SUGGESTIONS PLS - Help me build this engine!

Okay. So heres whats up. I’m gonna be buying a B16a1engine, tranny, ecu… I plan on using the tranny that comes with the kit. I also plan on using the ECU, after I reprogram it… So heres the matter at hand:

I have a B18A stock engine now… I was thinking of going LS/VTEC… if i have a full swap around, then I should have just about every part I need to put it together, minus the oil fittings, etc. Anyways… Can I use the B16A pistons and connecting rods, in my B18 block? That way, I’d have a much stronger, rev happy bottom end? Im thinking… I take the B16 pistons & rods, slap those in my b18… swap on the b16 head, drop in some skunk2 cams… and voila… But the question at hand is, will those pistons and connecting rods fit? Without modification? Should I just say screw all that, and just put in the B16? Also, if those pistons/rods dont fit, what should I put in, while I got the engine outta the car? I’m on a budget, so thats why i figured go with what I got… But I could look around and get something else, i suppose. Also, should i strengthen the valvetrain, it being about 10 years old and all? Please, any and all input would be great… And also, any tip that i didnt question here, would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys.

first of all, please do a search next time. There are WAY too many ls/vtec questions being asked. The topic has practically been done to death by now. There are MANY posts out there with TONS of good info. I’ll give you some answers, but not all of them, please, do some research… do a search, read through old posts, scour the search engines on the net… all kinds of stuff. This board (and the internet as a whole) is a tool, use it. When you get stuck, come back and ask about the details.

first off, there is no such thing as a b16a1. Its a b16a. The jdm engines didn’t come with a number at the end. What you’re probably getting is a 1st generation b16a from an 89-91 jdm integra xsi or civic sir. there is also a 2nd generation jdm b16a (produced 92+), which has 10 more hp. But in almost all cases it came with a hydro tranny.

The b16a rods WILL NOT fit in your b18a. However the b16a pistons will fit on the b18a rods (no modifications needed). But before you start thinking of using the pistons you need to figure out how high of a compression ratio you want to run, and what compression ratio the b16a pistons will give you. Depending on your situation it might be too high… or might be a little lower than you’d like. So, look into that.

buying a b16a swap to do an ls/vtec is a very good way to go about it (this is what i originally had planned for my engine swap). Like you said, you have almost all the parts you need.

Please don’t think that you can just slap a vtec head onto the ls block and expect it to behave like a vtec engine. The ls can’t rev as high as vtec really needs. You can build the ls block to rev higher, but it takes money, time, and effort.

If you’re on a budget, i’d suggest you forget about the ls/vtec plan (that is if you want the engine to last). Expect a full ls/vtec to cost you $2300-$3000 (that does not include any labor for removal or installation of anything, the only labor it includes is bore/hone/deck/balance, so if you would be paying labor, tack on a lot more $$$).

However if you are planning on spending that amount on the engine, i suggest you look into making a poorman’s itr. It costs just about the same, but will probably last longer and be more reliable. Basically do like you plan with the ls/vtec. The only difference is that you use a b18c1 block instead of a b18a/b block. The b18c block is a lot better designed for vtec, so you don’t have to pay for all the extra stuff that the b18a block would need (shot peen rods, arp rod bolts, block girdle), plus its already made for a vtec head so you wouldn’t have to pay for the oil line and fittings or have the head’s oil hole plugged. True, the b18c1 block does cost more, but it makes up for it since you don’t have to pay for all that other stuff.

Like i said, do a search, beef up your knowledge base a little, familiarize yourself with the ls/vtec and other stuff. If you get stuff, or have any specific questions just post, i’m sure somone will be able to help you.

Thanks! (I did look around some before I posted, but to those specific questions I wanted an opinion… but thank you) Okay… I was looking around… And the tranny that comes w/ the swap… the cable tranny, for the vtec engine… does that mount up to a B18C1 ? Or would that require the usage of a hydro tranny? Any good reputable places to just get the bottom end? I know a lot of places will sell swaps, but whatabout just that bottom end? My junkyards around here are terrible, and would most likely not have one. Thanks for your help!

Travis

Originally posted by IdntGlwIglisten
[B]Thanks! (I did look around some before I posted, but to those specific questions I wanted an opinion… but thank you) Okay… I was looking around… And the tranny that comes w/ the swap… the cable tranny, for the vtec engine… does that mount up to a B18C1 ? Or would that require the usage of a hydro tranny? Any good reputable places to just get the bottom end? I know a lot of places will sell swaps, but whatabout just that bottom end? My junkyards around here are terrible, and would most likely not have one. Thanks for your help!

Travis [/B]

any b series tranny will bolt up to any b series engine. ignore what Tegbuilder said about the hydro tranny. its a lot more complex than just using a modified linkage. The fact that we have cable and the others are hydro is the problem. you’d have to add a clutch fluid reservoir and all that BS. It can be done, but it’d all have to be custom because they no longer make a kit for it. Stick with cable, personally i like cable better anyway.

your best bet to find a b18c1 block is just to buy it second hand from someone. look through all the for sale boards, ebay, www.thepartstrader.com www.recycler.com and wherever else. it’ll probably take awhile to find one, but IMO it’d be worth it. If you’re lucky you can find one thats a blown: bad rings would be ideal (since you’d be putting in new pistons/rings anyway). Buying the block blown would be a lot cheaper too (just dont’ get one that has a serious problem, like a crack in the cylinder).

go LS/VTEC !!! come on…be adventurous!!! just get some eagle or probe rods for $330 (give or take). slap your b16 pistons on the rods, get a gsr girdle, and beef up the valvetrain…dont forget the little important things though…ITR oil pump and timing belt, ALL new bearings, seals, etc…

later get some nice streetable cams (skunk, jun, toda, whateer you like) and youll be on your way to a real monster of a motor…around 11.6:1 compression

get b20 longblock for 1000…then just roll on that until you get extra money…to do crv-vtec…