A Newbie's question about the B20 swap

[chewiejdh]

I keep hearing a lot of people talk about how “unreliable” the B20/VTEC swap is. Why is it so unreliable? If I had someone build the engine for me that new what they were doing how could it be unreliable? I’m planning on doing a swap on my ’95 Ex Coupe sometime soon. I know the reasons for a B16 and for a B18. I’m not asking for anyone’s opinion of what motor I should get, I just want to know what are the problems people keep brining up when talking about a Frankentein engine. If they are so unreliable, then why do people do them? I’m not trying to start some flame war, I’m just looking for some info. If you have any FACTS on why the swap is good then please let me know, and if you have FACTS on the negative aspects of the swap then please post that as well. I know that there are a lot of “B20 vs. XXX” posts, but none of them seem to get into the facts about why the B20 is bad, there is just alot of "it's unreliable for daily driving" posts. Please post any info. Thanks. Sorry for the long post.

[jcrx]

I believe the reason most people say that is because they were told that and the ones with the swap probably didn't know how to do the frankenstien or the person's who built it didn't cuz there are people that are running it just fine.

[thetoymaker]

Crvtec is nice
how much money do you have? it has been expensive....

How to: some pointers- do lots of research!!!
http://www.c-speedracing.com/howto/b20vtec/b20vtec.html

My car- 1997 civic HB dx 98K on frame/body repainted original honda red. Total Sleeper- You would not know this car has a huge motor cept' the 4+" SS Dunk Megaphone exit on the exhaust. (4-1 DC sports header to a 3" pipe SS Custom Catback)

My powertrain (so far)
B20Z2 (dealer)
b18c5 head with type r cams, Modified allignment pin placement (exact)
AEM cam gears (adjustable)
type r intake manifold with injectors (dealer)
GSR Fuel pump (dealer)
gsr gear pully for waterpump (removed crv one to allow for GSR timing belt to be used at proper tension)
Block guard (crvtec conversion) ebay
Oil kit for Vtec head with tee and SS hose
Motor mounts (crvtec conversion)
LSD for use in LS tranny-rebuilt tranny (very expensive)
GSR ECU w/ wiring harness
Type R headbolts (torque to 78-80 ft lbs)
B20 head gasket
Gasket kit I/E/Wtr/Dist, etc. (dealer)
CRV alternator
Air conditioning (works)

There are other parts like CV axles and misc things but I'll list those some other time (like after my ride is finished) I have tried to use only JDM parts and accesories.

According to my mechanic who has built several of these for racing and everyday driving the conversion is very stable if done correctly.
He prefers race over rice but his rice is very nice.

He says the other ones he has built have dynoed at around 225HP N/A He keeps wanting me to go turbo but that's a little expensive as of yet.

some other links: (cut and paste)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=1868237480
http://ff-squad.com/jay.htm
http://www.b20vtec.com/frontpage.html
http://hcoc.2u.com.my/main.htm

The web is a huge place not very full of anything useful on crvtech, I have spent the past couple of months looking for as much info as I could find.

for example:
CRV/B16A 11/07/01 231+ HP
CRV/B16A 8/28/01 204 HP
CRV/B16A 8/28/01 217 HP
CRV/B16A ITB 8/28/01 217 HP
CRV/GSR 8/28/01 229 HP
CRV/GSR 8/28/01 242 HP
CRV/B16A 8/28/01 234 HP

So as you can see there are several routes in which you could go, I sold my perfect 95 Teg so I could build something that I wasn't afraid to leave parked for more than 15 minutes.
One time I went to the store I was away for 10 minutes and someone tried to get into my teg with a screwdriver and screwed up my door handle Grrrrrrrrr



I have spent over 6k on the crvtech powertrain so far, but most of my parts are new It could be done for much less.

[chewiejdh]

Wow, thanks for all the info!! That is the most complete listing of parts needed. Thanks!! I have the info from the cspeedracing conversion. I have been looking for a couple of weeks and until now, I haven't really seen that much info.

[Redline_civic91]

info on crvtec is pretty hard to find on the web. theres a couple of them though if you look. crvtec.com is pretty good. i personally had a straight 2 liter in my car for about 2 months and that things was rocking. since then we've made it a vtec by adding the b16 head. you wouldn't believe the power you get crvtec is one of the faster things on the road. i hange with and beat a lot of v8's, beat a 3000gt, bearly lost to a bmw m3, and theres some other ones, but i dont want to keep going on this. you will kill and i mean kill any honda out there. i know about 5 people that have had crvtec in their car for about 5 years and its still going strong. its realiable as long as the person who does it is experienced and know whats he's doing, cause one wrong move on the conversion and your whole head is gone. that sux.

[chewiejdh]

Thanks alot from the info guys. My next problem is, since I live in North Carolina, I don't know if there is anyplace around here that is qualified enough to do the conversion correctly. I see that most of the people on the boards are from Cali, so I don't really know how much info you guys would have. But if there is anyone that knows of any place that I can get this type of work done? or are there places (other than importbuilders, cause they are expensive!!) that I can have the engine built and sent to me? Thanks again.

[liquid8]

my question is why the hell don't you guys just get a b18 or b16 and stroke it up to a 2.0. won't it give you the same torque and the same power and be safer? i heard the rod stroke ratio is the problem. it doesn't have a rev friendly rod stroke ratio. and that's where vtec heads make their power. and b16's do have a rev friendly block and so does a b18. the b20 is an suv motor.