B18C2 Rebuild

[Alex_Walker]

I'm looking at rebuilding my B18C2 motor. I'm not looking for any substantial performance related benefits, mainly looking for reliability and longevity. I'm also looking for the most cost-effectiveness way to do this as well. I'm looking for people's previous experiences as to what they did and what worked best. I guess I won't know until I pull it apart the extent of any damage but any help prior to this would be appreciated

[wpg81]

I have no experience on b series engines but the plan should always be the same.
First work out what you want to get out of the engine or intended use.
Second work out a realistic budget.
Third research research and research some more.
by your post you sound like you have most of this under control. Only thing I suggest is build it for you and your taste not others and most things take twice as long and twice as much as you first think.

[Alex_Walker]

Intended use is primarily street with the occasional hill climb. But I'm not looking at building a "race motor". Current driving for instance, flat foot in second sends a fair bit of smoke out the exhaust. Plus it's burning a decent amount of oil. I'm topping it up regularly (maybe once a week, sometime less often, sometimes more often depends on driving style). Would it be reasonable in suggesting the piston rings would be pretty well shagged?

First thing to do would be a compression test yeah? That would give a decent indication of what I'm looking at without just ripping the whole thing apart cause it's my daily driver haha

Budget wise I wouldn't have a clue since I've never done this before haha but I don't really want to just leave my car at a workshop for weeks on end and rack up a massive labour bill. I would prefer doing as much work as I can at home (I have most tools + engine cranes etc) and just take the head to be cleaned up and bored out and whatever else necessary like that.

[tinkerbell]

so maybe just oversized type R pistons, 81.5mm plus bore/hone

full head job

blueprint bottom-end, new bearings

new water pump, oil pump, timing belt kit, bottom-end gasket kit, VRS gasket kit

13-row Earls oil cooler & lines etc

new alloy radiator

so looking at around $5000ish....

to consider;

new clutch & LSD, fuel system upgrade (surge tank), ITR cams, ITR valve train, Skunk2 intake,ITR 4-1 JDM header, 3in cat, 65mm exhaust... Hondata...


i have a few lists that could help.

but untill you name the number - we're all just guessing...