mac25

Now riddle me this, how dose an engine, the d17a2 with larger displacement, newer technology (fuel management and electronic ignition) and higher compression, built off the same basic platform as the previous sohc engines make less HP than an engine (d16y8) created 5 years before; by a company who specializes in engine development?

The answer, It was intentional; in an effort to create a spot for acura's base rsx.

Lets take a trip back in time... doodle da doodle a doodle da doo (old 70's time travel sounds). It was year was 2001 a new civic was set to roll out, as the tuner scene was in full swing. Honda had seen massive success with the 6th generation civic for all types of people and things looked good.

There had been a steady succession of build quality (interior/exterior) and power from the honda D series civic line from the

d13c 9.6:1 98hp 1989-1994

d16y8 9.6.1 130hp 1996-2000

d17a2 9.9:1 127hp 2001-2005

9.9:1! 9.9:1... and your telling me that it makes lower hp than an engine 5 years older, with lower displacement and a 9.6:1 compression ratio?



But lets look at the Honda/Acura landscape

Back then there was no Civic SI coupe.

There was the

Base civic, d17a1 100hp for those not interested in sporty driving

there was the d17a2 127hp coupe, looked pretty good back in the day, this was also the test platform for the civic SI and RSX since the running gear is nearly identical and interchangeable.

then there was the civic si... only available in the hatch (and quite ugly imo) 160hp.

But what if you wanted a coupe with 160hp? Then you bought the base rsx and lastly at 200hp the rsx-s.


...now why was the d17a2 nearly identical in power to the d16y8, maybe there is a limit to 4cyl, sohc engines that peaks around 130hp for anything from 1.6l and up?

Nope! because we have the r18 with 141hp. (I also suspect it is sand baging since its compression is a massive 10.5:1.

so we went from 1.6L and 9.6:1 comp, to 1.7L 9.9:1 and lost power???
but moving form 1.7 to 1.8 and from 9.9:1 to 10.5:1, and gained power???





But why? (mechanically)

In all honesty I really suspect that the exhaust port size on the d17a2 is to blame and possibly ecu coding.

If it had sufficient port size I suspect it should have made 137-140hp granted the increase in compression over the d16 and displacement.

as we can see the d16 has larger exhaust port sizing.

Look at the difference when compared to the spark plug tubes.



where as the d17... well tiny, in fact barley larger than 1 exhaust valve's surface area.



The jump from 127hp to 160hp for the price looks a lot sweeter than the jump form 140hp to 160hp.

and calculating for power to weight

127hp 2,405 pounds = 0.0528
160hp 2,790 pounds = 0.0573

theoretical 140 hp d17a2

140 hp 2,405 pounds = 0.0582 making it faster then the rsx base.

sdaidoji

iTrader: (1)

Not sure.

what did happen after you plug in the crowds stage 1 can?

xRiCeBoYx

iTrader: (22)

What about the D17A? CDM/JDM markets, essentially a D17A2 with a 10.5:1 CR. Specs listed on wikipedia, 140hp (120hp lean burn). That said, that would make the 8thgen even more sandbagged, by comparison.


It is worth noting that concurrent with the rollout of the 7thgen, hybrid cars started becoming more mainstream, thus a shift toward a more economic/environmentally friendly vehicle (noted by the change of the emissions rating from 6th to 7thgen civics from LEV to ULEV). That kinda accounts for the nerfing of the civic. I don't quite agree with you saying that "the d17a2 was nerfed to make the DC5 look that much better," essentially your argument. It's pretty much the difference of Honda v. Acura. Acura has always been portrayed as the luxury/sport line North America branch of Honda. Your argument is basically the same as saying "the D16 was nerfed to make the teg look better." Let's do a bit of comparison, for ***** and giggles.

D16Y8 civic ex. 127hp, 9.6:1 CR, curb weight 2519lbs. Power:weight ratio of .0504. Original MSRP of a 1998 EX 2-Dr MT: $15,250

B18B1 teg ls. 140hp, 9.2:1 CR, curb weight 2595. Power:weight ratio of .0539. Original MSRP of a 1998 3-Dr LS MT: $19,200

Not much more, but a better engine in it. Tale as old as time, my friend.

mac25

I see where you're coming form J.

Basically saying they always create levels to sell at.

But I believe the d16y8 was maxed out at 130hp.

The d17a2 and d16y8 share near perfect architecture, the d17 is higher in displacement, compression and has newer digital ignition technology... and makes less power than the d16y8.

It just doesn't add up.

I guess the only way anyone could test the d17a2 vs d16y8, would be to match the exhaust port size exactly from the d16 to the d17 head, run everything else stock and dyno a d17a2.

But why would anyone do that? It's a lot of work for what it would solve, lol.

xRiCeBoYx

iTrader: (22)

To please the hippies by making more economic vehicles