2.1L B18 all motor build

[JamesE-EK9]

Good to hear it’s all going to plan!
Do let us know how she does on the Dyno!

Will do. It will be on a base map/pump fuel map initially because I still have to get a bigger intake arm made and the air feed fabricated and get PTFE lines installed for the ethanol

 

[JamesE-EK9]

Hey all - finally collected the EK9 last Saturday and brought it home. It is just on a base map as expected...literally ran in on the dyno in the afternoon and I collected it that evening before travelling for a month so i managed to get it home and back into my car bubble before travelling. All I know about power is that it made 158lbft at the 5k rpm limit as it stands ha It has a 5k rpm limit for now, and is being restricted by the intake. Also the compression is quite high for our 95 pump fuel in Ireland as expected so it is turned back a bit and is mapped very safely for now. Will ramp up a few miles and get it back to AP Performance to set up the ethanol flex fuel system and get it fully tuned. Already however the low down power from the 2.1L is night and day difference vs the little B16B. The big K-Tuned throttle body and Ultra Race makes it quite aggressive low down even though the power band isn't going to shine until probably 6.5k or 7k rpm...it just wants to go go go ha

The items I need to address now before the final tune is:
- 3.5 inch intake arm to connect to the v stack and filter I have already...plus a big cold air feed from the front bumper
- An oil catch can to be made in a closed loop system (needs to be closed loop to pass the road safety tests here)
- A Vibrant flat black muffler (the system on it is the loudest thing I've ever heard....my mum heard me drive through my local village about 4 kilometres away with all windows and doors shut!)
- PTFE lines made to allow me to run ethanol...probably VP C85
- Also new tires since the car is already spinning second in the dry...something I never had to worry about with my B16 haha
- Also powder coat anything in the bay black to match the valve cover

Engine bay isn't the neatest. The additions could have been located in more discreet locations etc but I wanted it more for functionality, avoid drilling the firewall and easily accessible for maintenance.

 

[JamesE-EK9]

A few more pieces coming through the door...getting ever closer to going back to AP Performance for the final tune. In the last few days I've received A SpeedFactory catch can with associated AN fittings and hose, block breather fittings from Exoracing, a battery relocation kit from Tegiwa (I have an Odyssey PC680 battery on the way), and a K-Tuned turndown to try quieten it down a little to avoid getting arrested when I take it out of the garage!

 

[JamesE-EK9]

I got my K-Tuned rear box installed last week and I couldn't be happier. The car is still loud and definitely louder than my old B16B with a J's Racing 60RR, but for a fully built high comp 2.1L it is far more manageable to pop into the local town without getting arrested! The welds are the best I have seen and it managed to give the car a really nice deep tone with no rasp...I would definitely recommend.

I have noticed a spot of rust coming through on one of the seams in the engine bay unfortunately which is going to take priority over getting the car fully tuned so another delay added into the mix...but so far I've done a few hundred kilometres without any issue or hiccup to note which I am very happy with given everything except the radiator and power steering has been changed or modified. I had a long wait with AP Performance but he delivered very good work as always

Annoyingly a powerwash took some paint off the corners of my rear number plate recess also...I got it from a friend years ago and his Y56 is peaking through!

 

[D.r]

Simply an incredible build. The welds on the k tuned back look superb. Looking forward to reading more about this.

 

[JamesE-EK9]

Simply an incredible build. The welds on the k tuned back look superb. Looking forward to reading more about this.

Thanks...tbh a lot of the spec is overkill, but I always thought that while I was spending the money I would spend that little bit more now and future proof things as best as I can for any future plans with the setup.

I had the car out for a short drive this evening (still on the run-in map and rpm limited etc.) and it's amazing how different the engine behaves versus the old B16B. Any gear and any rpm and no issues

 

[Do1313R]

Dang! This is a really nice build!

 

[JamesE-EK9]

Slow progress...a few hiccups to sort out which was expected considering the extent of modifications, biggest being a bit of timing belt walk. I was trying to keep power steering but will ditch it so I can instal a K-Tuned timing belt tensioner which AP Performance has and was planning to use on my engine originally. A good friend is helping me out with a few things to speed up the process and he was the one to spot a couple of things that needs a little bit of investigation. Catch can is basically plumbed up, power steering ditched and battery relocated to the boot thanks to a Tegiwa relocation kit. AP Performance had one ventilation port on the head but we decided to get the second drilled and welded to have it in place and not have to do it in the future. Some pics from 2 nights ago of the new Speedfactory catch can installed...will tidy up the little bit of valve cover with some gloss black soon.

Will try get the fuel lines sorted asap and then just a 3.5 inch intake to get fabbed before booking back in for mapping

 

[JamesE-EK9]

Finally some progress after all this time. A family and house renovations tend to put the poor cars on hold! It is back with AP Performance at the moment getting a few things inspected and to tune the car. I will only run it on our pump fuel for now with some NF octane booster to help out. A few things were upgraded while it was off the road:

- Speedfactory oil catch can installed. Odyssey PC680 battery relocated to the boot
- Power Steering removed and the rack has been looped
- ABS removed and new brake lines and clutch line from Proline Braided Lines
- New intake, air feed and heat shield....tricky to install such a large air feed on a prefacelift! Proper Fabrications v stack in bumper. Custom feed and mounts, Boost Logic stainless filter, Vibrant v stack, 3.5 inch intake pipe
- Aluminium rad and slim fan from A4H in the Netherlands mounted on a Full Race traction bar
- PTFE lines throughout (8AN feed and 6AN return) and fuelling components in the bay relocated

Now to see what power it makes on the NF octane booster and get her home for a good wash! A huge thanks to a good friend of mine who carried out pretty much all of this while the car was sat in his shed.

Ignore the broken bottom on the drivers seat....I hit a hump and went through but it will be mended when I get the car back!

 

[D.r]

Great progress on this build. Nice to see this level of detail. You're in the right hands with AP Performance.