ey guys im a noob here... i have a few questions and hopefully u guys could help me out here. I have a 93 civic hatchback that i just bought and im planning to do a swap on it. My budget for the swap is 3 grand and this would be my daily drive car.

1.Which one should i go for a b20 vtec or a b16?
2.How reliable is the b20 on daily drive basis? ( I heard some people that it is not a reliable engine)

I dnt know much about motors yet. hopin to get some answers from u guys.. thnx

 

If you're in Cali, I'd suggest against putting what's classified as a light truck engine into your econohatch. Too much trouble from police, and what's worse is it can happen when you're not even doing anything. What would be best is if you got your hands on a cheapo B18B (Integra LS), and got a B16 transmission, and BARed it. You'll get the zip to keep with a stock GSR, it's DEFINITELY within your price range, and you'll be able to rest easy if a cop says "Why don't you just go ahead and pop the hood for me, sir."

 

as a matter of fact im from cali and im planning to make it a low profile car. I already learned a lot puting a loud exhaust on my car. How much u think and LS/vtec would cost me??

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ocnarF0303 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
1.Which one should i go for a b20 vtec or a b16?
2.How reliable is the b20 on daily drive basis? ( I heard some people that it is not a reliable engine)</TD></TR></TABLE>

Honestly I'd go like what VTI said if I had 3 grand.

A b18a or b18b with a gsr or b16 tranny will be as quick as the b20 and quicker than the b16.

b20's are plenty reliable if you have the funds to build the bottom end and the valvetrain at least with a mild build. But that will be pushing your $3000 limit.

Here's what i'd do.

1) b18b found locally with lower mileage - $400-600
2) b16/gsr tranny found locally with low mileage - $500-1000
3) Exedy Stage one organic with a lightweight flywheel - $~300
4) Spend money on good tools, whatever you have left, buy a carb legal header and a used aem short ram for your b18b. Don't worry about a catback or an intake manifold as they won't net you much per dollar spent.
5) Ls/vtec isn't necessary.

Tell me what you think.

 

my plan is to drop the motor and from there i would save up and build it up.

 

see the thing is that im having dillema on which motor to drop in. I thought building up an ls/vtec would be as the same price range of b20 vtec. So i guess ls/vtec or b20??

 

ma bad " i thought ls/vtec would be far on my price range" thats waht im tryin to say.

 

I would worry more about getting the LS motor in and running, and THEN worrying about moving on to ls/vtec

But IMO if you don't have plans beyond 300-350whp Then I think the b18b head is fine, no need for vtec.

 

ya know.. personaly i thought bout doing a b swap but if i was you, id get a z6 or y8 and turbo it, gonna cost less and running stock you can run like 9 psi and smash on stock gsr's

 

After you BAR the LS with the shorter gearing, you can always turbo it, but that may put you back in the same position as with the B20. I think my bud actually BARed his LS when he went VTEC. Took him a little while, but he went from Ref to Ref, and made every little change they told him to make, until they couldn't tell him to do anymore, and he did it.

What he ended up with was a Street-Legal LS/VTEC with an ITR transmission and a six puck springless clutch. It was very, very fast.

However, I would go with my earlier suggestion, for now; B18B/Short-geared tranny, Legalized. And go from there It's all very possible on your budget.

 

Like VTI and EK have said, go with the LS (B18B/A) engine with a B16/GSR tranny. Make sure you purchase the correct motor (meaning year) so that you will not have any issues when you go to make this swap legal via BAR. Your EG is a 93 so you are going to want an LS motor with the numbers 9/2 or 2/9 stamped on the head. BAR is the only way to go in Cali, GL

 

Pretty sure you can get the BAR legal Edelbrock turbo kit for that much.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Archidictus &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Pretty sure you can get the BAR legal Edelbrock turbo kit for that much.</TD></TR></TABLE>

^^ For sure, hell, on turbod16.com I know they have a sticky where you can pick up a Greddy setup minus the IC for about 1500. I just dont know if it comes with a CARB legal stamp or not. Greddy kits (full) have the CARB legal stamp too for around 3k.

 

thnks guys..really appreciate ur help