Ive tried searching and can't find what I'm looking for exactly so I figured I'd ask myself. Ihave a 95 integra with a stick b18b1 and auto tranny. I know the auto will hold me back majorly but that's fine because I'm not thinking race car build. I was thinking just port and polish the head and maybe port match also and then just a stage 1 cam(s) setup and maybe some cam gears. It's going to be my DD so like I said I'm not looking for major power, I just hate stock anything. I have a full 3" exhaust that's going on it that looks like it bolts to the stock manifold so I was for sure going to start there. I've tried to find just short headers just for looks but I've not had any luck. I have thought about doing the LS/vtech swap but I'm not really wanting to go that route since I have a spare stock b18b1 with auto sitting on the side. I don't have any power numbers to try to reach I just want to pick it up a little bit. And later on I was going to look into some body mods but that's when I get what I want under the hood. Any help or tips or tricks would be appreciated.

 

You're thinking was fine until you correlated the idea that a manual transmission = race car. I would laugh at you, but sadly many young people who don't drive often believe this.

You won't find ANY performance gain on the car without it being a manual transmission. the gearing on the auto transmissions just put all that work to waste.

So, the "tip" is....1) know what you're talking about. "stage 1" camshafts can mean anything from any company, even those made by glorified monkeys.. You'll waste money there
2) stop the automatic crap. nothing will happen without a manual transmission. get that out your head now.
3) Welcome to H-T. Where ideas can be squashed easily, and you need a thick skin, to get real advice from people who actually know and do..

Enjoy your visit here.

 

I wasn't thinking that manual=race car I just know that a manual helps with power adders. So nothing would be noticeable with an automatic? I'm sorry for all the stupid questions but I'm used to trucks and small block Chevy type stuff. And I was thinking a small cam just for a different idle sound without having to buy a new valvetrain also.

 

Well, that's the difference. Small cams don't give different idle sounds in I-4 setups. You don't have the odd rotating assembly order like in a small block Chevy or similar V8 setup. Just doesn't work that way. If you want a different stock idle sound without all the camshaft, get a "Boxer" 4-cylinder Subaru. That's a lot of the reason those guys get those engines. Even then, they don't see gains with an automatic transmission either.

Unfortunately, due to the sheer litre size of these engines, (1.21 cubic inches, etc), these power adders don't show well at all in Automatics transmissions. not at all. Plus, the torque converters aren't very robust even if you did add anything like nitrous or some higher level performance. You need to also have engine management to feel the effects of that kind of work on these engines. you can't just "port them" and expect any changes. Welcome to small displacement EFI.

 

Thank you for the insight on small motors. Wouldit be worth it to doa 5 speed swap if I have most of the needed items?

 

Well. the transmission swap part is easy. Adding a pedal Assembly, well, hard to say if you want to go through all of that, as it is very time consuming. You may be better off, just finding another chassis that already has 3 pedals in it, may be more worth your time.

 

Is a pedal add/swap on these that bad? Is there cutting involved? I'm actually kind of curious to just do a swap to get my hands dirty. Could you maybe give a short version of doing a tranny swap if you can?

 

There are plenty of Honda B-series transmission change outs online via Youtube and Honda-Tech. take the time out to look

B-series Transmission Guide | HondaSwap

And yes, the 3 pedal swap requires some cutting and change out.

Here's a quick break-down
5 speed swap - Auto to manual parts list - Page 3 - Team Integra Forums - Team Integra

You'll also have to get a new ECU for the manual swap and transmission

Seriously.. Sell this thing to an old lady needing an automatic and get a manual transmission car.

 

I really wanted a manual but I couldn't pass up on this car especially since I'm sure it will get better than my gallons per mile truck I got. I gave 300 and a broken four wheeler for it and I'm getting an extra motor thrown in with it. I've always been a fan of bad choices when doing any kind of swap with any vehicle too. I just figured the swap would be a fun project to tackle with my brother in law

 

Then keep it automatic, build it to stock, clean up, then sell.. But don't put that money into building the engine for performance

 

Well I solved my delima. I'm trading the integra for a 12 valve and buying my friends del sol vtech 5 speed to build instead. That's a much better plan, correct?

 

Much better to start with, sure.

And please remember for future reference :

 

Haha got it and sorry I'm new to the whole import thing so I'm still learning everything like that. Would a turbo and nitrous be to much for a built vtec? Or would just one or the other work better?

 

It's not an "import" thing at all, it's simply a "Honda" thing. VTEC is patented only with Honda (although similar engine phenomenon can only now be found in some other models.)

Turbocharging is much more beneficial in the long run verses using Nitrous Oxide. the only way both are used is if the turbocharger being utilized was no longer efficient at it's maximum boost pressure, or too large for its use on such a small engine.

Check out those FAQs in the Forced Induction forum to learn more.