Swap Considerations and Options

[civic1784]

There are many things to consider when doing a swap: how much are you going to spend, what do you need, what motor would work best, etc. Money is probably one of the more important factors, because if it was not a factor, all swaps are feasible possible (unless the engine is too large for the engine bay) It would be possible to make a rear wheel drive hatch using a S2000’s engine and drive train, however, converting that vehicle would be a nightmare and cost a fortune. This is directed at the average person who does not have a lavish excess of cash flow. The following options are your average swaps, and what to consider about them:

The Series:

B and D series: For the most part, you can “easily” swap any B or D series engine into a 4th gen Civic or CRX, or 88+ Civic for that matter. They do not require special fabrication of mounts, and there are many kits available to perform the swap. Some swaps, due to size and location problems, make it necessary to relocate the master cylinder, but that is a simple task. As far as the swap is concerned, the engines are mounted in the same way, so everything lines up perfectly.

H series: The H series swap is do-able, but there are many disadvantages to this swap. The engine itself weighs a lot: 140 lbs more in fact! This creates problems of its own, like understeer, which require suspension upgrades to correct. With a mounting kit, the motor is basically relocated so that it can fit into the engine bay. As with the B and D series, things like the master cylinder need a new home. Keeping power steering and air conditioning is not an option with many kits. Some will allow you to keep them, but without these kits, it will be impossible, unless you fabricate your own. The handling on an H series engine swap will be poor for turning due to the unequal weight distribution. There are benefits to the H series swap though: torque, around 200hp with an H22A, or 220hp with the SiR Type S H22A.

F series: Not much is done with this series engine, and the F20C1 is the S2000’s engine, which is not practical. The other engines have little advantages over the other series. They require the same engine mounts of an H series. I can’t think of any advantages.

K Series: This engine is the most different thing from any B or D series front wheel drive engine Honda has come up with. The engine rotates differently, and the intake manifold is in the front. It will take time for this swap to become available for different cars, as more mounting kits are engineered. I not even sure if it will fit in the engine bay of a 4th gen Civic or CRX. One thing is certain, to do this swap, you need deep pockets. The K series is a very potent engine.

Here is the run down of commonly swapped engines:

The Engines:

B16A – Probably the most common of all Civic swaps and CRX swaps, provides decent horsepower for the cost. It has DOHC VTEC, and produces 160hp. If you can find a B16B, the Civic Type-R motor, there is 185hp available.

B18C1 – The Integra GS-R motor, DOHC VTEC, puts out 170hp, and is very similar to the B16A in terms of horsepower per cost.

B18C5 – The Integra Type-R motor, pretty expensive, but worth it. DOHC VTEC, with 195hp, it is very potent.

B18B – This motor is commonly know as the LS motor, because it comes from the Integra RS/LS/GS series. It is DOHC non-VTEC, and only 140hp. It’s transmission has long gears, making it good for a turbo application.

B20Z – The CRV motor, rising in popularity. It is DOHC non-VTEC, with 143hp, making it not impressive stock, but it creates outstanding torque with forced induction.

H22A – This is a heavy engine, making for steering problems. It would be a good drag engine though. DOHC VTEC with 200hp. It is an expensive swap, and difficult to do.

H23A – It’s a heavy engine, with only 160hp, DOHC non-VTEC. It does have a lot of displacement though, and would be a good motor to turbocharge. It’s also expensive and difficult like the H22A.

CR/VTEC – It is the B20 series out of a CRV with a VTEC head. Complicated to do, but can generate lots of torque and power. It is trying to get the best of both worlds: low end power from the block, and high end from the VTEC head.

LS/VTEC – A B18B motor with a VTEC head. Complicated like the CR/VTEC, but also creates a lot of torque and power. It is trying to get the best of both worlds: low end power from the block, and high end from the VTEC head.

[civic1784]

These are most every engine made by Honda. The are listed by engine code, displacement, cam set up, year, vehicle, and stock horsepower rating.

