WEll, if you want to go with your original plans of ls vtec, just know the bottom end will have to have some things done specific to that. Because of the long stroke and the angle, its not very sturdy at high RPMs stock...so just be prepared to build the bottom end well.

Otherwise...I'd go for a B18c (c5 if you really wana go for it, but its just not wirth the money, IMO). From what I've gathered, best bang for the buck without having to build it up.