engine swap? worth it or not?

[Goku]

hey guys i have been looking through websites and stuff but i cant seem to find a straight anser to my question and was hoping you guys could help me out here. i recently got my timing belt replaced on my 93 gsi integra and then got the water pump changed a week after that. but, i realised that since the water pump replacement, the timing belt cover was hitting against the timing belt. anyways, i got that fixed a week after because i was just bone broke. but that was all about a month ago and tonight was the unluckiest night of my life. i was driving back after buying a new set of rims, on the way back, my car died. i just had enough speed to pull over safely and check what was wrong. i couldnt find anything that was wrong with it. so my last hope was the RAA. they came and checked and finally found that apparently my timing belt snapped. so i reckon it was the timing belt cover hitting the timing belt, made it really weak and worn i guess.


so now to the real question, i am thinking of swapping it into a b18c2. i dont have unlimited funds like most of you guys here. so i was wondering if you guys could give me some advice wheter this is worth it or not. cause from what i heard to get this conversion done, i will need

the motor, gearbox, ecu, loom, suspensions (front), driveshaft. is that right? do i really need all of these? is it possible for me to use my current gearbox? since it is fairly healthy still. please help guys. would really appreciate it.

[202690]

That's very unlucky for your timing belt to snap! did you diy it? sorry i have no experience in engine swap

[infurNOS]

Unlucky dude...

Now a days you can get a half cut for probably $3k + $1k for installation. Since you dont have a lot of cash as you mention, you could source another B18b motor for dirt cheap, as they are not very sought after, which would be a straight swap, without having to worry about the issues of engine swaps, minimising your time without a car.

If you were going to do a swap, a half cut is the way to go because you get everything you need, and they are:

Motor, box, engine loom, driveshafts, brakes, ECU, shift linkages.

[Goku]

Unlucky dude...

Now a days you can get a half cut for probably $3k + $1k for installation. Since you dont have a lot of cash as you mention, you could source another B18b motor for dirt cheap, as they are not very sought after, which would be a straight swap, without having to worry about the issues of engine swaps, minimising your time without a car.

If you were going to do a swap, a half cut is the way to go because you get everything you need, and they are:

Motor, box, engine loom, driveshafts, brakes, ECU, shift linkages.

i know. i got it changed but i just have no idea how it snapped. wasted a good few hundred bucks and now its going to cost me more! would i need to change my gearbox or would it be okay with a the current one if i was to swap it with a b18c? yeah you have a really good point. i am a bit tight on cash. i think i might stick with the same motor. but i still want vtec :'( lol.

[eLtrix]

I wouldn't suggest you using your old gear box. Healthy or not the one that comes with the half cut on the b18c2 will always be better. I did this myself awhile back, engine was about $3000 then you'd have costs of about $1000 for labor then some other hidden costs like new oil and what not summing up $200 or so.
Total up you looking at around $4500 for the conversion to be done properly the first time.

VTEC is good, but in the end it turns down to your budget.
IF you want the cheap route i would just replace your engine with another b18b and then turbo it in the long run.
I got quoted around $500 for a complete b18b front cut.

Hope that helps

[Goku]

$500 for a front half cut for a b18? far out. wish i lived where u are. i dont know if its just me. but here in SA there are like limited parts when it comes to hondas. especialy integras i guess. i got quoted for a b18b2 motor only is $1395. and a b18c2 is $2200. so i think i might stick with my b18 i guess and like u said. turbo it later on in life when i finish school. cause im thinking of keeping my car for a long time anyways. also i got a front half cut of a vtir integra for $4500. dont think i can afford that. :(

[eLtrix]

Yeah. Gonna cost a lot to do a b18c. If you are short on money. Just do a standard swap. And turbo it. More fun later on.

Google hondworld and hondwreck. They are my local honda wrecks. They might ship it to you and might be cheaper in the end

[Tai]

I would put in a b16a better, it revs harder

[mocchi]

I would put in a b16a better, it revs harder

did you go

http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/customavatars/avatar24659_3.gif

when vtak hits

[grifty]

Why not go with a non vtec b20? More power and torque and can be had for a few hundred $$$

[stndrd]

Just build an ls/vtec

[mooshie]

Why not go with a non vtec b20? More power and torque and can be had for a few hundred $$$

Agree, usually pretty easy to come across too. Thre was a whole CRV on gumtree here in SA for about $1000 (damaged) recently.

[Monique]

B20 longblock

/thread

[Goku]

Why not go with a non vtec b20? More power and torque and can be had for a few hundred $$$

I thought it would be more expensive? Would I need loom, Ecu, gearbox, and motor obviously.

