I have a 93 Civic DX Coupe with a d15b in my car now. The Motor needs to be swap since it is soo slow and knocking. I would like to swap for a B18c, but money is an issue since i still have school....That leaves me with the decision between an b18b or a b16a (1 Gen). My question is that... with the less amount of money and simplicity, which motor should i go with? Also, if there are also other engine choices that i did not think about ?? I think i can afford about $2.5k.

If anyone had made this decision or tech. , please give me any advices on what to doo?
Thanks for reading my Concerns

 

I dont think the 1 gen b16 will be a good move..

Just go ls and if you still have some money left over get a turbo kit....(junkyard turbo)

 

b18b lots of torque, cheap, don't have to wire for VTEC

or b20 swap with gsr tranny, that'd be a nice setup that would rip if ur planning to stay near stock

 

if you say you have 2.5k to spend then you can get a SIR2 b16a 170hp full conversion . that would be your best bet. IMO

 

I second that....first gen may seem like a deal because of it's low initial cost but to put it in a 5th gen chassis there are a lot of hidden costs, it will cost as much if not more to use a sir1 vs the sir2.

Your best bet is second gen b16a (jdm) or b18b as a second choice...

 

If you plan on DRIVING(i.e. street) I'd go B18B. More torque-HP, and in a better rpm band.

 

i think the b20 with gsr tani is a good idea!!nice base to start with.later you could boost, charge, or build a b20 vtec if you like!very versitile base!!

 

I would go with a B18B1 over a B16A, especially a first gen B16A. The B18B1 is going to feel much more like a "bigger" engine should due to the torque. The B16A doen't feel much different than a SOHC VTEC until you really get on it. If you want good street power without having to take the car to 8K to feel it, go with the LS. If you want to rev to 8K+ and like the VTEC, go with a second gen B16A with hydro tranny. Just keep in mind that the B18B1 is a great building block for the future: LSVTEC or turbo - or both

 

Hey, thanks for all the input guys...

I think i am going to go with a b18b. Since i m going to drive it daily and like the power. Hey... if that is enough money, get some b16a heads and make it ls/vtec right . Hey, do you guys know of any good reputatable place to get an engine from? If i m going with the b18b, what other things do i need be make the swap as smooth as possible? like what kind of tranny, mount, wiring harness,etc...

I think my 93 civic dx coupe has an obd 1 and the b18b1 has an obd1 also right?? Tell me if I m off.... Does that mean that the only wiring problems would be the o2 sensor right?? i need to convert it to 4 wire right? The other wiring would not be a problem? What else m i not thinking of?

Thanks for helping me since i m very new to the motor swap scheme.

 

All of your questions can be answered here:
http://www.hasport.com/Tech/Hasport%20Tech.htm

 

Most full B18B1 swaps can be had complete for about $2000. I would suggest talking to Larry Jr. at Import Auto Salvage. I would get an OBDII 96-01 complete swap and then run an OBDI LS ECU. There is no extra wiring involved going that route and you have a better chance of getting a lower mileage setup. I have a 99 GSR in my 92 VX, the swap only had 14K when I bought it. Then I have a 96 B18B1 longblock in my 91 CRX which had only 3K on it. OBDII into an OBDI chassis is the sheezit!

 

a 1st b16a wont fit, cheaply.. get a b18b or a d16 and got turbo .... but if u got 2500 go b18b and you should have at least 500 least to buy parts, new cams I/H/E OR WHATever buy a pair of tims!

 

Hell yea, I've had 3 Honda's now. All of which have been LS powered, and all of which were daily driven and abused on the weekends. Great motor, strong block, build the head and it'll ride out.

 

I have actually had both a B16A and B18B simultaneously in two different cars of the same weight. And my preference was definitely the B16A. Now alot of people complain about the B16A 'lacking torque'. But let's face it, the displacement advantage of the B18B is a miniscule 12.5%. And the peak torque difference is likewise small (127ft-lb vs 111ft-lb for the B18B, 121ft-lb vs 111ft-lb for the B18A). Furthermore, the B16A actually produces a greater fraction of peak torque over a wider RPM range. And let's not forget that the taller gearing of the LS transmission eats up much to all of the torque advantage of the B18B over the B16A. The result? The LS does not feel as much torquier off the line in first gear as you might think. And in fifth gear, the LS actually feels MORE sluggish than the B16A. Hills that a B16A climbs easily in fith require a downshift with the LS. And if you use a B16A transmission on an LS motor, the freeway revs are WAYYYYY too high. My timeslips speak for themselves. The B16A was .4-.5 seconds and 4-5MPH faster than the B18B.


[Modified by StorminMatt, 3:14 AM 1/7/2003]

 

<lil bro

i'm in teh same boat as u are. i plan on buying a b18b longblock or so and build up teh engine and swap it in my car and then get boost.