LS, or GSR. From what ive read LS respond great to boost, plus have a little more torque then the B16. I have a buddy selling a GSR i might be able to pickup everything for a swap including the tranny with a Phantom LSD and a ported head.Said to have around 125k miles. Bounce some ideas or thoughts at me please while I do some more research.
#2
Honda-Tech Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: ventura county, ca, united states
Posts: 1,031
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Engine ideas for around $3500
if youre on a budget go ls with a b16 tranny,pref with lsd then spend the rest on boost parts. ls engines are cheeap and plentiful blow it up and your good to go again with just a couple hundred bucks.
#5
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Texas
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Engine ideas for around $3500
I like that idea. Do you recommend spending the extra $$ and getting a low mile LS, or just pick something up relatively nice but higher miles on craigslist saving some money?
#7
Honda-Tech Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: ventura county, ca, united states
Posts: 1,031
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Engine ideas for around $3500
I would recommend a low mileage jap LS. can be had for much much less than a gsr. hmotors has the B18B LS for 749 and hmotorsonline is the ****. always good stuff from those guys. Why spend an extra 500 too 1000 on a gsr when u can just get better parts forr an ls build and make more power reliably. I would only suggest the gsr iif Your bud is hooking you up with a sweat deal. if that money was mine I would get a jap ls $750 (low miles=reliable) find a good B16tranny with lsd for a grand or so. hopefully this budget doesnt include money for mounts and linkage.etc. IF it doesnt u have almost 2k to boost. thats plenty if you know how to pick your parts wisely.
Trending Topics
#8
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Station in RI but from FL
Posts: 562
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Engine ideas for around $3500
wasting a post didnt mention anything about a b20.
On another note i would go with the ls on either buying the gsr tranny or the sticking with the b18b tranny. You dont want the b16 tranny on a turbo application. Also try driving 80 on the highway with a b16 you'll be at 5000 rpm burning alot of gas.. Just alot you have to take into concertation.
On another note i would go with the ls on either buying the gsr tranny or the sticking with the b18b tranny. You dont want the b16 tranny on a turbo application. Also try driving 80 on the highway with a b16 you'll be at 5000 rpm burning alot of gas.. Just alot you have to take into concertation.
#9
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Texas
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Engine ideas for around $3500
wasting a post didnt mention anything about a b20.
On another note i would go with the ls on either buying the gsr tranny or the sticking with the b18b tranny. You dont want the b16 tranny on a turbo application. Also try driving 80 on the highway with a b16 you'll be at 5000 rpm burning alot of gas.. Just alot you have to take into concertation.
On another note i would go with the ls on either buying the gsr tranny or the sticking with the b18b tranny. You dont want the b16 tranny on a turbo application. Also try driving 80 on the highway with a b16 you'll be at 5000 rpm burning alot of gas.. Just alot you have to take into concertation.
#10
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Texas
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Engine ideas for around $3500
I would recommend a low mileage jap LS. can be had for much much less than a gsr. hmotors has the B18B LS for 749 and hmotorsonline is the ****. always good stuff from those guys. Why spend an extra 500 too 1000 on a gsr when u can just get better parts forr an ls build and make more power reliably. I would only suggest the gsr iif Your bud is hooking you up with a sweat deal. if that money was mine I would get a jap ls $750 (low miles=reliable) find a good B16tranny with lsd for a grand or so. hopefully this budget doesnt include money for mounts and linkage.etc. IF it doesnt u have almost 2k to boost. thats plenty if you know how to pick your parts wisely.
#11
Honda-Tech Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: in the sticks, U S of A
Posts: 504
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Engine ideas for around $3500
gsr's are way more reliable , gsr motors outperform a ls in every single way there is .there is nothing on a ls that comes close to comparing to a gsr.
i made 60whp more on the same turbo kit at the same psi on my gsr then i did on my LS
Last edited by turbo97coupe; 05-23-2009 at 11:46 PM.
