I'v seen a lot of post of people asking how to make power out of a D15 and everyones on stock internals.... Has anyone built the motor then turbo? If so how is it? How much power? any problems you ran into along the way? What head did you use?

I'll most likely still just do a B18 swap but if you can build and make power I might keep my motor for another project later.

 

Research Bisimoto. He spent some time and money on the 1.5L engine.

 

It depends on your goals. If you wanna go ***** out, screamin' demon style for 300 whp or better, swap engines to something more supported. If you want to upgrade your D15 to a modest level, it can be done, BUT IT HAS A CEILING. You're not going to get more than 200hp on stock internals. And when you do that, you still need to make some changes. Rod bolts need to be better, ARP at least. Stock rod bolts are iffy, at best. A6 cam, or regrind with A6 specs, quality intake mani and throttle body, and a turbo setup. I have looked around for the last year and combed through as much actual info I could to find the information I needed to comprise my build and I am in that process now. I have hit brick walls and dead ends and haters.. Oh boy, are there haters. Those that just can't fathom the idea of building the D15 because they have never tried themselves since they ran into the same brick walls I did offhand and didn't look any further, or didn't look at all and just jumped on the swap wagon because that's what was "recommended".

My personal build is gearing toward a T25 setup (GT2252) with rebuilt and ported head, A6 (or equal) cam, Arp head studs and rod bolts, rebuilt/refresh bottom end. No VTEC anything, and tuned with Neptune.

 

Don't waste your time or money investing in a D15. B > D in every single way, especially a 1.5L....

Because there's pretty much no valid reason to go through all that work and putting all that cash into a depreciated, low output engine that comes from the factory with nothing but bottlenecks.

If it's what you want, go for it, but there's a reason why people avoid them.

 

The reason is what I have mentioned over and over; People trashing the idea because it isn't what THEY want. You're already mistaken entirely about B being better than D in every way. There are too many D16 running around in the 400+ hp zone, and plenty of those I have seen spank the **** out of anything else they ran against. Anywho... I have Invested so far 1100 bucks and it is already a fun car to drive. All I need now is the turbo and rebuild, estimate at this point is in the 1300 range. 2400 dollar total projected expenditure. Less than any B series engine ALONE, not swapped, modded, or otherwise. But if you want my HONEST opinion, i'd rather not waste money on Honda at all when I can go for a true beast with an RB swapped Nissan. Just sayin'... Been there, done that. Let the people that want to show love for the D15 be heard and given a good path to follow in the direction they'd like to go

 

This is extremely presumptuous of you.

It's actually the total opposite. The D15 has been built to the hilt only to find the bang for the buck falls short.

As you said, it has a ceiling.

So the "haters" (as you put it) are people who want the most for their dollar.

Dollar for dollar, the D15 is the least useful of the motors and that is why it is so unsupported.

Bisimoto spent tonnes of money and NA was only able to get about 170 BHP out of the B7 with custom everything, including multiple custom cams to find the sweat spot.

With turbo you can break 200 but you are also bordering on breaking parts.

You take the same amount of money to get your 200 on the D series and put that into a B series and you are in the 350 or better range.

It's simple economics that you are calling hate. Resources are not unlimited for most so the advise given usually is orientated that way.

Simply, you are wanting to push a lawnmower engine into being a race car engine and it's just not economical.

Also, a B18B can be had at my local pick a part for 150 bucks..... Not sure how you are talking the B as expensive unless you want the Type R B18C or B18C5.

 

This is why there is hate. Because this can NOT be done. The D15 WILL NOT be a powerhouse. I have never, EVER thought, presumed, inferred, imagined, hinted to, or even perceived this idea.

Too many people pushing an engine to do what it can not. Period. Now.. If you want something modest, yes. 200hp is absolutely obtainable but there's the ceiling. No more. You want more? Find something else. I stand by my words on this! I could guarantee I'm literally a turbo kit and re-tune away from that goal right now.
The real problem is not the capabilities of the D15, it's that people want more than it is capable of...

 

Let me go ahead and quote something from one of your earlier posts:

"The reason is what I have mentioned over and over; People trashing the idea because it isn't what THEY want."

