D16? Help needed. (Please don't beat the noob)

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Lazzer408

New Member
I'm sure alot of this post has been answered a million times but I have a few simple questions that hopefully a Honda veteran wouldn't ming answering. I'm 33 and a Miata guy myself. It's a '94 turbo'd, injectors, my own manifold, T3, EMS standalone, 250hp to the ground. I have a bit of experiance with tuning. When it comes to Honda I'm lost because when someone says D16 this or B16 that I have no clue as how to even identify the differences. Which brings me to my story and questions.
I picked up a 98 Civic hatch with 152k and a toasted engine. The body is nice so I figured I'd pick it up and "pimp it out" for my girlfriend to bring along to the shows. She's excited but unfortunatly guess who's doing all the work. :D The local yard gets $185 for any engine from any car and I planed on putting the stock -whatever- engine back in it. D16 sohc and no vtec? This will be her daily driver but it will be getting a turbo on whatever engine goes in it. My ideal goal is about 200-250hp. My first problem and -major- limiting factor is she's wants me to keep it automatic!! :rolleyes: Questions...

-What can the auto handle? (I might swap it to stick and she can learn) ^_^
-What can the rods handle? (Might go Eagle here)
-What compression are the stock pistons? (Might go 8.5:1 here)
-What can the crank handle?
-What can the block handle? (I assume I'll need the cylinder stiffener)
-IF I did an engine swap... Is there a DIRECT bolt-in engine (using stuck ecu w/ piggyback, wiring, ect.) that would be a better choice since there all $185 anyways.

I would like to get this project done and over with. I still have the interior to customize. She has $2000 to invest but note I'll be using alot of used parts like the turbo, for example, might be the IHI VJ-11 from a Ford Probe. They spool quick. The manifold I'll be making myself and since the car is OBDII I'll probably go with the E-manage blue or with AEM. AEM has there new piggy comming out soon. If it runs the same software as my EMS then I'm likely to go with AEM since I know how they do things.

If possable please state the model and year of Honda that any engine recomendations come from. If you said "throw a B16 in it" I'll have no idea what car to look for. There are too many versions for me to have to learn yet another manufacturer's varity pack of engine types. :D

Thanks.

EDIT- The $185 engine I have to pull myself. Can the subframe just be dropped out the bottom of the car engine and all? After cutting the wires/hoses ofcorse.
 
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dont mess with importz and americans engines are NOT the SAME.......
 
MAH BAD....i miss read what u wrote...just get the same engines that she had bfore put it into the bay back..ohh get eagle rods...oem pistons.. dont forget the sleeves.. and the tunning..
 
MAH BAD....i miss read what u wrote...just get the same engines that she had bfore put it into the bay back..ohh get eagle rods...oem pistons.. dont forget the sleeves.. and the tunning..

How does the automatic hold up with say 175-200hp?
 
well the d16z6 comes withthe civics 92-95 ex ...but if u want a b16 comes out of the sir civic.. b18c1 comes aout of the integra GSR..wich is gonna cost u about 3500 shipping include it...so its up to u man.....
 
Wow I guess no one really wanted to help.

Anyway, an auto trans in a civic won't be able to reliably handle 250whp. Maybe if it was built up but there aren't to many places I know of that build up Honda Auto trans. Swap it to a 5 speed and just teach the GF to drive a stick. I taught my GF(now my wife) and she never wants to drive an auto again.

You say the car is OBDII if so the stock engine in your car would be a D16Y8. A stock D16Y8 can handle a decent amount of power as long as the car is tuned right. I'd throw out boost numbers but that would'nt help much cause I don't know what exact turbo your gonna use. Stock comp: is somewhere around 9.6:1.

As far as going to 8.5:1 don't do it you'll just have to boost higher for the loss of compression. Cranks can handle a decent amount of power but again it comes down to tuning. The block is decent also and will hold up to your power level goals with no problem. A stiffener is not needed at your power level. The stiffener actually causes more harm then good. It doesn't allow coolant to circulate around the top of the sleeve where its needed the most.

As far as swaps go you'd need new motor mounts,shift linkages, ecu, axles and wiring harness depending on the year/model of car and engine swap. A swap will definately cost more than the $2000 she has to invest. The AEM EMS is a great unit but will eat up over half of what she has to spend.

Also, do yourself a favor and don't use used parts for your turbo build. I have a lil bit of experience with turbo hondas if you have any more questions or would like some help with the project let me know. I'd be glad to help!

To answer your question about dropping the subframe its not needed. Theh engine and trans just drop straight down if you wanna do it that way. Just make sure you have enough clearance to slide the assembly out when its on the ground. I can give you more details if you'd like just pm me or email me at shadowracer95@hotmail.com

I see your from Illinois I am too where are you from exactly?
 
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Ok the '98 is on the road. I bought a used d16 (y8?) from an engine guy out of Wisconsin with 60k and a warranty for $400. I bought a used oil cooled T3 out of a Saab for $40, and a new Drag T3 D16 mani for $50. The turbo is a .48 exhaust .42 compressor. Should be fine for my goals. My friend just crunched his '97 and if the insurance company will sell it to me cheap I'm going to buy it for the trans, linkage, ect. It has a new clutch too. Questions...
-Does the ECU need to be swapped from his manual car into mine?
-What do I do about the O2 sensors? Weld a cat and bungs into the downpipe and extand the O2 wiring?
-What's the cheapest solution for fuel and ignition management?

Thanks
 
first question .... A; yes u have to switch the ecu if your going auto to manual but the motors both have to be d16y8 ( asuming the 98 hatch is an automatic, if its manual u can keep the ecu thats in it ) (o and u can tell what motor it is right on the front of the block about 3 inches down to the left of the exaust its a little square hard to miss anyway ) second question yea good idea... 3 question .... dont know sorry .... not a turbo guy
 
I have the worst trouble searching forums. I wind up with 100s of posts that don't answer a thing. I can find just about anything on Google so I don't know if the search engine in forums are different or what. Anyways, thanks for answering.
 
Try "Turbocharging d16"

I generally just stroll through the sections relating to what I'm looking for and -usually- I'll find the answers to other questions in the process. I'm not new to forums, just new to Hondas. ;) I can tell you everything about boosting a Miata, but jack shit about Hondas. An engine is an engine for the most part. That's why I asked specifics for the d16.
 
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