Car is a 1998 Honda Civic EX with a B18B1 OBD1 motor. 122k on the body, unknown miles on the motor. The guy I bought the car from said the motor had 90k, but after realizing how much of a hack job the car was I'm not going to believe it.

Ok so heres the lowdown.

The B18B1 that is in my car now was previously boosted, and the compression is only at about 145lbs in each cylinder. Motor doesn't run too bad, but you can tell it lacks power. It also leaks quite a bit of oil.

My question is, should I re-ring the pistons in my current B18B1 and get new oil seals, try and find a used B18B1 from a junkyard, or my buddy is selling a B16A2 out of a 99 Si for 800 bucks. He just bought the B16A2 for a parts motor, and doesn't know the mileage or the condition.

I'm not really looking to make all that much power at the moment, just need something is fun to drive, and gets good mpg's.

You guys have any input?

 

I'm going to be rebuilding my 94 integra B18B1 here soon and so far it will set me back 600 dollars with discounts from the dealer or you can just order online but i would rather rebuild my motor rather than getting a gutless B16A2 or a Unknown motor from the junkyard...

if you do everything to spec your car will run like new

also if you want while you have the motor torn apart you could put forged pistons and rods just incase you ever do turbo it and want to make power

 

What are you doing part wise in your rebuild? I might not be going as in depth as you.

 

head decked
block hot tanked
head hot tanked
Port and polish on the head
new rings
block honed
all new seals
t belt
water pump
tensioner
new oil pump
valve cover gasket
head gasket
and oilpan gasket

and the obvious oil
wix filter
and coolant

 

What does decking the head and hot tanking mean? I'm just thinking about honing the cylinders, re-ringing the pistons, and replacing leaking oil seals.

 

Hot tanking usually means putting the part (block/head) in a chemical bath that eats away deposits.

 

decking the head and block means you're putting shaving a little off the face of the block and head to give it a new truly flat surface so the head gasket will seal propperly

o/p why not rebuild your b18 and swoop up the b16 while you're at it and do an ls/v?

 

Eh this is more of a budget build, not really looking to put that much money into the motor yet, as I am a college student with a small budget. I have heard both good and bad things about the ls/v, but I think I'm going to hold off on it for now.

 

Good job going with the rebuild...Now you have a solid engine you can be confident with. Sure beats having two engines that you know nothing about.