Hey guys (& gals), I am a newbie here, and trying to learn about the Honda motors, to get more power from my grocery-getter. I own a '99 Civic LX with the D16, and am hoping to get something with better power that will still get good mileage, and be big enough for the wife and two kids to fit comfortably...

Would somebody please take a few minutes to educate me on Honda's B-series swaps?

I found a guy with a '96 Civic with a JDM gsr swap: b18c/ 5spd/ ecu. He is wanting to sell the whole car (NOTE: he said "you HAVE to take the whole car") not just the swap.

Here is the deal: It had 50K when he swapped it, eight years ago, now 160k. At 100k it had the head checked/ new water pump/ valve pressure check/ timing kit/ head gasket/ exhaust gasket/ VC gasket, etc.
It got 160 whp on dyno, w/all stock internals, dc sports header, apex n1 exhaust, enkei five stars, dropped 1 1/2 in back 1 3/4 in front w/eibach lowering kit, tokico struts , center-force stage 2 reinforced kevlar clutch, Si cluster, Pioneer CD head-unit, 4 speakers, aftermarket lights all around, etc.

My problem is IDK enough about Hondas to know if these issues are big, or normal stuff:
1) The motor leaks oil (he says ALL b-series do) (?)
2) He said that it uses about 1/2 quart per week of oil (normal?)
3) Also, when I pulled the oil-fill cap, while it was running, it had a lot of air coming out of the VC (I DON'T remember any of my GM cars doing this, is it normal for a Honda?)
4) It has some sort of a wiring issue, where the CES light comes on and the engine runs, but with much less power (any ideas?)
5) The header-flange is rusted loose at the (glass-pack?) catalytic conv., so will need fixed (unusual?)
6) One CV boot is ripped pretty bad and he said that it had a 'vibration' (maybe a shake?) above 45mph when he parked it, last winter. (that WOULD be the CV axle, right?)
7) Also, on a different note, it has some rust around the rear wheel-wells that I would want to fix. Do they sell patch-panels, or?

I think he would take less than $2000 for it...

Any advice on this?
How much does it cost to rebuild a B-series, if I had to?
I could use the MSR wheels off my car, off his car, etc. I could also use anything from either vehicle, mix and match, or whatever, then sell the D-series car.
I have a lot of experience with cars, just not Japanese cars.
I just don't know about the oil-issue and vibration, more than anything else...

 

In this case? Pass on it.

 

I agree. Pass this off. Sounds like he beat the **** out of the motor and cant find his own problem. half a quart every week is beyond reasonable. it doesnt smoke?

The CEL light causes "limp mode" which gives no vtec, reduced redline and base fuel mapping.

 

That MUST be what the deal was then! Ok, it's a "pass" thanks!