'94 GS-R in '89 Civic: distributor question

[girma]

My son has an '89 Civic Si with a '94 GS-R engine. We have TPC sensor codes and I wanted to change the distributor anyway. But the current distributor has the round connectors that match up with the round Civic connectors--not the usual rectangle connectors on a '94 GS-R distributor. What distributor should I get? Can I get a '94 distributor (TD-44U), then wire in a set of rectangular connectors? (The round connectors on the Civic now do have 7 wires and 2 wires.) Or is there a distributor with the round connectors that would work?

The car is running a B16A ecu (PR3, J00). Thanks.

 

[welfare]

There was a writeup recently about this, since it is easier to get a usdm distributor over JDM (most of the time)
Here is the link, took me a while to find it since it should be in the refrence section
https://hondaswap.com/hybrid-ed-ef-...obd-0-obd-1-distributor-wiring-adapter-73435/

 

[girma]

Reply:

Thanks for the reply. I was wondering, Aren't all OBD0 distributors made for 1.5 or 1.6L engines? I guess it doesn't matter that my GS-R is a 1.8L. But at least I should look for an OBD0 distributor that's VTEC? Otherwise I see that the 92-92 Integra 1.8 distributor also has the round connectors. Shouldn't use a distributor that's not for a VTEC?

 

[welfare]

the 90-91 integra distributor will NOT work unless you modify the distributor by cutting one of the mounting legs off, which isn't really the way you should go.

You cannot use a distributor off any USDM obd0 car, none of them will fit the GSR engine

you must use a JDM B16 distributor like blanco said or use a 92-95 integra GSR (1.7 or 1.8 VTEC) distributor and do the wiring conversion

 

[girma]

OBDO to OBD1

Okay, if there's no difference in performance, etc., between a JDM B16 distributor and a GSR distributor, might as well go with the JDM and not have to worry about matching the plugs/connectors. Make sense?

*One related point of interest. I recently put a new ignitor in the distributor, thinking my distributor matched the GSR engine. Now that I realize (by the dizzy plugs) that this isn't a GSR distributor, I'll have to see if the ignitors are the same for both distributors. They probably are. But the car did begin to run poorly over 4000 rpms soon after the ignitor was installed; I assumed it was the TDC sensor which is now throwing a code.

 

[girma]

Thanks much for getting things clear. It sounds like I'd need more than a simple conversion of plugs if I want to try a GSR distributor with the GSR motor in the '89 Civic Si. Ry-Wire says I'd also need an OBD1 ECU. I have a B16A ECU running the GSR now--does that qualify as OBD1?

 

[welfare]

It's not so much a performance thing as it is what will run the car correctly. You're running the car OBD0 so you have to use an OBD0 distributor. OBD0 stops at 1991. The only OBD0 distributor that will work is one from a B16, which was only offered in Japan from '88-'91. If you want to use an OBDI distributor ('92-'95) you'll have to do an OBDI conversion. For that information, check out Rywire - Online Store.

That's not entirely accurate, you can rewire an obd1 B series dizzy to obd0, I have done it more than once, they all use the same 3 triggers and coil and ignition module. . . you just have to get the wiring right. There is no need for an obd0-1 conversion anything, Although it would be in his best interest to do the conversion so that he could run the gsr ecu on the engine.

 

[welfare]

Thanks much for getting things clear. It sounds like I'd need more than a simple conversion of plugs if I want to try a GSR distributor with the GSR motor in the '89 Civic Si. Ry-Wire says I'd also need an OBD1 ECU. I have a B16A ECU running the GSR now--does that qualify as OBD1?

You would need to see what the numbers on the side of the ecu are in order to tell what OBD it is, eg: p72 or pr3 or pw0

 

[welfare]

Oh, I totally agree with you, But in a case like this it all boils down to parts availability. . . my experience is that it is alot easier to get ahold of an obd1 USDM distributor than it is to find the obd0 JDM one, also this way you can get it brand new, it is EXTREMELY hard to find the JDM B16 dizz new.

 

[girma]

My ecu is a PR3 (J00), so it's an OBD0.

I pulled the current distributor and it is a TD 02 -- it must be from the original Civic Si engine that was in the car. One bracket leg is cut off to make it fit the GSR engine. I assume that if I get a JDM B16A distributor (OBD0) that the bracket will fit the GSR...? Hard to tell from the pictures, but I'm assuming all the B heads have the same mounting holes....

Looks like JDM B16A distributors (TD 22) aren't too hard to find right now -- several on ebay from Distributor King and at the same price as the GSR distributor (TD-44).

 

[welfare]

If you can get the b16 distributor then I would go with it.
And no, all b series distributors are not the same, all be series VTEC distributors have the same mounting, but it is different than an LS mounting, Either way, go with the b16 distributor, make sure it is for OBD0 with the round plugs.

 

[invisibledemon]

get the distributer king dizzy for the b16.
you wont be dissapointed. thats where i got mine and they shipped it out immediatly.
sadly enough its the best looking part in my engine bay, i pop my hood and everybody just glance at the engine then say "wow, what a nice distributer, its really shiney" which it is.