B16 inlet manifold on B20 question

[FrontBackSide2Side]

Hi guys, firstly i would like to say what an excellent forum this is, its packed with great info so well done on that :)
Ive been researching the b16 manifold swap for my B20A1 and everyone seems to fit the stock B16 mani, is there a reason for this or would an after market item, for example a skunk2 give even better results?
Also, are there any other parts which are interchangable between the 2 different B20's?
Thanks :)

[snoopyloopy]

guyanabo has a victor-x b16 mani on his a20 (but it bolts straight to the b20 just as easily) and i know some other people had edelbrock manifold or something. and yeah, you should definitely see gains that are even beyond the stock b16/b18c5 intake manifold mod. and the b20b/z valve cover works....

[guaynabo89]

The reason people use stock b16/18 manifolds is because they are cheap and readily available. The stock b16/18 manifolds alone are much of an improvement over the stock a20/b20 intake manifolds.

The skunk2 or similar manifolds would still be a good upgrade but beware the victorx bbk and full custom race manifolds. If you dont have the mods to support them (ie turbo/fully built na) it will hurt your performance.

[MessyHonda]

The reason people use stock b16/18 manifolds is because they are cheap and readily available. The stock b16/18 manifolds alone are much of an improvement over the stock a20/b20 intake manifolds.
The skunk2 or similar manifolds would still be a good upgrade but beware the victorx bbk and full custom race manifolds. If you dont have the mods to support them (ie turbo/fully built na) it will hurt your performance.

yup found that out the hard way.....anyways i have a victor x b16. carrot man has one on his b20....he said it ran fine.

[FrontBackSide2Side]

ok, thanks guys, i might try a stock B16 one first then :)

[Toohardtohandle]

Just a quick question. Can anyone recommend a intake manifold; whether it be a b16 or 18. And is it a straight bolt onto my 1988 ex-i auto? And where would be a good place to start looking?

I've got my CAI on the way and I'm hoping it will add some nice jump to my Pacesetter Header and Colt Cam (mild). Although, I'm really starting to think that if I ever really want to make my ride go...I'll have to swap to a 5sp.

[RobT5580]

Its not a direct bolt on you will have to redrill the upper set of bolt holes. I have the victor-x on my B20A and i would say its probably the hardest to adapt because the flange is not flat and requires more work.

If your running a stock B20A i wouldnt really waste the time/money to upgrade yet your better off doing other things first.

[Toohardtohandle]

No I'm running on a A20 engine with the already mention mods. I was hoping to add a little more by going with a intake manifold, and I see the other guys talking about the b16 or 18 and you'll have to excuse my ignorance. But I'm a newbie when it comes to general mechanics. I was looking at the Edelbrock on-line, but it doesn't say whether or not I can adapt it to my A20?

[MessyHonda]

the b16 ones work but you have to redill some holes...i had one but i ended up selling it since i did not have enough mods to suport it....its ment for a high reving engine or a turbo. you would need some headwork to get the head to flow better to take advantage of the manifold.

[mykwikcoupe]

the b16 ones work but you have to redill some holes...i had one but i ended up selling it since i did not have enough mods to suport it....its ment for a high reving engine or a turbo. you would need some headwork to get the head to flow better to take advantage of the manifold.
yep, its mounted and all done up now. Had to do alot more portwork as it came it wasnt good enough for me. The flange itelf got in the way of alot of parts on the head so it had to be clearanced more in areas. It does look great on it though. Im waiting for the diff bearings and Ill install it in the car and be real close to actually starting it one day. Maybe. But yeah turned out great after 2 cans of brake clean and 12 hours of the bench

[MessyHonda]

yep, its mounted and all done up now. Had to do alot more portwork as it came it wasnt good enough for me. The flange itelf got in the way of alot of parts on the head so it had to be clearanced more in areas. It does look great on it though. Im waiting for the diff bearings and Ill install it in the car and be real close to actually starting it one day. Maybe. But yeah turned out great after 2 cans of brake clean and 12 hours of the bench


sweet mike...post some pics of it after

[Toohardtohandle]

Thanks Mess.