EW4 1.4L & 1.5L SOHC PGM-Fi '84-'87 Civic 60-92hp

D12B1 1.2L SOHC non-VTEC carbed Civic 71hp

D15B2 1.5L SOHC non-VTEC '88-'91 Civic's 92hp

D15B6 1.5L SOHC non-VTEC '88-'89 Civic/CRX HF 62hp

D15B7 1.5L SOHC non-VTEC '92-95 Civic's 102hp

D15B 1.5L SOHC VTEC JDM Civic VTi 130hp

D16A1 1.6 L DOHC 86-89 Integra 86/87 113hp 88/89 118hp

D16A6 1.6L SOHC 88-91 Civic Si/ CRX Si 108hp

D16A7 1.6L EDM SOHC 88-89 Civic 1.6i 116hp

D16A9 1.6L EDM DOHC 88-89 Civic 1.6i-16/CRX 1.6i-16 130hp

D16Z5 1.6L EDM DOHC 90-91 Civic 1.6i-16/CRX 1.6i-16 124hp

ZC JDM equivalent of D16A1 130ps

D16Z6 1.6L SOHC VTEC 92-95 Civic EX/Si 125hp

D16Y5 1.6L SOHC VTEC-E 96-00 Civic HX 115hp

D16Y7 1.6L SOHC non-VTEC 96+ Civic CX/DX/LX 106hp

D16Y8 1.6L SOHC VTEC 96+ Civic EX 127hp

B16A 1.6L JDM DOHC VTEC 89-91 Civic Si-R I/CRX Si-R, Integra RSi/XSi 160ps

B16A1 1.6L EDM DOHC VTEC 89-91 Civic 1.6i-VT I/CRX 1.6i-VT 150hp

B16A2/3 1.6L USDM DOHC VTEC 93-97 DelSol VTEC/99-00 Civic Si 160hp

B16A 1.6L JDM DOHC VTEC 92-95 Civic Si-R II/ 92-97 CRX DelSol SiR 170ps

B16B 1.6L JDM DOHC VTEC 98+ Civic Type R 185ps

D17A2 1.7L SOHC VTEC-E 01 Civic EX 127hp

D17A1 1.7L SOHC non-VTEC '01+ Civic DX/LX 115hp

B17A1 1.7L USDM DOHC VTEC 92-93 Integra GS-R 160hp

B18A1 1.8L USDM DOHC non-VTEC 90-93 Integra RS/LS/GS 90-91: 130hp / 92-93: 140hp

B18B1 1.8L USDM DOHC non-VTEC 94-01 Integra RS/LS/GS 140hp

B18C 1.8L JDM DOHC VTEC 94+ Integra SiR-G 180ps

B18C1 1.8L USDM DOHC VTEC 94+ Integra GS-R 170hp

B18C5 1.8L USDM DOHC VTEC 97+ Integra Type R 195hp

B18C6/7 1.8L JDM DOHC VTEC 96+ Integra Type R 200ps

B20B 2.0L DOHC non-VTEC 96-98 CR-V 126hp

B20Z 2.0L DOHC non-VTEC 99-01 CR-V 143hp

B20A 2.0L JDM DOHC non-VTEC 90-91 Prelude Si 145hp

B20A3 (Carb) 2.0L SOHC non-VTEC 88-89 Prelude S 104hp

B20A5 2.0L DOHC non-VTEC 87-91 Prelude 2.0Si 135hp

B21A1 2.1L DOHC non-VTEC 90-91 Prelude Si 140hp

K20A3 2.0L DOHC i-VTEC '02+ RSX / '02+ Civic Si 160hp

K20A2 2.0L DOHC i-VTEC 02+ RSX Type S 02+ Civic TypeR 200hp

K20A 2.0L JDM DOHC i-VTEC '02+ Integra Type R 220ps

F20A1 2.0L JDM DOHC non-VTEC 90-93 Accord Si 155hp

F20B 2.0L JDM DOHC VTEC 90-93 Accord Si-R 190ps

F20C1 2.0L DOHC VTEC '00+ S2000 250ps/240hp

F22A1 2.2L USDM non-VTEC 92-96 Prelude S 90-93 Accord LX/EX 130hp-135hp

F22B 2.2L USDM SOHC VTEC 94-97 Accord EX/97 2.2CL 145hp

F23A5 2.3L USDM SOHC 98+ Accord DX 135hp

F23A1 2.3L USDM SOHC VTEC 98+ Accord EX & LX/98-99 2.3CL 150hp

