i was pondering over a swap to do on my 94 hatchback. I was coming across a b16 every time. But now i have another discision which one jdm or usdm. there is no proof out there that they make more power. I was kinda leaning over the usdm
because i think it would be easier to legalize the motor. From past experience, has any one actually legalized a b16a? if i swap a b16a2 does that all of a sudden make it legal? any help would be greatly appreciated with a hug j/k

 

If i was you i'd get a b18b. But if you really want a b16 you should get a B16A 92-95 (SiR-II) usdm.

 

a b16a makes 170 hp while the b16a2 makes 160. u can make a jdm on legal, its just the same as a usdm on but u need the usdm ecu and smog equipment. in order to make any engine swap legal u have to go to the state ref and get it bar'd. theres a lot of ppl with legal jdm motors

 

With a JDM engine you don't really know what you're getting into. (not being legal in cali, not really really knowing the mileage)

 

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=551049 – BAR Swap Approval in CA
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=815454 – Ref Station Review
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=853679 – Passing CA Ref
https://honda-tech.com/zero...59796 – Converting JDM Intake Mani to US Specs for Ref
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=906684 – Converting JDM Motor to US Specs
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=867722 – How to Pass Exhaust Test in CA

Yes sir.

 

whats with the b18b? my friend said the same thing

 

it has more trq, its cheaper and has more potential

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 93ejay1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">it has more trq, its cheaper and has more potential</TD></TR></TABLE>

It only has more torque. It's not cheaper because it comes with an inferior tranny and there is no way it has more potential. Especially not in CA

 

what do you mean not in california? would i be able to easaly legalize a b18b kinda thinkin about both motors. and now im seeing that the parts would be harder to find for smog and stuff.

 

a complete swap is cheaper.

of course it wont be cheaper if u start to build it, but slap a vtec head, b16 tranny and turbo and youll be pretty ****** fast. how many b16s do u see with 400+ hp. im not saying its impossible but really how many do u see? almost everyone with 300+ hp has a 1.8L and who cares about being in cali i see ls/vtec, ls/turbo. ls/vtec/turbo, b20/vtec all the time

 

well whats your goal with your car and motor, that will help alot

 

yeah your right i see that alot in hatches down here. but what is comes down to is smog can i meet specs with lets say an ls vtec would nt it be a more pollutend motor with the vtec head or does that even matter. The reason i want it to be legal is so i could turbo it and still be legal, like a greddy kit or someshit.or if not still pass smog. If i get my hood popped by cop and he sees that i have a jdm motor hes going to take me the ref then ill have to make it back to what it was and spend even more money after that.

 

frankenstien motors arent legal even if it will pass smog. u can only boost like 5psi and stay legal cuz if read the greddy kits arent smog legal if u buy an intercooler, it voids it. so i would piece it together for cheaper and just dont do anything stupid to get your hood popped. if read what i said, u can make jdm motors legal. get a usdm ecu, header and intake manifold and you will be fine. there are many legal jdm motors u just have to go the ref and get bar'd and then cops cant say ****.


jdm motors can be legal just go to the ref and make it legal before u decide to drive it a lot

 

fast and still legal

 

if u want fast legal, build a poor mans type r

 

thanks fo da help

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NerveAgent &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If i was you i'd get a b18b. But if you really want a b16 you should get a B16A 92-95 (SiR-II) usdm.</TD></TR></TABLE>b16a 92-95 sirII = usdm???? what???

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bleh &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">b16a 92-95 sirII = usdm???? what???</TD></TR></TABLE>

yea i was thinkign the same thing
sir2 never came out in USA
i think he means the b16a2(99-00 civic si) or a3(94-97? del sol vtec)

 

i have a b18b ek hatch...i run all over b16 del's and eg hatches....
i do have a GSR trans....and it does make a world of a differnce....my advice....
wanna have fun driving the car....get the b16...Vtec is fun
wanna win some races against b16's and have more potential down the line...B18b

 

Not really. I have a b16a2 hatch, I make more than 400 whp. the engine is better all around. Its built way stronger than an LS block, Ls rods suck teh fat one, the b16 has better lubrication which means better life for the engine, also alot more after market for b16. Ls engine require more work to go fast. I had an Ls engine in my teg. the b16 is smoother, and VTEC and Turbo= OH yah baby. Get the b16 its the better engine IMO

 

I have a JDM B16a in my hatch, i got the motor, no different now then when it was in japan, well the intake manifold is the same, as well with the exhaust, but i do have a cat and a muffler.. haha.. so what am i rolling around with an illegal motor?

 

Id go JDM b16... B18b is waste unless your going to go down and dirty with it.. if you just throw it in stock they are pretty weak. And the legal issues... if you care so much about passing smog then your prob not going to build a b18.. and you should go for b16a2.. or you can slide the man $100-$200 And get the smog done ... Not implying on anything...

 

This has gone long enough, we have an "Available swap" thread and lots of FAQ threads on top of this forum, sticked. This has gotten into what engine is better. It has to be entirely up to you, not what someone else says. They aren't putting down the couple grand, you are.