Rep Power: 424

I've begun to think about maybe picking up a 2nd motor to play with. Not so much because I plan on blowing up the one I have (I hope I don't), but more just because and I want to learn how to build one while I still have a car thats cheap enough to screw around with. I've got a couple friends who have put together small blocks, so I know its pretty possible to build one in the garage provided you've got a clean place and the tools to do it with. Given the recient and somewhat generous outpouring of parts, and the cheapness of these things, I'm planning to stick with everyone's favorite motor.... the good ol' D17A2. As far as goals, hopes, dreams.... I don't have unrealistic hopes, I want something that runs for a daily driver, makes some decient power and will survive the track. By numbers... 135-140 to the wheels would be marvelous.
As far as what kind of stuff I'd be lookin to do... and this is the part I really don't know about because I don't know enough... hence I want to talk to someone or read a book would be:
-Minor head work (slight PNP, cam, new springs/retainers, nothing extreme, I want the car to idle normally, wouldn't mind redoing the low cam lobes for more midrange with a higher rpm VTEC engagement point, but I'm kinda limited to whats out there) and a raised redline (7500)
-Slight compression bump - 10.5:1-11:1 or so. I figure I can do some of it with machining, and do the rest with a new set of pistons which I'll probably need to make custom anyways.... so if I'm picking... might as well get what I want.
-Y8 Manifold swap... people seem to think its the best SOHC manifold out there.... its cheaper than custom if it works.
-Custom Long tube header... um... I know someone who can make me one, only problem is its $$$$$.

I don't intend to do the machine work... I'm not that good of a machinist, I'll let someone who knows what they're doing and has the necessary and right equipment to do the work for me. All I want to do is the assembly work.

I don't really want to stroke it, the stroke is pretty long for revving as it is. Still kinda hoping to be able to autocross the thing.... I can do a .040 overbore legally, so the displacement would go from 1668 to 1713 for an official 1.7L motor. Probably won't go that far... more than likely just the standard .020 over.
Right now I don't see getting gas in it to be an issue... theres enough turbo tricks that something should be able to put enough gas in it to support another couple HP, more my issue is the computer, and its tendency to disagree with tuning it. E-manage, VAFC or something?
I may not do it all at once.... it might start with just head work or something, then play more later, we'll see, but its something I want to take a shot at. From looking at prices of things.... $550 here, $350 there, it would seem a fair budget to be around $4000 (that I don't currently have). The funny thing is the whole stock engine is probably the cheapest part (they seem to be around $350 complete), but I need to get my homework done on this first.
Anyone help me out in my learning? I'm gonna have lots of questions... I know supensions.... under my hood... I kinda know where the oil goes and where my koni ***** are (ok, not that bad, I know what it all is, but inside it, other than the basic how an IC engine works... I don't know how it all works together... I learned pieces of this and that, cams, journal bearings, piston cylinder systems, etc... but just the theory, not the hands on stuff).

 
Rep Power: 584

one should try not to build the same thing twice,ie dont install pistons just to install rods later

 
Rep Power: 0

WORD!!!!! Its taking me forever to build mine but I want to completely redo the entire thing before I start installing anything ... The only parts I'm going to have to open the motor back up for is springs/retainers and thats just pulling the head ... I'm not even going to bother with it until Crower releases the new cam ... As for right now the only parts I need are bearings and seals/gaskets and some machine work ... I already have the rods/sleeves/block/head/oil pan and my pistons should be in by Friday ... cant wait for my built 1.76l to be in! and BTW, my built motor is going to end up costing $4100 and that includes the Crower regrind thats already in there ...

 
Rep Power: 362

cams/springs are coming soon from crower ... aem ems is also coming out soon ... I'm sure you knew about both of those though ;P

Y8 mani swap ... that would be good ... but maybe a skunk2 d16y8 manifold will fit? ... ALSO, they do have intake manifold gaskets for the d16 manifolds ... that coupled with a t/b heater bypass would probably yield cheap, good gains.

custom long tube header .. dc sports just came out with a nice 2 piece race header ;P

 
Rep Power: 0

springs/retainers for the D17a2 are the same as springs/retainers for a D16y8 or a D16z6 ... I've talked to Brian @ Crower about it a couple times in the last 2 years ...

 
Rep Power: 424

Probably what I'll end up doing is starting off with E-manage... and get the car on a dyno to see just how bad its tuned from the factory (my car is running really rich). Once that can get figured out and see just how much some timing and fuel re-mapping helps, I might know a little better what to do. As far as building it... I only want to do it once, which is why I'm not jumping in head first. I'll probably buy an extra head and build it complete all at once, then put it on the block in the car right now, see what happens, then if I want, build a block up later, then put the new head on the built block.

 
Rep Power: 0

the skunk 2 mani for the d16 is too long, I am doing some research on that now as well.

 
Rep Power: 403

wouldn't it be cheaper jsut getting a swap that will produce more power, even a k20a3 will be cheaper than 4k and with bolt ons it will produce around 160 hp. and since its a stock engine it will last... you will probably still be able to toss on a JRSC

 
Rep Power: 0

Just to say it can be done, right boilermaker?