Engine build recommendations D16A6.......

Hi all.......this is my first time posting here, (I have lurked a few times 'tho).

I have a couple of questions for the motorheads here; I'll try and be brief.
I've got a pretty nice '91 Civic Si hatch. The stock D16A6 is getting tired: 20+% leakage in two cylinders, using a bit of oil after 155K mi., etc. Everything is stock, except a cat-back exhaust thats nearly new. 'Just a daily driver, no race car or custom, (I've got my bikes for that).

Now the questions.

I have two other complete engines which I can rebuild and drop in, or mix parts from.

#1 another D16A6.
#2 a D16A1 ('89 Teg)

The rebuild will be from "the bottom up", fresh bores, etc., I have a pretty well equipped shop and can do everything myself. I just want a solid running engine with minimal installation hassles, but a little more push never hurts!

My thoughts so far are to use the A6 block, +.50 over pistons from an '89 Teg (higher compression?), and pirate the head from the twin cam A1.
I guess what I'm trying to do is sort of bring the A6 up to ZC specs.

Will this work?
Is it worth the trouble?
What (OEM Honda) cams would be the best?

Anyone's thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Keith

I agree bore it out and hone the cylinders but the head from the dual cam teg does not bolt on to the d16a6 block. Stick with the stock Si head and run a nice cam from webcam or crower. If you wanted to do a "hybrid" setup you could source a sohc VTEC head and bolt that on. Just a thought.:)

Stay away from ther 86-89 Integra motors. Even though their a D-series their not a bolt in. They are JUNK. I think that you would find it cheaper to get a new D16a6 from the junkyard than to do a stock rebuild on yours. You should be able to pick one up with low mileage for like $350-$400. Cheaper than a stock rebuild.

I can hook you up with some of my a6 findings.

Kris;

Please do.....I'd be very interested.

Thanks,
Keith

get those 89 integra pistons and put them babies in the a6! http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/skatemesa1/images/pistons.jpg

These are my pistons i bought for my d16a6, they are the P29 89' integra pistons, defidently will raise your compression. :)

If it were my car I would do a rebuild on the motor using SI pistons from an aftermarket supplier. As well as aftermarket rods and bolts too. I would then have the head milled for higher compression. Throw in a cam and cam gear and it would be quick. A friend of mine picked up a D16A6 for like 50 bucks at a junk yard and rebuilt it like this and he was keeping up with my ZC without the aftermarket cam. I have yet to race him with the cam but I hear he sold the car last week. I drove the car and it was amazing stong feeling. Very responsive.

hey redracercivic, if i get those pistons, would i need to change anything else? or can i just get the pistons.... and slap em in there..... like, do i have to bore out the head or anything? or whatever.... do i need new rods? stuff like that....

you wont need to do anything. i put zc pistons on my friends 92 civic dx. and they fit, i ddint have to bore it out or anything. his little d15 was fast, it spanked a brand new civic ex, the 1.7 ones. my friend only had a intake and header, the ex had an intake.

but just to make sure, just get the specs of the bore from both motors, if they are the same then it fits. just incase my friends engine was bored out or something already

Originally posted by civickiller
you wont need to do anything. i put zc pistons on my friends 92 civic dx. and they fit, i ddint have to bore it out or anything. his little d15 was fast, it spanked a brand new civic ex, the 1.7 ones. my friend only had a intake and header, the ex had an intake.

but just to make sure, just get the specs of the bore from both motors, if they are the same then it fits. just incase my friends engine was bored out or something already

hmm, where can i find the specs on d16a6 and the 89 teg p29 pistons...... Because this would be a nice little swap that would give me some power, how much power would this give me?

Or get the block resleaved, and throw in some very light, endyn pistons, bumping compression up to 12.03-12.76:1 (along with some other goodies) :cool:

how much does it cost to get my lock resleaved and how much are those endyn pistons?

Originally posted by MyFirst4G
how much does it cost to get my lock resleaved and how much are those endyn pistons?


To get them resleaved, varies anywhere you go, and depends on the bore size you go. Or, if you can trust jg engine, they sell a bareblock, with ductile iron sleeves that can accomodate up to a 79mm bore. Endyn pistons are 74mm, just a little fyi. That block runs $650 with core exchange.

But the endyn pistons run $485.00 + $75.00 for the rings. Then you would probably want some new rods, which eagle rods are going for a tad over $300 (just ordered mine btw). Then you would need to have the head reworked a little...

Originally posted by kris



To get them resleaved, varies anywhere you go, and depends on the bore size you go. Or, if you can trust jg engine, they sell a bareblock, with ductile iron sleeves that can accomodate up to a 79mm bore. Endyn pistons are 74mm, just a little fyi. That block runs $650 with core exchange.

But the endyn pistons run $485.00 + $75.00 for the rings. Then you would probably want some new rods, which eagle rods are going for a tad over $300 (just ordered mine btw). Then you would need to have the head reworked a little...


HMM.... interesting, i gotta read up on HEAD work some more.....

Originally posted by MyFirst4G



HMM.... interesting, i gotta read up on HEAD work some more.....


Endyn has a very sweet ass head package. Not sure on a final price yet though. :bloated:

But gude sells a decent package as well, plus their cams are pretty good, from what I have found...

Dont klnow prices on that either. Probably in the same range as the jg block.

Then for the crank, get it balanced, and kinfe edged..


http://ebay3.ipixmedia.com/abc/M28/_EBAY_2d2cf6c4061be32b9707440a329368e6/i-2.JPG

Originally posted by MyFirst4G
hey redracercivic, if i get those pistons, would i need to change anything else? or can i just get the pistons.... and slap em in there..... like, do i have to bore out the head or anything? or whatever.... do i need new rods? stuff like that....

You dont have to change anything else, they are a direct bolt on, no need to bore out your cylinders since the p29 pistons are 75mm. No need to get new rods, the d16 rods work perfect.