b18c into a 2nd gen crx

[crx2gen]

i know i am a glutton for punishment but was wondering what the views were on the topic of either b16a or b18c swaps into an 88 CRX...if anyone has ever done this (dedicated they be) any info would be greatly appreciated

marty :D

[ALLMTR]

If you get a front cut it's a fairly straight forward conversion (assuming you have some mechanical prowess) I just finished a conversion this week.

Don't expect the car to be a rocket as a lot of people do. The car goes good but it aint a WRX eater by any stretch of the imagination. If you want to go B18, go B16a first and then go B18 later. That way you get the cable box on the front cut as B18's have hydro clutches and the mounts are all wrong. Also B16a front cuts are heaps cheaper. A B18 long motor will be cheap to buy later on once the car is sorted.


My 2 cents.

[crx2gen]

b16a4me thanks for the advice...i wasnt really expected to dust everyone who came into my path - have you actually done this yourself?

[ALLMTR]

Done what, the conversion or dust everyone who came into my path hehehe

I didn't do my original conversion (although I have redone everything but the mounts) but I've done two of these since.

I just wasn't sure if you were one of the many people that think that after a VTEC conversion that you'd smoke STi's. You won't. Having said that, my standard B16a converted Civic runs the exact same times as my standard 351 converted Cortina used to.

[crx2gen]

yeah of course if its a vtec those sti and rotor fags can watch me vanish into the night :D no, the main problem is a) cant afford turbo and its insurance and b) the old man owns the car and is getting arked up about "me killing myself" :mad:

the one thing i have heard a bit about is the problems with the engine mounts having to be redone, this makes insurance difficult? also, is turboing vtec engines an efficient way of doing things...more stuff i have heard that it can be a problem with timing and whatever...and if i sound like i dont know what im talking about its because i dont:D just trying to gather as much info and ideas as possible before i go doing something rather retarded

[vrmmmpshhh]

if this is your dads car, then why not get your own... the very first of the b16a crx's are now 15 years old and can be brought into australia under the low volume scheme. my friend just brought one in and the good thing is you compliance it yourself and just go over the pits to get it passed. he paid i think a little under 8000. some good things about the jap ones are they are 4 seaters although the rear seat is practically useless and some have the roof as glass, which may or may not be a good thing.

[Sxer]

Is that the second gen shape??? ie the first model that we got here in Australia?
Did they start making those in 87 over in Japan? I would be absolutely stoked if we could import those under the 15yr rule. I'd love one.
Do you have any details on what your mate had to do to get it registered and legal?

[crx2gen]

sorry i didnt quite make that clear - the old man bought the car first, i am paying him back over time, but until then he is adamant i am not performing any major engine mods (although an engine swap is major, at least it is a little more tame) that is my problem, all i want is something that provides better performance without a huge cost (plus insurance). STi punks lookout :D

[vrmmmpshhh]

well you have to do the usual stuff to the car.. like seat belts fluids and crap like that.. its a bit different then compliancing silvias cos you can do it yourself. and it is the 2nd generation, or the first one we got here.

i think the only way yoru gonna make it very fast is to turbocharge it.. even a midly modded et pulsar or exa will own the crx

[FF_R]

B18C would be the way to go. Straight away you get more power and torque. It would be even better if you get the type R engine.

If you get the B16a cable clutch half-cut - it shouldn't be such a difficult conversion - though they are getting abit old and hard to find.

You'll need to do alot of extra work if you are wanting to convert an Aussie CRX Si to a hydralic clutch type B16/B18, custom engine mounts .. etc.. Be prepared to pay the $$ if you want to go B18C as the engine is taller, meaning you have to fit the engine lower... or have the thing hit bonnet...

I know, cos I've had a B18C- R conversion done to my Aussie CRX. Put it this way, it aint cheap! and the engine is hard to find in good condition.

Performance is great ! Still gives great fuel economy too !

FF_R

[pH@tTm@N]

try a frankenstein engine

www.crvtec.com

basically take the B16a head and drop it on a B20B CRV engine. 2.0Litres of loving. Note you dont get to rev as high (unless you rebuild with forged internals) but the yanks are all over them, they love em.

[ALLMTR]

Unless you are competant or rich I wouldn't be playing around with Frank motors in Aus yet.
But if anyone is, PM me and we'll have a chat about them!

