This is a big "if". I was recently debating whether or not to add a few more ponies to the ITR, and came up with a mildly tuned mythical setup. Something like CTR cams/pistons, VAFC, blah blah. Really mild, like just over 200whp.

So now, IF I decide to do that, or something similar, would it be better to build my own motor, or just drop in a pre-built one from another car? Let's say I trust the builder, and the cost is comparable to buying a stock B18C5 from Honda or anywhere else.

I have a pretty strong motor and don't want to mess around with it. A ~185whp/~130wtq stock B18C5 is a nice thing to have lying around.

I know some of you (George) will pop in and say that I don't 'need' any more ponies in this car. But we all know that I could probably manage to loop an ITR into the gravel traps, regardless of what kind of motor it had. I could get speeding tickets in Kendall's ITR.

I'm just thinking out loud here, and I've not decided one way or the other. So let's not debate whether it needs to be done, since I really don't even need this car, or much else for that matter. Would you boys opt to build your own motor with all the down time it could create, or just drop in a brand-new built one?

 

would j00 be selling j00r motor if j00 bought the built one?

 

Ross, I think upgrading to CTR pistons, which would get you higher compression and some aftermarket cams would be a nice upgrade. When tuned, you should not have any problems with reliability.

 

I've always been a fan of doing it they way you want it, not the way someone else thinks it should be done. I'd be all about building the original engine.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ross R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I could get speeding tickets in Kendall's ITR.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Speaking of which, I got one just the other day.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 00MRSi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ross, I think upgrading to CTR pistons, which would get you higher compression and some aftermarket cams would be a nice upgrade. When tuned, you should not have any problems with reliability. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, true. Let's see now. I'm going to ask you all something because I honestly don't know the answer. What would the above course of action cost me? Let's say I buy some CTR pistons, CTR cams, cam gears, VAFC, and pay for installation and dyno time? I'm probably leaving something out, like valvesprings and retainers, although not sure if those are necessary in this case.

I know a VAFC is like $300, but I have no idea what that other **** costs. If the whole would cost something close to what this theoretical new motor would cost, the new one might be worth it.

Kendall - we all know your iconoclastic view of building a car. I'm more or less talking about practicality here and minimal down time, not "What do you guys think would be cooler?"

Chicken - haven't decided whether or not to sell the stocker. I'd say probably not. If the ITR gets stolen, I'd have another motor sitting around to either sell, or drop into another car.

 

Thats one hell of a strong stock motor at 185/130... id keep the motor because of that, use stock cams, higher comp pistons, maybe a good header/exhaust and take it to a great tuner like SGT or whatnot. 200whp isnt that far away from where you are now.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ross R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Chicken - haven't decided whether or not to sell the stocker. I'd say probably not. If the ITR gets stolen, I'd have another motor sitting around to either sell, or drop into another car.</TD></TR></TABLE>

If j00're going to keep it, then might as well buy the already built engine...as long as money is not a problem

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by El Pollo Diablo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

If j00're going to keep it, then might as well buy the already built engine...as long as money is not a problem</TD></TR></TABLE>

On that note, just how built is this hypothetical motor you're talkin about Ross? It's not the mildly built one is it?

BTW, you don't need CTR cams, you're stock R cams are virtually, if not the same. Slugs on the other hand would be a nice kick in compression.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ross R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">This is a big "if". I was recently debating whether or not to add a few more ponies to the ITR, and came up with a mildly tuned mythical setup. Something like CTR cams/pistons, VAFC, blah blah. Really mild, like just over 200whp.

So now, IF I decide to do that, or something similar, would it be better to build my own motor, or just drop in a pre-built one from another car? Let's say I trust the builder, and the cost is comparable to buying a stock B18C5 from Honda or anywhere else.

I have a pretty strong motor and don't want to mess around with it. A ~185whp/~130wtq stock B18C5 is a nice thing to have lying around.

