Keep my B18a1 or get a b20b

mkay so ive been looking at different motor for my da. So i called a local engine place and they dont have any ls vtec or gsr but a b20b in stock

i know that b20b is non vtec with 146hp but is it worth it to buy a b20b if i already have a b18a1?

i mean is there gonna be a lot of difference speed wise or is it gonna be pretty much the same.

i dont have enough money for a ls vtec or gsr thats why im thinking of getting a b20b.

SO the question is Keep my B18a1 or get a b20b

i want to go a little faster so is it worth it

you have to make sure that the b20b they are offering is for sure the high compression version (9.6:1, not 8.8:1) the main difference is the powerband. the torque of the b20 peaks lower than the b18 so it’ll be better on the bottom yet really no disadvantages on top
here’s some rough specs to compare the 2 just to give you an idea. personally my b18 recently went and im going with the b20 just because it’s basically a drop in and its a slight upgrade

B18A1
NON -VTEC
Found in:
1990-1993 Acura Integra usdm “RS/LS/GS” (DA9, DB1)
Displacement: 1,834 cc (111.9 cu in)
Compression: 9.2:1
Bore: 81 mm (3.2 in)
Stroke: 89 mm (3.5 in)
Rod Length: 137.01 mm (5.394")
Rod/Stroke Ratio: 1.54
Redline: 6500 rpm
Rev Limiter: 7200
Programmed fuel injection
130 bhp (97 kW) @ 6000 rpm & 121 ft·lbf (164 N·m) @ 5000 rpm
Transmission: 90-91: A1,S1, cable
Transmission: 92-93: YS1, cable

B20B/B20Z
• 1999 - 2000 specs
• NON-VTEC
• Found in: USDM CRV as a B20Z, JDM Honda CR-V and Honda Orthia as a B20B
• Displacement: 1,973 cc (120.4 cu in)
Power: 146 hp (109 kW)) @ 6200 rpm
Torque: 133 ft•lbf (180 N•m) @ 4500 rpm
• Rod length: 137 mm (5.394 in)
• Compression: 9.6:1
• Bore: 84 mm (3.3 in)
• Stroke: 89 mm (3.5 in)
• Redline: 6700 rpm

HP and TQ is different between 90-91 and 92-93. It is not the same.

90-91:
HP: 130 hp @ 6000 rpm, TQ: 121 lbs.-ft. (16.8 kg-m) @ 5000 rpm

92-93:
HP: 140 hp @ 6300 rpm, TQ: 126 lbs-ft (17.4 kg-m) @ 5000 rpm

What year a1 you got? How many miles? Are you needing a new motor swap?The B20 has a bit more tq so it will be a lil quicker off the line, guessing about the same as ls up high. look into a b16 cable transmission swap with lightweight fly and new clutch. If you find a deal and do the swap yourself itd wouldnt be that bad. If you have the odb1 92-93 b18a1, you could prolly keep up with gsrs if not beat them. I vote keep ls if its not ephed.

Sorry i didnt say what year my car is.

I have a b18a1 92 integra.
152k all stock.

You will be gaining 6hp more 100 rpms earlier and 7lbs tq 500 rpms earlier with a B20.

Not that big of a difference from a 92-93 motor.

but, its a newer motor. if its a USDM motor its at least 5 years newer.

the high-compression B20 is definitely an upgrade to the B18, there is no replacement for displacement.

b20z is a great motor. b20b will leave you disappointed if you’re just looking to upgrade. only reason i swapped mine in was because my a1 was done.
if your motor is fine, i’d say upgrade the tranny

i wouldnt say that my B20B swap has been a downgrade though.
i get better gas mileage than i did with my B18. even the OEM B18 ECU doesnt knock with this motor on 87 octane like it did with the B18.
the 8.8:1cr is boost friendly, and ive got one with a P8R head.

if youre staying all motor, try to get a high comp B20, i hear they are decent swaps for the money.

^^you’ve got the p8r head on there? with the low comp p3f pistons?

^^ i’m pretty sure my b20 with p8r head has the low compression pistons too…

So its not worth it to get b20b? i mean if im just gonna be disappointed with the end results then ill just stay with my b18 and maybe upgrade my tranny!

what do you guys think?!?

yea if theres nothing wrong with your current motor leave it and do the b16 tranny and possibly even a good clutch and flywheel for just a little more than what the b20 would cost you and you wont be disappointed

yup, b16 tranny and lightweight flywheel/new clutch…best upgrade I ever did.

i have not cracked it open, its an OEM headgasket and i want it to stay that way. i have not tested the comp
i do know there is not a knock sensor on it and it was cast in 98 so its an earlier B20, as far as i know, the knock sensor is the tell tale sign you have a high comp, mine is void of this sensor

and it’s stamped p8r on the head? i thought only the z’s and later model jdm motors came with it.
you could just use a boroscope to find out if you have the p3f’s in there…if you really want to

[QUOTE=welfare;2141301]and it’s stamped p8r on the head? i thought only the z’s and later model jdm motors came with it.
you could just use a boroscope to find out if you have the p3f’s in there…if you really want to[/QUOTE]

the back says P8R-11 and (9|8) (-|7) (2|6) (1|0) is stamped in it
who knows, i have no idea what the history of this motor is. id bet im the third or fourth person to use this as a spare motor.
at least two of those four i know personally and both had this boosted at around 10psi, they said it responded really well to boost and none of them opened the motor when they had it, as far as i know.

no telling what the owner(s) did to it before it became familiar to me and my friends, though.

B16 transmission off craigslist, ebay clutch and fly, guessing about the same as b20 alone… Guessing anyway. If your mechanically sound and have the tools do it yourself with a friend and a weekend. If not, again im guessin, but a transmission swap at a shop, should be cheaper than a engine swap. Swapping the ls 5th gear into the b16 transmission is always a good idea. But yeah in short, prolly cheaper, prolly faster. My first integra was a 90 ls with a 95 ls, obd1 convert with b16 transmission. Sware to god it felt faster than my b16 crx with the exact same transmission… B16 had ls distributor and vtec hardwired to a toggle swith in the cab… But my ls would have walked all over it haha.

you should listen to these guys :rockon:

i had the same setup om my ls before i did my gsr swap… 93 LS with a b16 ys1 fidanza 7 pound flywheel and exedy stage 1 clutch… it gave the engine a whole new personality… it made the car a million more times fun to drive… shorter gears + light flywheel = amazing excelleration… . i was easily beating most gsr integras and keeping up with stripped out civic hatchbacks with gsr swaps :rockon: