I bought a used 2000 Honda Civic Si about a month ago and it was running pretty well until on a trip home from Pittsburgh I started to have cylinder misfires. After changing the spark plugs and then a compression test it turns out my first cylinder probably has a bad valve and rather then pay a garage to tear it apart, check to make sure that is it and then pay however much to fix it (was given a $1,500 estimate by a garage), I am looking into getting a new engine (I know a local mechanic who works out of his house but all he does is Hondas and I trust him).
Instead of getting another b16a that is in my car now I am looking into getting a b18c just for a little extra power since I am already spending more then I ever planned. I am confused with how the swap exactly works and what I need. I plan on using my same transmission so I basically just want to take my old engine out and put the new one in BUT I am unsure if I can just do it or if I need other parts because my Honda guy directed me to the forums because he said their is a possibility the head or exhaust or something is "butterfly" and isn't sure if the new engine is as well? Again I'm sorry if this isn't making sense but I am only beginning to understand cars. If someone could explain to me exactly what I have to do or even suggestions as far as possible solutions/engine fits please let me know. Thanks.

 

Well, to fix your current engine, you're looking at $1,500 plus labor time (assuming that isn't included in the estimate). To swap to a B18C, you're looking at at least $1,000 for the engine, assuming you find a deal on one. When you swap engines, it's always good to replace parts like the water pump, timing belt, clutch, plugs/wires, etc; you don't necessarily need to replace them, but it's always good to have peace of mind knowing the parts are new.

As far as the swap itself, a B18C should bolt in using your stock mounts and whatnot. Pretty much any B-series component will bolt up to any other B-series component. For other solutions, more or less any Honda engine will work (within reason. Something like a C32B from an NSX would require a little work to make it fit lol), but legally the engine is supposed to be from the same model year as the vehicle or newer. Since you have a B16, I'd recommend either another B-series, an H-series, or a K-series. The B-series engines are the only ones that will directly bolt up using your stock mounts and transmission though.


(You mentioned you were coming home from PGH... Do you live in PA?)

Oh, and welcome to the forums

 

Thanks for the advice. I priced a B18C for about $1,500 after shipping but if your saying around $1000 maybe that is too much. I am going to keep looking. I was contemplating paying the extra cash for the 2.2 Prelude engine I have seen mentioned in the forums but again I am looking for a pretty clean swap just because of time and from what I understand that requires more modification. Is the B18C what you would outright recommend or do you have any other suggestions as far as engines? I am not familiar with any of the H-series or K-series but will look around if getting them to fit isn't a gigantic deal. I live in the heart of Pa (State College) and it went bad about halfway home so I had to drive that way for over an hour. My goal is to have my car on the road in 2 weeks so I can go back to Pittsburgh, coincidentally. Thanks again.

 

Oh, cool... I'm originally from Somerset county

Anyway, the H22 is one of my personal favorite engines, so I might be a little biased. But it makes 200bhp/160ft*lbs, so it has plenty of power for a civic, even stock. If you have the money, you won't regret a K, either; they're amazing engines, but the biggest problem with them is the cost (I believe K20a's are still around $5k before shipping). The only problem with going to either series is you won't be able to use your stock transmission or mounts. Well, sort of. If you go to an h22, you can use your transmission and transmission mounts if you buy an h2b kit (which would be another $1k on top of the rest of the swap). I can imagine an h22 with a b16 transmission would absolutely fly

Honestly, $1,500 after shipping isn't bad for a B18c; the full swap packages go for around $3k (that's engine, trans, harness, shifter, etc). I was just saying you can sometimes find them locally cheaper.

 

i suggest just getting the b18c motor and just dropping it in, everything from your b16 will bolt up to it, except the intake manifold which you will need the one form the b18c

 

Since I want an easy swap but also as much power as possible I believe I am going to go with a 1997 JDM B18C Type-R, for around $2,2000 after shipping. The only real modifications from what I understand would be a converter for the OBD2a to OBD2b. I am not really sure what the whole OBD thing is at all but I am told that in my area its better to have OBD2 for inspections/emissions laws but I don't really know. Was the Type R engine only made overseas? Is it still legal to install? I hope because that's my plan.

 

Since you already have an '00, you're already OBD-II. Either way, you should use the PCM from the B18C if you're swapping to it (your stock PCM might work, but I'm not 100% on that). I'm honestly not sure what Centre County's emissions laws include; in Somerset County we only had a visual inspection when the state inspection was renewed. If that's the case for Centre County, you should be fine. I know some places in PA only fail your car for emissions if you have a code or something visually wrong (an emissions device like the cat removed), but some counties require a sniffer test done, too. If you have to have a sniffer test done to pass emissions, you might need the car re-tuned or something like that to lower emissions enough to pass. Really, I don't think you'll have any problems passing emissions, though... PA's pretty lenient on emissions.

And yes, the Type R was only made overseas. I don't think it's technically legal to install, but again, PA tends to be pretty lenient on that kind of stuff. I'd say go to the local PD and an inspection/emissions station and ask around to find out for sure though.