I've been looking at getting a new car for college for some time and one that I've found that seems like a really good choice is a 1998 CRV AWD 5 Spd with 180k miles for a good price. The only issue would be power for me, 120ish hp for a SUV just doesn't seem like enough and I know Honda increased compression and such after that year just to try and fix that. In my head what makes that CRV seem like such a good choice is all the threads I've read on B20 VTEC swaps even before looking at CRV's, but using the B20b that would be in the CRV stock sounds even more fun, I can't seem to find a whole ton of threads on VTEC CRV builds like I've been trying to research. My big thing is I'd want it to be reliable, I don't need crazy power and I'm not gonna go for that, at least not now, but I'd love to have that VTEC feeling, headers and exhaust etc. My question is how hard/expensive is it to do a RELIABLE B20 VTEC swap in a CRV and still have the AWD fully work. If I just put a B18C head on and do oil system etc all the things I've read in the forums what ECU would I need to have both AWD and VTEC? And would that alone still be a reliable motor and if not just how many parts would I have to swap out to make it one. I keep seeing sleeve issues being the biggest issue on B20s so I wonder just how much power before that becomes a worry. I'd love to hear yall's opinions since I can't seem to find a ton of CRV threads that aren't of crazily built up turbos etc.

 

Youll need to convert from obd2 to obd1 and youll need to use a p28 or p72 ecu. If your state has emissions inspections then youll have to convert it back to obd2 every time you need to get it inspected or youll need to pay someone to pass it by scanning a different cars ecu. Stock rods and pistons are fine but rod bolts wont hold up to 8k rpm for very long if it all, so most people upgrade to ARP rod bolts. Arp head studs are required as well. Beyond that its just a matter of bolting on the head and getting it tuned. good luck

 

what k20 said. and you can use your original awd transmission on it also. so awd should not be affected since it has nothing to do with the ecu other than speed sensor.