What’s up y’all I recently picked up 1997 civic ex all stock has a d16y8 in it. I wanna make more power around 250-300 reliably. Just for daily driving and for some fun time to time. I’m willing to spend around 3-4K. Which is the best option and do I have to swap my trans or rebuild it.

 

You won't be able to accomplish a 250-300WHP B Swap with a 4K budget.

Maybe do just do a rebuild on the D16 with forged pistons/rods, and go from there. There's lots of D builds that have been posted on this forum with that power target, I'd suggest looking at what other people have built and going from there.

 

sorry I’m new to this didn’t know where to look

 

d-series.org

 

Do you have the cash in hand? If so you can afford to do a 200HP F20B swap and have cash left over to buy supporting fuel mods and boost it later. If you don't already know its basically a Type-S H that is destroked to get around import duty taxes on engines over 2.0 liters in some countries. It is called an F most likely because of the cast iron sleeves where H has FRM sleeves. Cast iron is better for aftermarket and takes boost better. 300HP is no prob.

But honestly... just do the D16...

If you don't have the cash in hand then its a lot easier to answer this...

Do this in stages as money becomes available, you are less likely to screw something up if you do one thing at a time:
Buy a Hondata S300 install it
Run a fuel return line and an e85 sensor
Replace your fuel pump and get 550-700CC injectors for up to 200HP or 900-1000CC injectors for up to 350HP (these figures are to allow you to use E85).
Get a new MAP sensor
Get a wideband that is compatible with the S300 and has a gauge
Buy a turbo kit that is sized for 350WHP but DO NOT EXCEED 180-200HP (honestly I'd keep it as low as possible) Run a 3 port boost solenoid and immediately start trying to achieve the lowest possible boost you can so that later you have good control over boost per gear.

Once all that stuff is up and running and working I would buy a D short block. It doesn't have to be a D16Y8. Buy an engine stand. Do what work you can but have professionals do the hard stuff like assembly and bearing sizes. Make sure there is proof that the engine builder is absolutely amazing with Honda bearings... don't trust him find the proof. If the bearings are not sized correctly its GAME OVER.

I'd look to stretch this project over the course of a year or so. Doing it the way I describe you should be able to have the car as a daily driver all but 1 week or less when you do the turbo and a week or less when you swap the bottom end.

 

Rebuild the motor with new pistons and rods...and go from there. If done right, it will run better than before.