As you may or may not have read prior to this post, I am interested in starting up a RTAWD Wagon. I would love to do it, but seems to be a lot more difficult than I expected to do just to keep the 4x4 capabilities, so rather than make things more difficult for me, an average high school student that loves most Honda's, and wants to rebuild a wagon, I decided that it is not completely necessary, although it would be totally worth it in the end. I love the wagon, and when the time is right, I will sell the wagon as a shell and work my way up from an AWD shell, but for now I will work on a basic wagovan.

I want this wagovan to be a track car, but still be kinda street legal so I can take it out on the weekends, and take friends to cruise around town or whatever shinanigans, but not be harassed by cops (even though I doubt they would EVER pop the hood, but just in case). Its difficult taking friends in and out of the si so often, and starts to become a hassle. By kinda I mean I need the engine to be able to pass smog, so no B16B, but a hybrid motor would be ok as I can swap the heads before smog.

I have found a wagovan shell for $700 and I might just take it if the owner could drop the price a little bit. So here is my main question: What LEGAL engine swap can be put into the wagon? Following all the smog rules.

Note: The shell is already converted to OBD-1, but will convert if necessary.

I was thinking a b20z, but I am unsure if a ref will bar it. I have wanted to do a hybrid motor for a while, and I figure this is a perfect time as it is a lot cheaper. After all, it is called a poor man's Type-R.

 

b20 will not pass. as the b20 is classified a truck motor. you can do D16A6, D16z6, B18 & B16. then after you REF your car you will be smog legal

 

Sounds like LS/Vtec is the way to go then. Or should I just go GSR for less of a hassle? What will give me the most power? And what advantages/disadvantages are there for LS/Vtec compared to GSR.

I also had this thought in my mind that I wanted to do a single cam turbo, but realistically is it worth it? Will I be spending more money on a d-series motor and building it up than a b-series, trying to achieve a 1/4 mile time of 13's/14's?

I see that in the beginning, the d-series in cheaper, but has less access when it comes to aftermarket parts, while the b-series has a lot more access, but is initially more expensive. I see the B-series to be a lot better/easier to use in the long run.

I think I just answered my own question, but I would like some feedback.

 

no. LSV will not pass REF. seeing as it is a frankenstein motor (honda never made it). you can smog it, but it will not pass REF.

 

I understand that, but I meant swap in the ls as normally, and after I am done with reffing/bar'ing, I will swap the ls head with a vtec head. I doubt I would even have trouble with police in an older car, they would think in was the civic sedan before me.

 

still no good. new BAR stickers list exactly which motor is in your car.
old sticker (what i have) 1.8L acura
new sticker 1.8L B18A1 non vtec

so if you get pulled over n your sticker says no vtec, n cop sees vtec guess where your going

 

web sample pic:

 

i'm so glad i don't live in the awful state of California.

 

That kinda sucks for me but oh well.I didnt want to spend the money on a b16 or gsr but looks like thays what im going to do. Thanks for the info.