alright i have a quick quesiton, i tried searching but didnt find exactly what i needed.

i have a 97 civic ex and im debatin about either swaping a b16a or a ls/vtec engine into the car. this shop i found said theyll do either one for the same price.

the b16 is about 170hp and they told me the ls vtec would push 185 or so hp!

can someone explain the pros and cons about each motor? i do want a relaible car beacuse this is my daily driver. and both are going to come with a chipped p28 ecu (i believe, i remember them saying its chipped)

thanks. ohh and turn around time for the b16 is 2 days and ls vtec is 3 days.

actualy let me add what i already know and what im planning on doing but i DO want more insight and i would very much apperiate it.

i know the ls motor is probably goin to be stock. im worried that since its a stock block mated with a vtec head would the block even be strong enough to hold the power? this swap is only good paired with a b16 tranny right?

right now im leaning more towards the b16 swap because its more common, i think itll be easiler to sell, and maybe more realiable. i do want the ls vtec beacuse its going to push out WAY MORE TORQUE which is always fun


any ideas? your choices and why?

 

In your case I would go with the b16 swap. Then I would buy an LS long block and build it right before you do an LS/vtec. A stock block/head ls/vtec would make more power but with that compression ratio you would be limiting yourself down the road. Even though I have had a few friends that have run the stock head-block lsvtec and rev to 8k there will be those on here that to you need to install arp rod bolts, which I agree with (cheap insurance).

In a nutshell buy the b16 swap then buy you a b18b long block and build it right. Good luck with whatever decision you make.

 

i think a b16a will be enough to putt around town everyday

 

my opinion would be the ls/vtec. just because you already have more power with it and way more torque. if you want the b16 to be as fast as the lsvtec you'll have to spend hecka lot more to achieve the same power. ls/vtec are just as reliable as any other build if done right. don't know why people keep telling you its not reliable. but it depends what tranny you would have on the lsvtec though. i'd say go lsvtec but either way you'll be happy. but then again its thats my opinion since i don't drive like a mad man everyday and i like the torque to get around. but if you want to rev happy then go with the b16. it depends on how you drive but which ever decision you make, you'll be happy...


Modified by pootie.teng at 11:44 PM 1/7/2008

 

I have a 97 ex w/ b16 swap (2ng gen). It's f*k loads of fun! I rev it to 8500 every chance I get and change the oil once a month (obviously not necessary but I still do).
I've got great bolt-ons, Fujita type R short ram, smsp header S2S2 cams and Pro Manifold, AEM cam gears, stock bottom end untouched, tuned on chrome and I'm @
206.2 whp. It ain't no built LSVtec but it's way better than any stock GSR and everythings cost me less than $3500 bucks. I did do alot of the work myself tho. Alot of money was in the tuning. Not only that.... Like the guy said above me.... I have an LS block sitting at home slowly getting all the correct part it needs to breath correctly with a vtec head. I could take my time and find good deals on all the different parts it needs. Then it'll really come alive! But don't get me wrong! If I had to leave my car the way it is I wouldn't mind. I love my little 1595cc *****.

 

moon dyno? i dont believe you got over 200whp with no headwork on a b16...thats next to impossible. i would say do the ls/vtec and just have them use arp rod bolts, and youll be perfectly fine..mine sees 8500 daily.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by b18_spoon &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've got great bolt-ons, Fujita type R short ram, smsp header S2S2 cams and Pro Manifold, AEM cam gears, stock bottom end untouched, tuned on chrome and I'm @
206.2 whp. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah right! with a stock B16? On a dynojet? Lemme see the dyno chart.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by b18_spoon &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I've got great bolt-ons, Fujita type R short ram, smsp header S2S2 cams and Pro Manifold, AEM cam gears, stock bottom end untouched, tuned on chrome and I'm @
206.2 whp. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah right! With a stock B16? On a dynojet? Lemme see the dyno chart.

 

times two. lsv all the way, but if they give you a ls tranny i would take the bsixteen motor so you can have shorter gearing. But if they give you the bsixteen tranny with the lsv, ill stick with it. lsv w/ls tranny lsv w/bsixteen tranny

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by b18_spoon &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have a 97 ex w/ b16 swap (2ng gen). It's f*k loads of fun! I rev it to 8500 every chance I get and change the oil once a month (obviously not necessary but I still do).
I've got great bolt-ons, Fujita type R short ram, smsp header S2S2 cams and Pro Manifold, AEM cam gears, stock bottom end untouched, tuned on chrome and I'm @
206.2 whp. .. I have an LS block sitting at home slowly getting all the correct part it needs to breath correctly with a vtec head. I could take my time and find good deals on all the different parts it needs. Then it'll really come alive! I love my little 1595cc *****. </TD></TR></TABLE>

um wow....so when you do an lsv, im sure we can expect what....350whp? holy crap i love this forum.


to the original poster..

the best advice one could give is to get a non-stolen fresh b16 swap, have the shop re-hook up your AC and PS. drive it.

when its not fun anymore, add a quality header, intake mani and full exhaust and drive it some more. when this is not fun anymore....

add a set of skunk2 stage one cams or someting mild and then pay for a couple hours of dyno time at a local reputable tuner... and when THIS ISNT FUN...

THEN, worry about building an lsv, or skip it and get a 2 liter block. by then, youll also know what youre doing and wont need to ask.

 

why is that lsv with ls tranny is a bad idea

 

okay so i went with the lsv with a b16 tranny. they told me that the ls block will be built with new rods and i believe new pistons. all has a 30 day warrenty along with that i asked to put in a new clutch. its going to be a stage 2 clutch.

err now two things, hoping the car is ready soon (they said friday or sat) and that the shop doesnt expletive ME OVER.... yyyyyea

 

because its not geared for a vtec motor and every time you shift in the higher rev range you will drop out of vtec.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by desii &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">they told me that the ls block will be built with new rods and i believe new pistons.

err now two things, hoping the car is ready soon (they said friday or sat) and that the shop doesnt expletive ME OVER.... yyyyyea</TD></TR></TABLE>

The easiest way to get screwed over is to not know exactly what you are paying for. I would have everything they promise to build the motor with in writing. The word that I bolded scares me.

 

X Eleventy. Have an estimate written out in great detail (New pistons? Ok, WHAT pistons? etc.). While it sucks, there are plenty of people out there gyping the guy who doesn't know his ****. You don't want to be that guy.

 

Since everyone is on the lsvtec subject, I figured I wouldn't make a new thread for this question.

If using the stock ls pistons in a lsvtec build, are there any issues with the valves hitting.
I've heard of problems due to the small valve reliefs.

 

You shouldn't start new subject ideas on other peoples threads.

 

And you shouldn't bump threads that have been dead for two weeks.