K20A Vs. Turbo?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 8, 2003
  #1  
EM2191MW's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered!!
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 397
Likes: 0
From: South San Jose, Ca - U.S.A.
Rep Power: 0
EM2191MW is an unknown quantity at this point
K20A Vs. Turbo?

Turbo chargining a D17A doesnt seam to make to much scence to me when for a little more money (when you turbo the right way) you could get a K20A (Type S engine) plus you can make the K20A swap legal in Cali and in the long run it will give you less problems. Am i right, or am i wrong?
Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version

Name:	adrina.jpg
Views:	143
Size:	38.8 KB
ID:	4663  
Reply
Old Jul 8, 2003
  #2  
EnProceso's Avatar
98% of people will die in their lifetime
Hey! Look At Me!! I'm a Supporting Member!!
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,823
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area, CA
Rep Power: 402
EnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questioned
huh? what? oh sorry i was too busy looking at the pic to read your thread.
Reply
Old Jul 8, 2003
  #3  
EnProceso's Avatar
98% of people will die in their lifetime
Hey! Look At Me!! I'm a Supporting Member!!
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,823
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area, CA
Rep Power: 402
EnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questioned
oh you were talking about a swap vs. turbo. well it depends, a turbo is like 3k, a engine is 4-5k plus install so it gonna be like 2-3k more in the end, not exactly "a little more money" to some people. even if you do the swap it will take quite a while, you can install a turbo on your day off and be at work/school the next morning. while i plan on getting a turbo, i do think a swap is better in the end plus i read you can supercharge a K20 in a 7th gen, now that'd be sweet!
Reply
Old Jul 8, 2003
  #4  
wcsjunior's Avatar
Supreme Member!
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,567
Likes: 0
Rep Power: 0
wcsjunior is an unknown quantity at this point
if i had a choice.......... um..... neither!
i cant remember who said it but to quote one of the members here:
"fixing up your civic is a lost cause!"
and that is true when it comes to speed mods. its too expensive and in the end u would spend as much as u would to buy an already faster car and more reliable.... like a wrx maybe. i mean, as much as i talk **** about my car, i still love it... but c'mon now, we've just gotta face the facts. its a civic.
Reply
Old Jul 8, 2003
  #5  
AntDeezy's Avatar
Registered!!
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,570
Likes: 0
From: Hella Nor Cal - 925
Rep Power: 0
AntDeezy is on a distinguished road
K20 + turbo ......
Reply
Old Jul 8, 2003
  #6  
DizWikedCivic's Avatar
Registered!!
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 5,454
Likes: 0
From: San Jose, California, US
Rep Power: 0
DizWikedCivic is on a distinguished road
yup i agree with will, if u wanted a faster car, shouldnt have gotten a civic, and i think it kinda a waste of turbo on a d17 motor, and engine swap what that gonna cost u, like 5g, and how much did u get your civic for what like 13-14g, spend another 5g on it, shouldnt have got a wrx or something
Reply
Old Jul 8, 2003
  #7  
AntDeezy's Avatar
Registered!!
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,570
Likes: 0
From: Hella Nor Cal - 925
Rep Power: 0
AntDeezy is on a distinguished road
used WRX on auto trader $17,900
Reply
Old Jul 8, 2003
  #8  
yourinmyw0rld's Avatar
::+::My Girlfriend is hot, but I'm still GAY::+::
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,235
Likes: 0
From: Cali -818-
Rep Power: 317
yourinmyw0rld has a spectacular aura aboutyourinmyw0rld has a spectacular aura about
if u don't want to spend money then get a turbo and you'll kill a type s. if u have money to spend then do the swap.
Reply
Old Jul 8, 2003
  #9  
wonderz's Avatar
Registered!!
iTrader: (18)
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,492
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco/Berkeley, California, US
Rep Power: 0
wonderz is on a distinguished road
why are we all fixing up our civics when most of us already agreed on our civic is not worth fixing?
Reply
Old Jul 8, 2003
  #10  
astropunk's Avatar
Registered!!
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 409
Likes: 0
From: toronto, Ontario, Canada
Rep Power: 0
astropunk is an unknown quantity at this point
we drive lawn mowers... live with it...
Reply
Old Jul 8, 2003
  #11  
wonderz's Avatar
Registered!!
iTrader: (18)
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,492
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco/Berkeley, California, US
Rep Power: 0
wonderz is on a distinguished road
you are talking about Toyota Echo

