Making our own 2.0T: Budget Turbo K23 K20 Hybrid Swap
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Published 2022-03-30
By Aaron Gaghagen and Brian Gillespie
Making a turbo K series from OEM parts could be a budget boosting swap. We figured out that the ports on the K23 head matched the head gasket from the K20. So, in theory the K23 head should fit the K20 block. In this episode we actually put them together to find out if it really does go together. Spoiler alert: the PRB intake manifold fits the K23!
Things didn't go perfectly though. We found some engine damage that was overlooked when we pulled the K23 apart. That's the problem with used parts though. We forge ahead anyway and get everything bolted together. Make sure you check out the next episode where we figure out the cooling and oiling for our budget turbo setup.
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VTEC Academy videos are for educational and entertainment purposes. We can not guarantee the modifications performed in the video are legal in your locality. Do not do any modifications to your vehicle that will void your warranty or in any way violate your local laws. We assume no liability for property damage or injury as a result of any of the information contained in this video. Use the information provided at your own risk.
All Comments (21)
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Ad is is a cool ass dude I was blessed to be able to chill with him when I was Arizona
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Well this is going to increase the prices of RDX engines substantially. LOL I'm so happy you guys finally got around to making a video of it! I use your initial video when it first came out to verify the same idea! Bought a k23 with its turbo for only $500! I finally got around to disassembling it and found that it has a couple Grand worth of enhancements for my Honda elements k24 if I were to buy things like the rods and the turbo individually. I'll be getting around to building mine when I move to New Orleans in a couple months! And I'll be using this video as a guideline in order to do it!
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Rdx owner watching this makes me happy how the k23 is getting some recognition.
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Awesome to see you guys still wrenching on the k23 I am patiently waiting to see someone make a plate for the block to match a manual trans. Would love to throw the whole swap in my hatch awd and all
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The Honda K-series is such a great engine. I love how you can easily swap parts around like this.
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the base model RSX engine also has the Type s oil pump.. good tip for people not many people know
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FYI: Spraying Starting Fluid on those gaskets and letting it sit for about a minute makes it REALLY easy to pull them off and keeps work area CLEANER.
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all these years i never would have thought that they bud up. dang super good info as im looking into another fa5
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Bob Ross and Brian killing it as always
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When I was working at Acura of Escondido, I had fantasized about doing something like this when I first saw the RDX's turbo. Glad to see you guys actually pulling this off!
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Now I know what im looking for in my Element.
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Great video. Can’t wait for the next installment.
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AD! Good man using the torque wrench! Drives me crazy when I see guys not using them. Great video on another Honda Frankenstein!
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I'm very excited to see how much power this makes
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Ad’s smile makes it all for me , awesome build guys
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Thanks for another informative video, can’t wait to see what this will end up going into
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Spalling is a fatigue failure of a bearing surface. The race starts to flake off and will very quickly take the rest of the system with it. Basically that cam is beyond worn out. I’m a bearing engineer.
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Keep this going I have a RDX engine and a base rsx model and a TSX so I'm drooling rn
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great to see you guys come back to this build.. and AD looking more comfortable. couple more builds you will be spitting knowledge like it's nothing
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Great information! This would be an interesting project for my tsx
