If my make my r k series would it lose its value meaning it's not original anymore? Or should I keep it b series?

 

More important, what kind of title does it have, salvage/rebuilt?

Clean title = no K swap.

 

Clean tittle

 

Do what makes you happy. Unless your R is very low miles, all orginal , no paint/body work.

 

I have to paint the car it faded a bit so it needs paint thats it.

 

Yes it will lower the value and be harder to sell.

 

Of course it'll lower the resale value. And it'll cost you money for the new K motor as well.

Only way I'd do a K swap is on a salvaged title.

Hell, we're at the point where people are starting to find clean titled (yep clapped out) ITRs and fix them up for profit.

 

im never going to sell mine I have been looking for one for years and I finally got it. just wanted to see if it will be worth it to make it K or keep it original?

 

If you wanted a K motor, why didn't you just buy an RSX or 06+ Civic Si?

Keep the ITR as-is and enjoy it for what it is. And folks say they will "never" sell a car, but then inevitably they always do because tastes change, lifestyles change, etc.

 

A well done K-swap probably won't hurt the value that much compared to what it's worth now... but at least it'll cost you a boatload of cash to complete.

 

Depends. If you took a 10K mile clean and original ITR and put a K motor in it, you've just made a $20K car into *maybe* a $14K car, plus the cost of the swap ($4K, on average). So net is you took a $20K ITR and made it a $10K ITR.

Now, start out with a $12K 100K mile ITR and you will probably have a $10K car after the swap, minus again the cost of the swap ($4K), so you're left with a net $6K car. Still a 50% value decline.

I guess you can recoup some by selling the B18c5, but not enough.

Either way you look at it...it just isn't a good thing to do to an ITR with a clean title. Even with a salvage title the cost of a K swap won't help the value unless the car was really cheap (with no motor in it originally).

 

Agreed on a clean car. I was referring to his that "needs paint". That tells me it's not a low mile, minty example. I agree 100% on the net loss also. That was kinda my point. Best case is that the value stays the same but you're out the cost of the swap which, if done well and including AC, is going to be a fair bit more than $4k.

 

Never driven a K-series car. Is it that much better than a B18C5?

 

I just wanted a simple k swap in the R to have fun driving it but keep the R feel still.

 

The B18c5 *is* part of the "R feel".

Again, perhaps you should have bought a different car.

 

Yeah, I didn't even get into labor, a/c, etc. A properly done K swap performed by a "professional" will cost a lot more than $4K, that's for sure.

 

Better? Dunno. Different? For sure. Tons more power, quite a bit more tq. More weight over the front end and further toward the front. Additional difficulty gettting to stuff like the timing chain/tensioner (IIRC you've got to pull the engine).

Seems like some folks get a "good one" and it runs forever... other people swap it in and end up with issue after issue.

Even just simple stuff like an engine, tranny/dff, axles, k-pro, swap header, etc is going to run you up way above $4k. Then start adding in the "little" stuff and it really adds up. I'd budget more in the $7-8k range all in...

 

boost is better.

 

I'm a 100% with everything Todd mentionned so far in this thread, great advice!

IMO repaint only if you really have no other choice, otherwise down the line you'll be better off with og paint even a little faded or with imperfections than a partially or fully repainted car regarding its long term value. You'de be surprised how much of a difference a well performed paint reconditionning job can do when done by the right people.

If you ever need to replace your motor and can't afford a new one or can't do a rebuild, I'd swap it for a jdm engine before any k series as far as long term value is your main goal.

 

I'll throw my 2 cents in.

Like folks always say it's your car do what you want. I haven't driven or ridden in a K Swap car but I've heard nothing but positive things. Long term value is all relative because there will be the purists and the folks who want updated technology with higher NA power potential.

If your long term goal is to get the highest resale value for your car the real question is why not invest your money in something else that will yield a higher return.

K swaps are not cheap. The initial motor cost is but everything else adds up.

One good example are the 60's corvettes with LS1 swaps... they have a pretty damn high resale value.

 

Im not talking about value to sell the car, Im talking about when you see the car would it turn people off if it has a k in it or would people admire the car if it stays as original as possible with theb18c5? Thats what I mean.

 

my suggestion: dont worry what other people think. it isnt their car any damn way.

 

^^this

 

Depends. A carshow with the stretch 'n poke crowd will probably love a K ITR.

And anyone who truly values the ITR for what it is will tell you what a horrible idea this is for a clean-titled car.

But it strikes me as odd that you don't care about resale but only what other folks will think. Remember that most everyone loves a nice clean stock ITR. Only a few love a K ITR.

If you have the funds to do a complete K swap in an ITR, why didn't you just buy a better example? Or put that money into fixing up what you already have?

We can't tell you what to do. Just know that K swaps usually can't be reverted back easily.

 

If Zero Fscks are given relative to cash value, then do whatever you want. As others have pointed out, it's your car. Hell, paint it pink and put teddy bear rims on it if you really want to be different.

If you're looking for (the difficult to quantify) "respect" from other R owners, then leave it stock or close to stock.