worth it to build a 1.6L
 

I need to get in on the GB for the low comp pistons. The question is, what motor do i build. Right now i have two 1.6L motors that i can build and dont have to look for one (although pretty easy to get a 1.8L). The car is going to be a fast street/track car with 300 whp. Should i build the 1.6 i have? Or get a 1.8. And if i do get a 1.8 what year should it be? 94-97 99-00 or 01-04 (not sure about the end year on the last one)

What types of advantages would i see by building a 1.8 vs 1.6

Better overall torque curve. Faster spool. Better flow up top (99-00). Those are a couple things that come to mind. No replacement for displacement. PERIOD

A wise man once told me you could build a 1.6 just as strong as a 1.8 but they have there own ad/disadvantages. I know I will build my 1.6 when I get to that point. Only because I have 1.6's available to me. Many will say do the 1.8 because you can get the 99 head which flows better and such plus the 1.8 puts down a little more power. In all honesty I think it's how you build it that matters.

A lot of people would tell you to build a 1.8l. I am going to build a 1.6l this winter becuase I have a spare 1.6l and I have a turbo kit that works with a 1.6l and I have 1.6 mspnp. And a few hp is not that big of a deal to me.

1.8 will always make a better power/torque curve, and the 99-00 head will always flow more. However, if you have a ton of spare parts for 1.6 and want to do everything the cheapest way possible go for the 1.6. Hell, built and with lots of boost either one will make good power. The 1.6 powerband will just always be more to the right;)
just my .02

im might be building a 1.6 right now. I like it because its a peaky, quick revving SOB and I have two. even though it'll be a 1.7L when im done im going all out with it so the numbers should be interesting. im looking to make about 300-320whp but easily capable of more with a button. 1.8s will always be capable of more power if built right and only at the cost of acouple more pounds. I just like to be different.

It's a 15%+ bump in displacement, and if you use a '99 head, that adds some as well. It's your choice - I'd never drop $2k in a 1.6 motor.

Like I said It's all about what's easier for you to get..

Its really about whats readily available and easily accessible to you. If you can build a 1.6 for cheaper than a 1.8 then yeah you might wanna. 300whp, you might as well keep the 1.6. if you're building a 1.8 for about 50 more than it can make on a good turbo setup with a stock engine then you're really not working your built internals to much of their potential. It will be reliable i guess. Either way will be fine if you're planning to stay at 300whp

No one said what year 1.8L motor i should nab. Jay has a 99 motor that didnt run but the crank turns. The head has some scoring on the cam caps. He also has is 2001 motor with 22k miles that was running when pulled that i could pick up for a deal. The only thing is the motor has VVT and im not sure how that will work with my 90 wiring harness. Or should i just go to the junkyard and pick up a 94-97 motor?

Built a 1.6... people do it because they have spares.. or just blow their motor and want to get shit back together asap. If I had the time and preparation.. I would have gone 1.8.

Why don't you sell both of the 1.6L and get a 1.8L? If you are needing to keep one to drive the car during the build, then sell one and get some money towards the 1.8L. The cost difference would really be negligable for a decent shift on a dyno graph.

The correlation between then engine size and turbo size are directly inverse. The smaller the engine, the larger the turbo. This will create lag and will bo more expensive to get the larger turbo. In the end, you will be surprised as to how close the costs would be if you have two engines.

So what one then 94-97 99-00 or 2001

94-97 would be cheapest, but 99-00 would be best. A 94-97 typically runs between 350-500 and a 99-00 will run between 600-1000. Honestly, I would build the 94-97 engine and wait to find a head if you are a tight budget, unless you find a good deal on a 99-00.

Slight thread drift, but does fit this thread. Is there any difference between a 94-97 block/crank and 99-00 block/crank? I know that compression ratio is different but wouldn't matter as it would be getting rods/pistons.

I have a spare complete 99 motor/head/tranny dropout. I also have a spare 96 shortblock with a warped head from an auto car so it wasn't beat on but has 160K.

If I was to do a built motor, I'd do one of the two that is out of the car.

If I could drop my 99 head on the 96 block and everything would fit/work in my 99, I could sell the 99 motor. I just didn't know if there is anything port/sensor, block strength, etc that was different between 96 and 99 that would justify using the 99 motor?

There is no major difference between the two blocks. The only thing I don't know is about the oem knock sensor hook up. I have used a 99 motor in a 97 with no difference on where things hooked up, but don't know about using in reverse. I don't see a possible problem with anything but possibly the knock sensor, and even then I think it hooks up fine.

i almost built my 1.6 but then decided against it because i can make 2.0L out of 1.8L (and thats exactly what im doing right now)

Build a 1.8 period...... No Point building a 1.6. Swapping to a 1.8 is quite easy and the power difference is worth it!

I agree. I think it was already stated before, but "there's no replacement for displacement".

There is a cool build on a 1.7l 10k RPM race car from Maruha. Anyways you can add displacement to the 1.6 but not much. You still can build a 400hp motor from a 1.6 block.

Totally up to you. 1.6 aftermarket are found more often and are typically cheaper. This is why I built a 1.6.

Head flow better on a 1.8 and you have cylinder head options.