powersk8er92

Hey peoples. I'm doing a mini-me swap. I'm putting a D15B JDM VTEC head onto a D15B7 block.

I got the metal Y8 head gasket because its a stronger gasket, and I've heard that if you remove the middle layer it can bump up your compression a little. With the B7 pistons it would be suitable. My question is how do you remove the middle layer? There are two rivets holding it together. Has anyone here done this before?

Also, I ordered new piston rings and rod bearings for the bottom end because it has 162,000 miles already. I figured since I'm already gonna be in there I might as well swap them. I've never done this. Can you pull the pistons without taking out the whole block?

I love my 94 4DR DX. Is it true that its lighter than the coupe?

What I've got so far:

D15B JDM VTEC HEAD
D16Z6 distributor
D16Z6 timing belt
D15B7 water pump
D16Y8 head gasket
valve cover gasket
valve stem seals
spark plug tube seals

What else would you guys do?

Jimster480

Well unless its smoking or the compression isnt flat then there is no reason to change the rings and especially no reason to change the bearings. With a 2Layer Y8 gasket the compression does go up, but I'm pretty sure you buy a 2 layer gasket and you dont rip apart one that already is together.
What ECU are you going to be running? You really dont want to bump the compression that much (since your minime will give you about 10.22 CR already) because thats high for a stock basemap.
If you want more power just do a TB Coolant Bypass, get a Hondata/Bisimoto Intake Manifold Gasket, Y8 Manifold (if its out of the car maybe you should get it port matched, or port match the Z6 manifold), E3 Diamondfire Plugs.

powersk8er92

Yeah it has been smoking for a while. It burns about a quart every week right now. On cylinder 2 the spark plug is continually being fouled up. I can also see an oil leak on cylinder 2 around the exhaust manifold. I'm pretty sure that ring is shot.

I'm going to run the stock P08 ECU.

I know I won't get a whole lot more power, but I'm excited to see what I can do with this build. They say they can almost do the same as the D16Z6.

Jimster480

It should actually make more power than a Z6. Because of its higher CR. My friends B7/Y8 on a P28 (i dont think it was chipped, if it was it wasnt tuned) made about 140HP with a stock exhaust, header, and a regular intake.

powersk8er92

Encouraging words man. I will post pics when I get started.