Do you have any suggestions in respect to changing my manifold? Is there anything out there that will enhance my performance, and is basically a straight bolt on?

[guaynabo89]

Just a quick question. Can anyone recommend a intake manifold; whether it be a b16 or 18. And is it a straight bolt onto my 1988 ex-i auto? And where would be a good place to start looking?
I've got my CAI on the way and I'm hoping it will add some nice jump to my Pacesetter Header and Colt Cam (mild). Although, I'm really starting to think that if I ever really want to make my ride go...I'll have to swap to a 5sp.

If thats is all the mods you have do not get an edelbrock full race etc manifold. To run those ouneed alot of supporting mods including headworkand major engine work na or a turbo.

Look for a stock b16 mani with the throttle body installed. basiclly a complete intake manifold. The a20 throllte body will not bolt up to the b16 etc manifolds. With that mani a good cam and exhaust you should see some pep out of it.

[MessyHonda]

Thanks Mess.
Do you have any suggestions in respect to changing my manifold? Is there anything out there that will enhance my performance, and is basically a straight bolt on?


the 4th gen TB bolts up to our intake manifold and its a lil bit bigger...or you can bore out your stock TB

[shepherd79]

the 4th gen TB bolts up to our intake manifold and its a lil bit bigger...or you can bore out your stock TB

i don't think 4th gen TB is bigger. I compared them at the junk yard and they looked same size to me.
plus if you upgrade to bigger TB, you have to port intake manifold to get the full affect of it.

[MessyHonda]

i don't think 4th gen TB is bigger. I compared them at the junk yard and they looked same size to me.
plus if you upgrade to bigger TB, you have to port intake manifold to get the full affect of it.


i believe its a bit bigger...the 4th gen TB came in 60mm and the 3rd gen was like 58mm

[shepherd79]

i believe its a bit bigger...the 4th gen TB came in 60mm and the 3rd gen was like 58mm

you won't see much diff in 2mm increase in diameter.

[MessyHonda]

you won't see much diff in 2mm increase in diameter.


well what i was thinking if the 4th gen TB fits cant we get an aftermarket 4th gen TB to fit?

[Toohardtohandle]

Thanks guys for all your imput. By the sounds of it, the manifold and throddle body up grade is far beyond my expectations. I should receive the CAI sometime today and if you're watching the other thread, I'm hoping to get my hands on a adjustable cam gear. That will leave me with the exhaust to deal with (it's currently stock). Other than that I cant' think of anything else I can do without, as you mentioned, major engine work?

[Toohardtohandle]

Is the 4th gen intake manifold better than the 3rd gen?

"the 4th gen TB bolts up to our intake manifold and its a lil bit bigger...or you can bore out your stock TB."

I'm thinking about upgrading my TB, but I'm wondering that if I upgrade the TB will it affect my stock manifold, because from what I understand the stock A20 manifold is brutal.

[MessyHonda]

Is the 4th gen intake manifold better than the 3rd gen?

"the 4th gen TB bolts up to our intake manifold and its a lil bit bigger...or you can bore out your stock TB."

I'm thinking about upgrading my TB, but I'm wondering that if I upgrade the TB will it affect my stock manifold, because from what I understand the stock A20 manifold is brutal.


our intake is not that bad....the 88-89 has the dual stage intake so you get an extra pull at high RPM....the b16 just has longer runners

[LiTtLe xOx BitT]

Just swap in a B18 manifold

[guaynabo89]

Is the 4th gen intake manifold better than the 3rd gen?




no

[Toohardtohandle]

LOL Thanks guaynabo for the short, but sweet answer. Bit you think I'd be better off with the B18 instead of upgrading the TB on the existing stock manifold?