F23A4 2.3L USDM SOHC ULEV VTEC 98+ Accord EX & LX 148hp

H22A1 2.2L USDM DOHC VTEC 92-96 Prelude VTEC 190hp

H22A4 2.2L DOHC VTEC 97-01 Prelude VTEC/SH 97-98: 195hp 99-01: 200hp

H22A 2.2L JDM DOHC VTEC 92+ Prelude Type-S, 97+ Prelude SiR S Spec 220ps

H23A1 2.3L USDM DOHC non-VTEC Prelude Si 160hp

G25A1 2.5L USDM SOHC non-VTEC 96-98 2.5TL 176hp

J25A 2.5L JDM SOHC VTEC V6 JDM Honda Aspire/Sabre 200ps

C27?? 2.7L USDM SOHC non-VTEC V6 86-89 Legend 150-160hp

C27?? 2.7L USDM SOHC non-VTEC V6 95-97 Accord V6 170HP

C30A(?) 3.0L DOHC VTEC V6 91-96 NSX/NSX-T 270hp

J30A1 3.0L USDM SOHC VTEC V6 98-02 Accord V6/97-99 3.2CL 200hp

C32A6 3.2L USDM SOHC non-VTEC V6 91-95 Legend Sdn, 91-92 Legend Cpe 96-98 3.2TL 200hp

C32A5 3.2L USDM SOHC non-VTEC V6 94-95 Legend GS Sdn, 93-95 Legend Cpe 230hp

C32A? 3.2L DOHC VTEC- V6 97+ NSX/NSX-T 290hp

J32A1 3.2L USDM SOHC VTEC V6 98+ 3.2TL/3.2CL 225hp

J32A2 3.2L USDM SOHC VTEC V6 00+ 3.2CL Type-S, 01 3.2TL Type-S 260hp

C35A2 3.5L USDM SOHC non-VTEC V6 3.5RL 215-225hp

J35A1 3.5L USDM SOHC VTEC V6 98+ Odyessy 210hp

J35A3 3.5L USDM SOHC VTEC V6 Acura MDX 240hp

C32B2 3.2L USDM DOHC VTEC V6 03 NSX 290hp

[civic1784]

These are the ECUs models that come in each specific vehicle, and corresponds to the stock engine in that vehicle.

PG6 : 88-89 Integra (all makes)
PM5 : 88-91 Civic/CRX DX
PM6 : 88-91 Civic/CRX SOHC Si
PM7 : 89-91 DOHC ZC (JDM 'EF' ECU)
PM8 : 88-91 CRX HF
PR2 : 89-91 ZC (Euro)
PR3 : 89-91 JDM B16A EF8/9
PR3 -J00 or J51 : 92 JDM Integra B16A EF8/9
PW0 : 89-91 JDM B16A EF8/9 DA6-XSi
PR4 : 90-91 Integra LS/GS
PS9 : 88-91 4 door Civic EX Auto
P05 : 92-95 OBD-1 Civic CX
P06 : 92-95 OBD-1 Civic DX
P07 : 92-95 OBD-1 Civic VX
P08 : 92-95 OBD-1 Civic D15 JDM
P0A : 94-95 OBD-1 Accord EX
P13 : 93-95 OBD-1 Prelude Vtec
P14 : 93-95 OBD-1 Prelude Si (non Vtec)
P27 : 92-95 OBD-1 EG JDM Civic 1600 sohc
P28 : 92-95 OBD-1 Civic Si/Ex
P30 : 92-95 OBD-1 DelSol DOHC Vtec Si/EG SiR
P54-G31 : 1997 Honda Accord 1.8 LS
P61 : 92-93 OBD-1 Integra GSR
P72 : 94-95 OBD-1 Integra GSR
P72 : 96-00 OBD-2 Integra GSR
P73 : 96-00 OBD-2 Integra Type-R (JDM & USDM)
P74/75: 92-95 OBD-1 Integra LS/GS
P75 : 96-00 OBD-2 Integra LS/GS
P2N : 96+ OBD-2 Civic HX Coupe
P2P : 96+ OBD-2 Civic EX Coupe
P2E : 96+ OBD-2 Civic DX Coupe
P2M : 96+ OBD-2 NZ Civic SOHC VTEC
P2T : 99+ OBD-? Civic Si Coupe
P5P : 97-00 OBD-2 Prelude Type-S (JDM ECU)
PBA : 97+ US Acura 1.6EL
PCT : 98+ JDM ITR / CTR
PCX : 99+ OBD-? S2000

