Common misconception: GSRs (B18C) make more power than the LS/RS (B18A/B), period.
B18Cs have 1797cc of displacement. B18A/B has 1834cc of displacement. The B18C is slightly destroked to make a better rod ratio in the name of higher revving, needed for VTEC to be effective. As a result, the B18A/B actually puts out a little more torque in the pre-VTEC part of the power band. However, the real advantage of the B18C over the B18A/B is the high redline, not VTEC. If the B18A/B had the same redline as the B18C and continued its same torque curve up to redline, it would end up with 169 factory rated horsepower, just 11 behind its VTEC cousin.
Also, as mentioned before, the B18A/B has more displacement. This means better low-end torque, and also better boosting. The B18A/B remains a favorite for FI applications because power increases exponentially with displacement.
VTEC seems to have a cult following, but nobody really takes the time to understand how it works, why it works, and the sacrifices made in the engine to make it work.
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