okay im trying to narrow out the choices between doing a zc vs. b16 swap and i know its a heated argument. i was set on the zc and my buddy said that one of the local shops didnt recommend it cuz it was a pain in the *** to swap. from what i read it was an almost straight bolt in. i know the b16 is more powerful, but the zc is also a lot cheaper. so here's my questions.

1. for those of you with zc or b16's what is your gas milage? im keeping the a/c on mine with either swap.
2. are you using 91 octane for your engines? i know the b16 has a higher engine compression ratio than the zc.
3. has anyone passed smog legally in california with the swap. i know they wont pass visual, im not asking about that. im asking about a tailpipe sniffer test. and yes i read the post about how to pass smog but that wasnt in california. im talking about passing without paying someone off.


and a quick fyi, i met a really nice guy in so cali (costa mesa so cali area) who is parting out his 89 crx si. it still has the back hatch and some interior parts. i know the doors (dammit they had the japan electronic windows and mirrors), seats, and rear box stuff were already sold but if there's anything else you are looking for i can give you his number. he had a wings west kit on it too but i already got the rear flush mount spoiler . he still has the side skirts.

 

i have a b16 swap , ive only done gas milage two times so far, one time 27 mpg amd the other 32 mpg. i run on 91 octane and sorry i live on the east coast

 

oh yeah and i kinda wished i went zc with a turbo, or even my Si motor with a turbo. it seems if i spent all the money i spent on the b16 swap i coulda had a faster car. but then again vtec is fun

 

No swap is a pain in the *** if the shop knows what the hell they're talking about. Shitty shop.
I wouldn't do a DOHC ZC just because of the California Smog problem (it can never be legal), forget the test only places, if you get pushed into the state ref and you don't know how to do an engine swap yourself, you're talkin about paying for 2 engine swaps if you even bother to put it back in.

B16 however can be legal... so you should go that road.

You should do the work yourself and read about everything yourself. (dont take advice from bad shops)
A swapped and turbo'd car with an uneducated driver will be in and out of the shop constantly IMO. You should know more about your car than anyone else.

 

a SOHC zc can be legal as it's known as a JDM replacement engine because its got the same design (sohc, non-vtec, 1.6l)

 

yeah thats what im worrying about. the cops down here can be real **** sometimes, the last thing i want is to get pulled over and then they make me pop the hood and i have to go to the ref. i saw them tear down some rice grinder on the street more than once.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NikoZai &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

B16 however can be legal... so you should go that road.</TD></TR></TABLE>


im just curious. how can u make it legal? so that i don't have to go to illegal smogs lol

 

how bout an ls b18

 

just go with the b16 not hard to swap plus you can always turbo down the road my opinion on the zc dohc is that it is the worst motor honda built but thats just my opinion

 

does anyone here have a smog legal b16?

 

The ZC being a pain in the *** to swap? Assuming you using an hf/si the swap is a bolt in with very trivial wiring, wehreas the B16A needs additional wiring, new axles, new mounts, new shift linkage and so on.

On the other hand, they may have meant the legal issues. I've never heard of problems like that with the ZC, but I don't live in Cali. I feel bad for you guys.

If you can afford the extra money, just go with a B16A. Turbos are fun, but they're more complicated. If your not even sure what you want, the added mess of a turbo probably isn't something you want to get into just yet. The ZC alone is enough to sort of upset the stock chassis, a B16A should provide you enough fun for now.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by crx_88_si &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">a SOHC zc can be legal as it's known as a JDM replacement engine because its got the same design (sohc, non-vtec, 1.6l)</TD></TR></TABLE>

Not to smog refs it isn't.

However it is basically a bolt in affair while a b16 would require mounts, shift linkage, axles, wiring, etc. But what made my choice was 160hp vs 130hp. When I was running the b16 I did have to use 91 octane and then 100 while trying to pass at the smog ref with my ctr pistons.

 

dohc zc are crap, and there are no part's, get a b16a