Which sr would you buy?

[supers0nic]

i know there is not much or any difference between the s13 redtop and the s13 blacktop. the difference being that the colors of covers (duh) and that the blacktop is newer, but all the specs to my knowledge are pretty much the same. So...im in the market to buy a engine for my s14, which dyou think i should buy, the redtop or the blacktop, if both had the same mileage?

[dvdevo]

get the s14 one..

[lbcklik1486]

iirc, the blacktops had vvtc to help account for the longer intake runners. The red tops have short intake runners, which probably should only be in account if you are going for big power. The blacktops are probably used more recently, thus, less things have had time to just sit around and lay dorment/rust on the engine.

[supers0nic]

thanks for the info guys, but what im asking is s13 redtop vs s13 blacktop, not the s14 blacktop. i was thinking about getting the s14 blacktop but the vvtc thing might complicate things which i could get the s13 red/black without it and produce just as much horsepower. so question remains s13 redtop vs s13 blacktop w/ the same mileage

[lbcklik1486]

I'd assume go red top if they are both equal mileage. The reason many people get blacktops is due to the lower mileage.

[goodjuan]

i know there is not much or any difference between the s13 redtop and the s13 blacktop. the difference being that the colors of covers (duh) and that the blacktop is newer, but all the specs to my knowledge are pretty much the same. So...im in the market to buy a engine for my s14, which dyou think i should buy, the redtop or the blacktop, if both had the same mileage?

What kind of vehicular recreation do you plan on doing with your s14?

Because the answer to your question will depend on many things-what kind of motorsport being one of the factors.

[supers0nic]

thanks man i was thinking the same, anyone other opinions?

[lbcklik1486]

BTW, are you just wanting more power, or do you plan on autoX'n, drift'n etc? and are you doing all the labor yourself, an s14 engine might be a little easier to put in an s14 than an s13, but dont quote me.

[Japican]

Redtops seam to be cheaper in price and since mileage isnt factor dont see y u would get a more expensive motor thats basically the same thing.

[lbcklik1486]

Redtops seam to be cheaper in price and since mileage isnt factor dont see y u would get a more expensive motor thats basically the same thing.
:nono: remember, It has a black valve cover... :p Another Illini person, seems more and more people from Illinois are gathering on this board :cool:

[the head]

not all black tops had VTC there were s13 blacktops too

[lbcklik1486]

Yea, we already established that. Thus why there is little to no difference between s13 blacktops/redtops.

[Fibercus]

S14 Into S14 Chassis = Sweet

S13 Into S13 Chassis = Sweet

up to you

[SR20DETpwr]

I went w/ the redtop - either way you go the mileage shouldn't be an issue. The engine in my front clip had only 45,000mi. on it. And easy to extract power from the s13 sr's.

[WilloW]

S14 Into S14 Chassis = Sweet

S13 Into S13 Chassis = Sweet

up to you

Agreed, and up to how deep is the pocket.

[element240]

does vvtc on an s14 blacktop kick in like the honda vtec and toyota vvtl-i?

[Fibercus]

does vvtc on an s14 blacktop kick in like the honda vtec and toyota vvtl-i?

I dont as much as I should about the variable valve timing yet, but this is what my take is this far

Doesnt exactly kick in - more so provides a smooth balance between plenty of low end torque / pep & followed by turbo pull. Very smooth powerband.

[suhster85]

thanks for the info guys, but what im asking is s13 redtop vs s13 blacktop, not the s14 blacktop. i was thinking about getting the s14 blacktop but the vvtc thing might complicate things which i could get the s13 red/black without it and produce just as much horsepower. so question remains s13 redtop vs s13 blacktop w/ the same mileage

what do you mean by complicate things?

[mjjstang]

from what I understand, It is just one more thing to go wrong, and It complicates fine tuning. but im no expert on the vvtc

[kandyflip445]

I'd just get the redtop from a GOOD distributor that screens the engines.

[philbro]

The vvtc is not like vtec, it is the opposite where as vtec kicks in at a higher rpm the vvtc help out in the lower rpms for more low end torque. If i were up to me i would just yourself a s13 clip, the whole vvtc is just something else to worry about. A friend of mine has had a number of problems with his s14 and the vvtc not working and he was losing a lot of his low end power.

[Fibercus]

A friend of mine has had a number of problems with his s14 and the vvtc not working and he was losing a lot of his low end power.

Bad motor? Ive had not problems at all, and its no problem up to 300WHP

thats enough for me, ive also heard of people just unpluging the VVT harness to disable it - not sure if thats true or not.

[240eggsx]

does vvtc on an s14 blacktop kick in like the honda vtec and toyota vvtl-i?

No becasue its only varying the intake cam timing, not increasing lift/duration as the VTEC system does. Variable cam timing generally produces a wider flatter torque curve.

[HyperTek]

I got my S13 blacktop complete ecu/harness for $1600 and its really clean good condition, then I go to other shops or to teh same shop I got it from and see Redtops look all dirty/ beat up, with corrosion costing just a little less.

Now if you get a 96-98 S13 blacktop, then thats better, has different ECU, i think more aggressive rpm range. My friend had this ECU in his blacktop and it felt more aggressive, then teh shop changed it to a early blacktop and he could tell the difference.

Nothing wrong with redtops, they both get you the same power. Id just consider it for theme. i.e. if you stay 91-94 body style, if you decide to look like a 96-98 180sx, blacktop sr simulates factory look.