I have a 1999 Integra LS I have owned for about 3 years. I am in the process of getting it ready for a huge car meet in March in my area. I'm about to pull the engine for a rebuild/refresh my oil control rings are getting worn while out I'm putting ARP bolts/studs in the rods and head. I was planning on going back with wiesco pistons and Crower 403 cams with a Blox intake manifold. I have a B18b block with a B20 head and cams currently. I want to achieve about 180whp but I've heard multiple comments about the non-vtec heads flow limiting usable power greatly. I wanted to get some advice on this build and try to decide to continue or take another route.

 

those pistons wont fit on OEM rods.

180whp is a dream. Wont happen.

 

Just use the p30 pistons they fit the oem rods. Get arp rod bolts. Probably put down 150-160whp

 

I built a B18A1 back in the day with a Blox intake, Crower 403's, and 11:1 pistons. I was way less than impressed. LS-VTEC or don't bother IMO.

 

I've seen 200whp on the low cam of a healthy 81.5x87.2 GSR, so it can be done. Need good cams, high compression, e85 and elite head prep.

 

I'm in the same boat. I figure for the price of cams and intake mani and valve train u can get a vtec head with a lsv kit and see gains with the stock head.

 

Price of a properly built Ls head> stock vtec head and required swap parts.

Thats assuming the bottom end is properly built first.

Im stickin non vtec cause im going boost eventually and I got a deal on a built ls head thats been ported decently

 

Thanks for all the advice I'm considering going ls/VTEC ive personally seen that setup put down over 200whp. I definitely don't wanna drop $1200+ dollars on the ls and not be satisfied

 

Disadvantages of LS build -

Shitty flowing head
You're always on the 'big lobe' so your idle will SUCK with any cam that makes power
You need pistons with valve reliefs
little to no intake manifold support
increased valvetrain wear
low power output for money invested


Advantages -

less moving parts
easier to tune
low entry price



Do the VTEC conversion man, you'll be happy you did.

 

All pistons need valve reliefs. Even the stock ls pistons have little reliefs in them.

Ive never heard of worse valvetrain wear to be honest.

The other con you didnt mention is the poor rocker design that likes to pop off above 9000rpm.

 

there's only one downside to LS, everything else has can be improved to be as good as or better than vtak

 

it can be done...if you dont mind running premium gas (93+) or E85 and tuned/modified ECU you can def do it - CTR pistons will bring the compression up alot and good enough to achieve that power.
PS: i might even have a set of stock LS rods and CTR pistons I can sell for cheap just pm me privately...go with the 94+ LS intake manifold or if you can find the Blox for cheap.

Obviously you can go LSV and get good power too...either way building up with higher compression pistons will give great results...if you're out of fund and cant get a VTEC head put the CRV had for now until you can afford it thats all.

 

I would personally go ls/vtec but if you want to stay non vtec snag a p8r head. its the best nonvtec head, but still no match for a vtec head.

 

I have a b18b1 with the p8r head. Still feels like an ls. I think I need high comp pistons to feel a difference. I/h/e bigger injectors with skunk2 manifold. Maybe after its dyno tuned it'll feel stronger