i need help with a new decision

[cvcricer420]

Ok I need help with a new decison! I have a 95 civic lx with the 1.5l sohc engine. I want to make it faster but would like anyones suggestion on what to do. It has an Automatic transmission that's really the only thing I can't decide about. I want to know should I get jdm civic sir front clip b16a ($2495) and do an auto to manual conversion and i talked to the guy whos going to do the swap and he gave me the rough estimate of about $1000 and if i get this it will be na or should i get the jdm civic ex/si d16z6 and keep and an automatic and turbo charge that engine. Please help me out I need input from everyone.. Thanx

[ChumleyEX]

the turbo sounds a whole lot easier and safer.

[Thepeug]

It's not a question of safety. Either engine, if done right, will be just fine, even though a turbo would inevitably cause more wear on the engine. If money's an issue, go with the turbo. I love b16's, but the auto to manual conversion would be pretty pricey, and the engine itself is not cheap. You could get the d-series engine for around 500 bucks, and a turbo kit for about $3500. All-motor engines are awesome, but it costs a lot of money to build a b16 NA. Best bang for the buck: go turbo (or nitrous, but you better know what you're doing or your engine's toast!).

[Ricochet]

Originally posted by Thepeug
It's not a question of safety. Either engine, if done right, will be just fine, even though a turbo would inevitably cause more wear on the engine. If money's an issue, go with the turbo. I love b16's, but the auto to manual conversion would be pretty pricey, and the engine itself is not cheap. You could get the d-series engine for around 500 bucks, and a turbo kit for about $3500. All-motor engines are awesome, but it costs a lot of money to build a b16 NA. Best bang for the buck: go turbo (or nitrous, but you better know what you're doing or your engine's toast!).

At a few junkyards around here a 99-00 EX costs $900-$1000 w/ecu. Dig through some classified forums on here and others and you'll be able to find people selling them cheap, if not just giving them away free because they swapped in a bigger engine. The base turbo kit for this engine is $1600 but you'll need about $500-$2000 in mods just to make it run correctly and not lean out. $3500 is a good estimate but then you'll only have about 180-190 horsepower. Spend around $7k-$8k more and you'll have around 230hp, or 200whp/200wtq.

[Thepeug]

Originally posted by Ricochet

At a few junkyards around here a 99-00 EX costs $900-$1000 w/ecu. Dig through some classified forums on here and others and you'll be able to find people selling them cheap, if not just giving them away free because they swapped in a bigger engine. The base turbo kit for this engine is $1600 but you'll need about $500-$2000 in mods just to make it run correctly and not lean out. $3500 is a good estimate but then you'll only have about 180-190 horsepower. Spend around $7k-$8k more and you'll have around 230hp, or 200whp/200wtq.

7-8k more? 3500 + 7000=$10,500! For that kind of money, there would be plenty of easier ways to get 200whp. Example: buy a '91-'93 240sx ($3000), swap in an sr20det ($3500), and you have 205 to the wheels without any other mods. Not to mention an extra $3500 for more power, suspension, brakes, etc.

[Ricochet]

Originally posted by Thepeug


7-8k more? 3500 + 7000=$10,500! For that kind of money, there would be plenty of easier ways to get 200whp.

Bingo. My friend learned that the hard way by spending that much on his EX. He has EVERYTHING besides new internals on his turbo civic including all the fuel mods (injectors, modulator, pump, rail, etc), intercooler, $1300 AEM ECU, gauges, oil catch can, bov, and all the dynotuning costs are a wallet-banger as well. It adds up very quickly...

[cvcricer420]

Ok thanx for all the input you guys gave me i really do appreciate it. Now can anyone tell me which turbo i should get between the apexi ball bearing turbo and the greddy turbo for that engine???? The other day i was searching the net and found where someone had put an apexi turbo on the d16z6 and with only the turbo and intercooler running 5psi it had 175hp and 137ft/lb tq. I'm probaly won't run but about 5-10 psi so which one should i get and i'm fairly new to forced induction so what other things do i need besides a boost dependant fuel pressure regulator, missing link bypass valves, blow off valve, intercooler???? and since i'm retaining an auto transmission do i need a transmission cooler can someone please help me out!!! thanx!!!

[ah789454]

which country are you from?? if ur from australia theres a place in smithfield called hennis performance. the guy to speak to is robert. hes a honda genius.

all you need to tell him is your not happy with the cars performance.