1990 Acura Integra
Hi I am new to this forum, and new to sport compact cars. I recently bought a 1990 Acura Integra for $450, and dicovered alot of problems with it, so I decide to rebuild the engine in it. It has the B18A1 engine it. My brother is rebuilding the engine for me, but is having a hard time find out what he can do with this engine and still keep it smog legal in CA. I would appreicate if any of of you could tell me what cranks, rods, pitons, and whatnot will fit this engine, and post any good links. My brother is a Master with engines when it comes to chevy's and fords, and this will be his first Japanpese engine. I would appreciate any help you could give me.
Thanks Scorpion
Thanks Scorpion
I would highly suggest buying a B18B block. It will drop right in, produce more horsepower, and be smog legal as it's newer than your vehicle.
If you'd rather fix up the B18A, any B series pistons will fit. These vary from what you have currently up to the Civic Type R piston, which would produce compression ratios that I'm sure would make your brother's eyes come out of his head.
Crankwise your only OEM options are destroking, with the GSR or R cranks. Not worth swapping imho, as you'd need new rods to match the stroke. There's a couple stroker kits out there but they're pricey.
Rods you'll need to go aftermarket to make much power. Crower and Eagle are the usual brands of choice.
Cams, you can use the B18B cams for slightly more power, or Crower cams for lots more power. You'll stop being smog legal in a hurry with the Crowers though. It would require inventive tuning before you went in for smogging in order to pass.
If you'd rather fix up the B18A, any B series pistons will fit. These vary from what you have currently up to the Civic Type R piston, which would produce compression ratios that I'm sure would make your brother's eyes come out of his head.

Crankwise your only OEM options are destroking, with the GSR or R cranks. Not worth swapping imho, as you'd need new rods to match the stroke. There's a couple stroker kits out there but they're pricey.
Rods you'll need to go aftermarket to make much power. Crower and Eagle are the usual brands of choice.
Cams, you can use the B18B cams for slightly more power, or Crower cams for lots more power. You'll stop being smog legal in a hurry with the Crowers though. It would require inventive tuning before you went in for smogging in order to pass.
Oh I almost forgot, do you knows of any place that can rebuild the automatic trans in it, performance wise. From what I've been told by the local builders in my area there is nothing you do performance wise to them. Is this true.
Originally Posted by Scorpion
Oh I almost forgot, do you knows of any place that can rebuild the automatic trans in it, performance wise. From what I've been told by the local builders in my area there is nothing you do performance wise to them. Is this true. 

they do sell high-stall torque converters, but its pretty much a waste of money trying to get honda automatics to hold much power for very long
If you have any real performance goals, I'd think about doing a auto-manual swap... If you do, you have many more transmission options available to match whatever you end up building.
If you have any real performance goals, I'd think about doing a auto-manual swap... If you do, you have many more transmission options available to match whatever you end up building.


