Hey guys/girls. I've been toying around with my 99' Civic Ex. I've put some mods i/h/e, cam gear, high flow cat, ignition wires, wheels, coilovers. I realize those aren't the best list of mods for a serious tuner, but now I'm ready to get serious.

I've searched and searched and searched for the best engine to swap into my car. I was told billions of times to buy a b16a or b18c1. I agree that both of these engines are amazing and I would own one in a heartbeat. The only problem is price. I can get an LS motor to go into my car for nearly $1000 less than either of those engines and the LS has just as much potential. Aftermarket parts are also in huge demand just as the other 2 engines. So i have decided to swap a late model LS motor into my 99' Civic EX.

My first real question is, should I buy a harness kit and a new ecu to switch my engine from an OBD-II to an OBD-I? I have heard from many people that an OBD-I ecu is a lot easier to work with when going forced induction and that is what I eventually plan to do.

2nd question- I am not planning on going LS/VTEC so would it eventually be a good idea to buy a stroker kit from say Crower, when I decide to do internal work on my engine. I was planning on stroking my motor out to a 2.10 liter with the use of a Crower stroker kit. I have heard that stroker kits shorten the life span of your engine, but i find this hard to believe.

3rd question- Would it be a good idea to have a custom exhaust made for my car since most exhaust systems such as Greddy,Apex-i, etc. for the LS will be designed for the LS Integra instead of my Civic. I could also get larger piping if i wanted, which woulnd't be available with a pre-made system.

4th question- When looking for an aftermarket intake manifold and throttle body, would it be better to have a custom manifold made to the specs I want and get my OEM throttle body resized to ensure port matching? This would probably cost about the same amount as buying an aftermarket intake manifold and throttle body then having them port matched.

5th question- I already have Skunk2 Coilovers on my car. After the swap, should I switch to Integra Springs or can I just buy a new set of shocks/struts and it will work fine?

6th question- I'm planning on building a custom turbo kit for my car. When i decide on what turbo to buy (it will probably be a t4 or just maybe a t3/t4) should I got with a turbonetics t4 or a garret 25g turbo?

7th question- I'm wanting to get a custom made intercooler. Should I go with a custom made Spearco intercooler or have one custom made from a shop(of course a shop that would know exactly how to build what I want)?

8th question- Is an AEM Big Brake kit the cheapest option for upgrading my brakes(remember that I will have a pretty beefy whp so I will definately need larger rotors) or does Stoptech,Willwood, or someone else offer something cheaper?

9th question(s)- How can I easily obtain a conversion kit to swap my rear brake drums to Integra rear disc brakes? Also, If I do make this swap, would it be a wise idea to go ahead and swap the front brakes to Integra brakes since my back wheels will have 5 lugs with the conversion?

10th and final question(for now)- Who makes good injectors for Honda/Acura engines when turboing? RC Engineering,Venom, etc.?

Thanks in advance for the help.

P.S. I have recently also thought about a crVTEC swap instead of the LS, so if you could answer these questions relating to a crVtec swap also, I would greatly appreciate it.

First where can you find a b18b for 1k cheaper than a b16a? Please tell me, cause i'm thinking about a swap and if the b18b is 1k cheaper i might go with that.
1. Your going to have to convert to obd1, if you want hondata, but i think you can stay obd2 for AEM EMS
2. I don't know much about stroker kits, but i wouldn't suggest getting one 1.8 liters is good enough w/ a turbo especially if your building the motor
3. This is up to you. You could just call one of the manufacturer and they could make you a exhaust for a swapped civic.
4. I'm not sure, sorry
5. Not sure, but how do you like those coilover's?
6. Go with whatever kind of turbo is the most efficient for your engine, and the style of driving you want to do. Most T4's will have more lag than a T3/T04 turbo, or a T3..
7. Why go custom?
8. Not sure
9. Not sure
10. RC Engineering, Precision, do a search you might be able to find more,

Yep, I like the coilovers pretty well, they do make the car handle better, but the ride is waaayy bumpier, but you get used to it shortly.

I want a custom made intercooler because the ones i've seen with kits are freaking tiny! Bigger is always better!(usually)

On www.inlinefour.com i'm pretty sure their b18b's are cheaper than most b16a's or www.hmotorsonline.com i can't remember which is cheaper.

I want a custom made intercooler because the ones i've seen with kits are freaking tiny! Bigger is always better!(usually)



WRONG! If you think bigger is better then you got a lot to learn. If bigger is better go and get a T66 turbo and tell me how that runs on your car . . . . good luck spooling it, might mike 5psi if you're lucky at like 8,000rpms

Forced induction is all about making things flow, and work close together. The bigger your intercooler the more boost you lose when the air travels through it. So say if you got a 10psi spring in your wastegate you might onlt see 6-7 psi if you get to big of an intercooler, so make sure you get rid of that bigger is always better otherwise you will run into some serious problems. If you need help just ask, but don't assume stuff, otherwise you'll find your motor in about 10 different pieces behind you.

Umm.. yeah ok someone needs to learn to read... Bigger is always better (usually)

WTF? I don't remember saying shit about putting a damn t66 turbo on my engine(so why did you bring it up? :screwy: ). I was just saying that most FMICs i've seen on Honda's/Acura's are the little IC's that come with a stage 1 turbo kit. They look friggen tiny to me. Also Mr. smarty pants, if i had my wastegate spring set to 10psi and only 6 to 7 psi was reaching the engine because of the large intercooler, it would probably make the around same power as a slightly smaller intercooler allowing 7 to 8 psi because the air through the larger intercooler is denser. Denser air makes more power. Now if I went from a average sized intercooler to a friggen 30+ Row Greddy intercooler for a Supra or something, yeah, that would be way too big. I just meant an intercooler that is larger than average, which is probably more than you got. :loser:

I want to :banghead: when freaking people like you try to be a Billy Bad ass and show of on how you can "throw down on noobs" because your "more experienced" well fucking pick up a dictionary and look up what the word "usually" means before you start throwing your shit at people.

The only good advice you gave me was to ask before you try something, which was what this topic was supposed to do.

Also, how in the fuck is a larger intercooler going to cause my engine blow up into 10 pieces? It would take a serious fucking idiot to blow an engine up into that many pieces. Blowing out a cylinder wall or throwing a rod isn't that hard to do, but blowing an engine into 10 pieces, that would take some work. It just sounds like someone likes to exaggerate a little bit to much.

you'll find your motor in 10 different pieces if you assume bigger is always better. Just get over it . . . you did not mentiona t66 turbo, but it was just an example of you saying bigger is better. In some cases it is but not always. As for usually . . I know what that means, try to take the stick out of your ass. Go by thw worlds most largest intercooler and tell me how your car performs. Smaller intercooler are just fine, there is no need for the bling bling effect unless you are packing the power behind it. ofcourse you don't want to try and make 500whp on a small ass intercooler, but there is no need for a huge as intercooler if you're only looking to make 250whp, why spend the $$ on that when you can put the $$ in places that needs it such as into your fuel managment. Don't even bother arguing with me

go with a crv non vtec with a t03 t04 hybrid turbo or a t28 ball bearing turbo which spools alot lower than a non ball bearing turbo and the reason for non vtec is vtecs are not turbo friendly for more than 7 or 8 psi.

go with a crv non vtec with a t03 t04 hybrid turbo or a t28 ball bearing turbo which spools alot lower than a non ball bearing turbo and the reason for non vtec is vtecs are not turbo friendly for more than 7 or 8 psi.


Man, I'm pretty sure this topic has been talked over many many times, there is no problem with high boost and VTEC. Just do it right and there should be no problems, but it will cost ya to do it right.