How much boost can a D16y8 take? And am I better off swapping the car?
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From: Florida
How much boost can a D16y8 take? And am I better off swapping the car?
So I’ve been pondering on weather or not I should get a new block for my car and turbo it, or completely re-haul the car with a swap. I was thinking a B16A if I did a swap, but I’m not sure if I would need a complete new wiring harness or if it could take the stock harness from a D series engine?
And weather or not turbocharging the stock engine would make around 250 to the wheels on stock internals?
What would even be required to get that block turbocharged and would there be anything I would have to do? (preventative maintenance) to make the block last as long as it possibly can? What would be the best ECU to get if I did turbo the stock block? I’m fairly new to the car scene and haven’t really done anything like this to a car.
And weather or not turbocharging the stock engine would make around 250 to the wheels on stock internals?
What would even be required to get that block turbocharged and would there be anything I would have to do? (preventative maintenance) to make the block last as long as it possibly can? What would be the best ECU to get if I did turbo the stock block? I’m fairly new to the car scene and haven’t really done anything like this to a car.
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Florida
Boosting a stock D16Y8, or swapping to a B16a
So I’ve been pondering on weather or not I should get a new block for my car and turbo it, or completely re-haul the car with a swap. I was thinking a B16A if I did a swap, but I’m not sure if I would need a complete new wiring harness or if it could take the stock harness from a D series engine?
And weather or not turbocharging the stock engine would make around 250 to the wheels on stock internals?
What would even be required to get that block turbocharged and would there be anything I would have to do? (preventative maintenance) to make the block last as long as it possibly can? What would be the best ECU to get if I did turbo the stock block? I’m fairly new to the car scene and haven’t really done anything like this to a car.
I've posted this on a different thread before finding this one, sorry for any inconvenience or confusion.
And weather or not turbocharging the stock engine would make around 250 to the wheels on stock internals?
What would even be required to get that block turbocharged and would there be anything I would have to do? (preventative maintenance) to make the block last as long as it possibly can? What would be the best ECU to get if I did turbo the stock block? I’m fairly new to the car scene and haven’t really done anything like this to a car.
I've posted this on a different thread before finding this one, sorry for any inconvenience or confusion.
Re: How much boost can a D16y8 take? And am I better off swapping the car?
Welcome. If you do a B-series swap, keep the engine harness that goes with the car. The current general consensus is that 200 - 220 whp is about the safety limit for stock rods on D-series engines. You could literally do nothing to the block prior to turbocharging, but turbos put stress on the engine, so I personally think it's best to start with good parts - either new quality parts or inspected existing parts. To exceed ~220 whp, you should replace the stock rods with stronger aftermarket rods and ideally replace the pistons. While you're in there, new bearings, a fresh overbore and hone, deck the block, new gaskets, and new oil pump. I would recommend a P06 or P28 ECU, as they are readily available and allow you to use any of the many OBD1 tuning options (Hondata, Neptune, HTS, etc.).
I recommend you read through some of the single cam build threads in this forum to see if turbocharging your engine is truly something you want to do. Good luck.
I recommend you read through some of the single cam build threads in this forum to see if turbocharging your engine is truly something you want to do. Good luck.
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From: San Antonio, TX
Re: How much boost can a D16y8 take? And am I better off swapping the car?
So I’ve been pondering on weather or not I should get a new block for my car and turbo it, or completely re-haul the car with a swap.
For a goal of only 250 wheel horsepower, you're better off saving the 2-4k you would spend on a used B series engine/transmission swap and staying with the D series.
I was thinking a B16A if I did a swap, but I’m not sure if I would need a complete new wiring harness or if it could take the stock harness from a D series engine?
The advantage of a b16 swap is that it will hold a little more power than the d series, stock, but it's not worth it if you are looking to make 250whp. Generally people say the D series is more cost effective up to about 350 horsepower, then you are better off with a B series. If you do the b16a swap, the engine wiring harness stays with the engine, and you can re-use the wiring harness that goes with the body/car from the fender walls back to under the dashboard. Engine harnesses should stay with the engine, basically, it's not worth trying to use a d series engine harness with the b16a.
And weather or not turbocharging the stock engine would make around 250 to the wheels on stock internals?
That would be pushing the limits. Although there is not an actual set amount of power that can be made, the d series stock connecting rods are thin, and the d series connecting rod bolts are known to fail as horsepower increases, around that power level. It is possible to get 250whp on a stock d series engine if everything including your engine and turbo system are set up correctly, however it's risky. You could try, if you are on a limited budget, to have an engine builder change the connecting rod bolts to APR, and do a thicker head gasket to lower the compression ratio, with APR head studs. This, with a good conservative engine management tune/tuning software, like Hondata, with lower ignition timing, 93 octane or better fuel, and like 11.5:1 air fuel ratios, a good intercooler, and a 3" exhaust, and a quality turbo charger. For the d series or b series, remember a lot of these engines are used and pushing 20 years old already though. If you were only looking for 225whp, you wouldn't need to invest as much time or effort, but 250whp is quite a bit from 1.6 liters of engine, and the car will be rather fast with 250whp- probably 13 seconds in the quarter mile.
