Why People Love Honda's B16/B18 So Much

All the old Civic, Integras, and CRXs are great and enjoyable cars, but nobody would give such attention would Honda not produce such a gem of an engine as the B series. With the Japanese precision and quality, it was able to produce an incredible power per litre and match even bigger engines of European and American brands. This is a story of the B16 and B18.

00:00 Intro
00:38 Automobile beginning
01:39 Entering a new age
02:14 VTEC
02:54 Importance of VTEC
04:17 B16A
06:24 B16B
07:57 B18C
09:59 B20B/B20Z
11:12 B20A
11:29 Which one?

- Vlog -

- Support -

- Music -

- Disclaimer -
This video is fair use under U.S. copyright law because it is transformative in nature, uses no more of the original than necessary and has no adverse effect on the market for the original work.

- Credits -
“【CB400SF SPEC3(NC39)】とりあえずレブリミットまで回してみました。13000rpm【RPM管　VTEC音】” by Wolf Hiro

“Honda N600” by vpsprodukties

“How VTEC works” by Brendan Dempsey

“HONDA CRX B16 VTEC ACCELERATION” by Martin Spasovski

“Touge Run | Honda CRX B16A Raw Runs | Pure Sound” by JAP MASTERS

“Spoon Powered EK9 Civic Type R (Acceleration from 30mph)” by Mr_GrantF

“Honda Civic EK9 Race Base - Castle Combe - SSTV Track Day Vide” by Slip&Grip Automotive

“Honda Integra Type R 230HP acceleration top speed km/h!!!” by civiccrx2006

“Honda B18 Engine Tear Down | Extremely Satisfying” by Boosted John

“solo Civic B18C Turbo 1.3 bar acceleration” by Alexandru Buruiana

“330hp B18c Type R Turbo Dyno (GoPro)” by XJAYARE2Xx

“Honda Integra DC2 B18C6 DOHC VTEC Sound” by Strzałeczka81

“B20 motor restoration” by RCM Hawaii

“How to rebuild a Non vtec engine Part 1. B20b non vtec rebuild Honda CRV” by Moore Projects

“STOCK HONDA B20 SLEEVE FAIL” by Autosauce

“NA B20-VTEC // 0-250kph” by Supersupra87

“1991 Prelude B21A first start” by Run Away

“B20A forged piston slap” by Bob Cilia

“Building a 420HP Turbo Civic in My Grandma's Garage (7 Minute Build)” by Boosted John

[bonamin]

BEFORE I even watch the video, I'll tell you why I always wanted one, why I bought one, and why I was right to love it in the first place.

- They output a lot of power for their size. Like seriously a lot. 100-130HP/L is common.
- They sound like they are gonna rip themselves apart while they actually outlive everything.
- The SOUND. No other 4-cylinder comes even close at least in stock form.
- B Series are actually super fuel efficient engines when driven normally.
- You basically get TWO engines in one package. Daily Grocery + Monster at your command.
- Most of them came bolted on to very, VERY enjoyable cars.
- They were also mated to super-sweet close ratio gearboxes.
- You can modify them to ridiculous levels.
- They are as easy to work-on as it gets. I actually work on mine myself. (I'm not a mechanic)

- NINE THOUSAND RPM.

Plus the number one reason for me, which won't even bother most people, but still, definitely the No1 reason for me:

These engines were made by Honda, and they were the LAST engines Mr. Soichiro saw before he left this world.

[SilverScarletSpider]

It is mind blowing that Honda built a 200hp VTEC four cylinder engine in the early 1990’s, while other Japanese companies were still using V6’s or Turbo 4’s to make 190hp. Even American V8’s only pushed 220hp.

[katzicael]

I had a '96 JDM Type R Integra, and that engine with a nice intake/exhaust was just sublime sounding, and was always exciting to drive/thrash.