Originally posted by astropunk
we drive lawn mowers... live with it...
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2003
  #12  
EnProceso's Avatar
98% of people will die in their lifetime
Hey! Look At Me!! I'm a Supporting Member!!
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,823
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area, CA
Rep Power: 402
EnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questioned
Originally posted by wcsjunior

i cant remember who said it but to quote one of the members here:
"fixing up your civic is a lost cause!"
haha my friends say that to me everytime i tell them i bought a mod for my car...but what do they know their stupid WRX drivers.
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2003
  #13  
NoBottleJustThrottle's Avatar
Registered!!
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,428
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area
Rep Power: 0
NoBottleJustThrottle is an unknown quantity at this point
Im doing the swap, and you know what...its gonna be great. Can you imagine the look on a guy thats driving a Type R Integra when you walk away from his car in 3rd gear? PRICELESS! Yea its just a civic, and maybe we should have gotten faster cars to begin with...you go and do that, and i will pay my very low insurance, run mid 13's while you pay your sports car level insurance to run the same numbers as me.
Who was it that said that a turbo D17 will kill a Type S? Maybe a stock S, but if i had a turbo D17 i would watch out for an RSX-S with even just Intake. I wouldnt even look at a TypeS if it had I/H/E...let alone the Hondata reprogram.
Stick with the swap...less of a hassle, everyone that i know that has put an aftermarket turbo on their cars have had nothing but trouble with them in the long run. Maybe not right away, but for sure not down the road.
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2003
  #14  
EnProceso's Avatar
98% of people will die in their lifetime
Hey! Look At Me!! I'm a Supporting Member!!
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,823
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area, CA
Rep Power: 402
EnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questionedEnProceso should not be questioned
we'll see i'm getting the turbo by the end of the year ::fingers crossed::, IMO a turbo makes decent numbers, think he said 166HP to the wheels, a base RSX doesnt make that at the flywheel. i say so what if its a civic, its the only car i got so i'm gonna make the most out of it that i can (ignore my previous posts where i talked about trading it in for a type-s ) cuz either way, swap or turbo, it'd blow all of us here away. it saddens me to hear that people have given up on our cars. but you know what, i'll get my turbo, NBJT will get his swap and we'll see you guys in the motherland (aka a place where 16sec. Quarter mile times dont exist! CAN I GET AN AMEN!
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2003
  #15  
wonderz's Avatar
Registered!!
iTrader: (18)
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,492
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco/Berkeley, California, US
Rep Power: 0
wonderz is on a distinguished road
look who's talking you once also have the thought of given up on your civic. sorry, can't ignore your previous posts of your traitorous act....j/p
hehe
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2003
  #16  
SlammedBlueEM2's Avatar
All Eyes On Z
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,487
Likes: 0
From: asdfjkl;
Rep Power: 0
SlammedBlueEM2 is on a distinguished road
Originally posted by wcsjunior
if i had a choice.......... um..... neither!
i cant remember who said it but to quote one of the members here:
"fixing up your civic is a lost cause!"
and that is true when it comes to speed mods. its too expensive and in the end u would spend as much as u would to buy an already faster car and more reliable.... like a wrx maybe. i mean, as much as i talk **** about my car, i still love it... but c'mon now, we've just gotta face the facts. its a civic.
I'll have to agree.

However, the freedom to choose your car is no different than having the freedom with what you want to do with it.

Some people prefer not to have a car everyone knows is "quick" and would rather have fun making it faster regardless of what anyone thinks.

When one wants to choose to fix up their cars, it's wise to realize it's limitations and also decide how far you want to take it.

