A few questions

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02semiata

New Member
So I just spend the last couple of days reading all about civics and swapping in a b16. I am at the point where I have a few questions I cant find the answer to online. This is going to be a very basic build. I just want the car in great running order so I can use it as DD. I am a traveling tech so the car will see around 1500 a month in miles. I have been looking at 4 door 5 speeds.

1. I have been mostly looking at 98s is that a smart idea or is it better and easier to swap into a older car say a 92-95.

2. I am going to be ordering either a sir2 or sir3 complete change over from hmotorsonline depending on the year civic I get. I was told by them I would not need anything else that its a direct bolt in. They even give you the AC bracket. Only reason I ask is because I did seem some post talking about not being able to use the half shafts and a few other bits but that might of been for another year or something.

3. If it was you would you be looking for obd1 or obd2 civics. Or does it not matter.

4. I found a great tranny article I think it was on here and it said most of the b16 trannys are weak. I am not planing to mod the motor are they strong enough to handle stock power or should I look to rebuild from the start.

5. This question is for people that have got swaps from hmotorsonline. Beside basic stuff like belts and plugs did you have to change anything else like the flywheel/clutch starter/alt. I was kind of hoping that stuff would be good and last a few years :).

Thanks for the time and space guys. I look forward to the replies :)
 
The b16 tranny is not a good trans for highway driving, to short of gears, you would want a LS or GSR trans.. LS will give you the best mpg for a b series trans..
 
do you need to pass emmsions where you are located?

obd1 is better because you can tune it, but if you plan on running stock ecu and stock motor, it doesnt really matter.

swapping into the ek chassis is very straightforward, since the 99-00 si came with a b series.

the b16a transmissions are weak in the older cable clutch versions. i wouldnt worry about the obd1 or 2 hydro ones. they do rev high on the highway though, so that sucks for your traveling. a gsr trans would be best, a ls trans will net the best mpg, but its kind of a bummer on a b16a. the b16 likes to be revved high and the ls trans will let it drop out of its powerband when upshifting.
 
do you need to pass emmsions where you are located?

obd1 is better because you can tune it, but if you plan on running stock ecu and stock motor, it doesnt really matter.

swapping into the ek chassis is very straightforward, since the 99-00 si came with a b series.

the b16a transmissions are weak in the older cable clutch versions. i wouldnt worry about the obd1 or 2 hydro ones. they do rev high on the highway though, so that sucks for your traveling. a gsr trans would be best, a ls trans will net the best mpg, but its kind of a bummer on a b16a. the b16 likes to be revved high and the ls trans will let it drop out of its powerband when upshifting.

Thanks for the info. I do need to pass emissions but I do not plan to put a obd1 motor/ecu in obd2 car. I plan to keep everything the same.

I did see on hondata that they only have ecus for the obd1 setup so yeah that does suck. O well :(

What kind of MPG do you get from a b16 with the b16 tranny. I recall reading the 02si got 28/31 and thats not bad. I can live with that. I know my miata is geared pretty short and it sits at 3500 rpms at 65 kinda sucks but thats low on a honda no.
 
The mpg for the b16 motor and b16 trans just all depends on how you drive... The LS trans is the best for mpg but if your wanting a trans for good power range get the GSR trans and it will get better mpg than the b16 trans. The b16 trans is more for racing.
 
Thanks for the info. I do need to pass emissions but I do not plan to put a obd1 motor/ecu in obd2 car. I plan to keep everything the same.

I did see on hondata that they only have ecus for the obd1 setup so yeah that does suck. O well :(

What kind of MPG do you get from a b16 with the b16 tranny. I recall reading the 02si got 28/31 and thats not bad. I can live with that. I know my miata is geared pretty short and it sits at 3500 rpms at 65 kinda sucks but thats low on a honda no.

the 02 si does not have a b16a engine and tranny. the 99-00 Si does.

i had a b16a engine/trans for years in one of my old DAs... it was stock with bolt ons, and it got pretty good mileage. it ranged between 25-29 mpg depending on how i drove it (mostly pretty spirited driving). there wasnt really any difference between highway and city mileage. at 80 mph a b16 trans will turn 4500 rpms iirc.
 
the 02 si does not have a b16a engine and tranny. the 99-00 Si does.

i had a b16a engine/trans for years in one of my old DAs... it was stock with bolt ons, and it got pretty good mileage. it ranged between 25-29 mpg depending on how i drove it (mostly pretty spirited driving). there wasnt really any difference between highway and city mileage. at 80 mph a b16 trans will turn 4500 rpms iirc.

Sorry I meant 00 Si not 02. 4500 is a little high but if you still got close to 30mpg thats great. I have to ask how much more a GSR with LSD tranny would be. That sounds like my best bet.
 
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