So I bought an em1, dropped a valve on the way home. So I'm going to rebuild it. I want something I can daily reliably with about 200 hp N/A. I've got a spare b16a head. Going to order a short block off hmotors. Trying to decide if I want to go with the b16 block for 450 or go with the b18b for 300. I have heard that ls/vtecs arentbtoo reliable. I've also never built a bottom end before so I'm just trying to gather basic research at the moment. I've rebuilt a head to factory spec, just never tore down a block. Just wondering what route you guys reccomend. Thanks guys

 

I would go b20 vtec..if you are on a budget run 84.5 YCP 12:5:1 compression Pistons with arp rod bolts and have a machine shop so the block. Since you have experience rebuild your b16 head with some aftermarket cams and VT.

 

Doubt if you get to the 200 hp mark with n N/A B16. Bolt-on upgrades don't help these engines much.

 

LS/VTEC builds are as reliable as the effort put into them. **** around with shitty parts, run a stock ECU, and try to act like it's a race car, and you're going to break ****. If you've done heads, you've done the hard part of building a motor. Check my build thread if you want to see a complete LS piston/rod build and just how easy it is. Get a quality LS/VTEC kit, do it right, and it'll be as reliable as any stock engine. You could get 200 with a completely stock motor, though. Get an ITR swap, but a quality intake and exhaust on it, and get it professionally tuned. Boom, 200 on a stock motor. ITR swaps also hold value better than LS/VTEC builds do, if you ever end up needing to sell down the road. Also, another option would be a J swap. Honda V6, fairly straight forward swap, couple RV6 PCDs and J pipe and you have anywhere from 240 to 300 horse, depending on which engine you use.

Also, this thread exists and is stickied exactly for people like you.

https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-...tions-1998336/

 

b20v= aids. gsr bottom end + b16 head= poor man's type r. homework time, sir.

 

GSR block, B18LS crank and rods, ARP rod bolts, B16/ITR pistons, decent cams. Done.

I have an LS/VTEC with USDM ITR pistons and a B16 head, Crower 402 cams. Made 199whp on a dynojet.

 

I keep telling people running a stock ecu on not-so-stock builds is bad. I think there was only once when someone ran a p73 on a b20/vtec build and it survived his abuse.

 

Yep, spending the time and money on a customized long block, and not spending the comparatively small amount of money to make sure it's running on an ECU that's made to run it properly is the definition of pants on head retarded, but hey, that's what you get when you can pick up a shell for $300.

 

200hp is not a lot of power. It realistically is only 40 more hp on top of a stock GSR.

Throw some high compression pistons and ITR cams in a B16 head and your good to go. I prefer LS cranks over GSR or anything else, B20 is the same crank.

 

200 at the wheel is a significant increase from 170 at the crank. Probably closer to 50hp difference, which would make it around a 33% increase. That being said, no, it's not what most people would consider a lot of power. It makes for a fun drive, but probably less than a 1:1 k/d ratio racing, lol.