[civic1784]

Here is a simple guide to the '88-91 Generation Civics and CRXs. As always, think things out before ripping your car apart, and make sure you have a decent technical knowledge. Here's how it goes:

Removal of the stock engine

Step (1.) Disconnect and remove the battery
Step (2.) Drain all engine and radiator fluids
Step (3.) Remove the intake and air box
Step (4.) Remove all the engine wiring “remember where they all go label them if you need”
Step (5.) Remove the shift linkage
Step (6.) Remove the throttle cable/clutch cable and disconnect the speedometer cable from the tranny
Step (7.) Remove the Hood from the car
Step (8.) Disconnect the fuel line from the fuel rail. “tip open your gas cap to vent the pressure Oh and don’t smoke when doing this”
Step (9.) Unbolt and remove the intake manifold from the engine. “When doing so remove the vacuum lines from the manifold NOT the car”
Step (10.) Now start removing the A/C components
Step (11.) unbolt and remove the exhaust header

Ok now at this point we need to free up the axles

Step (1.) Remove the front wheels
Step (2.) Unbolt the hub “remember the hub bolt is also held into place by a dimple this is so it does not come loose as the wheel turns”
Step (3.) Unbolt the brakes and all related suspension components
Step (4.) pull out the axles

Now using a cherry-picker chain up the engine and take the slack out of the chain

Unbolt the engine from the mounts and pull it out

Now is a good point to prep the engine bay for the new engine.

Step (1.) Dent the left hand frame rail. This is to make room for the alternator pulley, the dent should be ¼ of an inch deep and just below the opening of the shock tower.
Step (2.) Bend a section of the rear cross member down just in front of the rear motor mount
Step (3.) Install new B-series mount on rear cross member

Some mount kits DO NOT HAVE a front mount, I prefer the ones that do have one because without a front mount the engine will move more resulting in a loss of torque.

Installing the new engine

Step (1.) Lower the engine into the engine bay
Step (2.) Install the remaining engine mounts
Step (3.) Bolt in the engine
Step (4.) Connect the wire harness “if using the original harness you will need to add in wires for the Vtec solenoid, vtec ground, knock sensor, and a 2nd O2 sensor

Make sure its all grounded

Step (5.) Connect the vacuum lines “some of the original Civic/CRX ones DO NOT APPLY to the B16A
Step (6.) Put on the header for the B16A
Step (7.) Put on the shift linkage
Step (8.) Reconnect the clutch and speedometer cables
Step (9.) Put on the new throttle cable
Step (10.) Replace all hoses
Step (11.) Install axles, brakes, wheels
Step (12.) Fill engine and radiator with fluids

special thanks to Ich_Folge.

[civic1784]

http://forums.clubsi.com/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB38&Number=1614476&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=0&fpart=

This source provides the estimated costs and a similar run down of the procedure and what is needed.

[civic1784]

I hope this answers many of the common swap related questions. Enjoy.

~Civic1784

[Melt]

I vote this thread to be stickied ... very useful information.

[civic1784]

:lol: it already is... thanks for the support though.

[ProjectEF]

This is actually my first post on this board -- just found this page tonight.

Currently I'm driving a '90 Integra GS, but I'm planning on selling it this year and buying a stock '90-91 Civic DX hatch. I'm planning on doing quite a bit of work to it, starting with lightening up the interior, and swapping the suspension. However, eventually I planned on dropping in a B16A, and this article is EXTREMELY helpful. Thanks a lot!

[civic1784]

Glad I could help you

[Xtreme]

Did someone delete my post? or is there a technical problem with the board during the time I posted? or my correction regarding the D15B engine is wrong?.....

[ProjectEF]

It was just moved to the WTB forum because of a conversation about my integra.. your post was in the middle of it

[civic siR]

i see the specs for the 1.5L D15 vtec in these posts too....
RIGHT ON!

[Xtreme]

ok, Thanks for the clarification....

[civic1784]

Well, I am trying to keep this as accurate as possible, seeing that its a sticky, so if you have any comments, just PM me and I'll edit it. Thanks.