You're pushing the D15 because it's what YOU like, what YOU have, and what YOU (apparently) want. Does the D15 have it's place? Yes, absolutely. Is the D15 the best choice for the OP? Well, we don't know what his ultimate goals with the car are, so we can't know for sure, but in all likelihood the answer is no.

There is nothing, outside of (maybe?) gas mileage, that the D series does better than the B. Even a D16 would be better than a D15. If a D15 is what you desired to suite your application, great, but for most people it is a horrible engine to invest in.

 

Not true at all. The OP was inquiring about the D15 and what could be done..
Please reference the following : I am building the D15 I have to prove a point. Do I like them? Yeah, I do. Is it ultimately the direction I want to go? Nope.. My actual interests have zero to do with Honda at all lol


I can agree with this in that nobody really knows as a goal was not stated. If we assume he is in the same box as everyone else (350+ hp goal) THEN we can assume the D15 is not appropriate. Until that is made clear though, we must assume he is wanting the D15 since that was the spotlight topic.


Would you get pissed off that the gallon jug of milk you just purchased does not hold 5 gallons? No. That would be ridiculous! Same with the D15. If you want more than it can offer, you're pissing in the wind. This all revolves around what goals are set.. I said it earlier.. It's not the engine capabilities that are the problem, it's that people expect more than it is capable of..

 

It has never been done before. You will be the Neil Armstrong of the Honda D15 world...

 

This is partially true, but you already skipped over my complete post except the last line.

People want the most out of every dollar put in. The D15 is not the most per dollar.

A 10% increase for 1000 dollars (d-series) vs a 35-40% increase for 1000 dollars (B, F, H, K). Which would net a larger following? Which would have more support? Which would most people gravitate to creating more support?

 

Explain to me how it would be 1000 bucks to increase power output of a D15 by only 10%.. Adding a basic turbo setup and a tune will net you WELL over a 10% increase, and still come in under 1000. Well.. Maybe a tad over but lol! I have spent far less than 1k in mods on mine and I have definitely increased more than 10%, and those are all N/A.. Basic turbo setup will net you in that 40% range you're touting for the B.. Just a B engine alone is 2k or better.. B18 will run about 2800.. Let's say about 600 for additionals to get it in the car... so 3400 bucks.. JUST for a stock engine. I was following a B18 build at one time where dude spent 15k to put him into the 400whp range. And he did the VAST majority of the work his self. If you got that kind of money, go with it!

 

I wasn't planning on posting in this thread any more, but good lord you're stupid.

You can't do a reliable turbo for only $1000, not even CLOSE. What the hell are you smoking man... And even then, you'd have to deal with all the inefficiencies of the D15 if you intended on running more than just a few pounds of boost...

 

If you think you can't do a reliable turbo for under a grand, you're sadly and unfortunately mistaken. I know several folks who have and drive it daily..
And i'm stupid why? Seems that you lean more toward the side of stupid than I since I have stated, numerous times, the D15 is moddable but has limitations and depending on personal goals, may need to be rethought.. Somehow, you seem to misunderstand everything contained in those statements..

 

I'm done with this thread, but I'm going to tack this on as my final message.

What you and others provide as "advice" is flat out misinformed, ignorant, or just outright dangerous to people like OP (who at this point I have no idea if he'll even read the rest of theses responses).

You say you "know several folks" who drive a sub-1K turbo build daily? Yeah, I've seen several other threads where people say "their boy" runs some shitty eBay turbo kit with 400+WHP daily. It's all hogwash and bullshit.

Fact of the matter, day in day out, is you have to pay to play. The premise of "reliable, fast, and cheap" where you have to pick 2 is entirely true.

We still have no idea what OP's ultimate goals are, but a D15 likely will not satisfy them. And what you're suggesting is just... well...


******* retarded.

 

So.. What poor advice have I given?

Why would I lie? I have no reason to. I never said they were running 400whp. In fact, I don't recall leaving any claims to power. I simply stated they put together turbo setups for under a grand.

First thing I can say I agree with you on.

No.. His goals were not stated and I suggested that the D15 could be modestly upgraded. If my suggestion causes butthurt, sorry..

 

13 whp increase with bolt ons and a tune is barely over 10%... Take that same bolt ons for a b series and you will get more than double the percentage increase of the D15.

The actual numbers vary but the premise is still the same, it was an anology of why the B is more supported.