[rjudgey]

I think the cheap Focuz manifold is pretty good design nice straight longish runners and trumpeted inside the plenum, good choice of TB's from large to silly large and you can use all the usual B16/B18 injection gear. Rigged upto meagsquirt or Electromotive it should be pretty impressive with a worked on head with mild to medium cams, and a built block with higher CR ratio, and obviously an exhaust to match best get the downpipe on pacesetter removed and replaced with 2.25" section to the cat though.

[snoopyloopy]

I think the cheap Focuz manifold is pretty good design nice straight longish runners and trumpeted inside the plenum, good choice of TB's from large to silly large and you can use all the usual B16/B18 injection gear. Rigged upto meagsquirt or Electromotive it should be pretty impressive with a worked on head with mild to medium cams, and a built block with higher CR ratio, and obviously an exhaust to match best get the downpipe on pacesetter removed and replaced with 2.25" section to the cat though.
sweet, i might do that. but obd-1 conversion instead of megasquirt. and run that on my b20a when i finally get that in. my goal is to get the b20a putting out at least as much as openloop coupe when i put it. should be able to do more, though, with the dohc.

[LiTtLe xOx BitT]

LOL Thanks guaynabo for the short, but sweet answer. Bit you think I'd be better off with the B18 instead of upgrading the TB on the existing stock manifold?
putting a larger TB on wont really do much because the air still has to go through the manifold. I have the B18 manifold bolted to my turbo motor, all you really have to do is drill out new top holes to mount it. Ill try and take some pics of it.

[TWOLOUDNPROUD]

B16 intake on a B20a
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/11/web/359000-359999/359877_298_full.jpg

[A18A]

good stuff twoloud :bow:

[TWOLOUDNPROUD]

Justanothermike B20a with B16 intake on it
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/11/web/359000-359999/359877_325_full.jpg

[rjudgey]

I like the Focuz manifold cause they are evenly spaced runners and they are at a flatter angle to the head.

Personally like myself i'd still go down the ITB route although obviosuly mine will be webers instead!!

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/5/web/281000-281999/281725_88_full.jpg

Nice long runners minimal angle to head just enough to keep the carbs flat although with ITB's you could run the runners and ITB's completely parrallel to the head for maxium air velicoty. This manifold is also narrower in the middle so will create a slight vaccum effect to increase air speed even more at high revs.

[Toohardtohandle]

TooLoud...looks awesome! So I was right about up-grading my TB; I'll be minimising the gains due to the stock manifold. So how do I remedy this? I don't have the skill set to do the B18/B16 mani swap myself and I'm concerned that I'll have to do other electrical conversions as well. But if I go to an up-graded TB for my auto A20A3, I'll be "choked off" at the stock manifold.

[TWOLOUDNPROUD]

TooLoud...looks awesome! So I was right about up-grading my TB; I'll be minimising the gains due to the stock manifold. So how do I remedy this? I don't have the skill set to do the B18/B16 mani swap myself and I'm concerned that I'll have to do other electrical conversions as well. But if I go to an up-graded TB for my auto A20A3, I'll be "choked off" at the stock manifold.
Yes the stock manifold SUCKS ASS for performance

[Toohardtohandle]

This is REALLY frustrating! I wish there was a simple answer to this issue.

[Toohardtohandle]

Comparing the difference between the total intake mani (B16/B18) how much HP difference would there be from just having the TB rebored?

[A18A]

i feel stupid, but why are the b18c manifolds i find seems like the are on the engine upside down? is this how they supposed to fit on our cars?

and whats with this 1st gen & 2nd gen b16's? im confused :(

[AccordB20A]

b18c ones are upside down thats just hondas design

why is it ugly.. lol.. prolly half the reason why people with b18cs put b16 heads on them lol

ill eventually get around to using a stock b16a intake manifold on my rebuilt engine when i get around to getting it rebuilt

[A18A]

and whats with this 1st gen & 2nd gen b16's? im confused :(
bump :)