[Monique]

Reuse old gearbox. B20 parts are cheap as fuk

[DreadAngel]

Reuse old gearbox. B20 parts are cheap as fuk

Not that cheap in Australia compared to the US though ;)

[SLOBRO]

did you go back to the shop where you got the timing belt done? they should pay or fix the damage

[Goku]

did you go back to the shop where you got the timing belt done? they should pay or fix the damage

yeah i did. because i got the water pump done at a different place. they told me to go there instead. which i also did. but both of them are denying it. so that really pissed me off and they said they were not responssible for it.

[androo]

Accc...

[grifty]

I thought it would be more expensive? Would I need loom, Ecu, gearbox, and motor obviously.

reuse your harness and your gearbox, not to sure about the ECU though, i think its ok since they are both non vtec

you need to reuse your intake manifold, but you need to use the B20 exhaust manifold if you have stock exhaust manifold.

[SLOBRO]

yeah i did. because i got the water pump done at a different place. they told me to go there instead. which i also did. but both of them are denying it. so that really pissed me off and they said they were not responssible for it. well the person that touched it last is the donkey that stuffed it up. you should take it to fairtrading or something man

[Goku]

well the person that touched it last is the donkey that stuffed it up. you should take it to fairtrading or something man

i know! i talked to him and he was trying to fool me saying that i bought a dodgy car and it was already f****d in the the first place.

[Vvvtec]

Not that cheap in Australia compared to the US though ;)

Lmao.

[bede]

i reckon just go b18c2 swap,my mate just sold a full package deal for 1.5k looms gearbox mounts ecu everything :( but then again if your lucky enough you might find a full wrecking vtir dc2 at the wreckers or some sort of classified, grab everything off that and straight swap into your car, instead of the hassle replacing the block

[GU357]

Buy the b20 use it for a bit. the get vtec head!! and bam u got a b20 vtec!
obviously not that simple, but in the long run you will have a boss dc4

But its true the B16A will rev harder then the larger stroked engines, but you lose out on the torque, but most of the b18 and b16 have same hp output (besides type R variants)

a guy on gumtree here in perth selling a b16a2 for 1 grand.
could re-use your gearbox and drive shafts just get the correct ECU.
but unless your knowledgeable it will cost you money to have it wired in.
more wires i would imagine since you have to have atleast one more for the Vtec solenoid.
not 100% sure just using logic not personal experience.

[Vvvtec]

B16 in a dc chassis is a lame combo. definitely not worth it.

[mocchi]

as long as vtak is loud
thats all that matters
b16 for life!

[dougie_504]

Have you actually had the head inspected to see if there was any valve/cam damage etc? You might get lucky.

If you have no money I'd just be changing the belt again. Engine swap will cost you a lot, no matter what engine it is (compared to belt anyway).

[Goku]

well my car just got towed in to honda dynamiks and a guy called dan is looking at it for me. so hes gonna check it up first to make sure that if i really do need a whole new motor. so fingers crossed that i dont! :)

[defect]

if motors are so expensive in adel, why dont you try sourcing it from interstate and have it sent?
surely you can pick up a bare b18b block for a few hundred bucks.

[GU357]

not sure if this is a dumb question but can a b18c vtec head fit and work on a b18b block?
if u were to use the correct wiring and so forth?

[Vvvtec]

Ls/vtec mun

[EKVTIR-T]

not sure if this is a dumb question but can a b18c vtec head fit and work on a b18b block?
if u were to use the correct wiring and so forth?
b16 head ls/crv block poor man type r beast

[GU357]

b16 head ls/crv block poor man type r beast

so as i thought its the same a VTEC B20? except a VTEC B18

[Goku]

if motors are so expensive in adel, why dont you try sourcing it from interstate and have it sent?
surely you can pick up a bare b18b block for a few hundred bucks.

I actually have thought about that. But I'm not sure where to look from. Cause sites like eBay and gumtree do sell them but the ones that I saw are local pickup only and there like in nsw or qld. None in S.A.

[Goku]

Have you actually had the head inspected to see if there was any valve/cam damage etc? You might get lucky.

If you have no money I'd just be changing the belt again. Engine swap will cost you a lot, no matter what engine it is (compared to belt anyway).

Yeah :) the mechanic that I took it to is gonna do that first before ordering a new motor. Gotta wait till tomorrow I think. Cause there fully booked out.

[blacknyellow]

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150926704820
not sure if its in your price range but comes with the lot

[Goku]

Thanks for helping mate but it's a bit too much for me. :(

[GU357]

that b20 looks soo good.

although why is there a lil crank breather pod onto of the air intake pipe. seems like it will breath from that too. usually ppl just connect them properly or plug them and put the breather on the rocker cover,,,

[Goku]

i know! im gonna work my arse off in the next few months before uni starts haha

[Anon22]

this is fcuking bullsiht.........you should of pursued the dodgy mechanic further!