Swap Meet - Which motor is better and why

I have a question for you or anyone. I have and 02 Civic LX sedan auto. I am converting it to stick when I buy the motor. My question is what motor should I go with? K20A2 (220 HP) or K20A3 (190HP)? Also what would fit my car and if it does not, what sort of mods do I have to do? I love the read by the way.

K20A3 has like 160HP, K20A2 has like 200HP

first search result:
http://hondaswap.com/swap-articles/k20a2-vs-k20a3-31197/

K20A3 has like 160HP, K20A2 has like 200HP

first search result:
http://hondaswap.com/swap-articles/k20a2-vs-k20a3-31197/

K20A2 Pros:
-better flowing head
-metal intake manifold
-200bhp stock
-6-speed manual transmission

K20A2 Cons:
-Expensive
-The 3rd gear grind
-It costs a lot
-Did I mention 3rd gear grinds all the time? And no matter what you do, you can't fix it?
-The longblock, transmission, and PCM cost like $5k.
-You're going to grind the sh*t out of 3rd gear


K20A3 Pros:
-Cheap (someone back in college was selling a K20A3 longblock, transmission, and ecu for $300. Granted, he was borderline giving it away to get rid of it, but it goes to show what deals you can find for them)
-The transmission doesn't grind 3rd gear

K20A3 Cons:
-190bhp
-Doesn't flow as well as the A2
-5-speed transmission (even if it doesn't have the 3rd gear grind lol)
-The intake manifold is plastic. Granted, it's strong and lightweight, but you still have to live knowing you have a plastic intake manifold lol

K20A2 Pros:
-better flowing head
-metal intake manifold
-200bhp stock
-6-speed manual transmission

K20A2 Cons:
-Expensive
-The 3rd gear grind
-It costs a lot
-Did I mention 3rd gear grinds all the time? And no matter what you do, you can't fix it?
-The longblock, transmission, and PCM cost like $5k.
-You're going to grind the sh*t out of 3rd gear


K20A3 Pros:
-Cheap (someone back in college was selling a K20A3 longblock, transmission, and ecu for $300. Granted, he was borderline giving it away to get rid of it, but it goes to show what deals you can find for them)
-The transmission doesn't grind 3rd gear

K20A3 Cons:
-190bhp
-Doesn't flow as well as the A2
-5-speed transmission (even if it doesn't have the 3rd gear grind lol)
-The intake manifold is plastic. Granted, it's strong and lightweight, but you still have to live knowing you have a plastic intake manifold lol


So, what do you think would be better? I mean now that you bring up the point of third gear grinding, I dont want to be replacing it every couple of years. Is this personal experience you have had with the K20A2? Thats crazy. I dont mind the k20a3 but i like the extra horsepower the k20a2 has stock.

So I talked to a friend of mine who said he had a similar experience with it grinding in 3rd gear, and when he put in a k24 it grinded in 4th gear. SO I am goin with the k20a3. What mods could you do to bump it up past the 200hp mark bsides exhaust, air intake, carbon fiber hood and trunk?

carbon fiber hood and truck... dont add HP...
build the engine cams,pistons,shave the head and put thin head gasket (higher compression), turbo..

carbon fiber hood and truck... dont add HP...
build the engine cams,pistons,shave the head and put thin head gasket (higher compression), turbo..

thats another thing. I want to add a turbo to it, but I want to get an emmision friendly one, as i live in cali, my car is a dd and smog it biannually. Would you happen to know companies?

I believe the Edelbrock and GReddy kits are CARB approved. I would go with the Edelbrock, considering its piggyback is better than GReddy's and you don't really have the option of anything besides piggyback.

I believe the Edelbrock and GReddy kits are CARB approved. I would go with the Edelbrock, considering its piggyback is better than GReddy's and you don't really have the option of anything besides piggyback.

You know I heard those two before. The only models edelbrock covers are the 00 and below. Greddy covers the SI motor which is the one I am going to put in. Is that bad?

That's fine. You live in CA, you gotta do what you gotta do. The GReddy E-manage isn't nearly as good as Hondata K-pro (which is what you would preferably use in other states) because it is a piggy back unit. Just make sure you get it tuned on the E-manage and you'll be fine.