i guess the natural advantage and appeal is more torque?

i dont know, more displacement with that head spells more power overall, but dont forget the h23a1 crank is designed to make power lower, not higher when VTEC is key.
really now what good is 1500 rpms of VTEC?
no good
besides, compared to an h22a1...an h23a1 has a "weak" bottom end.
i had TWO h23a1's that blew a #2 CR bearing
AND
i know TWO other people near me who blew the same bearing around the same mileage on the same engine.

h23a1 is resilient tho, both of the blown h23a1's i worked on kept running until i pulled em out, on 3 cylinders blowing shit loads of smoke, but they never stalled.

here i will attach an image of one of the #2 bearings...


~boomer