I need some stuff cleared up about b20 & b16 engines, totally lost...

[YouthfulLad]

Ok, I have a '91 GS Integra, a B18A1 engine, it has about 150k on it. I was thinking of swapping the engine, BUT, I've heard so many things about different engines. The B20 is a complete drop in/bolt in, the B16 is the best, the B17 is more economical. I just want to be set straight on all this. What are the specs of each engine? Which engine would be the easiest and the least inexpensive, not necesarilly cheapest right away. What would I need to do to swap the engines then? How much would all this cost if done at a shop? I want an engine that will be a daily driver, but that I can build up to the mid 300's. Should I just rebuild the B18A1 and turbo it, would this be as reliable? The car now is an automatic, would this effect the swap? And finally, your overall opinion on doing a swap of this kind, what would you do if money was no object? Please be as specific and give as many helpful links as possible.

P.S. I live in MN, so if you know of any good shops, tell me also.

[integralover]

ok, first off i'll give you a website to look up all the specs you'll ever need to know. http://www.streettuners.com/curve/en...specs.html#crv
now different engines will post different numbers depending on the type of mods that are done to them. my engine is factory speced at 126@5400 RPM's with 133 lb/ft@4300 RPM's, now i am currently posting 172@6200 RPM's and 141 lb/ft@5700 RPM's. and i have the my LS cams in on my LS ecu. not the crv. from what i hear the best setup for torque and hp is the b20 block and the b16 head. you'll get the torque for off the line and the vtec for the upper end. now if your looking to boost the car later the size of the piston walls will depend on how much boost you can do. the b16 and the b18 should be able to boost to 10-12 psi for racing. and the b20 8-10 psi. the b20 has the thinest piston walls therefor you don't want to boost as high. if you want your engine to last you might want a boost controller. city driving you don't need 10 psi of boost to just do stop and go traffic. now you also have an automatic which will sux, and it takes a bit more HP away by way of the torque converter. and as far as the swap goes it should be very much just plug and play. the only thing that did not match up on my swap was the power steering pump. but it should not matter for the 94+ teg's. it would probably cost you at the shop anywhere from $1900- $2700. depending on the shop. i did it myself and it cost me about $900. and to get a mid 300's car will take some work. my opinion, do the b20 block and the b16 head.

[YouthfulLad]

Thanx, sounds like I'm gonna be doing the exact same thing you did then. Thanx for the info, how did you fix the power steering problem, or did you just not hook it up? I'm gonna prolly do the swap in a couple months, so I can save up so I can do the swap and everything else right away, easier for me and the guy helping me. When I do the swap I'd like to stay in contact with you incase I need some help. Also, will the ecu from my B18A1 work with the new engine? Thanx again

[YouthfulLad]

One more question, would a B18C swap be a good possible uprage too? Would it be more or less difficult than the other swap?

[integralover]

since i have the 93 teg my power steering pulley was the v shaped kind. the 94+ teg's have the ribbed kind. if you have the ribbed kind your cool. i had to take my power steering line to carquest and have them make me a new hose with the connector for the new pump. and you should use the ecu from your teg. i accidentally left the cams from the crv on the engine when i did the swap. i took it for its first test drive and was like wtf, this sux. put my teg cams in and was like ooohhh yea. we have a better ecu for what we want then the crv ecu. you can use everything from your teg. everything. just swap and go. i have no intention right now of going anywhere so let me know if you need anything else.

[integralover]

and with the b18c, you'll need a vtec ecu and wiring harness for the vtec. the b20 will be cheaper in the sense you can use everything from your car now. except the power steering pump. and i believe it would be the same for the power steering pump with the b18c also. we just have an older version of power steering.

[mellowboy]

I'd say go b20 and keep it str8 without putting vtec head on it. Resleeve it and turbocharge it. That thing will be a monster! Resleeving is goin to be expensive but it's definitely worth it , especially if you want your engine to last.

[integralover]

[YouthfulLad]

Thanx, both of you! You really helped me get a really good idea of what I want to do. I know I'm gonna go B20, now I just have to think about vtec or not. Last question now, after I do the swap what type of parts should I look for online, because after that I can't just order stuff for a regular integra gs? Will I have to buy parts for another integra or car that has the new engine?

[YouthfulLad]

Ok, a new door has opened up to me, I need your opinion on it. I also found out some other things, if I want a turbo kit for the B20 with the vtec head I'll need to have it custom fabricated. If I stay with just the B20 I can get a supercharger, but it won't give me as much horsepower. Now onto the open door.
I can get a fully built b18c GSR head, gauranteed by the shop to add 30-40 horspower, it also has everything you can do to it done and costs $1,400. If I get the b18c GSR engine a couple of my mechanic friends also offered to build that up for only the parts cost over the winter for me. If I do that I'll already have 200+ horsepower off the engine alone.
Oh, I forgot to mention, the shop offering the head just recently broke the world record for stock bottom horsepower on an h22 engine. They got it to 230 at the wheels all motor.
I know I'll need to buy the ecu and harness, but will this also swap right into my car. If it's a good idea I don't want to tell my friends no and then want them to later.

[integralover]

any b series engine will swap nicely into your car.