Originally Posted by DrFord
I hear ya on the swap deal, but I'm hard headed and like to work with what I have. My '69 Mustang w/ a 302 pumping 400+hp on pump gas(on motor
) handles the serious urges. This my daily grind car, but the speed bug persists.....
Dave
well, there's two main engines on the 6th gen civics. (not talking about the b-series here)
the d16y7 dx/lx engine (what you have)
and the d16y8 EX engine.
both SOHC, the EX has a better intake manifold/exhaust manifold design, not to mention Vtec. But I honestly think Vtec is over-rated on the SOHC engines (well, maybe not on the larger engines, like the AV6). Regardless, the d16y7 has a funky shapped intake manifold (facing up), and a catalitic covnverted built into the header. Definatly two things that should be worked on first....
I'm not denying you can't get reasonable power out of a d16y7, but not without something harder. Cams, header, a new IM and TB with an air intake, and an exhaust, maybe you'll get 140? IF you're lucky. Definatly no more than that. And how much will you spend? $1500? $2000?
engine swap or turbo kit..... Even then, I'd choose the latter. I have a d16y7, still bone stock. I plan on keeping it that way for many reasons.....
keep in mind. the y7 was designed for economy, not performance. Even the tranny blows for the dx/lx's. So there's another thing you'd have to change out. See a pattern?