Man, where is my bull**** flag when I need it....
Well ZCs have bad reliability, and plus parts are hard to find for it.
ZC's imported from Japan have no more reliability problems than any other USED engine. It is possible that you hear about more problems because anyone with basic tools thinks that they can install one.
Parts are hard to find? Hardly. Here is a basic rule of thumb... Pretty much anything that goes in or on the block will be from the d16a6 and anything that goes on or in the head is going to be from the '89 Integra. Of course this isn't true of all items, but it is true for most of them. Yeah, you are right, there aren't any parts available for the d16a6.
With B16A you have probably the most parts available for any engine and I never really hear anything bad about them.
Where the hell have you been? I always hear stories about problems with b16's. But, most of them are related to installation, just like about 90% of the stuff I hear about the ZC.
ZC is a 14 year old engine, so anything sitting around that long gets messed up. Plus their sensors get broken from being taken out of the car and left on the ground. I've never heard anyone having a ZC and not having to replace a bunch of stuff on it.
This isn't much different than the b16a which everyone gets for their 4th gen swaps. They are both about the same age and are prone to having the same problems. I think the reason why the TPS of the b16's rarely comes in broken is because the b16s are usually shipped w/ the transmission attached, unlike many of the ZC motors.
As for B16A why would you need a new clutch? You need a B-series tranny, its not like you can use your old D-series one. And I don't think they would come with bad clutches.
WTF are you saying? Are you saying that you would use a 10 year old clutch in a new engine installation when you have no idea about the quality of that clutch? Ok, so they must be easier on cars in Japan, right? hahah Yeah, right. Your statement is about the funniest I have ever heard.
Maybe you should do a little more homework, before you start spouting off common misconceptions about the ZC, huh?
Chris