Sorry if this has been covered before, I didn't see it in my search.

If money wasn't the deciding factor, but it was an issue, and you had to choose between a Vtec D15b and a LS B18b, which would you pick and why? Gas milage is important for me by the way, the car is my daily driver.

I'm trying to decide on the pros and cons of each for my 93 Dx hatch.

I figure that the D15b swap would run about $700-$1000 total and the LS motor would be around $2200-$2500 for the full swap from Hmotors.

The pros of the D15:
Keep my current transmission
Probably better milage than B18
Way cheaper
Easier Install - A/C, etc. stays in the same spot

Cons of D15:
JDM motor = harder to find parts for?
1.5 liters = less torque
1.5 liters = less aftermarket = less power potential


The Pros of B18:
More power - slightly
More aftermarket, right?
Better transmission options

Cons of B18:
Always be the B series redheaded stepchild
Have to have new transmission
Will get worse milage than D15
Not sure how to keep A/C on a B series

What do you guys think? At this time, I'm basically looking for something to replace my tired D15y7, but I want to take the right next step in the engine department.

 

Wouldn't let me edit so:

I guess another way of phrasing my question is - "Do you think stepping up to the B-series engine/transmission is worth the extra money? Even if it's just a B18B."

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DougNuts &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Wouldn't let me edit so:

I guess another way of phrasing my question is - "Do you think stepping up to the B-series engine/transmission is worth the extra money? Even if it's just a B18B."</TD></TR></TABLE>

yes

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by LS95eg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

yes</TD></TR></TABLE>



ls/vtec

 

Its not hard to decide. A stock LS swap in your civic will beat 90% of modified single cams out there with no effort. Also, i wouldn't pay more than $2000 for a full swap. If you do, your getting ripped off.

 

Definitely B18B! 1.8 liters is better than 1.5 liters. And fuel economy probably won't suffer much.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ek99 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> Also, i wouldn't pay more than $2000 for a full swap. If you do, your getting ripped off.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Ok, where would I get a complete swap for under $2000, from a place with a good reputation?

Hmotors wants $2200 last time I checked.

 

b18b=redheaded step child? not really, there are alot of aftermarket support the b18 non-vtec.

 

It sounds to me like you are manily concerned with gas mileage and how much you'll spend. If that's the case, just go with the D15B which would be a noticeable difference over the D15B7. Of course the LS swap would be a much better platform to build off of and the gas mileage wouldn't be much different. You can easily keep the A/C with the LS swap by simply using a Del Sol A/C bracket and all of your stock A/C parts.

 

I've decided on the LS swap.

Unless there is a better option out there, I'll be sourcing everything from Hmotorsonline.com

 

I would suggest calling all salvage yards from the closest to the farthest you'd be willing to drive. Also, look at all the parts you need. You can get parts here and there and put it together yourself.

Me I got lucky and found someone off of this forum selling their wrecked 96 LS for 650. Now the axles were bad but hey I got one hell of a deal.

Also as far as the ecu is concerned, just buy a chip, as conservative as possible off of ebay for the LS motor and your ecu will run that motor just fine. I have a skunk2 chip for DOHC non-vtec in my sohc ecu and it works perfect. If you can install the chip that will save you some cash too.

I mean it's easier to just buy one from hmotorsonline.com but they are so highly priced in my opinion.

just my .02 cents though

oh and I have smoked plenty of stock b16 civic swaps and believe me it's a hell of alot of fun whether you beat people or not, it makes for one hell of a ride compared to the sohc. Now I'm going on for turbo........

 

good choice on the ls swap. i previously had a sohcvtec d16z6 with many bolt ons and it was not as fast as my ls swap wiht just intake and exhaust. ls owns around town. i would look for a longblock and then perhaps a gsr tranny . you can use the dx harness

 

My first LS motor was from a kid who crashed his 95teg and sold me the motor for $200!!!! My second LS was from some guy who had too many problems completing his swap and got fed up and i got it for $100. I'm not kidding, $100!!. Just search around.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by blackeg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> i would look for a longblock and then perhaps a gsr tranny . you can use the dx harness</TD></TR></TABLE>

I have access to a GSR transmission. When you say I can use the dx harness, what does that mean? I just need to correct computer for the motor and everything else will plug right in?

 

yup stay obd1 u can just chip your ecu to so u dont need a new one

 

i could get you a whole car for $500.. its been sideswiped and totalled. but engine an stuff are prime. i'm in Austin, tx by the way.