Head-gasket leak. Rebuild? Swap? what kind?

Avocado Roll

New Member
Hey there,

My b18a non-Vtec engine with 210,000km has a minor head-gasket leak.

First - should I take it until it blows or replace/fix while it still has it's legs?

My 2 primary criteria are:
1) solution needs to be reliable
2) solution needs to be economical

I have access to good labor for swap/rebuild that is cheap.

I was thinking along the lines of:
-rebuild my current engine: where should I get a rebuild kit?
-swap my engine: buy from tiger japanese shipped for $750... or should I swap for a different motor? Is it possible to go b20 or Vtec or something else that is an upgrade without major modifications?
 

Samurai_Blue

Yolo Whippin'
if i were to do a headgasket i would pull the motor to get it resurfaced, (thats just me) otherwise i think a rebuild or even a swap would be an excelent idea.
 

Avocado Roll

New Member
Wow - a great guide! Read through and feel I can handle this. Samurai, Id like to avoid pulling it bc I want to get it done on my own, in one day, and minimize cost.

What should I replace aside from the gasket/timing/belt/water pump? Valve springs? Cams?

Also - I heard that you can stick a Vtec head on for higher compression without actually convertin o Vtec - is this a good idea?

Thanks guys!

Any idea how the engine should/could last if ido this partial rebuild (I am a bit of a high rev, lead-foot driver)
 


Samurai_Blue

Yolo Whippin'
Avocado Roll said:
Wow - a great guide! Read through and feel I can handle this. Samurai, Id like to avoid pulling it bc I want to get it done on my own, in one day, and minimize cost.

What should I replace aside from the gasket/timing/belt/water pump? Valve springs? Cams?

Also - I heard that you can stick a Vtec head on for higher compression without actually convertin o Vtec - is this a good idea?

Thanks guys!

Any idea how the engine should/could last if ido this partial rebuild (I am a bit of a high rev, lead-foot driver)
Click to expand...
you shouldnt replace your cams...or your valve springs unless you are upgrading. And i recomend pulling the motor to get it resurfaced because you dont know if your block is warped. And, yes a vtec head will increase compression, but why wouldnt you want to convert it to vtec? You are going to run weird because your ECU is programed for 9:1 compression...
 

Prozon

Kris
If you don't want to go through the extra trouble of pulling the block, you can take a straight edge long enough to go across the whole thing. Put it from corner to corner diagonally, from side to side to see if it is uneven/warped at all.
 

Avocado Roll

New Member
Thanks Prozon, I think I may go with the basic head job.

I'm still considering a swap, though. Would a B18B fit in there? (I believe mine's a B18a1). Here's what I'm looking at: http://www.jdmtigerjapanese.com/details.php?id=3722


SHEITS Now my rear right Caliper is ceased - I think related to my parking brake - should I use a rebuild kit? Someone told me the pistons are almost always shot and so a new/rebuilt caliper is better option...
 


Prozon

Kris
I'd just buy a new caliper.

The B18B1 is a direct fit depending on the year. 92/93's should be fine with a B1. OBD1 ECU would be the one needed. If you have an earlier Integra you need to swap the injectors out on the motor with your a1's. I swapped my B18a1 with a B18b1 in my '93.
 

Avocado Roll

New Member
My Teg is a '90. Is that a hassle? What about the Tranny?

So I would need an OBD1 ECU. If the ECU and fuel rail is the B18b1 version, why would I have to put my B18a1 injectors in?

Thanks!
 

Prozon

Kris
To use the newer motor on your car, just swap your OBD0 things to the newer motor.
A lot simpler then converting the whole car to OBD1.
Or you could use the newer motors OBD1 stuff and put the ECU/Harness from the newer motor in.
 

DaddyBuiltRacing

Resident Asshole
You don't need to get the block resurfaced, very rarely does a block warp. 99% of the time the head would be the thing to warp. If you don't do a complete motor swap, then just change the headgasket, waterpump/timing belt and slap some new headbolts or arp head studs in there. Stock bolts stretch over time due to heat.

Prozon is correct if you want to swap a newer engine into your older integra, just take everything from the old motor and put it on the new one. The only things you really need to swap over would be the distributor and injectors. everything else is the same.
 

Avocado Roll

New Member
I will probably use the "new" engine's components and switch to obd1. What's involved aside from ecu, wiring harness and engine's components (which come with it)?

I think I can do the head job on my engine and sell it with it's new parts: distributor, alternator, starter.
 

DaddyBuiltRacing

Resident Asshole
the wiring is the worst part of converting. Just buy a jumper harness, theres tons of online articles on how to convert from obd0 to obd1
 

Avocado Roll

New Member
Thanks nerk, how could I make the above idea work efficiently - the components are Defs in good order - and think it could sell well if it's a complete package.

Thoughts?

Thanks guys I'm starting to have fun with this.
 

DaddyBuiltRacing

Resident Asshole
You could try selling the head and block seperately. You could have the head checked for warpage. If theres none then just have it hot tanked to clean it up and then sell it.

Sell the block to someone looking to do a LS vtec. Just be sure to tell them the mileage is high so they dont come back later saying "you sold me a shit block".

Alot of companies sell jumper harnesses, LoCash Racing, Rywire, Chasebays just to name a few. I know there are several others out there.
 
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