"Cheap" JDM engines, help me choose: D15b-turbo or '98+ B18C-NA (daily driver)
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 298
Likes: 1
From: Nor*Cal, USA
"Cheap" JDM engines, help me choose: D15b-turbo or '98+ B18C-NA (daily driver)
I found good deals on full JDM swaps & narrowed it down to 2 candidates:
1.) turbo D15B sohc vtec (Civic VTi, 130 hp) or...
2.) all motor B18C dohc vtec (98+ Integra Type-R, 200 hp/134 tq, 11 C.R.)
the sohc = $375 free shipping and would turbo it. But I need a
Fuel Efficient
lightweight
streetable
reliable setup for hiway commuting fun & top end acceleration.
If $$ isn't the greatest concern, which engines better for taking a lot hard of miles?
Heavily built turbo sohc: (ball-bearing T28, Love Fab turbo mani, bored +2mm, sleeved, forged pistons/rods, valvetrain running maybe 7-9 psi daily, hondata, full 2.5" exhaust, etc...)
Or moderately built NA ITR b18c: (bored 84.5 mm, Toda spec b/Jun III cams, Headertech header, thin head gasket, flat top valves, 440 cc injectors, hondata s200, TB, S2000 or Walbro fuel pump, etc...)
I found the ITR swap for < $5K but don't know how its gas mileage would be when built. Doesn't it weigh like 75 lbs. more than the D? Its probably still more than a turbo d...
So overall for MPG (hiway mostly), weight, streetability & reliability, which would you drop in a 1991 STD hatch?
Thanks guys.
1.) turbo D15B sohc vtec (Civic VTi, 130 hp) or...
2.) all motor B18C dohc vtec (98+ Integra Type-R, 200 hp/134 tq, 11 C.R.)
the sohc = $375 free shipping and would turbo it. But I need a
Fuel Efficient
lightweight
streetable
reliable setup for hiway commuting fun & top end acceleration.
If $$ isn't the greatest concern, which engines better for taking a lot hard of miles?
Heavily built turbo sohc: (ball-bearing T28, Love Fab turbo mani, bored +2mm, sleeved, forged pistons/rods, valvetrain running maybe 7-9 psi daily, hondata, full 2.5" exhaust, etc...)
Or moderately built NA ITR b18c: (bored 84.5 mm, Toda spec b/Jun III cams, Headertech header, thin head gasket, flat top valves, 440 cc injectors, hondata s200, TB, S2000 or Walbro fuel pump, etc...)
I found the ITR swap for < $5K but don't know how its gas mileage would be when built. Doesn't it weigh like 75 lbs. more than the D? Its probably still more than a turbo d...
So overall for MPG (hiway mostly), weight, streetability & reliability, which would you drop in a 1991 STD hatch?
Thanks guys.
Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,296
Likes: 0
From: Madison, WI, United States of America
b18c is cheap?
the b18c would be more reliable, its made to handle the power better. why are you looking for that on a daily driver?
i'm a d series person, because of their cheapness and disposibility, but if you're gonna turbo a d series and want it reliable you need a really good tune, not run too much boost, or have it completley built. i see you're planning on hondata, it's good, if you put the effort into it.
why go with a jdm d15b vtec? just get a z6 head and throw it on a d15b2, voila same thing since you're changing everything else out. it would also be easier to smog probably, since its all usdm, and the block's usually thrown away.
all i'm trying to say is: nobody can really tell you, its your decision.
the b18c would be more reliable, its made to handle the power better. why are you looking for that on a daily driver?
i'm a d series person, because of their cheapness and disposibility, but if you're gonna turbo a d series and want it reliable you need a really good tune, not run too much boost, or have it completley built. i see you're planning on hondata, it's good, if you put the effort into it.
why go with a jdm d15b vtec? just get a z6 head and throw it on a d15b2, voila same thing since you're changing everything else out. it would also be easier to smog probably, since its all usdm, and the block's usually thrown away.
all i'm trying to say is: nobody can really tell you, its your decision.
Trending Topics
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 275
Likes: 0
From: sac, CA, USA
Re: "Cheap" JDM engines, help me choose: D15b-turbo or '98+ B18C-NA (Import Al)
NA b18c would be more reliable and streetable, but also more expensive...plus if you get the full swap, the tranny is better geared for acceleration, but not necessarily mpg because of the shorter gear ratios.
