Why a K20a?
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Rep Power: 260 Why a K20a?
I know a few people here are planning to swap in a k20a currently, or were in the past, and my question is, why?
Aside from the overwhelming JDMness of owning one of the best engines ever designed by any manufacturer, I can't see a reason to pay the price they command when k-series engine building has advanced so far. Aside from the slightly higher compression the pistons and rods offer, the bottom end is identical to a k20a2. The top end, aside from the aggressiveness of the cams is identical to a k20a2 head, and k20z1 cams have very similar specifications to k20a cams. At least the b18c5, which commands equally ridiculous prices on the second hand market, has a hand ported head to distinguish it from the b18c.
Am I missing something?
Aside from the overwhelming JDMness of owning one of the best engines ever designed by any manufacturer, I can't see a reason to pay the price they command when k-series engine building has advanced so far. Aside from the slightly higher compression the pistons and rods offer, the bottom end is identical to a k20a2. The top end, aside from the aggressiveness of the cams is identical to a k20a2 head, and k20z1 cams have very similar specifications to k20a cams. At least the b18c5, which commands equally ridiculous prices on the second hand market, has a hand ported head to distinguish it from the b18c.
Am I missing something?
Last edited by MindBomber; 11-14-2011 at 01:09 AM.
#3
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Rep Power: 198 Re: Why a K20a?
bling factor. It's like rich people going to restaurants and paying 200 for a table spoon serving of food that some guy cooked and shaped like a goose and served on a plate carved from stone carried from a sacred quarry in Salisbury, England on the backs of orphaned children.... or like people who go skiing in Veil, (where the skiing sucks) they pay the money to be part of the club. Unless I'm missing something myself. I mean, if it was me, I'd build what I couldn't afford and vehicularly rape the rich kids that bought their cars with daddys money.
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Rep Power: 187 Re: Why a K20a?
I agree that it's bling factor. Of course you could just say you have a k20a and really have a k20a2.. just paint your valve cover some obnoxious color and have a domo oil cap. Boom, k20a.
#5
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i dont get it either. ive been in base (stock and reflashed/modded) and type-s rsx before and they really never seem fast unless you are above 5k rpms and the vtec is screaming. for daily driving, i doubt you would notice a difference from a civic (i sure couldnt). then it made sense when i saw the dynos and looked at the torque and the k20 was only maybe 10wtq higher output from 1-4k rpms. didnt make sense to swap a motor for such a measly performance. usually you want more torque down low, not hp up high.
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Rep Power: 338 Re: Why a K20a?
^ bwaaahahaha!
wasn't the type-R engine assembled manually, carefully with the right tolerances?
Although i do prefer more low end torque for DD. Mine 6-spd miata does annoy sometimes... Same for s2k...
wasn't the type-R engine assembled manually, carefully with the right tolerances?
Although i do prefer more low end torque for DD. Mine 6-spd miata does annoy sometimes... Same for s2k...
#9
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Rep Power: 291 Re: Why a K20a?
I can't really say why. I was originally going to get a K20a2 but decided to get a DC5 K20a.
The more I think about it, the more I don't know why. I know why I went up to a K. Because my D just sucks.
The more I think about it, the more I don't know why. I know why I went up to a K. Because my D just sucks.
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#19
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Rep Power: 174 Re: Why a K20a?
To say they have one.
Interesting fact, Enzo Ferrari hated everyone that bought Ferraris because they were buying it for the name, not the racing heritage behind them. He only started selling to fund his racing team.
But thats kinda off topic :P
Interesting fact, Enzo Ferrari hated everyone that bought Ferraris because they were buying it for the name, not the racing heritage behind them. He only started selling to fund his racing team.
But thats kinda off topic :P
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Rep Power: 260 Re: Why a K20a?
Enzo was also not at all interested in anything but racing, commercial sales were just a necessary evil to fund that pursuit. Towards his death, as his role with the company further declined, he also lost the majority of his interest in racing. Womanizing was more his kick, but that's not acknowledged much..
#22
Re: Why a K20a?
Hey, I have a question for the pros. I'm fairly new to the tuning world and have a 2004 Civic Lx with a D17A1 motor. I'm looking at swapping this with a K20A motor from a baseline RSX. Any advice on what I should be prepared for? How much work is this really going to take? What are some issues that i might run into that require custom attention (i.e. wiring, fitting and mounting, exhaust, etc.)
Thanks!
Thanks!
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Rep Power: 170 Re: Why a K20a?
K20s are actually pretty nice, if you plan on keeping the motor stock. But if you plan on going n/a, n2o, or turbo, a higher displacement will give you impressive numbers. The K24A2 IMO is the best k-series engine made. But, only those found in the usdm 2006-2008 acura tsx
205 HP @ 7000 rpm
164 ftlb @ 4500 rpm
Intake valves are 1 mm oversize, Intake cam High lift lobe with 0.9*mm more lift and 12 degrees more duration, Throttle body increased from 60 mm to 64 mm, Radius on some intake pipes increased from 70-80*mm, Exhaust Head pipe increased frm 60-65*mm, Higher flow catalytic converter, Main (single) exhaust pipe increased from 54-57*mm, Rear (twin) pipes increased in diameter from 42.5 to 45*mm.
Now these exhaust and intake improvements are fine stock, but headers and intake manifolds can always be replaced easily and cheaply (depending on the brand of course) but what about changes that cannot be changed without modifying the block?
Additional air passages in crankcase for reduced pumping losses
Internals are also important. Crankshafts are rarely replaced unless you got some deep pockets. Hondas cranks can stand up to 600 + HP ^_^
Stronger connecting rods, New crankshaft with more counterbalance weight, Revised pistons with more valve-piston clearance
The k20 does come with more horsepower though, which rocks! But I would rather live with a weaker k24 an have a lot of room for making power
205 HP @ 7000 rpm
164 ftlb @ 4500 rpm
Intake valves are 1 mm oversize, Intake cam High lift lobe with 0.9*mm more lift and 12 degrees more duration, Throttle body increased from 60 mm to 64 mm, Radius on some intake pipes increased from 70-80*mm, Exhaust Head pipe increased frm 60-65*mm, Higher flow catalytic converter, Main (single) exhaust pipe increased from 54-57*mm, Rear (twin) pipes increased in diameter from 42.5 to 45*mm.
Now these exhaust and intake improvements are fine stock, but headers and intake manifolds can always be replaced easily and cheaply (depending on the brand of course) but what about changes that cannot be changed without modifying the block?
Additional air passages in crankcase for reduced pumping losses
Internals are also important. Crankshafts are rarely replaced unless you got some deep pockets. Hondas cranks can stand up to 600 + HP ^_^
Stronger connecting rods, New crankshaft with more counterbalance weight, Revised pistons with more valve-piston clearance
The k20 does come with more horsepower though, which rocks! But I would rather live with a weaker k24 an have a lot of room for making power
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Rep Power: 174 Re: Why a K20a?
Are you thinkign of K20's in general, or the K20A (thats the name, no number after) which is rated at 220HP. Also very rare and expensive since everyone wants one.
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