da9 - best bang for the buck engine conversions?

**ben11** · 16-03-2011 06:30 PM

So i have been looking into engine conversions for my 92 DA and have done lots of reading on the net about B16, B18c's, B20's, H and F 22's and 20's, mostly looking for lots a torque since its a daily driver...so no b16. It seems that the H and F swaps are overly complicated with axles, mounts and all, costing too much. The B18c looks like a good option but is quite expensive and i am not sure if it would fit within a budget of 2-3K. If i did get a B18c would it be worthwhile boring it out to 2 litre? Or just buy a B20b/z and build it up, to vtec possibly?

are there any other engines I have missed you can swap in?

Note that i don't want my car off the road so i don't want to we working on my gutless B18a

new to swaps so thanks for any help you guys give me.

ben11

**mooshie** · 16-03-2011 10:10 PM

With that budget you could comfortably pay for someone to install a B20 for you and then put a VTEC head on it down the track when more funds allow.
Or, you could put in a B18C (not R) if you did the install yourself.

**ben11** · 16-03-2011 10:23 PM

Originally Posted by mooshie

With that budget you could comfortably pay for someone to install a B20 for you and then put a VTEC head on it down the track when more funds allow.
Or, you could put in a B18C (not R) if you did the install yourself.

yeah everything done will be me and by dad except for stuff like porting, honing, boring... so no real labor costs if its just a swap, we might do some engine work ourselves also. if i can get a cheap f22b how much would the rest be? the net says you can use the hasport h2b kit which is 600, new axle 400+? from the information i have gathered it looks as if i can use the ys1 cable tranny from the da but only if the h2b kit is used. thanks a lot though!

how much was your entire b18c swap btw minus the turbo?

**dougie_504** · 16-03-2011 10:40 PM

I vote LS/VTEC. If you use B18C pistons in your B18A block and a B16A head you'll make awesome power, and do something a little more interested than the same old swap.

Otherwise message 'stevo716' he's building his B18A and can give you good advice on doing that. He's had good success from what I hear...

**stevo716** · 16-03-2011 10:48 PM

if u want bang for buck, id go turbo, unless licensing doesnt permit,
otherwise, ls/vtec is ur choice,
in contrast to wat dougie said,
if u put b18c pistons, ull lose ur lower down torque which the b18a has,
basicly dude if u want torque, u bought the wrong car, (as sad as i am to say that)
hondas are about revving, and high end power
u can build ur b18a i can give u advice mon it, but u wont pull any serious power with 2/3 g

just to add
u can get a b20 block for bout 500 bucks
and if ur lucky find a b16 head, for 500 as well
add all gaskets, new seals, perishables, bump to 1500, get a short ratio to suit, 2000g so far
then u got money to spend on mods and stuff ive missed, if u keep it stock, u can just plug in a stock ecu, and not need a tune right away

**dougie_504** · 16-03-2011 11:01 PM

Well if you want low-down then go SC

**stevo716** · 16-03-2011 11:05 PM

Originally Posted by dougie_504

Well if you want low-down then go SC

blowers cost a butt load, on hondas lol

**dougie_504** · 16-03-2011 11:10 PM

Such is Life. The Troubled Times of Ben Cousins.

**stevo716** · 16-03-2011 11:13 PM

Originally Posted by dougie_504

Such is Life. The Troubled Times of Ben Cousins.

lol....wow dude

so yeh OP, if u do want the torque, torquey as hondas get for the money
thatd be a b20 block, then for the power a vtec head, thats for unopening it anyway.
to answer ur other question, i wudnt bore a b18c, there actaully made diff to the b20s and ud have to sleeve it to get to a 2 litre, which is a bit of money.
and probs for doing own work, haha i do my own too and save sooooo much monies
any other questions feel free to ask.

**ben11** · 17-03-2011 03:35 PM

ok thanks guys. turbo is not really something i am looking to do right now even though the power for money is the best you can get. Mostly because i want to learn more about engines first and also, half of this projects money is coming from my dad, who doesn't want me to kill myself/ruin resale value of the car.. h

How much power does a B20vtec put out, roughly the same as a B18c? figures are all over the place on the web.

And i am still confused to why a F22b (120kw, 200nm..round $500 with everything minus tranny) is a bad option? using a h2b kit $900 (which apparently will work with f engines) means you can use the same mounts (would buy new ones anyway...$300), axle and trans already in the DA... http://www.quartersportsdrag.com/FAQ.html

would certainly make it a unique DA.

**stevo716** · 17-03-2011 07:15 PM

500 bucks for a f22b?
well if u can get it for that, go for it, prob u will face i dont know of any mods for it, like aftermarket parts.

def unique, im all bout uniqueness haha

**ben11** · 17-03-2011 09:23 PM

Originally Posted by stevo716

500 bucks for a f22b?
well if u can get it for that, go for it, prob u will face i dont know of any mods for it, like aftermarket parts.

def unique, im all bout uniqueness haha

yeah thats what i was thinking, cheers anyway. oh and i just got defected, 35mm to low at the front and 50mm at the back...

. so anyone lowering your da take note, legal hight is 355mm for front and 340mm for the back (SA).