I'm looking towards getting into civics. I've had mustangs and sportbikes but never done a forced induction build. I've read various forum post on different builds and am trying to fine the fine line between cost to HP. I have not bought a civic yet but am looking into a b18b1. I've done some pricing using crowler cams and valve train, srp or wiseco pistons, or perhaps eagle rods and pistons, turbonetics t3/t4t40e turbo kit, arm fuel rail, skunk intake and throttle body, 750cc to 1000cc injectors, aftermarket fuel pump, msd kit. I came up with a total of about 4200 without any transmission, exhaust, and suspension work. I'm not sure of the power / reliability of this build. Its kind of on the pricy side but I would be willing to spend it. I was hoping to get a safe reliable build around 350hp. I would like to get around $3000 if possable, but I don't want to blow the motor and in return spend even more replacing parts and rebuilding. Any advice / tips would be greatly appreciated, I would like to know where I stand before I start dropping money. Also the build would be over the coarse of about a year for the total build.

 

If you don't have 10k don't try to do it
If price is your thing then spray it
Since you haven't bought a car you might want to look online and find a turbo one for less than 6k in good shape

 

If I was to buy one online is there anything in particular I should look for besides the basics? I don't know much about turbos and sizes and what to look for in that manner. Don't want to get ripped off when buying one

 

You might want to just stick with what you know
But if you got to have a honda then spend at least two hours a day doing research and it might give you the basics

 

Pro tip - Read the FAQ ...then read it again

Im not a fan of LS motors some are but most looking for big power eventually go to a VTEC head

sorry to burst your bubble but you wont be able to build something reliable at 350hp for 3k its just not gonna happen. 350HP on an LS would require rebuild with aftermarket pistons/rods. you can do 300hp on a stock motor if its healthy

Honestly you will probally save some money if you can find a decent deal on Vtec motor,you wont need to purchase cams and valvetrain. regardless dont get an msd no matter which route you go.

fuel rail is completely not necessary, intake manifold and TB are debatable but not needed.

A good turbo kit will run you at least $2500, and this does not include fuel pump, injectors, ems and tune which will run you an additional 1000-1500

my advise would be to rebuild the block with pistons, and rods regardless of what motor you decide to go with, and get a turbo kit from go autoworks

 

K so your saying around 5k for everything, I have heard some do an na build to over 300hp but I'm assuming that would be more costly? Would the cost change much between building a 300hp to a 350hp? Regardless this will be a build over time which ever way I go. I just want to make sure I'm doing what's good for me. Its ment to be a street car that's not over the top but a fast 4 banger lol

 

you should be able to build a block with pistons and rods and have enuff left in your budget for turbo parts yes...it all depends how far you wanna go but that sounds about right

300-350 hp is in the danger zone for a stock block setup, im sure its been done but I wouldnt say its reliable without pistons/rods and proper tune

 

The following quote is great advice to start with


You've figured out about half your swap/build without considering the car itself. That is going to prove the trickiest part of all. Unless you already know where to get a good candidate for a B18 swap; Clean rolling chassis with minimal body/suspension/interior work or a healthy running LS already installed into whichever model you can find. You can probably expect to pay about 1-3k for the donor car (rolling chassis depending on your area and condition of the vehicle), or 4-10k for a swapped and/or built car, (depending on engine build completion status).

 

go-autoworks he has the best deals as far as complete turbo kits, call him let him know what your trying to do with the car and he will give u a recomendation

 

lol 10k for 350 huh?

 

There is more involved if you want to push 350 to the ground

 

Right? Lol


It can cost $10k but doesn't need to cost nearly that much. If you dump the built engine idea and lower your goals to 325whp or so, you could do this whole thing for $3-4k. If you buy all the best of everything and have someone else build the engine/ setup and install all of it, then you could **** away $10k...

 

LOL @ 10k for a 350whp LS

It has been documented everywhere they can do 300-330 bone stock and be semi reliable. All you need to do is build the bottom end if you want it to be very reliable.

LS motor is about 1000-1200
Do a weisco piston/eagle bottom end around 1k
Install yourself =free (not as hard as you think if you are just swapping out parts and not changing bore etc.) yes I have done it successfully.

I have an LS and was putting down 305 all day ragging the **** out of it until I cracked a ring land.

If you do all your own labor you can easily build a reliable car with everything you need done right including the car for 10k at the power level you want.