I don't know where to begin here. First off, let me first give the *disclaimer* that I AM NOT FLAMING YOU, MERELY REBUTTING A STATEMENT.
That being said, let me first state my own personal motto, coined after years of experience to the contrary: IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD IT, DON'T DO IT. Don't scrounge around for a few bucks here and there to afford an engine you won't be able to use. A B18C1 with an LS tranny and non-VTEC ECU is absolutely pointless, not just to me, but to anyone with any kind of Honda common sense. I bet if you put that engine on a dyno it wouldn't have much more power than the LS, due to the intake manifold and ECU issues. The only additional power you might have would be due to the higher compression ratio. Also, the LS tranny on a VTEC motor is also pointless unless in a turbo application. The gear ratios are way too long and you would benefit very little from a NA B18C with an LS tranny.
Why would you do this? You're going to cut corners everywhere just to say you have a B18C1? You'll be doing all this work and putting forth all this effort just to re-do it later when you're ready to do it right. Do it right the first time, don't do it half ass first then redo it right later. If anything is a waste of money, that is.
You get what you pay for. An $800 I/H/E setup is probably R&D proven, is well made, and probably looks and sounds good. An $8 Ebay special setup is probably worth the $8 you'd get when you take it to the recycling center. Don't cut corners when it comes to building your car, especially when it comes to engine and suspension. Do it right the first time. Save the money if you don't have it. I'm not saying you have to spend millions on JDM bolts for your glovebox, but take the time and do things right. You want to do a swap? Save up and buy an XSi swap from Steve (hmotorsonline.com). It'll come with a cable 4.400 tranny, ECU, shift linkage, and axles. Everything you need to do it THE RIGHT WAY. Or, you can try and source a YS1 LSD and mate it to a B18C1. I assumed that it was a little out of your range so I thought I would suggest more bang-for-the-buck modifications. However, if you want and can afford a swap, don't half ass it, PLEASE.
I'll reiterate my suggestions, make sure the car is in perfect running order first and foremost. Its almost like painting a work of art, building a car is. You would never see an artist painting on an old, shabby canvas. Always on a perfectly clean and white new canvas. Make your car as close to a clean canvas as you can before you start "painting". That foundation you lay will be so much more worthwhile than spending money on an intake or whatnot when you still have an oil pan gasket leak.
I would say after the car is running great and all service is up to date, start with a mild/wild suspension setup (depending on what you want/can afford), and something small to change up the look of the car, something that makes it your own. The DA9 chassis is my favorite Honda chassis ever, so I can say that one piece headlights and a nice lowering spring/shock will make your car handle great and look really nice.
