Hey guys, my friend is having motor issues with his H4 Integra and I wanted some third-party opinions on what he should do.

• Option 1: Buy a JDM B18B with ~90,000 miles-- $400
  • Pros
    • New oil pump
    • New piston rings
  • Cons
    • Haven't seen it run
    • No way of verifying mileage
• Option 2: Buy a red auto integra with ~110,000 miles-- $700
  • Pros
    • can see it run
    • can verify mileage
  • Cons
    • Supposedly higher mileage than B18B1
    • Additional clutter of parts car

I think he should buy the parts car because the body panels are useful to have for a race car. However, he doesn't want more clutter.

I'm iffy on buying a motor out of a car because even if you drop the oil pan and turn it over and check the valvetrain, you can't blueprint it without disassembling it.

Thanks in advance.

 

Parts car would be better for that price.

I'd want to refresh either motor so there is that to factor into costs.

He can always part out the shell and make his money back.

 

hey are you coming down for hyperfest? do you have room for my old B18B? I'll drag it down to add to the collection. i probably have a lot of H4-ish motor stuff laying around.

 

This is the way I'm leaning as well. I'm hoping we can get more feedback/opinions to open his mind to the idea of maybe having additonal clutter for a couple of weeks.

I just made a post on FB asking if anyone near me is going down!!! Thank you Kaan!

 

are you guys out of philly?

 

Verify mileage... define how you can do this on a 110,000 mi car?
I have to admit I hate clutter and useless stuff just laying around.
Both engines you can do compression tests on. Plus!
I would probably spend a bit more money and get one of those JDM imported engines.
Most of those come with some sort of warranty. VS Something you cant really verify.

 

The ~90,000 mile engine with rings and oil pump done has a JDM engine importer receipt but is missing receipts for work done after owner pulled from his old car. Getting a new B18B is an option but one with potentially long lead time and high cost-- we are considering it.

Yes sir-- far northeast area for me and Germantown area for my buddy.

 

Out of those options the whole car is 100% the better option IMO. I wouldn't want anything that someone else has opened up or rebuilt. The new oil pump and rings are not "pros" IMO, they're cons because you don't know who did the work, if the rings seated, is the oil pump brand new...etc. Any engine someone else has opened up is a variable, I'd take a "sealed" used engine over a rebuilt one in most instances.

 

id get the car and use the funds to refresh the motor as well.

it'll pay off in the long run, granted you do it right as far as breaking it in. i really dont like working on cars to be honest so I try to do things right the first time..sometimes

but..if you're the kind of person who likes to gamble and you dont mind pulling motors..the jdm option isn't a bad idea'r

 

I would buy the car for the price. Lets not forget the mileage verification because its pretty easy to swap out clusters in a car and they are pretty cheap to be honest. There are parts you can sell off and I bet there are some people out there looking for a clean chassis to build on I would take the car.

 

thanks for all the feedback guys. A quick update:

My friend found a good price on a JDM B18B with low miles from a reputable importer he will be buying.