is the JDM B20A worth the $

[mykwikcoupe]

Ive been reading about the JDM B20A conversions everyone is doing or has done and I am starting one myself but I havent seen the answer to, Is it worth the $? Is the 160hp a very noticable feel and if anyone is running the ludespeed turbo, have they had it dynoed yet? Whats the power increase and does it go like a raped ape or just a modified Honda. Mine will be a JDM B20A with lidespeed turbo, HKS SSBOV, tial wastegate, air to air intercoller, and Im not sure about the aftermarket TB. I will be increasing the injectors but I dont know what size yet. Only downfall is I has to be an auto, which I am still looking for. Also is the JDM tranny factory lsd or is that still an upgrade? Thanks

[YK86]

Depends totally on what you pay for the motor and tranny. For me, it will totally be worth it. But you should be aware that the Ludespeed kit will not bolt on. You need to modify the piping and stuff and if you have to get it custom done, it'll be additional $$. If you are buying B20Aturbo's which used to be 89SEI's, it's all been done for you. As for auto, there's a bunch of us that can get you one.

[mykwikcoupe]

thats exactly the one I am buying. I dont care so much about the $. I just want to know what to expect. Will it be a better than stock car or will it be the type of thing that I can go down to the local street drags and make a few bucks one the local rsx and del sols?

[bobafett]

youlle beat NT del sols... lol

i talked to a guy with a del sol turboed. only 6.5psi on a greddy kit, and he was only running 14.4 ????!!!

[quagmire]

My friends turbo '99 Civic ran a 14.8 at 5 psi. Thats faster than a RSX. But just the B20A alone should get you competitive with a non-VTEC del sol, or a regular RSX. I'd stay away from a Type-S with a stock B20A.

[RobT5580]

If your buying the one from B20ATurbo if im correct its only stock so count on rebuilding the bottom end (unless low boost). I just talked to him recently and he has a buyer for the stock B20A assuming it was you. And his other one is high compression so you wont be putting a turbo on that one. One main reason i like the B20A is the torque is pretty high which is needed for our cars. Most other B-series are much lower in torque so we have a good starting base w/o any mods.

[YK86]

How much are you buying the turbo kit off him for?? And if you could do me a favor, next time you talk to B20Aturbo, please tell him he still needs to send Mike (89SEI) back a stock B20A oil pan. Mike sent him his only one with the special fitting welded on for the turbo kit and B20Aturbo was supposted to ship him back a stock one in exhange. Mike as of right now is missing the oil pan.

[RobT5580]

Yasu that was my issue when mike was gonna sell me the motor because i was worried about getting stuck w/o the oil pan. Damn mike send that to him at the beginning of the summer too.

[mykwikcoupe]

I wa planning on only 10 psi or less for starters and Ill play with it after that. So I should expect a very streetable 14 sec accord? Not bad, Ill let b20aturbo know about the oil pan. The cost is plenty for me. I ahvent totally paid it off but its getting there. Total cost of the turbo conversion(mine is an lx currently) is almost what I paid for the car 5 years ago. But i got a really good deal on it. Also ludespeed says the turbo almost doubles the hp froma prelude motor. Should I expect the same from the B20A :pimp: 320 hp would be enough to smile about huh:super:

[RobT5580]

The only issue i see is even at the Psi i would expect some heavy ware on the motor. Most motors that i have seen run low boost are new cars and i think even with the 40k or so most JDM motors are stated will be critical on the life of the bottom end. Should be nice but even low boost set ups are expensive typically 3k for a kit.

[AccordEpicenter]

Ive heard of people using modified turbos and making their own kits, is that worth the time and money? For example, ive heard of people taking saab turbos or 300zx turbos etc and rebuilding them for cheep and doing all the custom work or having it done and it comes out to less than a kit. Is that feasable for a low boost set up?

[Tim Yoak]

ll right everyone is talking about this conversion. Does anyone make a motor mount kit to do this setup, the transmission is it a cable shift or a shift rod. hopefully a shift rod eaisier to make it work. It's not hard to do the fuel system for injected on the three geez You can drop the fuel injection pump right into the tank on a dx, and it will bolt right up. All you have to do is change the ends of the hard lines to compression fitting. As far as wiring I'm into the build-a new-wiring harness-with ten thousand wires-for fun-bit.

[merlindavis]

b20a tranny (2g lude/3g accord) i believe should be a cable... i could be wrong though, cause the 3g lude (mine is an 88-89 b20a5 tranny) transmission is a cable shift, bolts right up to my jdm b20a... as for motor mounts, it should mount up using almost all of your stock mounts, you may have to modify one of them for it to fit though...

[Coroncho80]

Originally posted by mykwikcoupe
Ive been reading about the JDM B20A conversions everyone is doing or has done and I am starting one myself but I havent seen the answer to, Is it worth the $? Is the 160hp a very noticable feel and if anyone is running the ludespeed turbo, have they had it dynoed yet? Whats the power increase and does it go like a raped ape or just a modified Honda. Mine will be a JDM B20A with lidespeed turbo, HKS SSBOV, tial wastegate, air to air intercoller, and Im not sure about the aftermarket TB. I will be increasing the injectors but I dont know what size yet. Only downfall is I has to be an auto, which I am still looking for. Also is the JDM tranny factory lsd or is that still an upgrade? Thanks

So, how much did you pay for the whole thing? I just wanna know 'cause the B20a swap could be included in my plans for feb. 2003. I just gotta know what's the average price for the whole thing.

How much $$ should a B20a cost?

[mykwikcoupe]

Well, keep in mind that mine is a ludespeed turbo thats never been installed, I am doing the EFI conversion, the big brake kit, the B20A obviously and many motor mods, fuel injectors, TB, Exhaust and a few things too make the car a little more custom than the other B20A swaps. So far Ive shelled out a little over $3gs. Thats for all parts, almost. I didnt even try to barter with B20Aturbo for the kit and turbo as Ive been looking for a good motor and tranny (5spd) now for about 3 years. He asked 1200 for the motor and tranny and another 1600 for the turbo. The rest is pretty much retail as its new also. If you compare to the cost of a new car its really cheap. The car has a totally new suspension already and has been maintained meticulously since the day we got it. Not only that but I am not too keen on the styling the imports are going and where can you get a 250 hp plus import for under 3 gs with a body style you love? Feel free to call me an over achiever for wanting the best of the best

[RCracer]

My B20a swap stands me at just over £1000 GB ($1500 us) now and I still need to spend a fair bit on it to finish it to how I want it.

I can see that with the other stuff I want for the swap to make it how I want it that the total cost of the swap will be somewhere around £1600 GB ($2400 US).

It was having to get the engine machined/new engine parts that has pushed the cost up.

[jstyle711]

doesnt the b20 and the a20 have the same amount of power? :|.. what would be the diff?

[RobT5580]

You should read up on the B20A as it has 160Hp and 140 ft/lb torque. It is a nice motor but harder to get than most motors because a lot of people mistake it for a prelude motor.

[bobafett]

if we found a JDM b20a, could we use a 5speed prelude transmission? that sure would make the swap a whole lot more simple! i am seriously considering tracking down a b20a and building it up with a turbo... spendy but oooooooh so fun!

[RobT5580]

no it wont work only the B2K5 and the F2K5 from the B20A will work. Besides the prelude is hydrolic and will be much much more work if you get it set up.