Comments on B20 by SPOON SPORTS

[tofu R]

I was reading www.honda-tech.com
and found this interesting post seeing some people are considering getting b20 transplants. Quoted from Mr. Tatsuru Ichisima of Spoon Sports Japan in a interview with Import tuner.

"I don't understand why people want to do this. There is a small cult following in Japan on the same swap, but they are basically going home crying. The B20 crank in a B18 would have problems because the engine's sleeve already has a vibration problem at the sleeves with the original crank. The B20 crank causes even more vibration. If the engine were only revved up to 5000 rpm, it would be fine, but when you get up to 8000 to 9000 rpm, warping will start to occur. Again, this is a problem that occurs even with the original crank."

Wonder what the truth behind this is .. tinkerbell's car is still running well ..
who knows ?

[wynode]

I've heard of this before too.

So i'm assuming in that video that was posted awhile back (B20 VTEC civics vs S2000) that were reving to like 8K (or was it more?) that the bottom end would be upgraded?

Also has anyone heard of people having problems with their B20 convertions?

[A'PEXi]

i haven't actually heard anything wrong with them?.....

everyone seems to be hyped up about b20 hybrids tho hahaha

[CTR Coupe]

I’m still in the process of researching but I think the two biggest problems are the sleaves and the crank. I’m trying to find out if using an ITR crank will fix the crank problem (as the B18 Crank is identical to the B20). And sleaving the block is essential (if u want to rev it to 8grand and above). I think what he is trying to say that the B20 engine was never designed to be a sports car engine it’s a 4WD engine. I think anyone that thinks u can just put the head on the block and do nothing else to is dreaming if they think its going to last.

As I said tho I don’t have the engine (I’m just another member of the cult). I’m looking forward to what tinkerbell posts. As he owns the engine and drives it on a regular basis.

P.S I would probably get flamed to all hell if I posted this on an American forum with responses like my mate runs hi compression and revs it to 10 grand every day and its fine. I’d like to build 1 engine and not go through 4 blocks.

[type one]

I'm a spoon guy through and through... but my understanding of Ischima san's philosphy on building cars is smoothness and operation and not raw N/A power (or shoehorning the biggest mofo into the smallest bay engine haha )... more reliability and greater handling over long races... nothing wrong with a b20 hybrid but there also is no probs with a b16 stroked with a spoon/toda/jun stroker kit....

horses for courses...

[Jus-10]

I agree with type one...

Spoon is about absolute perfection and harmony with the whole car working together seamlessly as a total package rather than just specialing in one particular area (eg. achieving maximum N/A power).

If they were to build a hybrid, no doubt it would be an absolute work of art.

[pornstar]

He is referring to the prolonged vibration of the motor at these rpms being dangerous to the whole engine assembly. Most of the CRVTECS that u know or hear of arent Track cars where u will constantly be in high rpm, guess thats where the problem arises.

I've never been a fan of the LS/VTEC or the CR/VTEC. Honda pours millions into new engine design and development, just cos something fits doesnt mean it will work well.

Honda engines are reliable even being driven at constant high rpm due to their RnD into making their engines as smooth as possible. In fact this is the reason that alot of the circuit racers in Japan really bring the point home about regarding the 350z. The Z's engine does put out a fair whack of hp, and torque, but its smoothness and overall balance does not allow the engine to be revved out high (max rpms is 6600rpms), even tho its an NA engine. Its dissappointing cos I wanted to really see NISSAN motor co push Honda in the NA field to really get them working harder.

and sorry to drag McChook into this thread, but his arguments about overall balance on the circuit do really reiterate themselves in this case, where u can see the Honda engines being taken to wild rpms from factory stock.