H22-B18c1-B16a2

Alright I'm thinking of putting one of these 3 in a 96-98 civic. Let me know which has the most potential. Also let me know which has the cheapest better parts (turbos, internals, etc.) Also let me know which is the easiest to swap. I'd most likely be working on it for a while and I'd definitely have a n2o and turbo in it, so keep that in mind. All opinions welcome.

H22 = too heavy for anything other than straightline driving IMO. A lot of people debate it - straight line = awesome, but it's a fair bit heavier than a B18 or B16 which are heavier than your original motor. B16a = good, but lacking in torque (even though that's what I have). B18C = good torque levels and power and a good starting poin to drop a turbo onto.

I'd have to say a B18 would be the best swap in.

Just my opinion though :)

b18c1 is a great motor to turbo. That's personally what I would choose. Get it sleeved to 84mm, new rods, some 9.2:1 pistons, new rings, bearings, gaskets...clean up the head, port match the head to 84mm, new valve train with crower turbo cams, or port flow race head. New Intake manifold, ported Intake manifold and Throttle body. Get a custom turbo good for 500whp.

I plan on using it for dragging. I also plan on putting on a turbo and n2o. Just needed to see if this would change what ya said.

Originally posted by madtownhonda
Get a custom turbo good for 500whp.
what does whp stand for anyways?

why do people use bhp, whp?
i understand hp, and bhp is brake horsepower

Wheel hp maybe?

Yup - power at the wheels. We could really get nitty-gritty and start using PS (Power Stroke) which is what the Japanese market uses. :p

Why not? I think everything we do should be jap spec since those of use who do engine swaps do you jap spec engines :p I think using PS would be pretty cool if it weren't hard to understand.

with the right suspension upgrades there is no problem with the h22, it is not only for straight line driving, iam putting one in a 92-95 hatch for autocross, not only that it is only 85 pounds more than a b16 swap.... 85 pounds does not create this crazy amount of oversteer.... so i would go with a b18 anyway since it is an easier swap but if u plan to go all the way there truly is no replacment for displament 2.2 liters is reat to have and u can get it with a closed deck desine wich is very stron for turbo and nitours applications unlike the open deck desin of the b series motors but u will need a motor from 96 or later not only that but the later model trannies have better earin to so it would be best to have a 1996 prelude motor and tranny with the optianl lsd if u are goin to o all out but it is not a cheap swap............. hope this helps clear up any confusion;)

yeah the h22a is only about 30-40 pounds heavier than the gsr because i went to this place i lawrence, ma and was talking to this guy at this shop that they do swaps in and they had a 2000 civic hatchback with a h22a, turbonetics t4 turbocharger, all with custom piping, turbonetics racing wastegate, spearco intercooler, msd ignition system, hondata stand alone management system and shit load of other things. It has around 450hp and they're still not done with it. i'm going there to get my swap done, but not until april because they're booked until then. is $4400cheap for the engine,labor and parts a gsr motor into a civic

id say the b18c1 has the most potential out of those 3.

i have heard that the H22 swap into civics and accords is bad news. to much torque for the little cars. what i hear is that the H22 ends up twisting the frame. id go with the b18c1.

It's not oversteer I'd be concerned about but understeer with a H22. Even with the right suspension mods, weight distribution is being thrown out. Hence handling goes to hell. The more weight in the bay, the more you lose the original handling characteristics. BTW - if someone is motorkhanaing a 300bhp H22 then they are off their head as a) handling is out and b) you would never get to use it while twisting and turning. Motorkhana's are about handling - not bhp.

More to the point - B18 is an easier swap.

Originally posted by Setanta
H22 = too heavy for anything other than straightline driving IMO. A lot of people debate it - straight line = awesome, but it's a fair bit heavier than a B18 or B16 which are heavier than your original motor. B16a = good, but lacking in torque (even though that's what I have). B18C = good torque levels and power and a good starting poin to drop a turbo onto.

I'd have to say a B18 would be the best swap in.

Just my opinion though :)

i agree 100% i am buying a b18c1 swap for my 6th gen civic within a couple weeks

Why don't u go with the LS motor? Its cheaper than the 3 v-tec engines and plus it has more torque than a b16 and about the same torque as the gsr?