It's also a 1.8L DOHC vs. 1.5LSOHC Two cams = more precise tuning = generally more reliable
D15b with the std tranny sux for acceleration, but gives great mpg. Tranny swap in order maybe?
Also, building the jdm d15b requires custom pistons, rods etc... = expensive
And 7-9 pounds on that setup would give you about the same whp as a stock b18c
just my two cents...
It's also a 1.8L DOHC vs. 1.5LSOHC Two cams = more precise tuning = generally more reliable
D15b with the std tranny sux for acceleration, but gives great mpg. Tranny swap in order maybe?
Also, building the jdm d15b requires custom pistons, rods etc... = expensive
And 7-9 pounds on that setup would give you about the same whp as a stock b18c
just my two cents...
Re: (blo2k1)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by blo2k1 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">turbo that d15b</TD></TR></TABLE>
X2
X2
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 298
Likes: 1
From: Nor*Cal, USA
Re: "Cheap" JDM engines, help me choose: D15b-turbo or '98+ B18C-NA (megamon21)
^^^ A great seller on D-series.org, drew95eg.
http://www.d-series.org/forums...15282 He gaurantees them for 6 months too.
My main concern is the weight difference between a turbo sohc & an NA B18c. If its not too much heavier and can manage 33 mpg hiway & stay streetable, than its the one I'm after.
Anyone here know the weight difference between B18c and sohc w/turbo, intercooler etc?
The big incentives for D15b is if I blow it up, I'm not $3+ grand in the hole. Plus its light weight & built for great economy already...
Modified by Import Al at 8:41 PM 4/27/2005
http://www.d-series.org/forums...15282 He gaurantees them for 6 months too.
My main concern is the weight difference between a turbo sohc & an NA B18c. If its not too much heavier and can manage 33 mpg hiway & stay streetable, than its the one I'm after.
Anyone here know the weight difference between B18c and sohc w/turbo, intercooler etc?
The big incentives for D15b is if I blow it up, I'm not $3+ grand in the hole. Plus its light weight & built for great economy already...
Modified by Import Al at 8:41 PM 4/27/2005
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,869
Likes: 0
From: 559, CA
Re: "Cheap" JDM engines, help me choose: D15b-turbo or '98+ B18C-NA (titsmcgee)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by titsmcgee »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Also, building the jdm d15b requires custom pistons, rods etc... = expensive
And 7-9 pounds on that setup would give you about the same whp as a stock b18c
just my two cents... </TD></TR></TABLE>not true you can use off the shelf d16z6 rods, but the pistons are the only catch. and at 7-9 pounds with a decent turbo can easily put down over 200whp, not that a stock b18 would do that. 
And 7-9 pounds on that setup would give you about the same whp as a stock b18c
just my two cents...
</TD></TR></TABLE>not true you can use off the shelf d16z6 rods, but the pistons are the only catch. and at 7-9 pounds with a decent turbo can easily put down over 200whp, not that a stock b18 would do that.
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,877
Likes: 1
From: PinaColadaBurgh, Id, USA
Re: "Cheap" JDM engines, help me choose: D15b-turbo or '98+ B18C-NA (Import Al)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Import Al »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
The big incentives for D15b is if I blow it up, I'm not $3+ grand in the hole. </TD></TR></TABLE>Preach on. You can pick up D-series anything for dirt compared to B-Series motors. Just a thought
The big incentives for D15b is if I blow it up, I'm not $3+ grand in the hole. </TD></TR></TABLE>Preach on. You can pick up D-series anything for dirt compared to B-Series motors. Just a thought
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,415
Likes: 0
From: hittin corners so hard you can taste my rims..
Re: (NastyHabitzCRX)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NastyHabitzCRX »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">cmon now Al you know that the turbo D would be 10 times more fun than the B 
</TD></TR></TABLE>
i have a 4 door GSR... ( i know its heavy ), but its just not the same as driving my 92 SOHC turbo.
</TD></TR></TABLE>i have a 4 door GSR... ( i know its heavy ), but its just not the same as driving my 92 SOHC turbo.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
eat_sleep_ej1
Honda Civic / Del Sol (1992 - 2000)
7
Oct 21, 2006 07:33 PM
civicman
Honda Civic / Del Sol (1992 - 2000)
145
Oct 28, 2002 04:24 PM
