I want something fun to drive, occasional autocross, drop top for good weather and quintessential high revving Honda engine. The Del Sol seems to fit.

This thing looks extremely clean and from what I can tell it looks to have 99-00 si seats, engine, and hopefully transmission too. I asked the owner what the engine code is and he said PR3 but I was hoping to find out if it is a B16a3 or a JDM b16 (the picture has me thinking JDM but the fact that the seats are from an 99-00 si has me thinking a3).

It has 133,xxx miles, a/c was just fixed, timing belt/water pump done 500 miles ago, looks like no rust. The car is in central Florida. One of my favorite Honda colors too. I know it has drum brakes so it has to be a lower model (del sol s). The seller wants 3,500 and I would do 3,000. Does this seem like a good buy based on your knowledge of these cars.

I know for a fact that I would have to fix the front lip (bad fitment), swap rear drums for disc brakes and swap the cluster to a vtec model with the 8300 redline so some funds will have to go into this thing off the bat.

 

Why are you trying to guess what engine is in it based off the seats?

pr3 is the head casting...ask him again what the code on the block says.





Also...what from the picture is making you think its a jdm b16a?

 

The car is 2 hours away from me so I have not been able to inspect it in person. The current owner is not the brightest based on my phone conversations. I know it is a b16 but it is hard to tell if there are any digits after the b16 on the block based on what pictures I was supplied.

 

get money

 

Good job skirting around the questions....

 

Engine stamp looks like a B16a.

Unless you can actually go out and inspect it, we can't really tell you anything but what we see in the pictures. The owner not being forthcoming/knowledgeable should be a concern.

 

a- those are integra seats.

b- an em1 has a b16a2.

it doesn't appear to be a b16a2 out of a 99-00 si, at least from the intake manifold anyway. I can't make out the engine stamp from the pic.

 

The guy is selling it for his son, who is off in college. The Father is not knowledgeable at all about these cars thus the PR3 statement.

I know where on the block to find the engine code but it is extremely hard to see if there are digits after the "B16."

The year is 1994. The trim is unknown but pretty easy to deduce based on the rear drum brakes and what looks like a 6,xxx redline.

 

Is it worth driving 2 hours to inspect for possibly spending 3-3500 on the car? Interested in your opinion.

 

I've done it. Plan on making a day of it. Bring your woman or a friend with you.

 

Thank you. I can tell now. Very similar styles

99-00 si seats



Integra gsr cloth seats

 

I will look at the dip stick for burn marks and of course listen to the motor but just wondering if there are any other tips you guys may have as to ascertaining the condition of the motor?

 

B16a isn't an Si motor, that's the motor that came in the VTEC trimline (yes trimline). Regardless, that motor looks nice and I can guarantee you that if is a properly swapped B motor that isn't completely goofed, then absolutely take that for $3500.
I bought my Si with more miles for $3100 no problem, i'd absolutely go nuts for a well done B motor Del Sol for only $3500.
You're gonna have to go look at it. From here it looks nice, take the drive, check out the car, report back with either a photo and a grim, or $3500 and a look of derision

 

I've done a compression test a couple of times prior to handing over the cash...if they say no, I would wonder whats to hide...

Take it to red line on the test drive and look in the rear view mirror

 

What are you rambling about? No one here is trying to say a b16a is from a si

 

The compression test is a good idea especially given how easy it is to remove the plugs on these things. I'll take it about 8,000 and look for any blowby out of the tailpipe. Thanks for the ideas.

Thevtec model del sol came with 94-95 B16a3, 96-97 B16a2. The B16 is only JDM.

Are there any benefits to having the JDM B16 as opposed to the USDM variants? They have the same hp and tq ratings.

 

The differences are so small there really isn't a "better" out of them. As long as its not a sir1 with the auto cams in it.

Has a sir1 valve cover, but has a p30 intake manifold. If it is a b16a, the serial number will tell more about it.

 

what is up with the lack of any timing covers?

 

I assume adjustable cam gears.

This thing looks lowered too so I'm really going in blind with what mods have actually been done on this thing and whether they have been done properly.

 

I beg to differ

 

Nice quotes you got there.....still trying to figure out who was trying to say a si came with a "b16a". Those quotes don't show that.

 

I'm about to search but anyone know off the top of their head where the tranny codes are stamped and what code tranny would usually come with a JDM B16?

 

The tranny codes would be on the top side of the tranny. With that engine view it should be down do the left of the block.
That's where it is on my D tranny anyway so if not you'll have to look up underneath near the CV.

B16A (first gen) Transmission: S1/J1/YS1, Y1
B16A (sec Gen) Transmission: YS1/S4C/Y21/S21
B16A2 Transmission: Y21/ S4c

 

you're right, I derped big time, i thought I saw someone mention B16a and got confuzzled

 

If I'm lucky and it has LSD would that be stamped near the tranny code or in a different location?