i was interested in picking up a ep3 civic si, but i wasn't too happy with the stock performance. i was wondering if anybody here has built their k20a3 engine. if so, what does your set-up look like and what kinda numbers are you making? tia

 

Hardly anybody has built up their A3 motor n/a because it's easier to get more power through forced induction.

But, dig around for Raz/Chunky's A3 regrind cams and you'll find some promising info. They've been extracting some pretty good power out of the A3.

 

if i would to buy a ep3 ill swap blocks for k24...

 

The problem with NA A3 building is that they're no parts really. Crower "says" they'll have cams this next month, so that looks promising. Hondata does wonders for the car. And bolt ons help nicely. But the time and money needed to open the motor up and install some high comp pistons, etc just isn't worth it. The engine is a decent candidate for boost. There's a guy here local to me that's pushing about 260 to the wheels with the GReddy turbo kit. He drives it hard, but it keeps goin' strong. I have an EP myself, and I love the car to death. It could use some power. But a turbo or an A2 swap will take care of everything. An excellent chassis.

 

thank you everybody for you responses. it was helpful. i would love to do a k20a2 swap but the problem is most of the ep3 i've seen for sale have fairly low miles and i'm not sure how much i can sell a used k20a3 motor for. i will also probably want to switch out the tranny to the 6-speed.

i will consider turbo, but i just love na hondas. i guess i will just keep searching around. if anybody eles has any comments or suggestions please post. thanks.

 

I have been wrestling with some of the same issues on my own ep3. I just dont know of any way to "build" an a3 engine. You could probably pick up a nice 30-40 hp with i/h/e/k-pro, but beyond that you are kind of in no mans land. My ep3 is my DD, so it gets driven in bumper to bumper traffic, on the highway, in crazy parking lots and on trips to clients houses in other cities. Given all this I have been really considering a Jackson SC. The ep3 doesnt have bad tourque and the SC would add to that, not to mention I think Jackson Racing put down around 225 whp with SC/i/h/e/k-pro. For how and where I drive 225 at the wheels is enough.

Sorry, I know this isnt any kind of answer, just my .02 cents.

 

with my custom cams I have netted 183/143 out of an n/a a3.