hey i have the money to buy a gsr head or cams for my 98ls... currently i have a skunk2 manifold and a full exhaust n gsr lsd trans.. which would give me a better power gain... the vtec head or mild cams? im really stuck.. i kno if i buy the gsr head the LS skunk2 manifold wont fit

 

well whats your goal? getting the cams will be less work...getting the gsr head will take more time but i personally think you will get better results from a ls vtec

 

You can't just slap a VTEC head on there and call it a day. It takes ALOT more time, money, and work than that. Take a look at this LS/VTEC how-to to see what I mean: https://honda-tech.com/forums/all-motor-naturally-aspirated-44/how-build-%22reliable%22-lsvtec-b20vtec-1676914/

If you don't want to tackle that, then by all means just go with cams. I knew a guy with a B18B motor in a 92-95 Civic coupe running Crower 404's and he ran mid-14's with it.

 

Cams if you dont have much cash or confidence in rebuilding a motor.

GSR head if you have money for parts, tools, or a shop which can peform the transplant + additional mod's which will cost you more money than just a pair of cams, but will likely yield more power when its all said and done.

 

Dont forget that adding cams or a vtec head will require some tuning and engine management. If you get big cams youll need to upgrade your valve springs as well. Unless you have some knowledge about what is required for LS/VTEC, you should stick with just adding cams to your LS. LS/VTEC will give you a bigger opportunity to make more power than the LS, but at a higher cost and risk factor.

 

OK ok i should have mentioned this before.. i have a local tunner and i have experience with lsvtec/ b20vtec etc.. i kno about the whole conversion kit and how to put it all toghether.. i kno how to put cams in a head im an experienced mechanic also.. All i wanted to kno is which would give me a better power gain at the moment, aftermarket camshafts or converting my car to lsvtec...i was thinkin about the exospeed stage 2 cams with upgraded springs and retainers for my b18b.... or just buy a gsr head

 

I would go for a Vtec head, beacuse youll have more opportunities to up grade from there, revving 10k would be cool

 

But to rev to 10k you would have to replace the springs and retiners and cams even if its a vtec head.. If its about air flow an LS head can be ported n polished and you can upgrade the springs and retainers on the LS head to rev higher...the only advantage i see is VTEC...the extra few horse power you get for vtec... is there another reason for an LSVTEC conversion?

 

if you are an "experienced mechanic", why are you asking us. you should know the answer already...it depends on what you want...do you wanna stay vtecless...or do you want vtec??? do you have money to build a ls/vtec? it depends on you man. we cant tell you what to do. sorry, not trying to be a douche bag here but this thread seems pointless. according to you, you want power. then the simple answer is get the gsr head. no matter what cams you put in the ls head, you will not beat a ls/vtec without tuning it. gl.

 

revvin to 10k is not easy. other than buildin the head, you would have to build the block for it as well. LS motors dont even rev to 8k like vtec ones do and even the vtec motors need work before revvin that high.

 

https://honda-tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1676914

 

Well i can fix cars but i have never built a honda motor before.. i want to have an all motor setup i just wanted to kno if vtec was really necessary to make power.. cuz either way im doing work to the cylinder head....... I've seen it done where someone has replaced the rod bolts and the head bolts with arp rod bolts and head studs and the springs and retainers in the cylinder head..and rev'd up to 9k safely but of course with cams that can make power at those rpms and a good tune... and of course im getting the LS tunned if i do put cams in it... all i have is a skunk2 manifold,gsr tranny and full exhaust ..with a street tune and i walk gsr's from a dig... but according to popularity a vtec head would be the way to go.. but the LS has ball's!!!....

 

well alot of work but personally i would do the gsr head

 

yea i guess the vtec head it is

 

not doggin on ls but vtec is alot more fun. also, if you were gonna get the head done mite as well buy a vtec head, you will get alot more hp that way. i see complete vtec heads here for only 300 to 400. not a bad price for 20+ more hp. also i'm building my ls/vtec rite now too. if you want more power with an all motor, vtec head is the way unless you wanna stay with the ls head then its up to you. gl.