hey... i just bought a 89 hatch with a blown motor... i want something that is reliable and want to be able to build it up in the future. I was thinkin of starting off with a LS block then eventually going ls-v or turbo ls.... but with that i need to buy new mounts and convert it and all that junk wich costs money. If i were to go zc i feel i would be limited and the motor wouldnt have as much potential.........but zc's are cheap and i can use my stock mounts and tranny...then turbo it... any advice would be helpful.. im new to all of this and learning as i go so please no flames... just in a big delima.. thanks

 

Go with an LS.

 

help anyone??????

 

any opinions???

 

Well your saying two things man, either you want to be cheap or you want a lot of power.

ZC really cheap around 500$ for the swap 130hp, 108tq (give or take) you can use your current tranny and clutch wiring is the same and can use the stock ecu. You will run a mid 16 to low 15 depending on if u add intake/header/exhaust. Turbo it for around 1-2k and you can expect a mid 14 to mid 13 with boost on the stock motor.

LS swap, a little more money a shop here does the entire swap installed for under 1k 140hp and 124tq (give or take and also what yr). A lot more possible choices turbo,all motor, ls-vtec. With I/H/E on an LS you can expect a 15 easily and a mid/high 14 I've seen. Boosted you can expect a 13 easy and I have seen some ppl hit 12's.

Look either choice you can poor money into and make it fast but personally I think you would put more money into the ZC to make it compete with the LS

Also one thing I like about cars is the feel of power (the tq) So I would always go with the LS because of that. Plus more parts are out there for B-series unless you really like looking. I have done D-series and as there is aftermarket for them you can call most any place and they will have B-series and not D-series.

Also bad drivers or whatever my stock crx si ran with quite a few ZC swapped civic hbs and crx's. and that was a best of 15.2 but avg of 15.5, an LS swapped civic or crx would have handed me my tail

 

i agree. the zc motor is not a worthy platform to build a reliable-fast car. i've seen too many zc's come and go with no real results. it will take more money to get the zc to run like the ls and will lack the reliability factor. i am a big fan of putting a turbo on an LS. GOOD COMBO!
in an 88-91 hatch will require some shop wrk but will be well worth it. spend the extra $ up front and it will save you in the end.

 

thanks guys

 

thanks for the info.. not gunna even waste my time on ZC.. on to newer better things