b18a1 or b18b1

stormnorman

New Member
hey i just got a 1990 Integra gs hatchback, just wondering which would be a better engine to build. i have right now a b18a1 with 181,xxx miles in the car. however i plan on buying a new engine and then building a turbo on that. i just dont know what engine would be a better build, b18a1 or b18b1?

Oh and if anyone has rear mudgaurds i would like to buy.
 

evilminion88

I ate the bones
The B18a1 came in OBD 0 and the B18b1 came in OBD 1. The 92-93 model a1 came with better exhaust cams for fuel efficiency, I believe the b1 in years after that in the DC model integras had the same deal, this resulted in a slightly higher output. The b1 will perform better stock against a a1 due to the superiority and advancements in the OBD 1 ecu's. Both engine are basically the same beyond that. I have the original B18a1 in my DA that I converted to OBD 1 so I could use my tuned ECU. For this conversion all I needed was the OBD 0 to OBD1 jumper harness, a OBD 0 to OBD 1 adapter harness for a OBD 1 distributor, a OBD1 ECU and a OBD 1 Distributor. Both engine are basically the same except for little changes to the cams and engine control systems and of course the valve cover.
 

jdean41

New Member
Not all of the a1s are OBD0. I have a 92 and its obd 1. They A1 has a stronger bottom end, due to slightly thicker piston walls and the crankshaft its self is stronger. My opinion would b to build the a1 for that reason. Thats why the a1 is used in basically all the ls vtec builds because the bottom is quite a bit stronger than the b1. they didnt start using the b1 until gen 3 tegs. Like i said go with the a1. You will b happy you did.
 

evilminion88

I ate the bones
I wasn't 100% sure if the 92-93 a1 models were OBD 1 or not which is why I didn't say anything about that. I didn't want to tell him false info. Thx for refreshing my memory :)
 


stormnorman

New Member
yeah i was thinking about going a1 for that reason as well, but then again i could get a c1 engine for 1k so im not sure. alright should i drop a c1 in there or just do a build with the a1?
 

jdean41

New Member
The c1 is going to b the better choice for performance, but you will also have to buy a new ecu and all the parts necessary to do the swap. But it is the better choice. I suggest getting a new wiring harness that is already wired for vtec. It will b easier than wiring it into the harness you have now.
 


Prozon

Kris
I thought the B18 A/B had identical bottom ends. The cam was the only difference I knew of. And yes, B18A1's can be OBD1, my old engine was.

I don't think people use A1's for vTec's because of thicker cylinder walls.. (I've never heard of them called piston walls.) I'm pretty sure it's just because most second gen's have A1's. stock.
 
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