I am in quite the predicament here. So I think my engine is seeing the end of its days (going into a trusted mechanic to double check) and I don't have the confidence yet to rebuild my daily's unique engine and I'm looking for a basic swap. The block is a B18 with a B16 head, built by the previous owner (judging by how I got the rest of the car, mostly a **** show all around) and was hoping to find a low km relatively easy swap and swap over what parts I do have over. I was thinking about doing a B20 swap as I do like bottom end torque, with the plan for low boost down the road to fill in the top end a bit, only issue is I have VTEC everything atm. This would be my first major project but I plan on doing everything as "perfect" as I can, and im trying to learn along the way. I know ill need a new chipped ECU for a manual LS correct? Along side a few bolt ons I already have for the B series would it be good to go straight for the S300 and go in for a tune right away? Just wanted to see if my thinking is making any sense to someone more mechanically knowledged than me before I continue planning ahead. One thing to note, the car is a DD and I am initially aiming for 200-250 before actually building the engine.

And yes I have been scavenging forums picking up info here and there and I do know what parts to swap, I was just hoping for some more direct advice. I also obviously do know about the b20 LS/VTEC or straight rebuild route and I might keep the b16 head for that reason, but I want to try and learn how to build an engine before messing with that stuff.

Thanks again boys!

 

Get another car to drive while you do this. Take your original LSVTEC and Keep it that way. Don't get rid of VTEC even when turbocharging. You don't want to put this kind of energy into a turbo project while trying to keep your car as a daily. Terrible Idea.

I'll rename your thread as this originally doesn't look FI related. ok.??

 

So you're suggesting I just do a rebuild? And yeah the plan was to turbo charge later down the road but to just get the engine in there for now (heard it'll take a weekend or two with some good hands to do the swap)

Also thanks for the new title

 

The longest part of a build or swap is waiting on parts. If you've got all the parts (and tools), it can easily be done in a weekend. Start Friday evening, done by Sunday dinner! This is also providing you don't break stuff along the way. Lol! Machine work, if needed, always adds some time as well.

 

Very wise words!

 

I agree, ask me how i know it...

 

An additional note, I don't mind not driving around for a bit, everything I need to get to is a bike ride away and I store my DD over winter anyways so I'm used to not having access to a car. Plus insurance is a b*tch where I'm from so a second car is extremely un practical. The plan is to rebuild/replace the engine and have it reliably run untill a second car is reasonable, then I'd go and add boost. Mainly just want to work on boost prep untill then, hence why any advice/links to other forum posts that could help me would be much appreciated.

 

It's not going to happen the way you think. Sorry. (We also have some of the highest insurance rates in the country, and a $1500 car with no collision is easily $500 every 6 months.)
So, get the bicycle or take a bus or find a friend, but don't try to "get it running" on a new build and expect it to be reliable enough to start the turbocharge process. You're talking to people who have been doing this 20+ years.

 

God dam im paying like 250 eur eur for insurance here for 12 months haha.

 

Totally understand, Thats why I like to post to this forum, people know their ****. But if the motor is built for boost from the get go, then work on financing the turbo build once I have an engine that can handle it, I dont see the problem. I plan on turning the car full project once my life allows it (Still not trying to shoot for 300+ hp), I'm just trying to plan for the future. (this is from the perspective of rebuilding the engine). I more than expect the car to be down untill spring. Don't get me wrong, I have an idea of what I'm getting into, just filling in the details. (An additional note, ive seen $200-$370/month, for minimal coverage, with clean records for a pontiac.)

 

I still genuinely wish you the best of luck on your plans

 

You can build the motor and drive it around NA until you can afford the turbo. I did this with my build. Fully built the engine, drove NA on the stock ECU for 3 months, then upgraded fuel system, cooling system, added an S300 and set it up for the 1000cc injectors and 4 bar MAP, then drove it like that (still NA) for another 4 months until I could afford the turbo kit. If this is what you want to do, just make sure you've planned out the engine build thoroughly or you have the funds available to pay for things you may not have thought about that will pop up. This will limit the amount of time your car is down while building the engine. I think my car was down for about 10 weeks while I built the engine and transmission. I spent a lot of money in those 10 weeks.