So I have always been a Honda guy, but right now I am considering an 01 Impreza 2.5RS Sedan. As much as I want it, Im driving a lot right now and its rated at 18/25mpg, around 23 combined. With how gas is, thats not gonna work for me. Buuuuuuuuuuuuut...I got an idea.

Since it seems like I'll never get rid of it, Im gonna use a motor my buddy Charlie and I built a couple years back for boost. Its still chillin in his garage. As is: B16 block bored to 81.5, hot tanked, honed, 9:1 CP Pistons, Eagle Rods, Polished&Balanced Crank, all new Honda main bearings. ARP Rod Bolts. GoldenEagle headstuds. AEM Cam gears. B16 head, slight port and clean up, that AEBS Intake Manifold&IMG, Skunk2 ValveSprings&Retainers with Ebay Skunk2 Stage 2 replica cams. (switching for CTR intake cam, gsr exhaust cam)

All OEM clearances and torque specs were used as far as I know. It was an old school, by-the-book builder. OEM everything. Charged me $1250 for Labor and kept it for like 6 months it seemed like. All new gaskets, belts and hoses. New oil and water pump. New tensioner. New radiator. New NGK Plugs and Wires. New fuel filter, oil & oil filter. Less than 10 miles on all of it. Including the used GSR Dizzy with new coil, rap and rotor. B Series DC Header with new o2 sensor.

Gonna buy everything I need for a B Series VTEC conversion, a LS tranny (or depeding how my pending sale goes, a GSR). Without the B16 tranny I bet it would still get decent mileage if I stay outta VTEC. Once we put it together, we can do a compression test, and see where we're at with those low comp pistons and assuming it puts up decent psi we'll leave it. If it seems low, we could try milling the head a bit (since its got the open combustion chamber head and the pistons have pretty decent size valve reliefs it may work, though I wouldnt mill enough to throw off the cam timing) and/or removing the middle layer from the HG or an aftermarket one. Prolly gonna use a Stage 1 Clutch and a resurfaced flywheel.

My buddies and I will drop it in this extra eg sedan lx we got thats almost a shell and try and fix it up decent enough to DD. I think its my best option right now financially. I'll be able to afford any parts needed to keep the AC. I'll buy a new hood&bumper (slow impact), clean the injectors, do full bolt ons (might even fab up a custom exhaust with this one I have for sale), buy a p28 and tune it for MPGs with my buddies wideband.

Before Im done with Hondas Id love to do a 4dr B16 MPG build. Ideally Id love to do this in a stripped dx coupe (which I used for my d15beast7 build that hit close to 50mpg on the highway and was a blast to drive over stock until stolen), but I think the sedan is more practical. (not a big fan of the EG hatches). Might end up putting some custom cams in there or doing a custom gear setup. Who knows!

Also gonna experiment with different fuel octanes and timing with different sized SRIs/CAIs in the Texas heat this summer. Also stock cat vs high flow vs test pipe. Maybe different size TBs. Prolly gonna use eCtune with 5kish VTEC. Make adjustments on the street (fuel, ignition timing, cam timing) and then tune for HP/TQ on a dyno once I get it close just to see what I can make out of it! I have a good ear for knock and am decent at reading plugs, so I think I can even get the timing close. Though if I am broke, I may have to go Crome until I can afford the eCtune license. Might wait til dyno tune and do a comparison of them. Also gonna use copper plugs in the beginning and eventually switch to the Laser Iridiums and see how they do. Even gonna try some aerodynamics and get some 14-15" 4x100 Civic Hybrid or Prius Wheels (depending on price) though I may go HXs with keep a VX spare! (also gonna see what other VX parts I can use) Heck depending on whether or not I can find a cheap set of RDX injectors, Id love to try E85 since theres a station near to my house.

If we have to lose PS, I dont really care, but Id like to keep it. Though I like the idea of the manual rack. I'm definitely gonna fix it up a bit (rims,tires,DD suspension[shocks, springs, replace/upgrade bushings&braces/strut&sway bars/Brakes]), tint, bumper&hood + paint, radio, speakers, alarm, mild wire tuck), keep it clean, lighten it best I can while keeping it DD friendly and sell it in a couple years. Considering my immaculate DB8 was also stolen, D@MN THIEVES!, I need 1 more Honda project. THEN I'll buy a Subie when I'm a better place financially as I have that AWD-T itch. Bad.

Edit: Even though Im gonna try to get the best MPG possible, I will base my mods and/or creature comforts on DD friendliness. This includes added weight due to strut and sway bars, power windows/locks, full interior&dash. Full size battery initially. One day I will try and get several aluminum pieces and some poly mounts (a lil vibration I can deal with) Oh and before someone says "Someones already done this," I know. I'm seeing what results I can get. The car comes stock with 1.5L SOHC non-VTEC rated at 102bhp@5900 and 98 btq@5000 with a pretty long geared tranny so even with the decrease in compression and a longer geared tranny over stock, it will still be an upgrade. Oh, and (crappy) pics!

http://img513.imageshack.us/i/img20101218164234.jpg/
http://img804.imageshack.us/i/img20101218164210.jpg/
http://img715.imageshack.us/i/img20101218164345.jpg/

 

I get 41 mpg out of my b-16, but car is not a honda and only weighs 1300 pounds. installing long gears now, so should pick up a few more mpgs.

 

is it a mini swap? Those are sweet.

 

What else would Mr bean drive?

 

what a BEAST!