Is this a legit B18C or a ls/vtec ?
 

Hey guys, hoping you can help me out here. There is an offer up ad for a 1999 gsr compete swap that is only 1500 that I've been having my eye on. The only problem I'm having is that I don't believe it is an original block because if you look closely at the picture, there is a stainless steel oil line going from the head to the block leading me to believe that it is A Frankenstein motor. I asked the seller about it and they say it's the original motor the car came with. What do you guys think? There are no other pictures posted in the ad.https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/honda-t...d34ce55fed.png
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/honda-t...ec271eb926.png
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/honda-t...d3b8b50fcd.png

Re: Is this a legit B18C or a ls/vtec ?
 

The external oil line seen in the photo could be an indicator of a CRVtec or LS/Vtec engine... or it could be for an oil pressure gauge. Pictures of the front of the block and below the intake manifold would be helpful... seeing where the other end of that AN line goes may also tell the tale.

Re: Is this a legit B18C or a ls/vtec ?
 

That stainless line looks like oil supply for the head (LS-VTEC) to me. Could be wrong though, it could be for something else.

IMO you could find a better deal you won't have to second guess in Texas...

Re: Is this a legit B18C or a ls/vtec ?
 

I am thinking you are likely correct here, although these lines are not normally routed over the intake manifold and then back down through a gap between intake runners... then again, it may be connected to a sandwich plate at the oil filter. Ultimately, this doesn't mean that it cannot be a GSR shortblock and GSR head combination. I have seen three examples over the years where a VTEC head is installed on a VTEC block, and it turns out that the head had been used previously on a non-VTEC block and the plug in the oil passage was not removed before installing the head on a VTEC block. Obviously, it is more difficult to remove the head just to yank the plug, so plumbing an external oil feed line to provide an alternate path for engine oil works just fine.

Re: Is this a legit B18C or a ls/vtec ?
 

Just ask for a picture of the block stamping and remove all doubt.
Good idea to ask for a picture of the head code to double check everything. Normally a line like that is for an lsvtec build but like said above could be for a sandwich plate