Alright, time for a silly learning question

[reichbc]

I've been searching the forums and Google (to no avail) for specific answers to a question. Maybe I'm not looking properly, now I'm hoping someone can help me out here.


I see these engine types (example: b16a2) and I am left scratching my head over it. What do these characters signify?

edit: or two...

I want my car to have a deep, rumbling exhaust sound... not a high pitched snappy sound that mimics a boatload of bubble wrap....
How would I achieve this?

 

[BonyCatfish]

The engine numbers show the exact engine type
for example, I drive a d16y7, the standard engine on a sedan LX. if I want about 18 more whp and vtec capability, I should upgrade to the d16y8. Different engines=different numbers.
The first letter shows the series, like I drive a D series. There are also b and k series, etc.
For the exhaust? I'd take your car to the most mom-and-pop muffler shop you can get to, and have them try out different mufflers on your car. Each car will sound different, if the exhaust sounds deep on a mustang it will sound completely different on your car, the shop will be able to give you examples and try some out on your car. The Civic engine is only going to produce so much exhaust gasses to work with anyways, you don't want to sound like you are trying to hard to have a fast car with a deep exhaust either.

 

[OblivionEK]

Most modern Honda notation for engine codes follow this pattern::
D16Y8 for example;
The first letter is the series of motor. Also applies to B,C,D,F,G,H,J,K,L and R series motors in a range of cars and one truck.
The second two numbers is the displacement in 100cc increments. This is denoting a 1600cc motor.
The second letter is the head type. Notice the difference between a D16Y7 and D16Y8, same head but the next segment is what differs and tells what variant of the head it is and outlines what comes in the head from the factory. D16Z6 and D15B(JDM) heads are the same casting, but different cams and small variances in other areas.
The last number only applies to motors outside of Japan; it denotes the head variant. There are variances in the head of Japanese only motors, but usually is small and therefore, not listed. The difference between a K20A2 and a K20A3 are just variances in the head design, and is still usually cross compatible with other engine blocks of the same head type. There are exceptions, but most notably, the lack of direct fitment between vtec and non-vtec heads.

 

[MistahJuice]

* sums it up. Also if you scroll to the top of the page and hover your mouse over where it says "Civic Specs" then on the drop down click on "Honda Motor Engine Codes" it has a great list of most of the important engines with their codes (b18c, k20, etc.) and the displacement, horsepower, torque etc for each of them.

 

[reichbc]

Thank you to all that replied.

Catfish, my thing right now is this.... i like the sound i have on my car right now. But, I am planning on replacing the entire exhaust system from headers to muffler (if a giant double-tall Crisco can classifies as a muffler on my car).

I don't want to go through with this and have the sound change to something worse (in my opinion) than what it is.

 

[Chicken Joe]

Get a greddy exhaust system! Quiet when cruisin! And a nice thick deep tone when u punch it!