First off, i apologise if this has been covered before. i did try searching for something similar but came up with nothing.

Now, this car i plan to do the work on is my daily driver. no tracks or drag strips, just straight up DD. Its my only car aswell, so reliability will play a big role in whatever decision i choose.

I like the idea of a turbo D. but really, i do have to be realistic. my needs & wants are completely different. Im finding the D16Y4 is getting a little tired, having racked up about 170k Km, so if i decide to turbo im planing to work the bottom end. FJT bottom end kit. Id like to change the rods, but is it necessary, as with this setup anything around 200whp ill be happy with. some of you may say i should since im going to the trouble fitting the vitaras. all other parts i plan to piece. the only thing thats worrying me is the tune. i can get a basemap, but the nearest tuner is about a 24hr drive away, thats a drive im willing to take though.

Also, the D16Y4 requires a specially made conversion harness to run an OBD1 ecu. so ill need an OBD2a/b dizzy, because Y4s is different for some reason. Ill also need to wire in a few wires, but that nothing to really worry about. As for turbo, i plan to use either an internally gated T25 or T03, 10-12psi max (if those turbos can go that high). walbro 255 & GTR injectors will finish off the build. intercooler, bov, etc. i know reliabilty will all come down to the tune.

GSi (aussie LS) swap. i know i can pick up a wreck for relatively cheap. use all driveline (axles, shiftlink, g/box, etc.) aftermarket mounts, since im going to the trouble of swapping i may aswell. performance wise, ITR replica headers, SRI w/k&n pod. drive that around for a few months, if im not happy, i can do a mild build, which i have listed on another thread. The plus about doing the swap is that i wont need to get it tuned until i do some serious work, & i know for sure this motor in stock form to be reliable. but there will be a difference power wise between the turbo d & swap.

Everytime im beside a WRX/V8 & they absolutely cane me, that makes me want to turbo the d, just the looks on peoples faces seeing a civic keep up or even beat one would be priceless.

It all comes down to what is tried & proven i guess. since its strictly a DD, i guess its a question i really have to ask myself. do i really need all that power or reliability? your opinions would be gratly appreciated on this matter, thanks in advance...

both roads have their pros and cons. turboing the d can be an awesome choice. personally i'll go with the ls swap.

The ls swap is a more sensible choice. You have a wider usable power band. The turbo d is good also but there are few things to take into account like turbo lag. For 200hp on a dseries you still have to build your engine to support that kind of power.

Both options are good but the ls swap is natural power and it is more responsive also the turbo would help if you were racing for a long time but since you want the car to be your dd then the ls swap is more practical

+1 on the ls

ls swap

Ls swap and piece out a turbo kit....Ls turbo can be fun especially in a civic...I have 1 on a eg6 but now its getting built, head and block work...hoping for 350-400hp DD, tuned with Hondata s300,..

Drop dat baby motor and slap in that DOHC....plus stock Ls block got the upper hand of handling up to 12psi reliable but wit good tuning....

So what's your choice???

LS-Turbo Most DEFFF!!!!
But the LS= Daily Driver & Good MPG's!!!

And torqy and Def could be a reliable car if maintenance is up T9 date

ls all the way compared to a d-series

You won't be dissapointed with the LS