A new ITR shortblock is a WORLD of difference away from a fully built GSR shortblock. You can expect aftermarket rods to weigh ~20% less than ITR rods, also you'd end up with ARP head studs and rod bolts, which most people would recommend you add the head studs to your current block after you pass 200 whp or so.

Also, $500 of dyno time for a built shortblock? There's nothing to tune. :eh: You're definately going to need dyno time when you put in your cams and a new intake manifold, so what's the difference?

I had a block diassembled, hot tanked, speced, bored, honed, blueprinted, and reassembled with aftermarket parts for $800. This is with no hookups, straight through a reliable, efficient machine shop. They had the block back to me in two days.


On another note, you seem to be going full-hog on some products and easy on others. Full Hytech exhaust and Skunk2 stage 1s? :eh: I understand that drivability and efficiency are important, but so long as you stay out of VTEC for the most part you should be fine going with something a little more aggressive. In addition, the B18s really don't really seem to react that well to the Stage 1s. If you are looking for that sort of power figure I would consider a Jun2 intake cam with ITR exhaust cam. That will give you a good deal more low end power without sacrificing a whole lot of top end. What are you looking to rev this beast to, anyway?

I was considering using the stock filter box on the CX, but decided it would be easier to make myself a sheetmetal solution, as I wasn't going to stick with the stock oval inlet hole on the GSR airbox.

On the topic of tuning, I would suggest another solution besides Hondata. You may not be aware of this fact, but the AEM programmable engine management system does per cylinder knock sensing and retard, which means that you could replace the Hondata unit AND the J&S with an AEM EMS, save yourself a couple of dollars, and get a ECU with a great deal more features & speed. You could also get an MSD w/o limiter and save a hundred more $ or so.

Another thing you might want to check out: www.cmfilters.com If you are going to balls-out on cooling and lubrication, consider a 4-banger sized Accusump and one of their oil filters. Their oil filters flow so much oil that they do not have an oil bypass valve, which means unfiltered oil will never re-enter your engine.

Cliff's notes: There ain't no cliffs notes, read the damn post.