iknow you dont have 5000 to spend just on rods, but get some oliver or pauter rods with some CP or wiseco pistons. sleeve the block to 84 or 85mm. do 2000 worth of work to the ls head, or 1000 to the vtec head. save the rest of the $$$ on "in case shit"

 

no vtec head, going with ls

 

good luck making 200 all motor on the ls, i was on the same path, but then i saw the light, youll spend alot more than you want to if you want to make that kind of power on a non vtec motor,but it can be done, just dont think your gonna want to spend that kind of money, and pump gas would be out of the question........

 

i want to get as close to 200 as possible

 

well than, you better resleeve your block and bore the fuck out of it and run like a 86mm piston,cause you aint doing it on stock bore........

 

for a DD, 85 max. but yeah. sleeving is a must

 

stroke it. i mean if you want all motor and nasty stroking is a good option especially on a non vtec head. less revs means more reliable. def sleeve the block and 85mm would be all i'd run if you want to have it last a while. and forget 87 octane. it's crap.