Converting to manual isn't a big deal. Running the prelude engine is tough and something I wouldn't recommend for a daily driver. The motor is very big and hard to mount. It has a hydro clutch so you have to end up mounting the resevoir inside an air duct on your dash or some other creative spot and fabricating a pedal assembly. Not impossible but tough. The suspension and axle geometry on the 4th gen hatch would probably kill a few sets of axles too.

Go with a 1.8L vtec swap, GSR or LSVTEC.

 

h22 is a great motor for base hp but everything I've read and heard says its the hardest engine to turbo charge. the b18 has a sh** load of aftermarket avail and is easily upgraded to turbo and will give awsome hp even at low boost, 10-12 psi. the b18 will cost about 5k depending on which b18 you get. the b16 has the lowest cost and lowest base hp, but only about 20 hp difference from the b18. The b16 is just as easy to upgrade to turbo.

it depends on what you want, turbo or na. if you want turbo on a daily driver with the fuel economy at 50 miles a day then b16 is the way to go.

you said you've got a good budget to work with but I reccommend spending your money like your budget is half to 2/3 of what you got that way you've got a fudge factor for the unexpected things and you'll be able to get some really trick stuff with whats left.

for the cost of the b18c (180 hp) you can get a b16 with a turbo and run 11psi (approx 280 hp). if you have more of a budget than 5k start with a bare block b16, stand build it, sleeves, rods, low compression pistons, etc. then run a turbo at 15psi daily (approx 323 hp on stock internals but more on upgraded) and crank to 20psi (approx 400 hp) when wanted. the hp numbers are based on no other upgrades, obviously when you do the neccesary upgrades for turbo and the upgrades with the built engine then the numbers go up dramatically. basically for the price of a b18c with a turbo, approx 9-10k @ 11psi=314 hp, you can get a built b16a and have 449 hp @ 22psi.

when in doubt pick up an import mag and read the articles of people runnin a 92 hb with b16 , t3 turbo 12 psi and mid 12's, not bad for an engine that suck di**

hp to weight at your 2158 lbs here are the expect 1/4's. 240 hp=12.95, 300 hp=12.03, 330 hp= 11.65, 390 hp=11.02, 425 hp=10.75. these numbers come from a book titled civic duty by alan paradise, go to borders books and get a copy, its a definate help when building a civic.

all of this is expecting you upgrade the drivetrain to handle the hp but the sam is true regardless of the engine

 

go my route turbo zc with a level 10 auto tranny kit

 

none of the above! the best choice is a zc cause it'll bolt right in and it's as fast or faster than the others if ya set it up right! and also ya wont need any swap stuff for it!
but if you're hell bent on one of the others, then go with the ls vtec lol

 

zc is the way to go for that car I agree.


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But this car is long gone and now I beat up a '04 Golf daily.

Can't beat the best hatchback ride/handling in the world - only in a VW baby!

I even had an R32 for few days. So nothing but mkIV's for now. Although A3 I test drove is sweet.

 

how is the zc motor as fast or faster than the others? if by set it up right you mean turbo then it's not the motor it's the turbo that's faster.


as for the best buy, the b16 sirll it's 170hp ( up 10 from the standard b16) so you loose 10hp ( compared to the b1 but it cost about 4k less than the b18, with the 4k saved you can do enough of a build that you would never notice the difference.

 

save teh sohc?

 

b16 is the best way to go...they make 100hp per liter.and you can beat the piss out of it if you keep it maintained.also they too are very cheap.a clean long block can be had for around $800.