i am in the process of building an ls/vtec (b18a1 bottom end, USDM ITR pistons, arp rod and head bolts, 97 Ported and polished GSR Head, skunk2 valvetrain, ITR Cams, AEM Cam gears)
and i have heard alot of conflicting opinions on whether or not to use the GSR block girldle.... Your opinions?

oh and one more thing, i just read a post about the best intake manifold to use w/ a gsr head, and a few of you guys said ITR... It was my belief that an ITR intake manifold wouldnt bolt up to GSR head... am i wrong?

 

yeah i wanna know too but for a b16?

 

ITR intake manifold will not bolt to GSR head without modification. Skunk2 is the way to go if you want an ITR style IM on a GSR. ITR intake bolts right up to a B16 head. As for the GSR block girdle, you need to have the installation done at a machine shop. If not done properly, it will cause the main bearing caps to become cocked (not straight), and the crankshaft will bind. Many times , installing the GSR girdle involves align boring the mains.

 

Yea what b19coupe said.Thats just one of the down falls of the ls blocks and another is the r/s ratio.Thats why i kept my gsr block because of the girdle and better r/s ratio.