I know it's been posted a thousand times but here's my situation. I have 3000 to spent on a swap I can go ZC for 1500 and still have enough left over for a greddy turbo or I can go b16a for around 3000. Of course the turbo ZC will be faster but how reliable are boosted ZC motors I plan on 6lbs daily and up to 10lbs at the track will the zc be up to this? Also if I do decide b16a I will probably go turbo down the road, what kind of boost can they handle in stock form? Lastly if I get the zc built what levels of boost could I see. My ultimate goal is a low 13 high 12 second daily driver what would be the best and cheapest route to go.

 

B16 for sure there is no substitute for VTEC or better yet B18!!

 

How much more money \harder is a b18 swap? Will my car be faster than the b16a? What are the benifits over the b16a?


[Modified by 91CRX, 3:25 PM 7/27/2001]

 

b18c1 170 hp
b16a1 160 hp
b18c5 205 hp (Integra Type R)

the b16 is a little easier and cheaper of a swap..
the b18c is basicly the integra gsr engine.. it runs a little more expensive about $800-$900 more

 

To reach your ultimate goal quickly, the turbo ZC should get you there.

I have a newly rebuilt ZC in my 89 Civic. I haven't been able to drive it much yet (has a tranny leak after driving it 8 miles), but it seemed pretty fast from what I could tell even though I am in break-in.

A B16a would be a nice swap as well. Seems like a win-win situation.

 

It all depends, i think its pretty much up to what you like.

ZC turbo is nice but so is B16a turbo and so is b18 turbo or b18c turbo.

So see its pretty much up to what you wanna do.

ZC turbo would be cheapest
b18b turbo would be next expensive and this engine loves to be turbod with its high torque and stronger bottom end.
b16a is nice and has more potential but it is hte most expensive.

 

I buy mine for $500 CANADIAN! Look around, keep your tranny and buy the ZC complete for like $400 AMER. Put it in yourself or have a shop do it. I would get the turbo at the same time and you'll be in at about $3000 w/ the intercooler too. Easy low 13's with this setup. Check out http://hometown.aol.com/elevensecZC/ for some more info. HTH Kerry

 

yes i would agree with HondaCRX...a b18a/b turbo is a good set up...u got .2L more displacement than either zc or b16a...they are all over the place and they are cheap...and if u live in CA then they are street legal if u get the USDM version...all zc are jdm and most b16a are jdm unless u find one from a delsol or a new si...b16a would be the better choice for all motor...if u go b18a/b go for the "a" cuz its a cable tranny but u could also get a hydro conversion kit from hasport if u get the "b"...

 

Now dont get us all wrong, you can turbo a b16a or any other engine, but the b18b is just a good match for turbo, b16as are pretty much built for all motor. If you do turbo the vtec engines though, make sure you lower compression. Also it all depends on what you define as fast, theres 1/4 mile fast, street fast, and track fast. They all require different things.

 

YUP! YUP!...hehe

 

B16A

 

Of the two choices you listed, go with the B16 swap if you are going to turbo it in the future anyway. I learned a while back that sometimes you can end up doing things more than once if you don't go with what you really wanted to start with!

The b16 will have pretty good power, and will be a blast to drive, and later on when you turbo it, it will have more power( or at least the capability without as much major work ) than the ZC.

However if you think you want it now, and won't redo anything down the road, you might be happy with the ZC.

 

i have heard that it is impossible to turbocharge a B16A in the engine compartment of a 4th gen. no room for piping.

but that is what i have heard from a singular person who was told from a install shop.

please tell me otherwise!

 

OVerkill is right...if someone quoted you a price of 1500, they are trying to put the screws to you. You can get the motor for like 375 or so. It isn't very expensive.

and to answer the question, it all depends on what you want. A turbo ZC SHOULD be faster than a B16. So if you don't have much to spend and you're looking for a good street setup (most likely the case, most people are like that) then turbo ZC is prolly for you.

If you want to be competitive in the 1/4, you're probably going to want a b16 w/ turbo....and maybe even more. But if you have quite a bit of money, go B16, then turbo that!

 

You really cant go wrong with any of the choices here..... but if your on a limited budget and want the set up with the most potential then go B18A with turbo. First its more displacement thus more torque then the B16s. Second your compression is lower then the B16A which make turbo more compatible. Third you can add VTEC also later on if you wish.
this is the set up I would choose because it gives you the most option down the road. You already have the larger displacment of the two and you still have the option of Vtec later on. B16's can be stroked to match the B18 but why spend that kinda money when you already have that displacement here with the LS turbo?
For those that argue... "but you have no VTEC on the LS" TRUE to that.... but its less compression thus less tuning compared to the B16. Also.... if VTEC was that important to you... you can add the VTEC head later.

 

I like that idea, and LS's are suposedly good for turbo set-ups, I don't know because I haven't done anything like that. It does seem like a turbo'd LS would beat a semi stock b16 anyday though!
Gee, I wonder if that comment will **** off some B16 owners?

Oh yeah by the way, if it pisses you off, you need a sense of humor!


[Modified by crux131, 1:26 PM 7/28/2001]

 

You can get b16's for 650 with tranny. I have gotten a few ZC's for 200. But you can also go search the junkyards for a 18b, just the block 92 on up is what ya need, I found one for a few hundred. And the oreder the b16, LS v tec. Alot faster if you set it up right. Massive torque and Vtec. That would be about 3000 and youd love the hell out if. I suggest goin all motor with hondas, man. You get tired of turbo. All my friends with turbos are trying to sell there fully built cars, now. NA is the way to be.

 

I think the first thing you need to do is look around you and see what your options are look at junkyards, local engine importers and such. Because you may find you can get certain engines cheaper or more expensive. Let me give you my example.

I wanted to go b18b turbo but i found that here in maryland on the east coast, ls engines are even more expensive than b16as! i couldnt find anyone who woul sell me an ls for 600 or less for just the block. i was quoted 650 for b16a for engine and tranny for k watanabe but they wanted to charge me 300 for shipping, i luckily met up with a guy who worked at a junkyard who had an ls block, i bought parts off him for my crx and we are now good friends. He had bought 2 b16as for parts but didnt need 1 so now guess who hes sellin it to for dirt cheap. so take a look around at your options cuz depending on where you are, our advice may be useless if you cant get a b16a or zc.

 

My $.02 for a turbo motor i would bo with the LS motor,drop in a pair of JG 9.0:1 pistons,Crower rods,Benson's ductile iron sleeves, JG #1001 turbo cams,Vtec oil pump,as for block prep. Then go to Xs engineering to get there coustom T04E/T3 turbo,HKS standard wastegate,Greddy Type-R blow off valve,toped off with an XS intercooler,as for air and fuel go with a MSD 500hp in-line fuel pump,RC eng. 310cc injectors,Vortch Eng. boost dependant regulator,and Crane Fireball HI ignition box with blaster coil and an air fuel meter,if you get Import Tuner its in there Fall 98 issue,it put 279.5 hp tp the wheels,and that was them bouncing off the revlimiter at 6750 rpms.oh yea that at 12lbs. of boost. Let me state that the LS motor is not a high rever,so if 8000 shifts is what you like its definatly not the motor for you. Thats my opinion on a turbo motor.

 

b16a for sure....i was originally going to go ZC but I couldn't pass up the VTEC! Plus, I might plan on matting a B20 block later on in the future. Well, I got my swap for $2000 installed, so try to find around the same price

Good luck with your swap!