First of all, the best power, torque and rpms for the moneywould be the LS/VTEC style motor with a B20 block and a B16b head (any B series head is good but that's just my favorite). With the B20 you get the added displacement and torque of the 2 liter motor, then the B series head gives you the higher hp and revs.While keeping the wieght to a level that the Civic chassis was designed to handle.This set up costs less than most other motors and is far superior in my opinion.

Yes, the H22 is a heavier motor but that's really not the issue, the issue is that it's heavier OVER THE FRONT WHEELS. This creates a wieght transfer problem when cornering and understeer in our little cars. Autocross is based on momentum and horsepower so understear even a little bit of it is a huge problem.

Another thing to remember is that the H22 (the engine built for the Prelude, Accord chassis) sits different than a B series (engine made for the Civic, Integra chassis) so it's kinda hard to fit in there and to get the wieght and motor in properly.You also lose your AC ( there's no room for the compressor)

Once again, nobody paid any atention to what this car was going to be used for, he said that he wanted to drag this car, with a turbo and nitrous.So in this case the negative for handleing in turns is turned into a positve for putting more wieght onto the front wheels, which we all know gives you better traction. The added displacement of the H22 will help out greatly in your ability to make torque (a huge deal for drag racing) and I believe that hondaspeder is right about the closed deck, which is good for turbos.

If your serious about drag racing and building a drag car then the H22 is DEFINATELY the way to go it has everything that you want in a drag motor and it's fairly cheap (around $2300 depending on the model).

Anyways who needs airconditioning in a drag car?:D

Personally, I would get the B20. I heard that when you get a VTEC engine and turbocharge it, you gotta like change the VTEC stuff and shit. I'm not an expert on that but all I know is that you gotta take it out or some shit.

Originally posted by Hanguk87
Personally, I would get the B20. I heard that when you get a VTEC engine and turbocharge it, you gotta like change the VTEC stuff and shit. I'm not an expert on that but all I know is that you gotta take it out or some shit.

You dont have to take out the VTEC, you should lower the compression though. You don't really need to until you get to the higher bost level sthough. The reason is, that it's easier to get detonation (that's bad) with a higher compression ratio.

There are lots of turboed H22s drag racing and they do VERY well.

So you think going with the H22 is the best way for me to go? Actually in a 92-95 civic coupe obd1 h22 is the way to go as I've heard. And as you have heard I am not racing or pushing the car around turns. Only letting it out on straightaways and tracks :greenchai :flamer: :wave: god I love these things.

Why not a H23? More displacement.

H23 is SOHC....

Fakirone...i like the B20 w/ VTEC head...but it's just CRVTEC :P instead of LS/VTEC ;)


I'd stick with the good old B18C + turbo if you really don't want to experience some more different motors.

the B18B1 (LS) is always good.

Or..lose your A/C and PS and go for the nice..big H22 :D It's great for straight line...

And..just get a 22mm rear sway bar to help with that understeer :P :D :devil: muhahahahahaa!!

Originally posted by VTEC_boi
H23 is SOHC....

Fakirone...i like the B20 w/ VTEC head...but it's just CRVTEC :P instead of LS/VTEC ;)


I'd stick with the good old B18C + turbo if you really don't want to experience some more different motors.

the B18B1 (LS) is always good.

Or..lose your A/C and PS and go for the nice..big H22 :D It's great for straight line...

And..just get a 22mm rear sway bar to help with that understeer :P :D :devil: muhahahahahaa!!

H23 is DOHC non v-tec! Since your goin to use ur car on the track then h22 is a good choice.

H23? could I have some info on these and if they'd work in a 92-95 civic? prices? places?

i am also greatly interested in the h22a or cr-vtec for my 93 hatch. I was looking into building a crvtec but can't seem to find anywhere to snag a vtec head at. i found the longblock, the pistons i want etc.. but no head. any info on the h22a or cr-vtec you guys can offer up would be appreciated. i'll have about 3k to do this motor swap up with and it'll be here in like 2 weeks, i'd like to be decided soon. thanks

The H23 is a 2.3 liter DOHC non-VTEC motor. It is what the B18b is to the B18c.
You can do the same frankenstien stuff to this motor that you would do to a LS or a CRV motor. You take the head from a H22 and put it on a H23 head on it. The benifit of this, is increased displacement and more torque. This is THE BEST option for drag racing but it's not that much better than the regular H22.
The H23 should cost you about as much as a H22 and the instalation is very simalar. Then youve got to have the H22 head put on. I don't think that it's worth the money to do the H23/H22 unless you do not have budget concerns.