Hey guys, I currently drive a 2000 Honda Civic CX hatch auto. I am fed up with the slow 100hp it makes and I am looking for something ~160-180hp. I was just wondering, for a N/A setup:

For someone with 0 exp. in engine/tranny swaps, what is the best, easiest, cheapest engine/tranny combo to help me reach these numbers? I've read a lot about the H22 but that sounds too hard to do. I'm thinking B20B or B18C but I want your guys' opinions. I need more help towards which manual tranny I need. Thanks all for any input

 

Well if you have the cash a GSR (B18C1) is a sweet engine to go with. IMO its the best B series engine to start with. The GSR trans is good also, but the B16 trans is geared shorter and thats good. Try to get an LSD too. Price wise, the B18C will cost more then the H22/B16/B20. You cant have cheapet and the best. B20B is cheap cheap cheap and will give you more torque then the GSR but with no VTEC and less hp.

 

My CX hatch already doesn't have Vtec so if I wanted to put in a Vtec motor wouldn't that lead to being a hassle?

 

b20vtec with some bolt ons will get you around 190-200whp no problem and you would have some good torque. but either way you will have to wire up vtec if you go with a b16,b18c. for a drop in motor your best bet would be a b18c5 but they arnt cheap

 

Doesn't matter to me, I have lived this long without Vtec so it's not that important to me. Just achieving those higher numbers is all I want, with an easy motor swap. There aren't many GSRs out here where I live but there are lots of Si's and Integras.

 

Maybe look into a b18b swap? They're non-vtec, so you don't have to worry about wiring for them, and they make decent power (150-160 is a fairly attainable all-motor goal). Not to mention they're dirt cheap.

 

Good luck with the automatic trans. Anyone else notice that? That might cause problems...

 

No I would swap out the auto tranny for a manual. A lot of people keep saying that the GSR tranny (B16 or something) is a good tranny but again, no GSRs or Type Rs in my area, so would the tranny from a 94-01 Integra suffice? Or I hear the Si has a good tranny as well? I should be able to keep within the same obd as well?

Anyway, the B18B1 sounds like a good motor to replace my D16Y7.