Teach me about Hondas

GameboyRMH wrote:

Kreb wrote: I prefer the traditional longitudinal motor layout, but the engine bay is so short that about the only thing that will fit in that config is a Subaru motor with an Audi transaxle.

Why the Audi transaxle instead of a modified Subaru transaxle, FFR 818 style?

If you look at a cutaway of the Subaru 5-speed, there's several inches in the rear section that has to be there to accomidate AWD. Even if you use the adapter kit, there's still that extra length. In addition, the shifter comes off the back, so you have to allow for that. The Audi 012 transmission, which they used extensively and are available cheap has a side shifter and lacks that extra space inside the case. The result is that it fits our body and the Subaru doesn't. I haven't looked into Subaru JDM FWD-only transaxles though. It just occurred to me that I really should.

Subaru AWD:

Audi FWD:

kb58 wrote: FWIW, a buddy was lamenting that in his racing class, he's stuck running against cars with K20 drivetrains which are reportedly producing 285 hp reliably.

Wow. I wonder what sort of mods they run. The ricer boards are full of guys saying that the bottom ends will take 500 HP stock.

I owned a base 1.8l FWD 5 speed manual Impreza (mayby a 98..) and needed to replace the trans-axle with JY units twice in 100k. The FWD trans-axle had a much shorter casing. IIRC it was a known layshaft bearing issue that I had the fortune of being twice acquainted with. There must be some around.

It looks like they are small but still feature the rear shift arrangement. If only they made a side-shift version!

What about the motor in the CR-V? The alphabet soup name is escaping me.

92dxman wrote: What about the motor in the CR-V? The alphabet soup name is escaping me.

It's a B20. There are about 25 different variants of d and b series. Pick any flavor you want between 100 and 140 hp. The J series is the ticket if you can fit the height. K series is the hot ticket for a 4cyl, as everyone else mentioned.

The sought after B-series engines are getting rarer and at price parity with the K now, mainly because they will bolt into a Civic with a lot less fuss.

Tyler H wrote:

92dxman wrote: What about the motor in the CR-V? The alphabet soup name is escaping me.

It's a B20. There are about 25 different variants of d and b series. Pick any flavor you want between 100 and 140 hp. The J series is the ticket if you can fit the height. K series is the hot ticket for a 4cyl, as everyone else mentioned. The sought after B-series engines are getting rarer and at price parity with the K now, mainly because they will bolt into a Civic with a lot less fuss.

He might have meant the 2nd generation CR-V, which came with the K24.

The K series is a great mill. I've driven both Civic SIs with the K20 as well as TSXs with the K24 and liked them both a lot. K20 really likes to rev from what I recall, really sporty character to it. They sound really good for 4 bangers too, IMHO.

The sought after B-series engines are getting rarer and at price parity with the K now, mainly because they will bolt into a Civic with a lot less fuss.

What are some of the issues that make the K series more difficult?

IIRC The K is taller and hits the hood in the earlier 93(i think)-2000 double wishbone front/mutilink rear civics, the cable shifter stuff is harder than than bolt in, a particular OEM sub frame needs to replace the usual OEM subframe, exhaust is way different with no OEM bolt in opportunity, plug and play electronics and looms are not coming from a junkyard, axles are custom OEM hybrids... it adds up. I don't think that stuff matters with your application. The cable shifter linkage might be a big plus in fact. I have passengered in a K powered car and it went like stink and sounded great. I drove a 100% bone stock B16 1999 SI a few hundred miles in anger on fun roads when it was near new (time flies) and it is still one of my favorite driving experiences in the slow car fast category. The square bore/stroke b16 was very very willing and sounded great as it zinged to the limiter with glee.

Also, the transmissions next to the K motors in the Civic Si (and the RSX?) come with a limited slip from the factory. From a business perspective I'd try and set the car up for a K series motor simply because they are the physically largest of the Honda motors. If you create the room for a K24 then any of the B or D series motors will fit easily if a builder wants to go that way. It would suck to not be able to fit the taller K24 under the bodywork if if was set up for a shorter engine.