I know some of you (George) will pop in and say that I don't 'need' any more ponies in this car. But we all know that I could probably manage to loop an ITR into the gravel traps, regardless of what kind of motor it had. I could get speeding tickets in Kendall's ITR.

I'm just thinking out loud here, and I've not decided one way or the other. So let's not debate whether it needs to be done, since I really don't even need this car, or much else for that matter. Would you boys opt to build your own motor with all the down time it could create, or just drop in a brand-new built one?</TD></TR></TABLE>

i say buy one thats built or ready to be built..it much cheaper..on a side note..my friend is selling a b18c bare block bored to 82mm and toda 82mm pistons (12.6:1 Cr). he also has a toda header and spec C cams for sale..with that setup he dyoned 205whp(tuned by SGT )..which is about what you want

 

Keep the stock motor stock and build what ever else you wan til your heart is content.

If you could get another C5 and put ctr pistons with a thinner head gasket, and good bolt-ons along with a properly tuned ECU- I think you would be happy.

 

 

CTR Pistons give you 12.45:1 compression
OS CTR Pistons give you 12.81:1 compression

To not have an undercammed engine, you need some BIG *** LOBES. IE - not stock, spoon, toda A, and who knows, maybe not even Toda B. Maybe Jun 3/Toda C/Killers/etc. Maybe B, but I don't know.

CTR Pistons are an expensive proposition - I think JDM ITR Pistons or those old Si pistons (p30??) are a better idea for a reasonably streetable car. 12.81:1 scares me personaly. I ain't driving that crap to the track.... or as a streetcar. A bit much.

Excuse my english, but who the **** wants that on a streetcar???? Takes a bit more than a VAFC to get that to run optimally.....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chris N &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> I think...those old Si pistons...are a better idea for a reasonably streetable car.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm pretty sure that's what ended up in my own ITR.

 

Good idea. Somewhere in the mid - 11:1's would be a nice upgrade for a street driven car that sees track time.

12.5:1 + is insanity for street car IMO. Not impossible - just.. uh.. overkill?

 

Here's one calculator but not my favorite, I'll have to wait till I get home to dig up all the old NA build links I had somehwere, hopefully they all still work:

http://www.c-speedracing.com/h...c.php

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chris N &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">12.5:1 + is insanity for street car IMO. Not impossible - just.. uh.. overkill?
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Maybe if you have ready access to both 100 octane and Pr Faisal's platinum card.

 

The already-built motor I am thinking of has under 12.0:1 CR.

As far as streetable? Ask Steve Sakai, who daily drove an ITR with 14.X:1...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ross R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
As far as streetable? Ask Steve Sakai, who daily drove an ITR with 14.X:1... </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes, he did.

And the police are still looking for him.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by George Knighton &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Yes, he did.

And the police are still looking for him.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Wait, let me guess. 3 counts of lese majestie?

 

Talk to SGT about your options and pricing..

 

Go the new and popular Sohc route Turn it into a turbo project and hooray for something original

 

imho, don't waste your time building a 1.8L allmotor.....

Go with a 2L sleeved block or bigger... maybe one of those crazy dart blocks?

 

Ross, I don't know how soon you'll be doing this if you decide to go through with it, but I should be rebuilding my motor with JDM ITR pistons in two or three weeks, so I can give you some feedback on how much better it is than stock. As far as your actual question, the prebuilt motor sounds like it might be better for you, as long as it's from a reputable builder, only because (not to criticize) they probably know more about it than you. I would feel pretty intimidated if I were trying to put together a good cam/piston/tuning setup all on my own, simply because I don't have the knowledge to know what would work well together.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sscguy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">they probably know more about it than you. </TD></TR></TABLE>

'Course they do, lol...ever watch me try to work on my car?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ross R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">'Course they do, lol...ever watch me try to work on my car?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Unfortunately, no, I have not had that entertainment. I guess I'll witness it in July at Summit though