Whats More Cost Effective - VTEC OR TURBO

Prozon

Kris
What a more cost effective power gain?

I mean- running a stock block, what would achieve the most power for the best price. (Excluding eBay turbos.)
B18B1, just rebuilt. OEM Parts, 800 miles on the engine.

Would it be more cost effective to buy a turbo, running about eight pounds of boost..
or..
Would it be more cost effective to run it with a B16 head?


I hope you guys catch onto what i'm saying lol. I just want some input, hopefully people who have actually ran one or the other. I don't really need people shouting out random crap. I'm just curious.. not really sure if or when this is going to happen.
 

rockadilla

thats right.
What a more cost effective power gain?

I mean- running a stock block, what would achieve the most power for the best price. (Excluding eBay turbos.)
B18B1, just rebuilt. OEM Parts, 800 miles on the engine.

Would it be more cost effective to buy a turbo, running about eight pounds of boost..
or..
Would it be more cost effective to run it with a B16 head?


I hope you guys catch onto what i'm saying lol. I just want some input, hopefully people who have actually ran one or the other. I don't really need people shouting out random crap. I'm just curious.. not really sure if or when this is going to happen.
first of all PSI is MEANS NOTHING UNTIL U HAVE A TURBO!!!! the size of the turbo is whats important. and if ur rebuilt engine is healthy then u can get about 300whp from a turbo with no problem. a LOT more then the maybe 180bhp from a B16 head swap, but also the B16 head only has about 120ish ft/lbs of torque so its really actually not as powerful as a full gsr block and head. plus generally a turbo is more reliable then a vtec swap unless u spend a lot of money building the block.

I woudnt do anything until the engine has at least 3000-5000 miles on the engine and has had at least 3 oil changes because the engine has to settle down and have at least a little breaking in or else adding a large increase in hp will most likely harm the engine.

go research different turbo threads and try to learn as much as u can about whichever route u decide to go for because if u do it wrong all the money u spent will just be a complete waste. and if ur gonna throw money away then u should give it to me instead :p
 


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Prozon

Kris
Rockadilla - First helpful post.

Others: That's exactly what I was trying to avoid, I don't want a bunch of people shouting out go this or go that. I want numbers damn it. >_>

I guess a better question would have been which makes more HP with a stock block eh? Sounds like the turbo is a better choice at this point.. but i'm not sure, if the Vtec costs half, and I can make up that HP with that money not spent on a turbo....

Get what i'm sayin?

Anyways, whether it is vTec or Turbo, it won't go on it until the engine is probably around 5,000 miles. I want to make sure that sucker is worn in good. :)
 

Ominous G2

┌∩┐(◣_◢)┌∩┐
Why don't you sit down and plan each build? The parts to do a proper LS/V build and a good turbo setup. To me a proper LS/V would require a bottom end built to handle higher revs. An OEM spec LS engine even with a fresh rebuild wasn't meant to rev up to 8k. I already did all my homework, and decided to go with turbo.

I wouldn't even expect 180hp with an LS/V.
 

Prozon

Kris
Well that's why I was asking about it. I want to run the stock block. I don't really feel like it's worth tearing the block down and upgrading it, specifically because it has 800 miles on it. It seems like a waste of a lot of parts.
 

emd513

New Member
If your wanting more pwer the turbo is the way. My buddy just put on an shit ebay turbo which is fine for no more than 8lbs of constant boost. Anything higher than that will kill one. He gained 8o plus horsepower with 5lbs on stock internals a cold air and 2 1/2 exhaust with 200,000 miles on the car that came with originally 100 whp. Turbo will be the cheaper power for sure.
 

Prozon

Kris
Instead of hoarding parts, maybe I'll just start a savings fund for upgrades at 5,000 miles lol. I was thinking synchros for the trans, and upgrade clutch while i'm in there. But I know those 4k miles will fly by faster than I can afford the turbo parts.

Thanks for the links though. I'll start a new folder in my favorites list "Turbo Parts".
Manifold and piping linked.
 
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