So I just acquired a '95 Civic VX hatch. I bought it cheap enough that it may end up being 201X challenge fodder. Either way, I'd like to hit the cheap\easy button for 200hp. I've been out of the Honda game for a while, back in the day, that used to be a B18c with bolt ons.
I'm sure time has passed me by, I know there are K series swaps and all sorts of craziness now, but what can I swap in for $1500 to make an entertaining dd?
K series is the easiest most reliable way to 200 HP http://www.hybrid-racing.com/blog/k-series-swap-parts-list/
If it's challenge fodder, TUUURRRBOOO. Seriously D16+t28 chinacharger or equiv. http://civic-eg.com/viewtopic.php?t=11082
Should have caught me prior to my latest garage cleaning, I could have made it very challenge friendly. Whoops.
B20Z bottom end from a CR-V B18C3 or 5 head Boost You won't see 200ish hp without a major boost leak though
I just bought a $700 '92 and I'm really curious about everything (though I was looking at cornering more than power), so this is a really interesting thread.
Are there any cheap suspension setup combos that work well? I have blown stocker shocks and stock everything and I'm looking around to see if there's anything close to the KYB GR2 price range that might give a little better handling. Bushings are probably going to be my first stop.
Anyone with spare used shocks please send them my way though, I'm not too proud to install your garbage on my car. 
bmw88rider wrote: K series is the easiest most reliable way to 200 HP http://www.hybrid-racing.com/blog/k-series-swap-parts-list/ If it's challenge fodder, TUUURRRBOOO. Seriously D16+t28 chinacharger or equiv. http://civic-eg.com/viewtopic.php?t=11082 Should have caught me prior to my latest garage cleaning, I could have made it very challenge friendly. Whoops.
Dangit, and you're in my neck of the woods too. Pretty sure the VX has a D15Z1, not sure if that makes a huge difference.
I know the b series motors like to nuke head gaskets on track, is the K series prone to the same issue?
I'm in the Chicago burbs and I could sell you my B20 block with gsr vtec head. And engine mounts. I don't remember your location.
You could probably swap in one of the B motor legos and get decent power.
B20 plus boost will get you what you're looking for. K series is probably the most reliable way to 200whp, but that's not a cheap swap.
What? Psh... D15. Any d15. Suzuki vitara Pistons. And eagle rods. Then turbo. 250hp all day.
I'm in Austin, TX. There's a fella in South Texas with a B18C spread amongst several boxes, but I'm not really keen on the amount of labor that might take
ssswitch wrote: ...Are there any cheap suspension setup combos that work well? I have blown stocker shocks and stock everything and I'm looking around to see if there's anything close to the KYB GR2 price range that might give a little better handling. Bushings are probably going to be my first stop. Anyone with spare used shocks please send them my way though, I'm not too proud to install your garbage on my car.
Used CTR or ITR springs and anti-roll bars were the most cost effective route I found to suspension that works well. The lower control arms on most hatches don't have an attachment point for an the anti roll bar so you would have to swap that out for ones that do. There are several chassis braces on the Integra that are worth swapping in as well.
If you want to quick VX, I would start shopping for wrecked Integra to use a a parts donor.
Yeah, The d15 works as well. If it's solid roll with it. If it's trashed, D16 are cheap.
You can run a low boost turbo and get ~200HP from a T3/T4 with 8-10 PSI. It'll be laggy but I bet you can get it all together and down the road with tuning for ~$1K with smart shopping. There is enough projects out there that are stalled and wholesaled out.
The d15 in the vx is not going to be turbo friendly. Neither is the trans. Engine is tuned for maximum gas mileage and the gears are really tall. If you have the room pick up a donor integra or civic ex/si and go to town.
In reply to clutchsmoke:
This offer should be taken up on
Agreed on the above. I miss my old vx. It was the most fun dd I ever drove even though by the time I bought it, it was well past its prime cosmetically speaking. In the non winter months I averaged 51-53 mpg no joke. Years of MN road salt ate the undercarriage away unfortunately.
If you're trying to do boosted D-series, I wouldn't mess with the D15. D16s are way too plentiful and cheap to justify making an engine designed for economy into one that's performance oriented.
Boosting? Any D-series. N/A? If you can find them cheap, H22. Like to get crafty and make torque? F23A1. Pick-you-part junkyards(especially an LKQ on a 50% off weekend) are a ridiculously awesome source for that kind of stuff.
The d15b will work. Change the injectors for junk yard ones (have to do that for turbo anyways) then run a sohc ZC ecu. From there you can run chrome, turbo edit, etc. all for free. For about 2016$ and sweat equity you too could have a 250hp (and 120tq...) "monster"
If you're going to the trouble of a motor swap, put a J in it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=za9gQh2m8SU
Tyler H wrote: If you're going to the trouble of a motor swap, put a J in it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=za9gQh2m8SU
There's a huge divide between "i actually finished this B18 swap in a weekend" and "here's an awesome J series swap that I'll never complete"
I'm looking for more of the former, less of the latter, though it looked mighty quick in that video
Weekend? Psh...you can do a straight engine change before lunch on Saturday if you're really motivated. Took us about 5 hours from coming off track to going back out with a different engine, and that included having to switch over the clutch and transmission.
Even with an Auto trans(which would make the swap WAY cheaper and easier), it would haul some serious ass. The hot ticket would be a 3.5L engine from an 04-05 RL and whatever auto trans you feel like nuking behind it. I've heard the 07+ auto trans are 'fixed' but who knows, the autos bolted to most the J-V6's are junk.
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