I have been looking at the swaps i can choose from, the zc i am interested in, well the guy is having issues so looks like that isn't a go, so I am considering motors, not real sure where the plan is down the road just looking for something right now that is better than stock, not worried about a zc unless i got a hookup, it's down to b16 and a 94 ls motor, the ex motor isnt even worth my time. Anyways to my point i know the 94 ls has about 140hp and about 127tq, and the b16 is like 160hp and i think its around 110tq <its early so cut me some slack if the figures are off> anyways i hear the ls is great for either turbo with the stock application and/or going to the ls/vtec and well anyways just looking for everyones input thanks

 

Hey guy where are you from? If you want zc I have zc but to be honest Id go w/b18 and then add to it from there.I have b16 in my rex and Im not very happy with it having spent as much as I have to it.I build ls/vtec if thats what you want but Id start with the ls motor then add all your bolt ons.Get the head done good and put some cams in it. You can always turbo it later if thats what you want.LS is a nice way to go.If you are haveing trouble finding ls engines then let me know cause I get the jdm b18 here. Hope this helps guy

 

ZC = i rather have a sohc D16A6 or D16Z6 over this any day, which have more potential and are much cheaper, just rebuild a good d16a6, with 88-9 teg pistons, get a 96 d16y8 manifold, good header and you be much quicker then a ZC

having driven all the combinations of B-series you have mentioned, it goes as follows:
B18B good all around, especially if matched with B16A tranny it can kick some serious ***, alwyas alot of power in most of the range
B16A like a running with some old shoes when its below VTEC, need high rpm power good for track, but not really that fun in traffic.
B20B is good as well and cheap makes more power then the B18B as far as hp and torque, invest in this and be happy
LS/VTEC excellent compromise but relibilty worries when not done well

no matter what you do just get B16A tranny short gearing rocks...

 

Im doing a B18b swap right now with a 95Ls...let me add up what ive spent so far...$2329...and I still have to rent a pulley puller to change the timing belt. Thats including shipping on all parts I ordered, but not the pizza Ive bought for the guys that helped me. I'm going into week 4, mainly because I was sent the wrong parts and got some bad info. Things to know...your cable clutch is 25mm, not 26mm. The HCP mount kit will only work after you have replaced the engine brackek on the drivers side of the engine. (see my other post "dont ever expect a swap to go smooth"). Anyway...I spent alot of time mulling over a b16 or a b18...and for me it came down to this...if its your daily driver, get a b18. Torque is what makes driving fun. If you have a bunch of horse power and no torque your car is going to be faster than it feels. Torque is more fun. It just seems like you have more potential out of a bigger engine also...There is no replacement for displacement...thats the truth. Take a stock civic Si and a stock mustang GT...well there you go. Hope I helped.

-Jake

 

I would go with the LS motor. Then you can always put a VTEC head on it.

 

ls has a lot of torque but the b16a has high end power so id go with the b16a becuse the vtec block is strong and if you do a frankinstine motor to the ls its not reliable i mean honda engineers are the smartest people ive ever encouentered and well if they wanted to do the ls vtec if it was reliable wouldent they have done it any ways and also the b16a will take alot of ls's on the high way plus it should have enough torque to have a really good times in the 1/4 mile

 

Pulley puller..........timing belt.........why! You shouldn't need a pulley puller for anything?

 

oh just great another one of "these" questions.

This is too much of a trivial question to answer, they are totally diff motors that each have their own qualities to them. you gota ask yourself: how fast do i wana go? how much money do i have? that will answer it.

 

Well, I have actually simultaneously had both engines in two different cars. So I was able to compare them quite well. And the B16A is definitely the clear winner. Alot of people go on and on about the torque of the B18B. But let's face it. It's not really THAT much better than the B16A. It's not even greater by 20%. And torque delivery is FAR less linear than that of the B16A. The car may feel fast. But it is actually quite slow. How much slower? Well, .5 seconds and 5MPH slower in the quarter mile, to be precise. Now you might be able to beat B16A cars with a B18B if you can launch better than they can (and the B18B IS easier to launch). But you ultimately could have been faster with a B16A. The statement 'no replacement for displacement' just doesn't really apply when you are talking about a meager 200cc increase vs a far superior top end design.

The B18B is not a bad motor. It is still MUCH better than the D16A6, ZC, or SOHC VTEC. But it is NOT better than the B16A. The other option (which has been mentioned in this thread) is the B20. This is what I replaced my B18B with. And I can say that it is a MUCH better motor than the B18B. We are talking about power to keep up with a B16A along with torque and torque delivery that is WORLDS better than the B18B. And this is without a VTEC head!


[Modified by StorminMatt, 3:36 AM 3/21/2002]