turbo or swap on my sohc?

Hallo everybody,

I have a 97 civic coupe with sohc non-vtec engine. What should I do with engine, buy a turbo kit for my sohc or swap a b16a engine?
This is a daily driven car, I have to go to work every day with.

any suggestions?

thanks,

1. check the boost forum for your answer.
2. a turboed SOHC is awesome
3. i personally would swap
4. when you get your swap and if you live in south cali, i will do it for you for $350 + 2 cases of coronas and lunch ;) (conditions are: you come in the morning and on a weekend).

man i just wished that i lived in cali.
I live in Netherlands. Here in Europe b16a engine are so expensive, normal price for the b16a2 is around 2500 euro.

thanks anyway

If you turbo your engine with a brand name kit and accessories, all parts will be around $2100.. Then comes the install charges if you're not going to do it yourself, and dynotuning. Your car will be a little quicker than with the b16a2 swap though, and with turbo, all you need to go faster is more fuel and a boost controller.

You mentioned it's a daily driver.. you do know that with a turbocharger you'd have to warm up the car in the mornings and let the car sit and run to cool down after you're done driving right?

Choose between the reliability of a swap, or power of a turbo.

You mentioned it's a daily driver.. you do know that with a turbocharger you'd have to warm up the car in the mornings and let the car sit and run to cool down after you're done driving right?
You can solve that problem with a good car alarm these days. Just get one with remote start, these days, the ones with remote start have a turbo timer function built into it too. So you not only get a good car security system, but you don't have to install a separate turbo timer and warming up your car is as simple as pressing a button or two.

that's if you can find someone to install it on a manual, but you're right.

If you turbo your engine with a brand name kit and accessories, all parts will be around $2100.. Then comes the install charges if you're not going to do it yourself, and dynotuning. Your car will be a little quicker than with the b16a2 swap though, and with turbo, all you need to go faster is more fuel and a boost controller.

You mentioned it's a daily driver.. you do know that with a turbocharger you'd have to warm up the car in the mornings and let the car sit and run to cool down after you're done driving right?

Choose between the reliability of a swap, or power of a turbo.
I agree btw i saw a bolt one and ITR cammed b17 hatch RAPE a d16z6 turbo with catback.

the b17 runs like a stock car still.

you dont have to let the car warm up and cool down. yes its better for the turbo but it only takes 30 seconds ::shrug:: im willing to wait

Isnt that what a turbo timer is for ? To cool down the engine.

If he cares about the car he'll have to, otherwise it will turn to shit after 50k miles..

is 30 to 60 seconds really that much? he can also just get a tt and not worry about it, and running water lines as well as oil will make it even safer

Yeah you need a turbo timer with a turbo, especially if you beat on your motor or if you're at the track racing. Unless you have a ton of $ to blow, I'd assume you'd want to look after your investment and have it last as long as possible...logic.

I've never had a boosted car but I helped install a turbo on my buddy's 00 EX and he would warm it up until the idle dropped, which is like 3-4 minutes weather depending..

that's if you can find someone to install it on a manual, but you're right.
A lot of the security systems with remote start are manual friendly too. My friend with an STI has a CompuStar I think, either that or one of the DEI ones, anyways, he said it's so much more convenient to have everything on his key chain. It is hard to find someone that is competent enough to do the install right though, thankfully I know the head tech guy at Magnolia Audio Video and he does killer work.

I know in NYS, stores and shops can't legally install a remote start in a manual car; even if it's a special system. Of course it doesn't stop people from doing it but it's still illegal for someone to install it, but not to have i don't think.

or you could just remove the interlock switch :naughty:

the purpose of letting your car run before driving is to make sure the bearings in the turbo get lubed up nice and good and letting it cool down is to let the oil cool down so it doesnt coke up. and if turn your car on, sit in it for 10 seconds, then drive down the street your bearings are oilled. just dont floor it out of your driveway and youll be fine. if you really cant wait in your car for a minute or shell out the 30 for a used tt, well, live with it or swap it :2cents:

The swap would be more reliable, since it's still a stock engine. With the swap, you wont have to deal with the warming and cooling issue and you still get a descent amount of power.

3 of my friends have swaps all three had problem. All installed with diff shops. If you have a good motor go with turbo. I was going to swap and said screw it, the engine isnt made for my car, but the turbo is. To each his own.

Well, I dont really know but thats just the way I see it.
If the engine is in good conditions and the swap done right then I dont see why anyone would have any problems with it.

Car alarm with remote starter is no problem to fined them here, I know one shop in Germany they will install remote starter for manual car legally.
I am warm my engine up right now as well cause we have 14 degrees celsius right now outside end spatially in the morning.
To make a b16a2 swap in the Europe I have to prepare to spend for about 3000 euro for it, I think turbo would be more preferable for my case. Only I would like to put a home made turbo kit together, I have to ship parts from US, putting everything together could make the total price of 3000 euro as well.