What would even be required to get that block turbocharged and would there be anything I would have to do?
Ideally you could get upgraded pistons/rings, connecting rods, a new oil pump, bearings, gaskets, APR head studs. Then it would have no problem, with a good tune, making the 250whp. You'll also need a clutch to hold the extra torque. ACT, Clutchmasters, Exedy, and Action clutch are good brands.
https://www.speedfactoryracing.net/c...series-engines this has some good piston/rod combinations for $470-550
(preventative maintenance) to make the block last as long as it possibly can?
Once it is set up and tuned, it's just a matter of doing regular maintenance, like oil changes, spark plugs, etc.
What would be the best ECU to get if I did turbo the stock block?
For a good tune, you could use a OBD2-OBD1 conversion/ jumper harness to plug in really any OBD-1 VTEC ECU/computer, then use Hondata. There are other options, such as AEM EMS, as well as many other "stand alone" ECU's but they can be more pricey. You could try the piggy back things such as Apexi V-AFC but they aren't cheap and are limited in what they can do, often described as band-aids. About 20 years ago, I used a Vortec 10:1 FMU and did 8-9 psi of boost, and it drove great for 2 years, but I was at less than 250whp.
’m fairly new to the car scene and haven’t really done anything like this to a car.
For a goal of only 250 wheel horsepower, you're better off saving the 2-4k you would spend on a used B series engine/transmission swap and staying with the D series.
I was thinking a B16A if I did a swap, but I’m not sure if I would need a complete new wiring harness or if it could take the stock harness from a D series engine?
The advantage of a b16 swap is that it will hold a little more power than the d series, stock, but it's not worth it if you are looking to make 250whp. Generally people say the D series is more cost effective up to about 350 horsepower, then you are better off with a B series. If you do the b16a swap, the engine wiring harness stays with the engine, and you can re-use the wiring harness that goes with the body/car from the fender walls back to under the dashboard. Engine harnesses should stay with the engine, basically, it's not worth trying to use a d series engine harness with the b16a.
And weather or not turbocharging the stock engine would make around 250 to the wheels on stock internals?
That would be pushing the limits. Although there is not an actual set amount of power that can be made, the d series stock connecting rods are thin, and the d series connecting rod bolts are known to fail as horsepower increases, around that power level. It is possible to get 250whp on a stock d series engine if everything including your engine and turbo system are set up correctly, however it's risky. You could try, if you are on a limited budget, to have an engine builder change the connecting rod bolts to APR, and do a thicker head gasket to lower the compression ratio, with APR head studs. This, with a good conservative engine management tune/tuning software, like Hondata, with lower ignition timing, 93 octane or better fuel, and like 11.5:1 air fuel ratios, a good intercooler, and a 3" exhaust, and a quality turbo charger. For the d series or b series, remember a lot of these engines are used and pushing 20 years old already though. If you were only looking for 225whp, you wouldn't need to invest as much time or effort, but 250whp is quite a bit from 1.6 liters of engine, and the car will be rather fast with 250whp- probably 13 seconds in the quarter mile.
What would even be required to get that block turbocharged and would there be anything I would have to do?
Ideally you could get upgraded pistons/rings, connecting rods, a new oil pump, bearings, gaskets, APR head studs. Then it would have no problem, with a good tune, making the 250whp. You'll also need a clutch to hold the extra torque. ACT, Clutchmasters, Exedy, and Action clutch are good brands.
https://www.speedfactoryracing.net/c...series-engines this has some good piston/rod combinations for $470-550
(preventative maintenance) to make the block last as long as it possibly can?
Once it is set up and tuned, it's just a matter of doing regular maintenance, like oil changes, spark plugs, etc.
What would be the best ECU to get if I did turbo the stock block?
For a good tune, you could use a OBD2-OBD1 conversion/ jumper harness to plug in really any OBD-1 VTEC ECU/computer, then use Hondata. There are other options, such as AEM EMS, as well as many other "stand alone" ECU's but they can be more pricey. You could try the piggy back things such as Apexi V-AFC but they aren't cheap and are limited in what they can do, often described as band-aids. About 20 years ago, I used a Vortec 10:1 FMU and did 8-9 psi of boost, and it drove great for 2 years, but I was at less than 250whp.
’m fairly new to the car scene and haven’t really done anything like this to a car.
Here are some dynographs to look through to give you some examples of power made, and parts used. GO-AUTOWORKS customer dynos using GO-AUTOWORKS Turbo Systems
Also since you are new, some advice is that a turbocharged Honda will attract thieves, so have a place to park it.
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