Power options for a weak D...

D15, D16, D17 and Mini-Me swaps
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Power options for a weak D...

By andyc
- Tue Jun 01, 2010 9:04 pm #198165 Evenin all (or afternoon for most of you...),

This my 1st post so if its in the wrong area or I muffed up somehow be gentle.... Ive always been an EG/EJ guy, Ive owned 2 EG's and 2 EJ's so far and never have gone much more in depth than fitting a catback system and induction kit etc to increase power...

I'm currently driving an EJ2 Coupe with a D15B7, very minimal mods. Ive uprated the suspension and bushings myself. I now want to increase the power as the engine in my car is a great runner but weak... So I'm looking to you guys to give me some options,

Do I go mini-me swap?
Would a swap to a quicker D be an easy(ish) swap?
Or........Should I go straight in for a H swap?

All help is appreciated boys and girls :D

By AutoXCivic
- Tue Jun 01, 2010 9:46 pm #198169 What are your goals for this setup? That would go a long way to us giving you suggestions.

Budget? Primary use ... Drag, AutoX, DD? WHP Goal?
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By andyc
- Tue Jun 01, 2010 10:27 pm #198180 good point, durrrrr....... :oops:

I just want a fast/quick road setup, I want to stay NA just get some VTEC grunt. something a bit more fun that a non VTEC 1.5... which is wat I'm stuck with. I would love to put a pretty much standard H22A and make it clean and nice but if I get something much better in a D series than my D15B7 that would be awesome.

My thinking is that swapping a D to another D will be pretty easy, am I way wrong? Thanks for replying by the way
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By andyc
- Tue Jun 01, 2010 10:29 pm #198181 and budgets wise, it would be on a small budget really...
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By chrono404
- Wed Jun 02, 2010 2:04 am #198201 Get an Ex/Si Transmission. Also lower your car if you havn't already. it will it much more fun.

A D16a6(88-91 Si Engine) Cam will bring the d15b7 to life. Doing a Mini-me to gain vtec with a EX/Si Transmission will make for a much more fun ride. It also is inexpensive so is budget friendly.

If your going to do any Auto Cross/Mountain Runs I would recommend agienst a H or F Series swap as to fit the engines under our hoods a good deal of the weight is infrount of the struts causing a good deal of understeer. This can be counter acted by instally a bigger rear sway bar.

If you want to swap away from D Series, B's will be the easiest to go to and a B18b ls with b16 or b18c gsr transmission will be faster then a b16, and just be a blast to drive with.

:thumb:

By EJ1STYLEN
- Wed Jun 02, 2010 3:01 am #198211 I say just stick with the d series and set it up...and probably u can start beatin those guys with ls engine...
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By intheworks
- Wed Jun 02, 2010 11:37 am #198248 for budget friendly go with a d16z6 head and tranny on your block (probably find it for 200 or less)

for less budget friendly go with a b16a sir2 motor. I swapped my eg with one about 3 months ago and completly love it.

good luck on whatever you chose and keep us updated

By AutoXCivic
- Wed Jun 02, 2010 12:49 pm #198257 For a fun DD ... I would go with either a z6 swap, or doing a b7/z6 mini me with the EX/Si transmission. The mini me can be done fairly inexpensivly and will net you about a 40 WHP gain. This set up WILL have you romping on any stock d16z6 (these make about 130-135 crank horsepower) with your new found 120-125 WHP. I would also look into upgrading your suspension, honestly I bow to BMW's motto in this arena ... "the suspension should be faster than then engine" ... you can have be biggest most powerful engine around, but if you can't stay hooked up, it's no fun. I currently have this set up and I must say it is a lot of fun.

Another option that won't cost a whole lot is to get either the a6 cam, or a nice low budget stage 2 cam (exospeed, delta, etc.) swap on the z6 intake manifold, and mill the head a bit to bump the compression. I know of a guy making about 135 WHP on a similar setup (W/ i/h/e of course).
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By andyc
- Wed Jun 02, 2010 7:32 pm #198303 intheworks;
for less budget friendly go with a b16a sir2 motor. I swapped my eg with one about 3 months ago and completly love it.


How dificult is this swap? I'm now leaning toward a B, slowly but surely. Ive read a lot guides to H swaps, am I looking at a pretty similar ammount of work for a B?

I have lowered it 50mm from stock with some budget springs and shocks from gmax if you have them in the states, Rock hard but its great fun.

chrono404;
A D16a6(88-91 Si Engine) Cam will bring the d15b7 to life. Doing a Mini-me to gain vtec with a EX/Si Transmission will make for a much more fun ride. It also is inexpensive so is budget friendly.


Are we talking just the cam or the shaft too? if thats a stupid question its because im learning...... and will I notice much from this change or do you think I should go in for a B? I'm getting tempted but if I dont need to then well....

CHEERS GUYS, THIS FORUM IS AMAZING! I cant believe I only just found it :woot:
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By intheworks
- Wed Jun 02, 2010 7:39 pm #198304 a b16a obd1 is a direct swap. As long as you have the b16 axles and shift linkage, it all mounts straight to it. The throttle cable is different but i just fabed (no welding) a piece of metal to mount it.
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By andyc
- Wed Jun 02, 2010 7:55 pm #198306 itll slot straight in where the D came out?? that sounds way easy!! OK now I definetely want a B, ive just been looking on ebay now, im in the UK so ill probably need to find a uk jdm importer i guess?
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By intheworks
- Wed Jun 02, 2010 7:57 pm #198309 shop around and call the dealer before you order to make sure it comes with axles shift linkage and all the nuts and bolts and you can even use the wire harness off your single came (you would just have to run a wire for vtec and a knock sensor)
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By andyc
- Wed Jun 02, 2010 8:05 pm #198313 that is awesome!, Mine is OBD1 so I'm guessing I would use the sohc harness and swap to the OBD1 ECU for the B?? and run the wire for vtec and knock sensor to the B's ecu?

also, you mention shift linkage, are we talking keeping D15B7 tranny?? or is the linkage between the shifter and the new tranny? Yep, I sound dumb now I know.....
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By CivNation
- Wed Jun 02, 2010 9:08 pm #198322 I don't care what anyone says, my JDM d15b with bolt ons hauls pretty good and is a blast to drive, if you could get your paws on one, id go for it for sure.
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By eg84dr
- Thu Jun 03, 2010 3:47 am #198371
CivNation wrote:I don't care what anyone says, my JDM d15b with bolt ons hauls pretty good and is a blast to drive, if you could get your paws on one, id go for it for sure.

x2x2x2x2x2x2x2x2x2x2
geta jdm d15b
screw b series they are not that great just high revving with no torque unless you get a b20
get a jdm d15b and get an ex/si tranny and lower it
done
super fun daily that will keep up with sligthly modded tegs and b swapped eks :thumb:
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