I bought a 1990 Prelude from a friend. It's had an engine replaced once but she can't find her paper work from that and I'm wanting to do a few mods to help with gas milage and add a little to the horse power. It was just in an acciednt so I have it in the barn until I can replace the front passenger side wheel. (It went over a curb after sliding and bent some parts.)

Anyways I was trying to find out what engine it was and all I could find on the block was:

B20A

Is this the Engine model number? or am I loking at something else? I'm new to this so I could use the help a lot. Right now I'm just wanting to add a cold air intake to it.

I could also use suggestions on some new shocks to put in. The front passenger one blew when I went over that curb. Thanks for the help!

 

Yup that's the model of the engine.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B20A/B21A &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Partially unrelated to the Honda B-series engines are the B20A and B21A. By some, these are not considered to be part of the B-series group of engines because they are not compatible with any of the other B-series parts or chassis. The B20A and B21A blocks are cast so they lay at an 18-degree angle leaning torwards the firewall. This was done to please the exterior specifications for the 1988-1991 3rd Generation Prelude due to it's ultra-low hoodline which Honda dubs the "engineless design". The B20A, B20A3, and B20A5 engines consisted of closed-deck aluminum blocks with thicker-than-average iron sleeves whereas the B21A1 had some special material.

The B21A1 was basically a re-worked B20A5 with an increase in bore to 83mm. The external block dimensions had to stay identical to the B20A5 block so Honda called upon Saffil to create a thin but strong cylinder liner called FRM (Fiber Reenforced Metal) which basically consisted of a carbon fiber matrix, aluminum alloy, and aluminum oxide to make a very strong cylinder sleeve. These sleeves are so strong that they often do not lose thier factory cross-hatching marks after 200,000 miles! A lot of B21A1 engines burn oil and have low cylinder compression numbers because the FRM material is so strong that is tears up piston rings. Good news though, you can usually replace the piston rings without any honing to the sleeves and go another 100,000+ miles without any sleeve wear.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

Yeah, B20A is the engine model. I'm not sure, but I dunno if they make a cold air intake for it.. You could custom make one easy though. Or just modifiy one from another model to fit yours.

Koni Yellows are supposed to be good as are KYB's. Check those out. Do a little searching here on the board.... If it's working....

 

Ok second question and then several more. I just decided to number them. Oh I'll probably be driving this car everywhere, just because I love my Honda's, so I need to keep it basicly street legal for Tennessee. I think I already know the answer to the first one.
1. It's not a V-TEC is it? The friend I bought it from swears it is, but from what I've read so far they didn't put V-TEC's into preludes until 93'.
2. Asuming it's not, what can be done to upgrade the engine? Preferably starting with the relatively inexpensively right now for the best bang for my buck, and then up to the more expensive.
3. If it's not a V-TEC would it be best to just do an engine swap first and then upgrade?
4. Are there any advantages to not having a V-TEC?

Ok that's it for now bug you some more later.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by PorphetofTears &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ok second question and then several more. I just decided to number them. Oh I'll probably be driving this car everywhere, just because I love my Honda's, so I need to keep it basicly street legal for Tennessee. I think I already know the answer to the first one.
1. It's not a V-TEC is it? The friend I bought it from swears it is, but from what I've read so far they didn't put V-TEC's into preludes until 93'.
2. Asuming it's not, what can be done to upgrade the engine? Preferably starting with the relatively inexpensively right now for the best bang for my buck, and then up to the more expensive.
3. If it's not a V-TEC would it be best to just do an engine swap first and then upgrade?
4. Are there any advantages to not having a V-TEC?

Ok that's it for now bug you some more later. </TD></TR></TABLE>

1. no its not a vtec.. ur right, not until 92 i think, the 4th gen,
2.to upgrade, put a VTEC head on it, and make it a B20 vtec.. they are relatively strong.. theres more to it than just throwin a head on it, read up..
3.see 2.
4. better low end power...

 

Cool thanks for the info. I'll definately Do some research into it. Umm... I'll go throught the forums and see what I can find on doing the vtec upgrade to it. If some one can point me in the direction of a detailed write up on how to do it That would be more than wonderful. You a bunch of great guys you've already helped me out a lot thanks!

 

hey mann i have a 1991 prelude si with a b21 and i have an intake header exhaust high compression pistons and adjustable cam gears i bought all these parts on the dc sport site and magazine ads