hello CC. Come august i will be doing an engine swap. If i go through with a B18c i probably wont be able to do forced induction for a while. However if i get a B16a2 I could get a s/c in about another 2 months. Im looking to get only 200 to 230hp out of either. So my question is which would be better. I work far away and need a reliable car still. Which will be better to get a reliable 230hp out of, B16 with s/c or a B18c with some bolt ons?
supercharging b16 or b18
- Thread starter Stock99ex
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95eghatchfrom54
New Member
I've had a b18c with a few bolt on's and you won't get near 230hp out of it. Now about the b16 s/c I honestly have no idea that would be somebody else's area of expertice. Also and if you'd like to know my bolt on the b18c where skunk2 intake manifold, CAI, header and exhaust. I was sitting around 165hp to the wheels and around 180hp at the crank.
what b18c do you have? the C1 gets 180 crank hp stock, and the C5 supposedly is 195 crank hp. Thanks for the input though. I am trying to build my car to be worthy of a race with my buddy's 2011 Si with hondata and bolt ons. haha
your friend is prolly pushing 210 hp at the crank if he's luck on a good day. good luck getting that much with a b18 with just bolt ons... Id suggest b18 with a minor build, (cams, valve springs and retainers and a good port and polish job, not to mention intake and full exhaust not to mention a good tune) and you should be able to at least hang with him especially since your horsepower to weight will be better because stock for stock a 2011 si coupe out weighs your car by like 300-400 pounds
Ive thought about doing NA for as long as possible, but is it more expensive, i know nothing about NA. I know a little about forced induction, but not when it comes to BUILDING a motor. My next car will be an Sti, so i dont want to keep putting tons of money in this one for years. I just want a fast car that will beat tc's and B20s. Because for some reason, where i live everyone does B20 swaps. I want to shut the posers up with a fast, clean, sleek civic. haha
B18C turbo all the way, better than supercharger cuz u can stay below 3000rpm (or wherever ur boost kicks in) and stay outta boost while you DD therefore still getting good gas mileage and not putting more wear on the engine. plus you can hit 200whp-250whp easily and reliably on an internally stock b18c1. Not so sure on numbers from a b16 but it's probably pretty similar considering it's only a little smaller
screw supercharge and turbo. go pro charge 
belt driven turbo ftw
belt driven turbo ftwZeroMech63
New Member
Honestly get which ever engine u can get that's in better condition (internally) ... U can make 200-230whp wit a s/c or turbo easily on BOTH. Dunno how much the s.c wud b but u can get a very basic cast iron manifold turbo kit and everything else u need for 1500 or less n that's including injectors, gauges, fuel pump n maybe even a tune if u can get any hook ups.
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turbo will be cheaper. both will use the same amount of gas about. supercharge is a more constant power and more low end torque. turbo will be able to provide a higher potential.
95eghatchfrom54
New Member
I had the JDM B18C GSR in a 91 DA
where could i pick up a full turbo kit that isnt junk for 1500? I drive about 60 miles a day and really need reliability. i have heard the B18c1 is the way to go for forced induction due to lower compression rate. But where could i get the turbo kit for 1500 that will run for at least 2 years? And how do i know im buying a good b18c1? Is there a way to insure it works great, or a site that sells them with papers and warranty?
Thanks everybody for the input!
Oh great. I'm gonna look forward to him coming into the Subaru community. there's a search button for a reason. Go look at other people's cars, see what power they've put down with similar mods. You're talking to some people with no expierience on either and is just throwing a number out of nowhere. In all honesty you won't be happy with 200 whp. Even 250. I have 350 and am not in the least bit happy with it. If you want something reliable with kick, do a k series. I have never understood why people do b series swaps with forced induction and pay just as much as you would a k20a2. That's what I would do if you did anything.
And on to the reason of your post, NO you will not make 230 wheel on a stock b18-b16 on safe boost pressure for daily driving. It's not feasible unless you don't mind fixing s**t every once in a while. If you want boost, buy a car with the platform designed around it, a WRX, srt4, GTI, cobalt SS, evo, anything stock turbo'd. By the way I've owned all of the above including a fully built civic that made 400 whp and with a huge turbo on 24 psi. Only made 400, your goal isn't very logical. You can't just throw on a turbo on a car and expect it to be perfect, can't have the best of both worlds without spending extra money that I assume you don't have.
