Heads off ! effective HP GAIN??

[teggin92]

ok so i finally got the head off of my b18b1, because of a valve seal problem. while im getting that worked on, anybody have an ideas for some effective power increases, that wont take all my money? any ideas would be awsome. thanks

 

[hgocasca]

Port and polish the head

 

[92gsrboy]

you got the right idea...since the head is off id def do something to it...all depends on how much you are willing to spend

 

[nicoalex2]

Not with a B18b. You would spend too much money for little gain

 

[hidenplanvew]

B16 pistons cheap and you will see more power then a p&p plus you can sort of re new the bottom half.. You dont have to remove the block to replace the pistons. Might want to thro in a new oil pump and water pump and timing belt while you have it all apart and its all pretty cheap. Make sure you block is flat with a straight edge and have the head milled down alittle will bump compression

I personally would do the b16 pistons and mill the head down thats where you going to see the most power just use the lower compression b16 pistons and if you have an AFR problems just run a SAFC since they can be had for dirt cheap there not my fav way to tune but they do work ( I have 4 S300 in my diffrent cars, i love hondata), but a SAFC will do the job enuff.. its just old school

 

[teggin92]

Thanks for the responses everyone! pricing stuff now

 

[teggin92]

how difficult would it be to put a v-tech head on the motor?? more expensive then the other upgrades?

 

[hgocasca]

No such thing, vtech is a phone, no HP gain there, a VTEC head, would cost around $1000 to properly and reliably install and run. I would recommend a tune

 

[anubix]

I was told by a (real) honda-tech that it is desireable to add a VTEC head ONLY...
That is, don't install the rest of the vtec stuff, but just installing the VTEC HEAD will increase compression
and therefor increase power.

Not sure what else would be involved besides the head on that particular swap. Anyone done this before?

 

[Samurai_Blue]

I was told by a (real) honda-tech that it is desireable to add a VTEC head ONLY...
That is, don't install the rest of the vtec stuff, but just installing the VTEC HEAD will increase compression
and therefor increase power.

Not sure what else would be involved besides the head on that particular swap. Anyone done this before?

wtf?!?! decking the head will also raise compression. why run a vtec head with out the vtec equiptment

 

[hgocasca]

If that's all your guy said, he is an idiot, I can go on for days about other things to do with a head swap

 

[anubix]

wtf?!?! decking the head will also raise compression. why run a vtec head with out the vtec equiptment

Decking the head requires a machine shop.
Installing a vtec head requires a torque wrench and no machine shop or additional parts. (right? this is what the question is asking)

The idea is to increase compression simply by bolting on a different head. Simple.
I thought I would see if anyone else has done this, because in my experience with Hondas there are always unforeseen incompatibilities when doing things like this.

What am I getting myself into before rebuilding a VTEC head to swap in?

 

[TeggyBear_Ls]

um, that would be a waste of $350 for the VTEC head..... might as well throw in higher compression pistons for cheaper instead...

if you're fixing a valve stem seal, then you probably just want to put the same b18b1 head back on. but if you want some good hp, then do a ls/vtec conversion.

or you can take your pistons and rods out, swap rods over to new higher compression pistons, do a old-school hand-tool re-hone, and hope the rings seat properly lol

edit- oh, and you might need a machine shop if you're too scared, because you need to tap (thread) a hole in the head and insert a plug into it, or else oil will leak out the headgasket.

 

[Prozon]

I didn't notice you posted before PMing me. Ignore that last part lol. Anubix, you probably shouldn't slap on a vtec head without having it pressure checked. That would require a machine shop as well. Your best bet is to probably keep what you have until you can afford to do some better upgrades. If anything spend the money and go vtec.

Teggin92, i'm going to have to agree with the others and say get the head port and polished. Air flow never hurt anything, and having it port and polished is a really good basis for any other modifications you do the motor afterwards.

I suppose that would be my advise to Anubix too, get it port and polished and slap it back on how it is.

 

[BrokenTalon27]

Rather than go LSV or spend the money on PNP on your LS head, find a P8R head. They flow much better than the standard LS head and will be much cheaper than a proper PNP and are direct bolt ons.