And if you can't get a B18B for under 300 bucks then you don't know how to shop. I already told you, I can get both B18B and the B20's for 150 bucks. I just have to pull it myself.

Then lastly.... Take that 15K you said someone spent on a B and got 400 WHP, now put that same 15K on a D series... You ain't getting anywhere near 400 WHP and if you push it above the 250 WHP you are gonna most likely blow up the D series with the exception of the D16Z6 or D16A6.

That's my point of why the B is prefered, it has more potential per dollar than any of the D's. Thus why it's more supported.

You can build whatever you want but in reality, if you want the most bang for the buck, you probably would skip 4 bangers entirely.

There is no replacement for displacement.

And there is more potential with a dohc over sohc purely just because the cams can be tweaked separately unlike the sohc that requires a new cam every change in cam timing for intake to exhaust.

I'm willing to bet you can get more out of the dohc ZC 1.6 liter than you can the d16a6 or the d16z6 and those are the two highest potential sohc honda motors.

Let me close with this. You want to say the D15 is a "great" platform. This is where I believe the controversy lies. Your definition of great equates to everyone else's definition of "marginally okay". Everyone else's definition of great is based on potential of which, the D15 doesn't have a lot of, especially when compared to other 4 banger Honda motors.

 

Instead of my usual breakdown, I just highlighted what i'd like to point out. Late shift last night and early shift today make for brain in limp mode.. This is what I have been saying allll along. This is goal related. You will not hit these goals on a D15. This does not make it unmoddable, nor a boring engine. If these goals are what the individual is seeking, then other platforms should be considered. If these goals are not wanted, then the D15 can be fun. A 200whp D15 in a 2300 lb gross weight vehicle is a good deal of "umph" for whatever amount of cash you have in it.

For the prices you mention, that is also a big IF on their availability and yard pricing. Your talking salvage yard pulls. IF you manage to get a decent condition engine.. Every salvage yard I hit has had every Honda DESTROYED in terms of decent parts. I was fortunate enough to find the P28 ECU that I did. Went back a week later and that Y8 (which was before untouched) was then in pieces.

 

It's already been said, but D15 rods are weaksauce. B7 rods are better than B2 rods, but still not great. If you're looking for a mild build, without breaking into internals, without breaking the bank, for a little more DD fun, you can get away with it. Don't expect more than 180bhp without breaking stuff. I'm gonna do a very mild boost build on mine just for kicks. I'll probably toss a built Z6 in it later.
Go with a tiny turbo, and a good tune, and you should be fine. Don't expect quarterhorse times from a mini horse.

 

This, right here, BOOM! Just about everything i've been saying lol. Anyhow.. Still awaiting some sort of response from OP lol

 

B swaps are cheap. Can get a whole Teg for $500-1500 easy. Swap that in and it will hold your need for speed for a while. Then when you want more power, you have a better platform to work with.

I've never seen someone swap in a D15, there's a reason for that.

 

Post some links to these ready to swap, nothing else needed, plug and play 500 to 1500 teggies. I'll wait...

 

Go look at Craigslist. There is 5 Tegs under $1000 in my area, that's before haggling on price. Cheapest is $250.

A Yonaka ebay engine mount kit is $60.

What more do you think you need?

 

Because what you are referring to depends on your area. I don't have any listings for integra ANYTHING near me. Closest is over 4 hours away, and it's nowhere near your boasted price. So I ask again, where are these 500 to 1500 dollar ready to swap, no work needed, plug and play teggies? I thought so.
Average junker price is 500 for a longblock. You'll pay about 50 for the ecu, another 200 for the transmission, about 200 for all the accessories; ps, ac, etc.. If you're smart, you're rebuilding the engine and head.. Another 400 if you find cheap rebuild kit. Master kits about 3-400.. Now you need mounts, harness, etc. If you got the harness from the junker, that's 100 bucks.. Already pushing 2k for a scrap engine there, chief.. Hmotors online has them also for around 3k for a swap, minus shipping and additionals.. B swap is not cheap. After all is said and done, you've spent 4000 to 5000 bucks to swap an engine. You could have taken a fraction of that and built a turbo d that'd push 200 easy.. Just sayin..

 

Same with you, only refers to your area. If you really wanted a swap you'd drive the 8 hour round trip.

I'd say you are in the minority on cheap swaps bud. You live in the middle of the corn fields?