G-Body in Fast & Furious

[dan2286]

I prefer Hondas over G-Bodys, but that's just me. I'm 18 and have grown up with these modern cars. I love American Muscle, but I just love the fact that you can go out and buy a Honda and customize the hell out of it and make it truly your own for a few grand. 😀

I'd love to make my Cutty more powerful and look the way I want it too, but the time and cost isn't that appealing right now.

Since when did making Hondas powerful get cheap?

You can get the performance Honda engines from Japan for around a grand including the transmission. They have to toss the engines after around 30,000 miles due to regulations by the Japanese Government.

That and the cost of a body kit, spoiler, racing seats, turbocharger and a paint job would probably cost around 4 grand.

I am talking about brand new aftermarket performance parts, that sh*t is expensive! :shock:

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Well, no. Most of those engines we see now have a lot more than 30k miles. The things most people think about the "Shaken" (big inspection) are not right as you are not required to put a new engine in every few years, but you do need to pass a very stringent road worthiness test. Only the crappiest cars don't pass and get scrapped. The rest do, and go on to drive more miles. It is HIGHLY unlikely that a cheap, B16A1 out of a EF Civic or a B16A2 out of an EG has low miles nowadays. Most of them saw duty in cars that were driven for 15-20 years, and most probably have over 100k on them. This does not mean they are bad if they have been cared for, but it is no guarantee that they are pristine either. (see my sig for what I think of Japanese reliability). I have known of enough JDM engines that were bad to know that you have to know what you are looking at to get a good deal, and the reputable sellers usually cost more. Just know that the REAL cost of a JDM B series swap into a EF, EG, etc. Civic/Integra is many times the cost of the engine, ECU, and adding a VTEC activation wire (non-EX models). Also know that the Honda B series stock internals don't live long above 250hp. (Yes, the K series are much better, but they are priced accordingly.) I have seen $20k Civics with turbos, etc. that were no faster than Fox Mustangs with mild mods. I hate to pull the age thing, but I will here as I grew up during the import thing too (in the 90's), and I know how expensive these little grenades are to keep running for any amount of time. Just because a car can lay down the number at the strip this week doesn't mean it's reliable. By the time you get a Civic reliably in the 11's it will cost far more than a Mustang running the same number. Do I dislike Civics? No. I actually like them, especially the EG coupe with a B16 swap. I just know they aren't fast without a lot of money in them (stock 2000 Civic Si with 170hp B16B2 is a 16.1 sec. car, and that's basically the same as the cheapest swap out there-a B16A1)

Personally, I have always lusted after a Nissan B13 Sentra SE-R with a JDM U12 Bluebird SR20DET swap running through a B15 SE-R transmission. Either that, or converting one to AWD using the drivetrain from the rare RNN-14 Pulsar GTiR. The Nissan SR20 is a MUCH stronger engine internally and has a stronger block than a Honda B16/17/18/20. It was designed for boost, something Honda never intended. (The transmission is the Sentra and Tsuru's weak link.) My ultimate hybrid is the oft-done Datsun PL510/ Sylvia/180sx SR20DET combo. RWD, the indestructible FS5W71C 5 speed and a very balanced chassis. On a budget: PL510/KA24DE-T. Because even the lowly Nissan KA has a stronger block and bottom end than a Honda B.

 

[phaZe]

I've heard that the cost to keep them running is so high that most engines have less than 30,000 on them. I've also heard that minor cosmetic damage in Japan can render the car unworthy and won't be allowed on the road again.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

I've heard that the cost to keep them running is so high that most engines have less than 30,000 on them. I've also heard that minor cosmetic damage in Japan can render the car unworthy and won't be allowed on the road again.

Well, I wouldn't believe everything you hear. If that were all true, there would not be any supply of used B series VTEC engines left, seeing as they have not been made in what, 7 or 8 years? Yes it is true that the cost of registration goes up by the year, and that beaters don't run around Japan that often, but Japan DOES have an old car community. Besides, have you ever really known of a Honda with 30,000 miles that has an engine that is too expensive to maintain? What does it really need, a timing belt in another 70k miles? A gasket or two perhaps? They are VERY robust cars in stock form which is why they sell well here. Now the Japanese market does get different models we never see here, especially the Kei cars. In fact, the B16A was most often found in 4 door Civics there, and they also have AWD Sentras that we never got as well as engines both better and worse than the ones we got.

 

[2000.malibu.ls]

ive never really been big on honda's (except s2000's) but i like the older nissans: silvias, 240sx, and old z cars.

 

[2000.malibu.ls]

i would honestly like to have my 2000 chevy malibu running 11's-12's if I were to do a fwd car, because there are no true "fast" malibus. I would drop the new 3700 from the new malibu in there (270 hp stock), add turbo, large stage cam, ported intake and heads, CAI, interior strip, lightweight parts (cf) like hood, trunk, lightweight aluminum 5 gallon gas tank moved to trunk, battery in trunk, mild roll cage, lightweight alluminum wide race wheels, mild aerodynamic enhancers, single c/f race seat. I figure that should get it into the 10's-11's depending on what kind of traction I get. I figure that motor combo should get up to over 400-500 hp.
or swap in a 2.3(?) liter ecotech turbo from a cobalt ss, add a bigger turbo, intercooler, cam, tune, and make it light.

But I will never have the budget for either that so....lol

 

[jonnyslick]

Well, I can't wait to see F&F4. I loved 1 and 3 ... 2 not so much. I think it's funny when "car guys" either a) get all up in arms and start hating on the movie, or b) get all pumped up and think that the movies are realistic.

Come on ... they're movies ... they're not supposed to be realistic ... they're supposed to be a 90 min time killer. I think they do that well enough. Either way, don't take them to seriously. It's like a roller coaster at the county fair. Yeah it sucks, but did it entertain you for 30 seconds and two ticket? Sure.

Ok, flame suit on! hahaha

 

[2000.malibu.ls]

^agreed

 

[phaZe]

I've heard that the cost to keep them running is so high that most engines have less than 30,000 on them. I've also heard that minor cosmetic damage in Japan can render the car unworthy and won't be allowed on the road again.

Well, I wouldn't believe everything you hear. If that were all true, there would not be any supply of used B series VTEC engines left, seeing as they have not been made in what, 7 or 8 years? Yes it is true that the cost of registration goes up by the year, and that beaters don't run around Japan that often, but Japan DOES have an old car community. Besides, have you ever really known of a Honda with 30,000 miles that has an engine that is too expensive to maintain? What does it really need, a timing belt in another 70k miles? A gasket or two perhaps? They are VERY robust cars in stock form which is why they sell well here. Now the Japanese market does get different models we never see here, especially the Kei cars. In fact, the B16A was most often found in 4 door Civics there, and they also have AWD Sentras that we never got as well as engines both better and worse than the ones we got.

Actually, what I said is true. I read it on a site where they got the information from people who actually live and breath in Japan. The Japanese government is strict on damage to vehicles and even minor damage can render your car useless because they won't let you drive it on the roads/highways. Which is understandable. Not every country is as loose as the U.S. when it comes to driveability.

 

[2000.malibu.ls]

Actually, what I said is true. I read it on a site where they got the information from people who actually live and breath in Japan. The Japanese government is strict on damage to vehicles and even minor damage can render your car useless because they won't let you drive it on the roads/highways. Which is understandable. Not every country is as loose as the U.S. when it comes to driveability.

I think we are going to need to see a source for accurate documentation, please provide your reference sources in your claim.

...holy crap ive done way to many colledge essays today!... Can't get it out of my head!