LS block worth dealing with?

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I have a B16A2 that was bored .020 over, but the sizing was done wrong and piston-wall clearance is too big. .030 is too much on stock sleeves, so now I need a new block. For some reason, B16A2's are ridiculously priced, IF I can even find them! So, now I'm thinking about using a B18 block and my pistons and head, but I need to choose between a GSR and LS. I'd prefer the GSR being that it's more or less a straight swap over for parts, but I also can't seem to find a GSR block and/or crank for sale anywhere. The fact that the LS doesn't have oiling for a VTEC head, doesn't have a main girdle, requires extra oil line for head and for head to be relocated, AND has a LONG stroke (aka, less rev capability) kinda makes me want to not deal with it for all the hassle, but I am running out of time to get this done. Has anyone done the LS block/B16 head combo? How did it work out? Any problems/issues? What about the GSR block/B16 head combo? Good and bad about it? What about a GSR block with B16 head and LS crank? ANY help anyone has would be AMAZINGLY appreciated. Thanks. Oh, this is in an EG hatch.
 
I think a few people have done the B16 head on the LS block actually...they called it some crazy name...LS/VTEC maybe? :p

Seriously though, yes, lots of people have done the LS block, and yeah, you pretty much hit it right on the head with the issues you stated. They do have pre-made kits for dealing with the oil line relocation however. As long as you take your time and make sure the motor is put together properly it should be pretty reliable.

Check out the FAQ section, there's 2 or 3 good articles on assembling LS/VTEC setups.
 
LS block and b16 head is called an LS-VTEC. GSR block and b16 head is called a Poorman's Type R(sort of, will explain). And a GSR block with a b16 head and LS crank is the same, but different.

LS-VTEC- Search for it. There are a few write-ups on this site. It's not very hard. I'm building one now.

Poorman's Type R-Technically what you are doing isn't quite this but it's just the difference of swapping some Type R internals and minor work. I believe it is a bolt on application though.

Poorman's with an LS crank-My friend has one. More modification than the other two because of the difference in stroke. I've rode in a car with a Type R and my friend's with this. I couldn't tell the difference for the additional money.

My vote is for the regular Poorman's as it is probably the simplest, but if you can't find a full GSR block then just go LS-VTEC. It is a little more work but has the same, if not more potential.
 
HAHAHAHA!!! Alright, I wrote that in kind of a hurry/panic, so I guess I forgot to mention that I haven't been living under a rock, and I DO know what the LS-VTEC build is! But thanks for the explaining anyway! As for the poorman's, and the poorman's w/ LS crank, I'm mostly considering that if I can't find a GSR crank. IDEALLY, I'd put my B16 head on a GSR block with GSR crank and rods, my high compression pistons, and all the world would be happy. I just can't find a GSR block OR crank anywhere in AZ! This shit is infuriating.

I never even CONSIDERED the LS crank in a GSR block til I talked to my buddy here who only does auto cross in his car, and he has a GSR block with an LS crank and rods and 13:1 CP pistons, and has it all balanced and said that even with the longer stroke on that crank, he revs the thing to and past 10,000 all the time and has been for about 4 years now, and it has never skipped a beat. So I was like, "Hhhmmmm..." So anyway, that's all just wishful thinking until I actually FIND a good GSR block for sale! That's the story here.....
 
Oh ya, one last question. The 2 MAIN reasons I want a GSR block are the ease of putting my head on it, and the fact that the bottom end is girdled, unlike the LS. I just thought of this; My b!6A2 block ALSO has a stock girdle in the bottom end of it. All B series blocks have the same main journal diameter. Could I use the girdle from the B16A2 on an LS block? Would it straight up BOLT ON? If it did, then I think I'd be a little more willing to DEAL with the LS VTEC oil line and head dowel relocating and all that crap. Anyone KNOW if that can be done?
 
HAHAHAHA!!! Alright, I wrote that in kind of a hurry/panic, so I guess I forgot to mention that I haven't been living under a rock, and I DO know what the LS-VTEC build is! But thanks for the explaining anyway! As for the poorman's, and the poorman's w/ LS crank, I'm mostly considering that if I can't find a GSR crank. IDEALLY, I'd put my B16 head on a GSR block with GSR crank and rods, my high compression pistons, and all the world would be happy. I just can't find a GSR block OR crank anywhere in AZ! This shit is infuriating.

I never even CONSIDERED the LS crank in a GSR block til I talked to my buddy here who only does auto cross in his car, and he has a GSR block with an LS crank and rods and 13:1 CP pistons, and has it all balanced and said that even with the longer stroke on that crank, he revs the thing to and past 10,000 all the time and has been for about 4 years now, and it has never skipped a beat. So I was like, "Hhhmmmm..." So anyway, that's all just wishful thinking until I actually FIND a good GSR block for sale! That's the story here.....


so he has a gsr block with ls crank ls rods and 13:1 cp pistons and balanced and revs to 10k? very nice whats his head setup and tranny and in what car ?
 
what cams too??

Yes you can use the main girdle out of it but will require new main bearings for the journals with the main girdle. They will need to be plastigauged as well. You could put the main girdle on the LS block, build it with your pistons and b16 oil pump/ water pump and some tuner toys rods. That would be a nice motor. Its basically mine but I don't have the girdle and I have a gsr head.
 
so he has a gsr block with ls crank ls rods and 13:1 cp pistons and balanced and revs to 10k? very nice whats his head setup and tranny and in what car ?

Correct. There's a little more to it than that. It has 84mm Darton sleeves too, so it's basically a 2.0 liter GSR with LS rods and crank. Good Lord that's a long name for a motor! Anyways, he's using Crower Stage 3 cams if I'm not mistaken, and has a CTR tranny. But don't take that tranny name to mean too much, because he's a tranny builder, so I'm SURE it's got this and that part from who knows what, you know? He dials his shit on paper, then puts it together and gos. He's a pretty sharp dude. Oh, and that's all in an EG hatch track car.

what cams too??

Yes you can use the main girdle out of it but will require new main bearings for the journals with the main girdle. They will need to be plastigauged as well. You could put the main girdle on the LS block, build it with your pistons and b16 oil pump/ water pump and some tuner toys rods. That would be a nice motor. Its basically mine but I don't have the girdle and I have a gsr head.

That was my other thought. My B16 girdle in the LS block, then "deal" with setting up my head on that block, but I'm also a BIG fan of simplicity, so I think I would PREFER to have the LS crank/rods in a GSR block. Thanks for the quick replies though. I am stressin out of my fuckin head trying to get this together here, so you guys have helped a bunch. Thanks!
 
Buy my block- 85.5mm bore right now on Golden Eagle sleeves, B18C1, only 3k miles on the bearings and rebuild, balanced out to 10k.
 
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