ZC or B16 swap?

[jusg19]

i got a 91 civic hb dx. I found almost all i needed to know about doing the b16 swap, but then someone told me the zc was cheeper and not much different. I know the zc isn't vtec and the b16 is in the b16 has 1000 rpm high red line with 3 more ft lbs of torqe. but has anyone driven both and can tell me which one is better for the $$ and work? i'm stuck at the moment in a dilemma.

[spy54]

lol me 2 b16 or b18c...

[CRX586]

I was thinking that too... ZC swap would save me money and be plenty fast... do I really need that extra 30hp/VTEC when I don't plan on racing (except when I'm late to school).

Anyone have experience smogging a ZC in CA??

[Setanta]

ZC followed by turbo for a cheap, drop in swap (plus wiring etc). B16A for the extra bhp but it requires a lot more effort than the ZC. B18 with turbo for the ultimate IMO

[Moppie]

As Setanta said the ZC is a very easy swap, and will provide you with a huge power boost of your poor USDM engine.

However if you can afford it then the B16a is the better option, provided your working over the brakes and suspenion to suit.


To give you some idea of the differnce that 3lbft and 25-30hp makes Iv raced with a mate in my SiR Civic against another mates Si CRX, Even with the extra weight of the civic and a 2nd person I had no trouble at all in leaving him several car lengths behind in a dash to about 100kph (65mph)
If you look at a dyno graph for a B16a the torque curve is amazingly flat, and 90% of it is avliable over a much wider range than the older ZC.

[Fishcat37]

yeah, if money is an issue than ZC is the way to go. it is a ton less painful of a swap to go through.....i've done the b16 on my car, and have watched a zc swap on an 88 civic hb dx. Mine was a royal pain in the ass, even with tons of advance planning, prepurchased parts up the wazoo, and a guy working on it that had done the exact same thing before. The ZC engine will drop right in: no mounting kit required, possibly 86-89 integra axels, no vtec wiring, no VSS change overs... The only problem is that you have a dx with is sohc DUAL point injection....and you are going to multipoint in the ZC (or the b16). I would highly recommend getting a whole new conversion wiring harness....that's what my friend did.....i think it's a couple hundred bones....and its well worth it for the time saved. Oh yeah, and i think that you need the ecu out of either the 86-89 integra or the 90-93. The ZC is cheaper, easier and sounds more like what you need/want. 7200 rpms is still screamin......it's just not the high-tech growl of the b16 in its prime at 8k! later.....sorry for ramblin

[Digitalcivic]

The ZC mpfi wiring is simple. Do it yourself and save yourself some $$

[shadowboy]

also not to mention, that due to the dual nature of VTEC, the B16A will give you a lil better bottom end grunt over the ZC

btw, ZCs are only 106ft-lbs, so its a 5 ft-lb difference, not 3

[91b16sedan]

I first had a zc but the head gasket and the valve seals went on it. The zc was a great jump from the stock 92 hp d15. I then decided to do the b16 swap myself. It was not to hard to put in. The power increase over the zc is more then I accpected. The b16 does seem to have more low end grunt. The zc was a great motor but I like the b16 alot better.

[Digitalcivic]

If you plan on stickin with the car for a while, go b16. ZC is quick, but when it comes to speed, you'll eventually want more.

[90CRXZCSi]

Well i've had both motors in my CRX and the B16 of course was more powerful. if you just want a quick little street racer and to save money then get the ZC. Im runnin the ZC now because it just seems alot funner to me to build up a 1.6L 130 non vtec beast. I want to eventually go turbo and throw on the GReddy 92-95 EX Kit.