A Civic is a lightweight, front-wheel drive car with the possibilities of a lot of other cars but benefits from it's popular potent Honda block, it just depends on how much money you have to fix it up. Out the door, it's slow. Whether it's an Si or RSX Type S, it's still a Civic as well and they are slow, too. Even if you put the RSX engine in the Civic, you're still driving a Civic. In a wide perspective, FWD sucks compared to any other drivetrain and fixing up a 4-cylinder is not cheap compared to fixing up a V6 or V8 domestic in a lot of cases. And those cars of course are naturally faster.

A WRX is all-wheel drive, can travel virtually anywhere and loves modifications with the engine it already has. It seems a lil' unfair to compare a Civic to a WRX as it's capabilities surpass front-wheel drive so all in all, yes it is a better car.

Whether or not it's a waste is completely up to the person's taste, how they want to drive and what they want to do to their car... and how much money you have and want to spend. I wouldn't put down any good car that actually goes fast, nor would I put down anyone who's goal is to go faster than what you usually see.

A Civic will always be a Civic, yes... and there are better cars out there that're far more respectable for their performance indeed. But if it has what you want then I have no problem with that. Since the topic is modifying the car you like to go faster (as there will always be many threads like this in any forum) why not just look at the fact that we like to make our cars faster instead of ******* the Honda? (Yeah, I enjoy it too but I'm being serious.) In the end if you've got good sense, the last thing you'll be thinking about that person's car is what it can do - not as much as how much money was spent.

Because it's all about the love of automobiles that makes us do what we do.

Alright, I was bullshitting. It makes no sense to fix up a Civic. Just save your money trade your ****, drop off our team and go get a WRX.

j/k
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2003
  #17  
SlammedBlueEM2's Avatar
All Eyes On Z
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,487
Likes: 0
From: asdfjkl;
Rep Power: 0
SlammedBlueEM2 is on a distinguished road
Oh yeah, as far as between turbo and K engine, it depends on a lot of things I mentioned earlier:

How fast you wanna go
How you want to go faster (i.e. want BOV or N/A?)
how much money you wanna spend
how much maintenance you want to do
how much further you want to go after you've chosen what you want to do

I would go with a new engine. It opens up far more possibilities than turboing the engine you already have.
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2003
  #18  
Pharoh's Avatar
Bobaganoosh!
Hey! Look At Me!! I'm a Supporting Member!!
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 26,704
Likes: 0
From: Poco, B.C. Canada
Rep Power: 564
Pharoh has much to be proud ofPharoh has much to be proud ofPharoh has much to be proud ofPharoh has much to be proud ofPharoh has much to be proud ofPharoh has much to be proud ofPharoh has much to be proud ofPharoh has much to be proud ofPharoh has much to be proud ofPharoh has much to be proud ofPharoh has much to be proud of
I have a line on an engine for my swap and if I could I'd like to offer a little advice to all of you who want to swap and do a turbo.....

Instead of getting the K20A2 (Type S) get the K20A3 (SiR-Can / Si-US). I know they have 40 less HP but think of it this way...The torque is virtually the same and most importantly, the compression is alot lower making for a better pssssssssss turbo...

Here's my plan....A k20A3 with the A2 gearbox so I can have the speed happy cruising gear...The internals built for said turbo, and the rear disc setup out of the SiR/Si as well.

bottome line is you start with 40 less HP but I think you'll agree that you'll get it back and then some pretty damn fast....imo of course...
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2003
  #19  
SlammedBlueEM2's Avatar
All Eyes On Z
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,487
Likes: 0
From: asdfjkl;
Rep Power: 0
SlammedBlueEM2 is on a distinguished road
Originally posted by Pharoh
I have a line on an engine for my swap and if I could I'd like to offer a little advice to all of you who want to swap and do a turbo.....

Instead of getting the K20A2 (Type S) get the K20A3 (SiR-Can / Si-US). I know they have 40 less HP but think of it this way...The torque is virtually the same and most importantly, the compression is alot lower making for a better pssssssssss turbo...