[CyroTheSpider]

In the 90's HONDA, you'd get a hatchback with the same power as most turbo engines at that time. Because of no turbo and FWD, the car would be incredibly light, so more acceleration. The car also felt incredibly responsive and the torque delivery was consistent throughout the whole rev range.

And then there's the suspension geometry of those old hatchbacks. You'd essentially get double wishbone suspension, which, again is unheard of in a FWD car. Because of Honda's meticulous suspensions tuning, you'd get a car which would very gently oversteer (not understeer as most FWD cars), giving you more rotation in the corner.


Nothing comes close these days to old Hondas if you also factor in how low priced and reliable these cars were.

[GreenDragon]

In 2013 I bought my 00 black em1 with a b18c1 swap, a professional dude from Charlotte NC rebuilt the whole engine for me, exactly 10 years later now the engine still holds up pretty good. I don't know what I would do without my car, I missed it so much for 3 long days due to both axle replacement, I was so happy to meet her again when job was done.

[Donyce]

Longtime Honda fans watch these videos to verify the info. You get a A+ sir 💪🏿

[boosted_john]

Hey thanks for the feature! That was a fun surprise haha.
Also I just swapped a stock Integra GSR engine into my civic and with my turbo kit made 479whp.
Stock internals. Pretty awesome.

[rmps]

"VTEC kicking in" has kinda become a meme but, man...you really DO feel it. Many moons ago, I had a 5th gen Prelude and was VERY surprised how pronounced it was.

That car was gorgeous, too...had it less than a month when it was totaled. Hadn't even made a payment yet. I was heartbroken. RIP, 2001 Prelude.

[YurandX]

Great episode 👍
I love my Civic with a b18c4 swapped in. Modding it was a joy, changing manifolds, putting in Ek9 typer's cams, giving the car shortest possible gearing, tuning the ecu - i wish i could do it again :D Such agile little engine with beautiful noise coming from it..

..im going for a ride now 😄

[AwesomeCREEPER]

Feel very blessed! I got myself my b18c1 swapped ej1 and my 09 si with k20z3 😍

[wrichie]

Back in 2004 I put together a B18 swap with b16 transmission in my old 1991 Crx Hf along with numerous other mods , that car freaken ripped and took the abuse of being bounced off the Rev limiter numerous times a day just about every day of the 7 years that i owned and daily drove the car took out a lotta fox body mustangs with that b18, best engine family ever made Imho

[kevin]

I have a major issue with this video. V-tech doesn't "turn on". It kicks in yo!

[numberpirate]

Those Hondas all had dual wishbone front suspensions during the 1990s. Civic stopped in 2000, Accord stopped in 2013, Acura TL stopped in 2016. Honda has slowly been getting rid of its dual wishbone fronts.
I say this as an H series owner:)

[triuvm]

It was that sound the b18b made that was infectious. If you had any aftermarket intake on it after 4k rpm onward even more satisfying. Just that characteristic engine note was nice even if it was non VTEC.

[wifeplower]

29 and I still have my 98 ek hatch back with a b20 non Vtec b16 trans full bolt ons get some great runs from these motors aswell

[robertaBooey]

It’s simple they made 100 hp per liter unlike any car before add to a capable chassis it was the golden era of Honda engines

[nboy]

Love these new documentary videos you have now. Wow youve come a long way from simple compilations with no commentary, to amazing well researched videos like this speaking clearly in a language you didnt speak so well only a couple years ago. Inspirational !

[HondAcura]

Excellent video! I have an 03 RSX Type S with some bolt ons and absolutely love the K series but one day I will also own a B series build.

[kamilzmich]

I loved the b20vtec, plenty of torque that the b16/18 lacked for relaxed/street driving, and sounded even more amazing after hitting vtec. Now running a boosted b18 and it's a beast in itself :) Amazing how easy it is to make good power compared to other engines - when it puts down the same power NA as others are with boost

[GavinY]

basically it also looks beautiful with that symmetric square neat cam cover