#12
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Station in RI but from FL
Posts: 562
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Engine ideas for around $3500
get the gsr , as 1700 is cheap and i will sell you my spare gsr intake mani i have sitting here if you need it.
this > = BS "Why spend an extra 500 too 1000 on a gsr when u can just get better parts forr an ls build and make more power reliably."
gsr's are way more reliable , gsr motors outperform a ls in every single way there is , revability,reliability,cfm the head flows ,vtec, better intake mani, better cams ,way more power then a ls , on the same turbo kit with the same psi . there is nothing on a ls that comes close to comparing to a gsr.
iam speaking from expierence ive had both boosted gsr , and LS. i made 60whp more on the same turbo kit at the same psi on my gsr then i did on my LS
this > = BS "Why spend an extra 500 too 1000 on a gsr when u can just get better parts forr an ls build and make more power reliably."
gsr's are way more reliable , gsr motors outperform a ls in every single way there is , revability,reliability,cfm the head flows ,vtec, better intake mani, better cams ,way more power then a ls , on the same turbo kit with the same psi . there is nothing on a ls that comes close to comparing to a gsr.
iam speaking from expierence ive had both boosted gsr , and LS. i made 60whp more on the same turbo kit at the same psi on my gsr then i did on my LS
#13
Re: Engine ideas for around $3500
If you have an 92 hatch si and its your DAILY i would first try to worry about security man. Too many Hondas get stolen every week not tryin to change the subject or anything. By the way I think turbo97coupe is right GSR all the way.
#14
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Texas
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Engine ideas for around $3500
I have an Autopage RS1000, C3 GPS tracking, once i get an engine swap going ill wire in my stealth kill switch/s. May look into a Rovelco as well.
#15
Honda-Tech Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Chesapeake, VA USA
Posts: 404
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Engine ideas for around $3500
Personaly id go b20/vtec pwjdm has a sale for b20 long blocks for 550. Throw on a b16 head and tranny. Because your on a budget ill mention holset turbos (look up the thread "holset users unite") lots of good info there.
Just my .02
Eddie
Just my .02
Eddie
#17
Honda-Tech Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Toronto, ontario, canada
Posts: 1,791
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Engine ideas for around $3500
dont waste money on ravelco, ppl still get jacked with that, its just like a kill switch theres a few thread of that on here
#18
Re: Engine ideas for around $3500
If you have the money, I think the GSR would be best. It has a better rod to stroke ratio, VTEC, and you kinda should put lower compression pistons in to run much boost safely, so the mileage shouldn't be an issue, at least on the bottom end. Plus the VTEC head flows better than the LS to begin with.
That's just my 2 cents
That's just my 2 cents
#19
Honda-Tech Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: ventura county, ca, united states
Posts: 1,031
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Engine ideas for around $3500
like one of the posters said unless you are going to have money to rebuild the gsrr Id go ls. 125k for a motor that is going to be boosted will need a rebuild sooner than later.
#20
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Station in RI but from FL
Posts: 562
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Engine ideas for around $3500
^^^exactly correct. i would not recommend boosting the gsr untill you have built the block but that is alot of extra money. If it was me i would get the ls try to find a gsr head and cams and if moneys left over boost it.
#21
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Texas
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Engine ideas for around $3500
I heard a few people say this. Would you still need an ls/vtec kit from GE when using an LS and GSR heard? Although $3500 is my budget for now, its just what im starting with. So if I dont boost it now, ill boost it later. So I would like to get something that will be reliable and a good platform to work on later.
#23
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Spokane, WA, US
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
#24
Honda-Tech Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: 818 LA
Posts: 364
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Engine ideas for around $3500
#25
Honda-Tech Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: ventura county, ca, united states
Posts: 1,031
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Engine ideas for around $3500
if you are looking for a reliable DD then I really think thats your best option for the 3500. Do you really want to spend more than that on fixing up a 16 year old car. anyways buy a low mileage jap ls, B16 lsd tranny with a LS 5th gear for highway purposes. buy your mounts if needed. start collecting turbo parts. Unless you really want to say yea I have a gsr turbo or a lsvtecT you will be more than happy with a turbo ls and will happy with the money thats left.