Here's my plan....A k20A3 with the A2 gearbox so I can have the speed happy cruising gear...The internals built for said turbo, and the rear disc setup out of the SiR/Si as well.

bottome line is you start with 40 less HP but I think you'll agree that you'll get it back and then some pretty damn fast....imo of course...
The EP3 engine is good to boost but I haven't seen anyone take full advantage of that low compression ratio by slapping on a fat turbo.

I'm not hating but when it comes to what's fast and what's not, opinions are not as important as the proof of facts. But like I said, I just wanna see someone take advantage of that engine. The A2 engine isn't bad to boost as some people are already daring and making over 400HP. It's also quite capable of making nearly 300 n/a you know.

But to his their own.
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2003
  #20  
Pharoh's Avatar
Bobaganoosh!
Hey! Look At Me!! I'm a Supporting Member!!
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 26,704
Likes: 0
From: Poco, B.C. Canada
Rep Power: 564
Pharoh has much to be proud ofPharoh has much to be proud ofPharoh has much to be proud ofPharoh has much to be proud ofPharoh has much to be proud ofPharoh has much to be proud ofPharoh has much to be proud ofPharoh has much to be proud ofPharoh has much to be proud ofPharoh has much to be proud ofPharoh has much to be proud of
Originally posted by SlammedBlueEM2
The EP3 engine is good to boost but I haven't seen anyone take full advantage of that low compression ratio by slapping on a fat turbo.

I'm not hating but when it comes to what's fast and what's not, opinions are not as important as the proof of facts. But like I said, I just wanna see someone take advantage of that engine. The A2 engine isn't bad to boost as some people are already daring and making over 400HP. It's also quite capable of making nearly 300 n/a you know.

But to his their own.
You can check out this forum man...there is one in Toronto making 320 at the wheels with 230 torque, Pir8Pete drove it last weekend...It's not a very large kit either, there's more potential...But for sure..If all you want in N/A power than the A2 is probably a good bet.

EP HATCH
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2003
  #21  
wcsjunior's Avatar
Supreme Member!
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,567
Likes: 0
Rep Power: 0
wcsjunior is an unknown quantity at this point
ok, back to the trading car in and getting a faster for the price u spent on ur civic and ur swap!!!

Originally posted by SlammedBlueEM2

how much maintenance you want to do
how much further you want to go after you've chosen what you want to do
ok, now look at those last 2 facts! now, lets say u bought a civic for um, 12gz... and swapped it w/ and S engine. that would put u around where? 18 or 19 maybe? but here is the thing. ur car would probably be as fast as a wrx, BUT..... would it be as reliable? i mean, the HP and torque levels on a wrx are stock! and the one's on ur civic wouldnt be stock! and everyone knows that no matter how good u mod ur car, u will always come into a problem if its heavily modded.
ok, now lets put it together. u have a civic and u do a swap. u spend a couple of days/weeks w/ out ur car becuz ur doing the swap, u might lose power steering becuz of the swap, u might lose ac when u do the swap, etc.. etc... and all of that to have what??? a little less than 200 hp??? cmon now... when we all know that if u had a wrx u could go out and spend maybe what.... 4 or 5 bills and just get a boost controller. now tell me, would ur heavily modded civic be as fast AND reliable as a stock wrx w/ a boost conrtoller?

oh and to clear something up.... i have been using the wrx as an example. so dont think i'm defending the car or praising it more than the civic or anything. like zell said, u cant just compare those 2. they are in 2 totaly different categories.
Reply
Old Jul 10, 2003
  #22  
SlammedBlueEM2's Avatar
All Eyes On Z
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,487
Likes: 0
From: asdfjkl;
Rep Power: 0
SlammedBlueEM2 is on a distinguished road
Well...

Cheapest you can get an S engine used is 3 grand. installed, 1 to 2 grand so 5 grand + 12 grand Civic DX new (or otherwise any other trim used) = 17 grand.

Last person that I heard who did the K20A-R swap has PS and A/C. Keep in mind, some Hondas don't come standard with A/C as it can be a personal preference.