And on to the reason of your post, NO you will not make 230 wheel on a stock b18-b16 on safe boost pressure for daily driving. It's not feasible unless you don't mind fixing s**t every once in a while. If you want boost, buy a car with the platform designed around it, a WRX, srt4, GTI, cobalt SS, evo, anything stock turbo'd. By the way I've owned all of the above including a fully built civic that made 400 whp and with a huge turbo on 24 psi. Only made 400, your goal isn't very logical. You can't just throw on a turbo on a car and expect it to be perfect, can't have the best of both worlds without spending extra money that I assume you don't have.
Yeeeah no need to be getting mad man. BTW I have the money, just not always the time to be in the shop. I well aware of the search button. I'm doing it for hours a day. Thats why I start threads like this, to clarify things I'm confused on. I want to learn all I can. My goals aren't high because in about 3 to 4 years when my insurance drops, I will be getting an STI. My car is a very clean civic that I would like to make a little faster to satisfy me for a few years. As for the k20, i have looked into them a little bit, but keep hearing to get a b18c. I need my power steering due to boston traffic and tight parallel parking that I would like to do with ease. Thanks though for your honesty. Seriously, this is the input i want.
If it seems like I'm being a d**k that's not what I'm going for, just tryin to be realistic. In all honesty, the Honda community (sometimes) is the coolest and most welcoming but in all honesty i had an Si with a b16 and it was horribly slow then I got the 400 whp civic which felt extremely slow, I got a GTI then never went back to a Honda. They're for some people and not for others. Before spending all that money look into saving up for something else that's cheaper but faster and that has more potential. I loved my gti and they're cheap. That would be my suggestion. And if you do like b series motors and end up wanting to spend the money I would do a supercharged b16. Nobody has them, b16's in my expierience have always been more reliable and turbo's are better yeah but the powerband and torque curve isn't there. Supercharger with a Honda at least gives it some punch that it already lacks.
Nah man its cool, I'd rather hear it the realistic way. Right now I'm 18 with a good job. Sadly my age keeps insurance through the roof. Otherwise, my next car will be a subie. I've always loved them. But until then, I'd just like to make my car more fun. I love the idea of s/c a b16. Would a s/c b16 be faster than a B18c5? And would the internals hold up to the s/c? If i get the b16 i will have money to do some work to it after the s/c, but with the b18 id be stuck with bolt-ons for a while.
Thanks for the realism then hahaha
A b18c5 with bolt on would be as fast if not maybe faster than a b16 with a SC but not even a 10th of the fun-ness. I have an STI swapped WRX, they're no joke.Nah man its cool, I'd rather hear it the realistic way. Right now I'm 18 with a good job. Sadly my age keeps insurance through the roof. Otherwise, my next car will be a subie. I've always loved them. But until then, I'd just like to make my car more fun. I love the idea of s/c a b16. Would a s/c b16 be faster than a B18c5? And would the internals hold up to the s/c? If i get the b16 i will have money to do some work to it after the s/c, but with the b18 id be stuck with bolt-ons for a while.
Thanks for the realism then hahaha
And yes it will, but with everything else don't launch it every other light like 80% of people with swapped civics. If you don't beat on the car it won't break. And self control is a good skill to learn because from personal experience, subaru's will not put up with it. They will s**t out a week after you get it if you drive it like a Honda
hahaha yeah, i have very good self control, and its common sense that launching awd puts tons of strain on the drivetrain. And so between those two swaps, it comes down to preference pretty much? I may just get the b18c5 then just so i don't have the urge to hammer it all the time, even though most of my driving is all highway. I'l look more into the both of them though. I have until august or july... plenty of time. Then its saving for an sti haha. One last question, do you know about how much it will be to get the swap installed? I could research and do it myself, but it will look better when i sell it if I have install papers. Thanks