D16y7 Mini Me Vs Full D16y8 Swap

[jtw156]

Would it be worth doing a mini me swap or be better to find a full y8 engine. I've read a mini me cost around $500. So how much would I be looking at for a y8? Or hell, is it realy worth doing either? I want to gain as much as I can for as cheap as I can so any other ideas are welcomed. Im just tossing around the idea for the next project. Thanks!

[Calesta]

You'll gain a slight bit of compression with a mini-me over a straight Y8 swap, but the Y8 swap will most likely be more reliable since you don't have to take it apart and put it back together. One of the things that makes the mini-me attractive is that people usually swap out internals like pistons when they have the engine apart. DOHC ZC pistons with the Y8 head will get you up to 12.6:1 compression which is really nice, or you could lower that a tad with a thicker head gasket to get a setup that's easier to tune.

If all you want is to upgrade to SOHC VTEC, I would consider the condition of your engine first... if it doesn't have too many miles and still runs pretty nice, just swap the head. If it's starting to show its age, swap the whole engine. If you're willing to spend a bit more money, change out your pistons and add a VAFC or Hondata to tune, then save up for a more aggressive camshaft later. You could easily push 150hp or more on a properly tuned all motor SOHC VTEC engine.

Good luck!

[DOHC HB]

DOHC is better, but if you want a single cam, I would go with the Y8. I have seen more impressive Y8's than mini me's.

I have herd of some people doing mini me's and they sucked, had problems with it and all sorts of crap. I used to have a Y8 and that thing took a beating and kept on going. I did brake a tranny but as for the motor, it was pretty decent.

If you can afford the DOHC, then get it and dont even look back!

[Calesta]

The mini-mes that screwed up were probably put together incorrectly... but yes, a straight Y8 from the factory will be more reliable than one you put together yourself in your garage.

[DOHC HB]

Originally posted by Calesta@Mar 30 2004, 11:09 AM
The mini-mes that screwed up were probably put together incorrectly... but yes, a straight Y8 from the factory will be more reliable than one you put together yourself in your garage.

My buddy had tried to do a mini me to his car but it never ran right. It ran for like 2 weeks and then took a dump. Never worked longer than that without something breaking. He was also a n00b at this stuff and eventually got a stock Y8.

[jtw156]

Anyone know what I would be looking at price wise on a whole y8? Alot cheaper then a dohc i hope

[Goldenboy]

complete engine goes for like 400-500
but I've seen them go for less, just have to hold out and wait for a good deal

[jtw156]

wow! not bad at all for an upgrade from a y7. So why do people even bother with trying a mini me? lol. If I do the 78 swap, should I be looking for a y8 that has less miles then my y7(which has 86k)? Or would it matter/be stupid if I found an engine with say....110k?

[Goldenboy]

you just have to search around for agood deal.
and a y8 head goes for about 200 and under

[Toyz-B-Us]

I did a mini me over a year and a half ago and it still runs great. You just have to know what you are doing. Just try and do an ex tranny swap while you are at it to get the most out of things.