Friend of mine recently purchased a jdm B16a from hondamotorsonline. Motor is supposed to be a version 1 B16a ... but I was searching the internet for how-to's on this swap into a CRX and came across a sight that tells you how to tell the 1st gen from the 2nd gen.

States that the 1st gen's valve cover will read DOHC in a larger size font then VTEC. And for the 2nd gen VTEC will be larger than DOHC. Well his valve cover matches that of a 2nd gen. Other than that I didn't see how else to tell them apart as the block for both of them would be stamped B16a and the number under that stamp would start with a 1 on both 1st and 2nd gens. As for the transmissions there were different codes.. but both 1st and 2nd gen's showed a transmission code of J1 which is what is on his transmission... The 2nd gen is supposed to be a hydraulic transmission where as the 1st gen was supposed to by cable except for I guess the Integra? I read that there were some integras that had the jdm B16a 2nd gen with a cable tranny ... We're just wondering which one he has as the 2nd gen produces 10 more HP than the 1st gen due to .2 bumps in compression and a different in the valve lift/duration. If anyone could tell me how to identify this motor for sure it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

-Mike

 

anyone?

 

If you pull the block apart and find piston oil squirters then you know it is an a2 if not its an a1. it should say right on the block tho.

 

you can remove the oil cap and look at the oil spray bars... 2nd gens have extruded alluminum bars and 1st gens have cast...

hmotorsonline sells JDM motors... in japan they dont number their motors (B16A1, B16A2, etc)...

 

first thing... looking at the valve cover is not a reliable way to figure out what gen motor it is because the B-Series VTEC valve covers are universal (it could be a 2nd gen valve cover on a 1st gen motor or vice versa)...

second... you cant tell by the transmission code because there were i think 4 trannys for that motor...

ways to tell: look at the harness connector plugs by the tranny... 1st gen B16A's have off white or "milky white" connectors and 2nd gen B16A's have grey connectors... another thing, 1st gens have (2) one wire o2 sensors and 2nd gens have (1) four wire o2 sensor... other somewhat reliable ways to tell are: 1st gens have a PGM-FI label on the intake mani and 2nd gens do not... and the map sensor on the 2nd gen is actually part of the throttle body and not external like the 1st gens...

 

look at the head above where the exhaust manifold bolts on. There are numbers located in little circles. The first number is the year the head was made, this however is not the year car it came in. Add one to this number and that is the year of the head.
i.e. if the head is stamped 92 then it is a 93 head.