April 2014 Fastrack

[tom91ita]

Greg,

Thanks for the clarification.

about all i really know about this motor is that it was an abandoned CRX swap project in a barn in southern Minnesota.

i dragged it out of some kid's grandfather's barn and onto Jabaay's borrowed trailer and gave the kid $1500 for the signed title. i sold the shell for $1100 and gave Jabaay $100 for helping me find the B16 and for pulling the motor and finding a buyer for the shell.

then i put it into my car the week before the runoffs. the whole alphabet soup of A vs. A2 vs. A3 and OBD0, OBDI, OBDII i am still trying to sort out. most of what i learned/forgot is from WIKI.

i am going to convert it to OBDI(?) so i will at least know what distributor to buy if i have a failure.

[Greg Amy]

about all i really know about this motor is that it was an abandoned CRX swap project in a barn in southern Minnesota.

If I were not on the STAC, I would recommend that you research the engine to the best of your ability to ensure its compliance to the specs as found in the workshop manual for the Honda B16A2 or A3 ('99 Civic Si, Del Sol.)

Then I'd suggest taking a grinder and grinding off the engine block identification such that there is no question (though its absence may cause some questions, to which you'll respond "let's toss some paper and measure some parts".)

But I am on the committee, so I probably shouldn't suggest that publicly...

GA

[Andy Bettencourt]

If I were not on the STAC, I would recommend that you research the engine to the best of your ability to ensure its compliance to the specs as found in the workshop manual for the Honda B16A2 or A3 ('99 Civic Si, Del Sol.)

Then I'd suggest taking a grinder and grinding off the engine block identification such that there is no question (though its absence may cause some questions, to which you'll respond "let's toss some paper and measure some parts".)

But I am on the committee, so I probably shouldn't suggest that publicly...

GA

What an awesome rule!!!! Now I have no visual evidence of what you claim is in the car and what your weight is based off of. I effectively have to throw paper and tear you down just to know. Ugh.

Edit: Make JDM stuff illegal unless approved on a spec line, period. Are JDM blocks that much easier to find or something? What's the point in sourcing something from overseas if it's the 'same' as the local sauce?

[mossaidis]

Are JDM blocks that much easier to find or something?

Assembled, low mileage JDM motors which meet the USDM-spec rule and are compliant with the STL regs are plentiful in the US. Here's one example:

http://www.jspecauto.com/

[Andy Bettencourt]

Assembled, low mileage JDM motors which meet the USDM-spec rule and are compliant with the STL regs are plentiful in the US. Here's one example:

http://www.jspecauto.com/

Are they cheaper and more 'available' than US spec units?

[Chip42]

To the extent that they are sold to swap, used as swaps, and often wind up in stillborn projects vs pulled from the few cars sold stateside with that engine, yeah, they are.

[Greg Amy]

Andy, we've already argumentated this, many times (see the link you quoted for the thread for the last time you complained about this). The number that's on the block is irrelevant, as it is absolutely no evidence of compliance, nor is it required on the block for it to be compliant.

If you think seeing the number stamped on the block is sufficient evidence that someone is not cheating in Super Touring - and Improved Touring, too, since it's the same exact reg - you're not using your imagination.

GA

[tom91ita]

To the extent that they are sold to swap, used as swaps, and often wind up in stillborn projects vs pulled from the few cars sold stateside with that engine, yeah, they are.

I have seen swaps that were well cared for babies and others that were outright abortions.

But stillborn best describes the car I pulled mine from.....

[mossaidis]

Are they cheaper and more 'available' than US spec units?

More available yes. In better shape yes. Cheaper... maybe in the 3rd hand market. Chip is correct as well.

[Andy Bettencourt]

More available yes. In better shape yes. Cheaper... maybe in the 3rd hand market. Chip is correct as well.

OK, just trying to justify to myself that the JDM flow of some of these engines is a source that can actually benefit the average racer. If they are more plentiful, in better condition and in most cases cheaper than USDM products, then it is worth it to not single them out as problem children by their JDM designation, even if they are potentially the 'same' as their cousins.

[Chip42]

Greg,

Thanks for the clarification.

about all i really know about this motor is that it was an abandoned CRX swap project in a barn in southern Minnesota.

i dragged it out of some kid's grandfather's barn and onto Jabaay's borrowed trailer and gave the kid $1500 for the signed title. i sold the shell for $1100 and gave Jabaay $100 for helping me find the B16 and for pulling the motor and finding a buyer for the shell.

then i put it into my car the week before the runoffs. the whole alphabet soup of A vs. A2 vs. A3 and OBD0, OBDI, OBDII i am still trying to sort out. most of what i learned/forgot is from WIKI.

i am going to convert it to OBDI(?) so i will at least know what distributor to buy if i have a failure.

tom - if you have the old B16A intake, the one that looks like a ~93 integra's with a PGM-FI badge on it, that will have to go in favor of a A2 or A3 manifold, which should be better anyhow. to the best of my knowledge, the motors are otherwise identical in all STCS relevant ways.

and tGA - I'm not trying to be a pain, just kinda scratching my head here. will the listed VW EDM motor be getting a 2% bump, too?

[Greg Amy]

will the listed VW EDM motor be getting a 2% bump, too?

Not unless you ask for it...it snuck in before CRB started adding adders...

[mossaidis]

A GT2 EG Honda Civic HB with a K20A at 1830 lbs... interesting.