Ok so i have a 94 del sol with a b16a3 (original motor) with 261k on it. The engine burns oil and smokes while driving at certain RPM's. Just needing some advice on what my options are. Recently i was changing the spark plugs and i noticed that one of the spark plugs was bigger than the rest. So either the helicoil came out with the plug or the previous owner rigged it up with some other plug. which means i'd have to buy a new head right? Is there a way i could rebuild the motor or is it shot? I'm saving up money trying to make the engine last as long as possible. I've got a little saved up so i figured it was time to do some more research. Thanks for any and all advice.


______________________________________________

2nd question:

Ok guys. I finally decided to rebuild my motor on my 94 Del sol with 261K miles. The car burns oil quite fast and I also noticed that someone has stripped one of the threads on my head. (helicoil came out with the spark plug). I'd rather not do a complete swap because I don't have the know-how or the garage. I've read a lot of threads but couldn't find the exact answers I need. I've also read the guide on how to replace my head. It seemed pretty simple and I think I have the nerve to try it. My first question, is it possible to rebuild it without taking it out of the frame? Or will I just be able to build my head? Also could someone give me a parts list of what I will need. I figured I might as will do it all now when I have it apart. Any information will be appreciated. I'll continue to do more homework. I'm not building a motor for boost or anything. Just a reliable daily driver. I thought about just getting stock internals, but why not buy better parts for more power? Thanks again.

 

If I were in your shoes I would just get a OBD1 B16A/B18C long block.

 

Or....you can sell the entire swap and throw in a B18B1 with a set of Crower cams and have change in your pocket/wallet.

 

It may be wise to at least look for another head. Having a stripped-out spark plug would concern me quite a bit. Just my .02

Considering that you claim your car smokes only at certain RPM's I would lean more towards a vacuum related problem. If it were bad piston rings I would imagine it smoking all the time but doing a simple compression test wouldn't hurt either.

Are you trying to keep the car as original as possible?

 

Thanks for the advice. I'm just wanting to have a clean reliable car. Something fast wouldn't be frowned upon either . I finally decided to make this a car to put money in. So if i could do something with potential for the future? Maybe have an engine that could somewhat be all motor. My "fast probably isn't close to everyone else's "fast" i'm sure. Just a little toy to drive. I'd like to do something with as little struggle as possible. I haven't decided if i'm going to ask my brother to do it, or a shop. Either way i'd like to just plug N play.

 

bump

 

If i were in your situation, i would spring for a b18 block, your drivability will increase a lot

 

Yeah but in order to change to block i'd have to remove the engine right? I don't have the stuff in order to do so. I'd like to use the engine i have now and just rebuild it so it'll be like new.

 

Lemme get this straight. You don't want to do a swap because you don't have the know-how BUT you would want to try and rebuild an engine which is considerably more difficult (as it pertains to tolerances and precise measurements) and time consuming?

 

Well by rebuilding the engine i meant replacing the head and replacing anything that i can get to during that process. I've read guides on how to do so and they seem pretty straight forward. Just have to pay close attention to everything. I have no way of taking a motor out or putting a new one in due to the lack of equipment. Plus wouldn't rebuilding it be a cheaper way to go?

 

No a rebuild could cost more then a new motor. With so many honda motors available you have unlimited options. If you want a newer motor you could look for a K series which is pretty much bolt in for a civic. A K series motor from a junk yard might have 30-50K miles which would leave you with your car for another 10 years. Even a B series can be had now with 80-90K miles. My only concern is that you need to find a reputable place to buy from that just pulled it from a wrecked car that can still put the key in and turn it over. I wouldn't use ebay for a motor but that is just me unless you plan on rebuilding it anyway.

 

Yeah I've searched locally. Craigslist and everything. It's hard to find a motor that's not tore apart or too many miles.

 

how much money do you have to spend? How much can you save? How much do you intend to spend are also very important questions for us to help.

 

You do realize you need to remove the engine to rebuild it right? You're not going to get around that either way.

 

I'd say look for a used B16 head and go from there. Swapping a head for a beginner like you is prolly going to be more complicated than you think.

If you can find a complete b16 head or maybe one with no cams that would be great. Hell even if it was a bare head you could swap over everything from yours seeing you only need a new casting and not the valves, springs, or camshafts.

You will need to buy a few specialty tools to do it but they aren't that expensive.

Valve adjustment tool, feeler gauges, timing light.

You'll need a new head gasket and possibly head studs/bolts depending if you go aftermarket or OEM.

Probably the hardest part for you will be getting the engine back in time with the camshafts and timing belt.

I would suggest replacing the timing belt and water pump but I don't know if you are that capable.

Good luck.

 

I hope you have something to drive daily, because this will be a big project. But if you have the space available to store the car for the month or so that it will be undrivable, you should probably pull the engine, which means an engine hoist and an engine stand (I know, it sucks). Make sure you do a compression test first though, no real reason to pull it all apart if your rings are perfectly intact.

 

That's what I'm saying!!!

Clearly you have NO idea what you're getting into. BTW. You can remove an engine WITHOUT a hoist.

 

Ok guess since it's so hard i'll just have to find a swap. Probably just going to find a b16a3 motor that way it'll cut down on cost. I don't want to pay extra just because the shop had to mod my car for the engine to fit. Also they seem to be kind of cheap. If only i could find one. I'll keep looking maybe i'll get lucky.

 

And exactly WHY would a shop have to mod anything to fit if you swap one B-series for another B-series? Now you are making no sense.

 

I wasn't saying that another b series wouldn't be a smooth swap, I was talking about putting a K or a h motor. But out of the B series I'd want a b16a3 or the b18c far motor. But with the gsr wouldn't I have to buy a new tranny with it?

 

No. Use the B16 transmission you already have. Due to your lack of knowledge, I will give you three simple steps.

1. Find a reputable shop.
2. Call Hmotorsonline.com and buy a JDM B18C longblock, which is around $1800 (or JDM B16 if you want to stick with a 1.6 liter), and have them ship it to the shop you are taking your car.
3. Have them swap long blocks and pay them.

Enjoy.

 

If u don't want to pull the motor I'd get a new head or see if a machine shop can fix it. And change all the gaskets. And prey your rings arent going out. U don't have much of a choose if your not pulling the motor. And a swap by a shop is not going to be cheap.

 

No but you'll want to get a P72 ECU if you get the B18C.

 

You'll also want to get an OBD1 motor if you can seeing that it will plug right into your existing harness (I believe 1994 Del Sol was OBD1). If not you will have to do some re-wiring. You'll want a 95-94 B18C motor and ecu (P72) if iirc. If not you'll want to chip the ecu you already have (P30).

If you go B16 you'll want a 88-95 motor.

http://hmotorsonline.com/shop/sc2000...M USDM Engines

 

A lot of the motors on hmotors come with tranny, ecu, and more. Do they have options of just getting the motor so I can just use my tranny and ecu?