Ok, I have tore down and rebuilt a B18B with the intentions of doing an LSVtec swap. I plugged the head oil supply, etc etc.. and just finished putting the head on the block. Now, I was at a friends' place and was checking out his block, and found something strange.
B17:


This is my buddies B17. See the plug/Oil Orifice that is circled? I looked the part up on a Honda Parts Database, and found that it is used in:
1990-2001 Integra
1999-2000 Civic Si
1997-2000 CRV
1994-1997 Del Sol

But when I took my B18 apart, that Oil Orifice was NOT present.
B18:


Now, my engine is already together with the head installed.. My question is, is this an important enough part to warrant taking the engine apart again to buy/install? Or would it run alright without? I'm kinda confused and worried as to why my engine didn't have that installed in the first place, but it ran fine without it.

I assume this unit just regulates the amount of oil being pushed into the head. I will be running the GE lsvtec sandwich plate and will have the oil line supplied straight to the head, so there shouldn't be an issue of lack-of-oil, but could there be an issue of over-supply of oil? Or a lack of oil for the bottom end, since too much oil is going to the head? I have no idea, I'm just tossing out scenarios as they come to me, but I'm kinda stressing over it.

Anyone?! Opinions and advice would be GREATLY appreciated.


Modified by unified112 at 7:00 PM 3/4/2008

 

replace it. the external line is just to activate vtec. thats your main supply for oiling the head. with those rpms you dont wanna replace any cams or rockers do ya?

 

I'm not sure how necessary it is, truthfully. The reasoning why that comes to mind is the fact that you remove that when doing the mini-me version of this swap (dseries vtec head on a non-vtec block). I would still install it tho. My .02 cents.

 

Yea, I just got it ordered from Honda and it should be here in the morning.. No reason to possible starve an engine of oil over a $7 part, eh? I just wasnt looking forward to taking the head off (again).

But thanks for the input guys. :thumbs up

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bambam &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm not sure how necessary it is, truthfully. The reasoning why that comes to mind is the fact that you remove that when doing the mini-me version of this swap (dseries vtec head on a non-vtec block). I would still install it tho. My .02 cents.</TD></TR></TABLE>

that is true. i dont know how much it would affect the oiling?

 

I would figure that the head getting too much oil, wouldn't hurt the head itself.. But if its starving the block or causing a bit of oil-pressure loss (I was informed leaving this out could indeed cause a bearing failure, as "that is the main oil supply for the head"), I'm sure would be a bad thing.

Anywho, the head is off, and my oil orifice will be here in the morning. So potentially a failure was avoided. Thanks again for you guys' replies.