Q First off, I'll start like everyone else does by saying that I love your magazine; I've been reading it for as long as I can remember. I just recently purchased a 1991 180SX, and the first and only thing I think of is drift. Mmm, drift. Anyway, before I started drooling, the car came stock with a CA18DET engine; I've tried finding parts for it, but the market seems rather small. I was thinking about springing for the SR20 swap, but would it be possible to go all out for the S15 black top SR20 with the six-speed tranny? Anyway, keep doin' what you guys do; you're the best at it, anyway! Oh, by the way, here's a thought for ya: a fourth-gen Prelude with a RB26DETT and AWD drivetrain; it's enough to make you slap yo' mamma!Jared KuntzSpring, TX
A Jarod, we have a few things for you to consider. If your "180SX" is a 1991, it should have a two-liter SR20DET under the hood. So if you have a 240SX with a CA18DET in it, then we say that you can install whatever you want in it. Or try to search a little more and do some homework; there are quite a few parts that crossover with the American version of CA18DE. If your car is indeed a 1991 180SX then we say to you, "Run! Run and look under your hood!" Either way, the S15 motor and six-speed gearbox you speak of will indeed fit in any S chassis. Be prepared to pay top dollar because the S15 swap is not cheap.
Oh yeah, imagine this: An R34 Skyline GT-R with a H23 and FWD swap! Yo' mamma should already be slappin' ya!
Q I got the boost bug bad, but my motor has 150k miles and I really don't trust boost with that many miles. I really don't want to tear apart my motor and rebuild 'cause its my daily and I just don't have the time. So I want to get a motor with low miles, but now I'm having a hard time deciding which motor I should get and which is better for boosting! I'm stuck between a base model K20 or a GSR motor. Which is best for boosting? I'm probably not going to rebuild either of them seeing as most of my money is going to the motor and turbo. So I need to know which engine can handle more boost-safe boost as I'm probably still going to be driving it everyday! Any bit of help from you guys helps.Emmanuel VillalobosCasa Grande, AZ
A Have the "boost bug," eh? We hear what you're saying and we'll give you some answers! We would say that putting in a K20 and boosting on it stock will cost you much more in the long run. It would have also been mucho helpful if you told us what kind of chassis you have.
Anyway, back to the boost. We say, if you have an older chassis, the way to go is B18. The B18 is a kick-ass motor with a ton of aftermarket support. It has been around for a while, and that makes most of the parts cheaper, too! In the event that you decide to upgrade it further after you install a basic turbo system (and you will), there are a lot of options with the B18. It will be much easier to make a cost effective, daily driven, turbo Honda whatever on that path. Plus, if you do blow it up, the replacement costs are much less. B18 for the win. Don't get us wrong-there is a ton of potential with both the B18 and the K20, the K20 is a stunner for sure, but the B18 is the supermodel that can cook! Either way you decide to go, fuel delivery and tuning are the most important things you should be concerned about when building your turbo Honda something.