ok so I hear this motor sucks but at 135 hp stock, it seems like a good starting point. I see it as having good parts availability, cheap buy in, good tranny ratios, and DOHC design, along with 2 litres to work with in a civic. Has anyone done this swap? I see b20 threads, but theyre all about crv b20 motors. Searching hasnt helped me out, but I could use any advice or comments you all have.

 

for that b20a5 to work in your civic you will have to have some custom mounts made and axle's....if your looking for 2.0 get the new b20..

 

everything is kindof oddball for that motor. id start off with an easier swap

 

That is not a true B-series motor and it is a shitty one at that.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EL Vap133 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">That is not a true B-series motor and it is a shitty one at that. </TD></TR></TABLE>

 

parts availability? what parts availability. there is nothing about a real b series that works with those engines. i just had the head off my friends b21a1 from a 91 lude the other day, and there is nothing like a closed deck to kill off any dream you have of high hp. oh yeah, and good luck swapping it, the mount points are completly different from any real b series. dont even mess with that engine. if anyone even finds an exhaust header i will be amazed.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">if anyone even finds an exhaust header i will be amazed</TD></TR></TABLE>

Neuspeed and DC Sports both used to make, back in the day...anymore, I dunno...my friend has one laying around in his garage (Neuspeed 4-2-1)...

but yeah, that isn't such a hot motor to swap...want 2 cams and disp. on the cheap, B18A.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sanimalp &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">if anyone even finds an exhaust header i will be amazed.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thats true, in here people are making headers themselves.

In the end, the swap is useless compared to the time went to it.

 

The a5 was an evolutionary dead end in the B20 development. Nothing in the Civic line lent itself to swappability. Its only the later B20b and z that are realistic to the shadetree hybrid swapper.

There are also some mixed opinions on the a5 reliability/longevity...there is some anecdotal evidence floating around that points to a common crank/rod problem. Maybe its true, maybe its not.
Anyway, the point is: if you're looking to do the swap because you have access to a cheap engine, its still going to cost you in the long run.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by davens &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Anyway, the point is: if you're looking to do the swap because you have access to a cheap engine, its still going to cost you in the long run.</TD></TR></TABLE>

And cost dearly it will, as there is NO easy way to get this motor into your car. It does not bolt in. And there is no mount kit available to get it in. If you have to pay for someone to do the fabrication work to get this motor in, then you will probably pay several times the cost of a B20B/B20Z swap, and for less power. Even if you can do the work yourself, you owe it to yourself to drop in a better motor. An H23A would be a FAR better choice if you can fab. More power, torque, AND potential. It is also quite cheap.

 

well I own a small company, usually we create parts for oddball projects and then sell them on the internet. My budget is quite small, and I can get the motor and tranny for 450 with 60k. I have an engineer that can blueprint the mounts and any other parts needed, but you guys all seem to think the idea is still bad due to problems with the motor. I know most b series mods dont work on this motor, but I hear they make great power turboed. I have a friend with a 90 prelude that is boosted 6 psi with no intercooler and it broke into the 13's on street tires. I figure an ef hatch with a similar setup, maybe an intercooler could run deep 13's, and could probably run with b18c integras and h22 civic hatches. Naturally aspirated, I'd expect low 15/ high 14 second timeslips, with low mph due to the torque of the motor. What should I expect to pay for a LS motor/tranny used? My first idea for a replacement motor was the dohc d16a1 from the early integras, but I read on hondaswap.com that the integra d series is different from the civic d series, and there would be issues with the tranny. A zc is spendy, and I have heard mixed things about it. budget here is around 800 dollars to get the swap started... any ideas?

 

Don't do it. There is no market in those to begin with. And they are junk. If you have a burning desire to do it then go for it but it really isn't worth it.

 

h23a? Isnt this a prelude motor as well?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EncoEvolution &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">h23a? Isnt this a prelude motor as well? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes it is and is a much better option than the b20a5. You will still need mounts and axles and some custom fab work but it is a better platform than the b20a5.

 

I agree with the other people here to run away from the B20A5 even if you are being paid to take it. Weak motor no support...barely worth being a boat anchor.

 

so with a 1000 dollar budget, what would be the swap of choice into a 90 hatch?

 

ZC or D16 VTEC..........

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1377800

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EncoEvolution &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">so with a 1000 dollar budget, what would be the swap of choice into a 90 hatch?</TD></TR></TABLE>


My choice would be the DOHC ZC..............Have had one and loved it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mag00n &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ZC or D16 VTEC..........

</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EncoEvolution &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">so with a 1000 dollar budget, what would be the swap of choice into a 90 hatch?</TD></TR></TABLE>

jdm sohc ZC!

 

BUY A wrecked integra for 400 bucks with motor/tranny and buy shift linkage and mounts!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EncoEvolution &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">so with a 1000 dollar budget, what would be the swap of choice into a 90 hatch?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I would go with a B18A engine, so much more opportunity down the road with this engine. I'd do the LS route rather than going with a dead-end ZC.

 

ive recently been thinking sohc vtec d16 from a newer car, and a diy turbo. I have a friend with a crx with this combo, intercooled at 10 psi he runs mid 13's and pulls on gsr and h22 swaps at street boost levels (6-8psi)