b16b gearbox options

[vrmmmpshhh]

hi guys, bought my ek1 hatch a couple of weeks ago and already have a b16b package coming in a few days. engine package came minus a gearbox which puts me in a pretty good position to get a good setup going. any recommendations for gearboxes? i see plenty of ITR boxes around but ive been out of hondas for a decade now and have no idea if they are suited.

the car gets driven pretty hard and is replacing my turbocharged mx5 for gymkhana/touge

[pat88c]

the gearbox that suit the civic ek9 b16b is gearbox that comes with

Should either try another b16b gearbox or build a gearbox with custom rotios
Could get by with just dc2r b18c gearbox

And you should spend the money before you install into your car rebuild the gearbox as most gearboes are high kms these days and people off load there crap as good used products
spend the money and saves you more money & time

[Boznian]

rebuild a b16a2 s4c with stronger syncros and what not and put in a LSD

[chez00]

B16a S4C with a clutch type LSD (I recommend Kaaz) and maybe a shorter FD (4.7 or even 4.9) would be the perfect combo for the events you want to enter. If you still want to street it add a .714 LS 5th gear set to offset the high RPM cruise of the short FD. I've got most of these bits in stock if you're interested, except the gearbox. Check my trader pages here on ozhonda or my website for rebuild options.

[vrmmmpshhh]

awesome that sounds great. b16a gearboxes are well priced too.

[eg5civic]

Just rebuild your b16b gearbox if your going to go down the rebuild/refurbish path. If not a dc2r box would suit it well with the higher final drive, thats the one thing I wanted with my b16b, shorter ratios

[chez00]

Just rebuild your b16b gearbox if your going to go down the rebuild/refurbish path. If not a dc2r box would suit it well with the higher final drive, thats the one thing I wanted with my b16b, shorter ratios

Yeah sounds like op doesn't have a gearbox yet though? Late Dc2r S80 fetch a high price because of their factory helical LSD and 4.78 FD - s4c has same gear ratios but 4.4 final drive and are much cheaper especially if open diff. If you were going to overhaul it anyway, just get the cheaper box and fit better stuff in it (FD of choice, LSD of choice, new bearings seals and synchros). All dc2r boxes are at least 12 years old now and absolutely thrashed and need money spent on them anyway - Just my $0.02

[vrmmmpshhh]

i have no gearbox at the moment which is why i want to know what the best option would be. sounds like the dc2r s80 is a good option which i should be able to find under 2k.

[chez00]

sounds like the dc2r s80 is a good option which i should be able to find under 2k.

Yep definitely a nice box. Just be aware that there are many s80 boxes and not all are out of the dc2r, not all have LSD and not all are 4.785 final drive. Only 1998-2001 dc2r gearboxes have the goodies. You want to verify you are getting the real deal before parting with the cash. Ideally you want to drive it in the car before you buy it to check synchros are ok, no noises etc. but most of the time this is not possible. You will be able to see straight through the diff where the driveshafts would go, with no pin crossing it if you're getting the factory (quaife) helical LSD. Short of ripping apart the gearbox there's no way of externally verifying you are getting the short final drive.

[vrmmmpshhh]

what do you guys think of a dc2 vtir box with a kazz lsd?

[dougie_504]

Sh!t gearbox for your engine IMO. Crap gear ratios.

Either get an ITR box, or get a B16A box.

Or get the VTiR box and change the final drive to something better like a OEM 4.7 or aftermarket 4.7/4.9. Unless you want something that cruises and doesn't accelerate fast.

[chez00]

Sh!t gearbox for your engine IMO. Crap gear ratios.

Either get an ITR box, or get a B16A box.

Or get the VTiR box and change the final drive to something better like a OEM 4.7 or aftermarket 4.7/4.9. Unless you want something that cruises and doesn't accelerate fast.

Agreed. If you swapped the VTiR FD to a 4.78 or something you'd have an awesome box as the gear ratios are actually closer than the DC2R. It would be very pedestrian though if you kept the 4.4FD.

[vrmmmpshhh]

i had a look at different honda gearboxes and the teg vtir and ek9 gearboxes share very similar ratios, even the final drives are the same. did honda make a mistake with the 4.4fd in the ek9?

[dougie_504]

Where did you get your info and how similar were the ratios? I can't remember figured off the top of my head.

But no, afaik the ek9 box was suited well to the car.

[vrmmmpshhh]

http://www.ff-squad.com/tech/temp/Bgears.htm
theyre not exactly the same but are the changes enough that ill notice a significant difference? guys with the ITR 4.7 final drive must be changing gears like mad. whats your opinion of the b16a box with an aftermarket lsd and 4.7fd?

[dougie_504]

Saw that previously. Yes those gears are sufficiently shorter to make a difference.

I have a B16A and I'm putting in a 4.9FD and helical LSD, as well as an LS 5th gear which is I think 0.742 as opposed to the B16A's standard 0.870 (massive difference). Will report back in a few months.

As for the ITR, some of the gears are longer than the B16A's but the shorter FD acts as a multiplier and shortens most of them to below that of the B16A which comes with the 4.4 or 4.266. You might change gears a but earlier but when you hammering the car you basically stay in VTEC all the time whereas cars with the 4.266 will fall out of the powerband pretty much every shift.


AFAIK, B16A with 4.7 or 4.9 = super fun but 5th revs very high at cruising gears which is why I'm going the LS 5th to lengthen it.


http://www.teammfactory.com/gear-calculator

[chez00]

Good info Dougie.

[PAPZ]

i have a cleaned out S80 gearbox housing. TODA Transmission close 1st and 2nd gear set. OEM 3rd, 4th and 5th gear set. ATS 4.9 final drive. All the syncros are good except 2nd gear. Also need new bearings and a LSD ready for install. Let me know if your interested.

[dougie_504]

Shortened 1st and 2nd with a 4.9? Ouchies!