[pH@tTm@N]

Well Im going shopping today. There is a B18C with a hole in the block, but the rest of the front cut is perfect. They only want $1000 for the lot. I will slowly pull this sucker apart, and keep an eye out for a B20B block.

And then I will replace my D16A8 twincam non vtec turbo with a vtec turbo in my civic EG hatch... Yeeeehaaa. Well thats the plan anyway.

[Spunkymonkey]

yeah... my cousin did the B18c5 (type r) swap into a CRX....the car is so torquey....but yeah....the car has been stripped inside...so not much sound proofing...so it gets pretty noisy inside, even with a normal muffler on it....I think you understand don't you chuck....

it depends how much your willing to spend??

and oh...looking at your age...I'm sure insurance is a real killer...

B16a swap would be more affordable to the budget....but turbo might be more value for money.

[pH@tTm@N]

Well my finding are like this. It is heaps easier to find B16A front cuts or complete engines with loom, gearbox, ECU, CV's, Axels etc than an B18C. The B16A's around around $1800 - $2000 and up depending on condition.

Now I asked a few about B20B blocks and most didnt know about them, but I was quoted about $1200 for an engine only. So for $3000 you get a frankenstein, or $3500 if you are lucky to find a B18C.

So now just a little more research then I might be getting a B16A half cut out of a jap teggy, bigger brakes with same stud pattern as I already have, and when the bank balance recovers from that ordering in the B20B.

If that happens I will rebuild the engine with my 10 years mech mate, and replacing all bolts with ARP goods, machining 2mm around valve reliefs in the pistons for better valve clearance, CC'ing the chamber to match the bore size - and to decrease compression slightly. A minor porting of my HKS cast turbo manifold (3mm to the right from memory), ditching my Unichip for Haltech, and then I will be broke for years to come, but hopefully have a hybrid turbo screamer. I wish I had enough to rebuild the internals - but that just aint gunna happen.

[ALLMTR]

Ph@tm@n: What city do you live in and who quoted you on the B20. A friend of mine just bought one in NZ and shipped it over.
He's got a prelude so he needs the torque.

[pH@tTm@N]

Brisbane, a few different shops, but one guy has friends working in japan and said he can get most stuff but for a price.

I would be interested in some NZ prices/contacts to compare if possible.

[ALLMTR]

I think he paid $1200 landed with tax to pay. Hell I'll send you to his site and you can ask him yourself

www.geocities.com/B16aprelude/

Enjoy!!

[mr c-rex]

B16A4ME ... are you confident in doing the B16A swap into a gen2 crx ? because I am looking at doing the swap end2002/start2003 and am looking for someone/somewhere to do it ... and if you are in sydney then it would be perfect for I go up regularly to visit friends and family as I use to live up there ... let me know how much U'd charge all up for a conversion thanks.
email me at dj_steveo@hotmail.com

cheers

[ALLMTR]

Sorry but I have only really done conversions for friends and the day after the second one was completed he wrote it off into the rear of a parked truck!!???!!

I also have legal concerns about doing work for others.

It aint that hard to do your model (both the ones I did were earlier, harder ones). As long as you get a C-O-M-P-L-E-T-E front cut you should be able to do it yourself.

You'll also have the pride to say "I did it myself" which I can't even with my own car :( :( :(

[mr c-rex]

yeah I understand ya

I'd do it myself ... but then theres the lazy factor hehehe

[ALLMTR]

Your lucky in that your city has some of the best conversion workshops in the country (If you believe what you read in ZOOM)

[mr c-rex]

maybe for rotaries or v8s hehe
not many places down here touch honda's

[m1k3yz]

hmmmm Zoom is always right!!!! *defends his magazine with arms flailing*
put a 3sgte in your crx!!! will sure go heaps harder!!!! hehe but seriously, a b16a would go down decently, if it fits straight upto the mounts there would be no biggie to fit, just time consuming et al, get yourself an engine hoist, lots of tools, and a few *good* mates to help you out! oh and lots of beer!!!!
you should be able to do it over a weekend if all goes smooth
=]
b20b is longer block again from b18 so......

michael

[pH@tTm@N]

B20B is a bolt on replacement for the B18C or B16a blocks. It has a slightly longer stroke and bigger bore. So wherever a B16a can go....

It is the overly big B20B head that makes it look impossible to fit.