Stock reliability owns anything modified of course. Even a bone stock engine will outlast an engine with i/h/e. But keep in mind, whenever you do modify your car it's all about making compromises with nearly any modification you make and for a modified street car, it's ALL about compromise and true reliability is just the right sized dollar bill away. All in all it'll never be the same again that's for sure.

I.E.
Bolt ons - loss of low end torque + louder car
Low profile tires = loss of comfort
Body kit, bigger muffler/header = prone to scraping
turbo = can't pass smog
Reply
Old Jul 10, 2003
  #23  
wcsjunior's Avatar
Supreme Member!
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,567
Likes: 0
Rep Power: 0
wcsjunior is an unknown quantity at this point
Originally posted by SlammedBlueEM2

Body kit, bigger muffler/header = prone to scraping
and u forgot to add:

body, bigger muffler/header = prone to being called a loud fart can rice mobile!

y do us honda owners always get made fun of? lol
Reply
Old Jul 10, 2003
  #24  
SlammedBlueEM2's Avatar
All Eyes On Z
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,487
Likes: 0
From: asdfjkl;
Rep Power: 0
SlammedBlueEM2 is on a distinguished road
Originally posted by wcsjunior
y do us honda owners always get made fun of? lol
Mostly everyone's judgement on what a "fast" car is - is based on drag racing or how well it does in the quarter mile, so....

FWD
No displacement
No torque

SLOW
Wimport who's immediate purpose is burn clean air and save gas
85% of fixed up Honda are ricers
2% of them can break 10s or higher
Even the ones that hit 13s will get stomped on by any domestic that's modified and runs 13s stock.
RICE
They attract too much attention because...
Dumb teenagers drive stupid
" " crash them
High insurance
It takes so much money to fix it up because it's already slow. I wouldn't consider a 13 second car whether it's an S2000 or a C5 Vette "fast" more than I would quick in a wide perspective of cars that are sporty or talented going fast straight
Oversized wheels
Oversized muffler(s)
Aluminum spoilers
Underbody Neons
2 Fast 2 Furious
Decals
Blue headlight bulbs
Farty mufflers
Fake BOVs w/o turbos
Altezzas

Hondas.
Reply
Old Jul 10, 2003
  #25  
wcsjunior's Avatar
Supreme Member!
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,567
Likes: 0
Rep Power: 0
wcsjunior is an unknown quantity at this point
Originally posted by SlammedBlueEM2

Fake BOVs w/o turbos
Hondas.
speakin of which, my friend has one on his hatch! lol its fake as hell!

i hope it doesnt get big like it is in brazil... hella cars down there have it. its not even funny. guys are so obsessed w/ it that they are even putting it on them old as VW vans.
Reply
Old Jul 10, 2003
  #26  
gelshmoff's Avatar
Registered!!
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 606
Likes: 0
From: Boston, MA
Rep Power: 0
gelshmoff is an unknown quantity at this point
Wow.

Getting back to the original question, I like the swap idea. More $$$, but it makes the car very unique IMO. Turbo + 4 cyl. will never = turbo + 6 or 8 cyl. That being said, a turbo is an excellent mod. I just figure after a while, you might be able to do an engine swap with an engine that has less miles on it, making the car (hopefully) last longer.
Reply
Old Jul 10, 2003
  #27  
EM2191MW's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered!!
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 397
Likes: 0
From: South San Jose, Ca - U.S.A.
Rep Power: 0
EM2191MW is an unknown quantity at this point
My car is now paid for and i really dont want to make any new car payments.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Honda Civic Forum
Replies
Last Post
Jaryn
Engine Performance Modifications
9
May 17, 2016 02:52 AM
HondaGuy7
Archive - Parts for Sale
19
Feb 22, 2016 01:00 PM
Cam Diaz
Parts and Products
2
Sep 29, 2015 07:17 PM
C-Hamm
Engine Performance Modifications
4
Sep 28, 2015 10:31 PM
justcruzin125
Engine Performance Modifications
2
Aug 11, 2015 09:09 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:24 PM.