I've gotten a '89 CRX si recently, and I do plan to do a swap within the next two months. I was considering the B16A 1st gen (160hp) over the B16A 2nd gen (170hp) for the price and added simplicity. However, would the 1st gen motor be optimal for off-the-shelf forced induction kits?

Perhaps I'm mistaken, but I've looked around at JC Racing chargers, Vortech chargers, and the $3k Greddy turbokit. IIRC, they only list applications for the 99'-00' Civic Si. I'm guessing this is for the 2nd gen B16A, but would they also work with the 1st gen?

Please let me know what would work out best. Likewise, if there are other reputable turbo/supercharger kits out there that are noteworthy, please let me know. Thanks!

 

Congrat's on the purchase of the new rex.

IMHO I would reccomend getting the second gen B16A just due to the hydro transmission (Hydro transmissions are going to be a tad bit more expensive but at least you will be able to replace it with a newer transmission I.E. Integra LS, GS, GSR, ITR ). Because if you think about it it's much better than getting a S***** transmission that is 10 years old. Especially since you were thinking of going turbo the B16 tranny's do not last nearly as long as the Integra one's.

I personally have had two B16 transmissions go out on me and now i'm trying to save up some cash so I can do a cabe-to-hydro changeover because I got a first gen (I was thinking about putting in a GSR tranny just because those tranny's are pretty damn strong) If I had gotten a second gen in the first place maybe this would not have happend soo soon.

As for the Jackson Racing chargers, Vortech chargers, and the $3k Greddy turbokit they will fit the first and second gen B16A.

Good Luck with the swap and let me know how the finished product turns out.:thumbup:

 

Pinoyshadow - Thanks for info! I wasn't previously aware there would be a tranny problem with the B16A 1st gen. However, you mention about doing a 'cable-to-hydo' changeover on your current 1st gen B16. Would this be a more cost effective route instead of spending another grand on the 2nd gen B16? Are there any drawbacks using the changeover?

Likewise, are there any other aftermarket tranny solutions that would be compatible w/ the 1st gen B16? I'm not sure if it would make a difference, but later on I do hope to get an upgraded clutch/flywheel kit, and a Quaife LSD by the end of the year. Are there some trannys I ought to look for, or avoid?

Many thanks! I'll post more stuff later as I build up my car. I'm trying to make my CRX something reliable for the commutes, but also competitive for occasional road racing & auto-X's. It should be fun!

 

Sorry to say it mang, but that wasn't me that posted that. I guess one of my friends logged on and his cookies kept it under my sn instead of his own. He'll be on here sometime soon to answer any of your questions and/or respond to his previous post. Good luck, PEACE.

 

No, I can't agree here, you'll pay $1000 extra for 10 hp? You can do that w/ a headgasket change. ANY B series tranny will work w/ ANY Bseries engine. Only drawback to an SiR tranny (if you commute that is) is I am at 5k rpm at 80 mph. For the street it is an AWSOME tranny. Just FYI I get 26 mpg and drive an hour back and forth to my job. I drive HARD from time to time and still get that good of gas mileage. I say, be simple. If it's you first swap, do a 1st gen B16A. Very simple.
You want complicating, order an SiR II longblock, a Bseries cable tranny, reharness the engine w/ your Si harness (you'll have to do that anyway) but cut the dist plug and resolder a different plug from your Si dist., should I keep going? If you ask me a lot of trouble for 10 hp. Like I said, run a thinner headgasket and newer B16A cams and you 10 + hp has been made up.
1st gen B16A cams are ass.

 

Hey mang, as I said, I didn't post that. I'll let my boy take this one up with you. I plead the 5th here...

 

sir-crx, Thanks for info! Yes, I definetly think the short gearing in the B16a1 tranny has it's appeal. I would think it's very effective in auto-X and street driving. I was slightly concerned that the other poster mentioned the tranny wasn't durable though. If so, this might definetly be problem if I plan to turbo/supercharge the thing and race thing?

Exactly how durable is the B16a1 tranny's what would you say are it's limits? Aside from replacing the clutch and LSD, is there anything else I should watch out for? Is there anything else worth upgrading for the sake of increased reliability? Keep in mind that if the thing does get raced and deals w/ forced induction, it should get stressed out more, or so I would assume.

Thanks again!

 

As far as being durable, he might be refering to the 99-00 Si tranny's which have gathered a bad rep over at clubsi.com but I can't say I've had a prob (knock on wood). I had a 95 GSR tranny in an old car of mine that took a dump on me after being abused by a 65 shot and an LS engine. I think the engine and tranny is all relative i.e. just as reliable as the user wants it to be. You want to boost 8lbs on a B16A, you better have suffecient fuel supply and probably NOT jerk through the gears like normal, it will only give excessive wheel-spin that slows you down. That's just my .02

 

Ummm.... Don't get a b16a2 & don't get a hydro tranny. If you go b16a2 you need to convert all the way to OBD II - that's not fun. On top of that, there are no motor mount kits on the market currently for a hydro tranny b series motor into a ED/EF Civic.

Plus, the only major difference other than the OBD generation is the compression ratio - 10.2 for the 1st gen vs. 10.4 for the new Si's. You can easily do better than that by investing the $2000 you'll save over the motor price & having a **very** custom tranny mount setup done on CTR pistons, exhaust, intake, CTR intake cam, ITR exhaust cam, fuel pressure regulator, cam gears & put the $100 or so you should have left over towards a Hondata.

just my 2 cents...

Eric

 

isnt the compresion ratio on first gens a little lower making it better for boost? as for the tranny u could awalys go w/ a 2ng gen teg LS tranny for the longer gearing and still keep the cable tranny, thats what i would do just because the moters cheaper and im not sure whats all involved in converting a car from cable to hydro

BTW: i also agree w/ sir_crx first gen cams are ass but im not sure about the 2nd gen cams working because of the way vtec engauges in the first gens, the single butterfly engagement (both cams at once rather than the exhaust than the intake like 200 RPM later, the only othe moters other than the b16a1 that engage at once like that is the b18c5 and the b16b) may mean u'll have to use ITR or CTR cams but im not sure