turbodeigo

ok so first off, im not a total newbie. i have performed a few swaps in the past, just none on this chassis. also, i have been reading threads on this forum for a few days looking for the info i need, with no luck. so here we go.

i recently acquired a '96 EX that needed a bumper cover and transmission for $800. theres no rust on the car(rare for my area), and so i see it as having some potential. now, my powertrain budget is about $3K, so i was considering going B16A SiR2 swap since the whole deal can be had(with LSD) for about $2500, but keep reading all these horror stories about staying in your own OBD vintage, needing a lot of parts from different cars, etc. all im looking for is a straighforward swap.

so i ask of you guys, what would be my best(easiest) bet for a swap, budget considering? am i asking too much for $3K?

VTECin5th

Get a complete B16 obd2 swap package.
$3k is plenty to accomplish that.

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k20dc5

turbodeigo

im having a hard time finding an OBDII B16A swap online. any pointers? i really would like an LSD trans, and would sacrifice initial bolt-ons to get one with LSD

DarkElfTRP

I got my B16 from JSA Motors, and it turned out to be ODB2 (which turned out to be a hugh pain in the arse for my 93 DX Hatch!!!)

Engine is great however, pulls super hard in every gear, not looking forward to winter

turbodeigo

i was looking on JDM Engines Parts Wholesaler - The biggest exporters of Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) Vehicles - cars, front clips, complete swaps, transmission, body parts, seats, accessories, computer ecu, computer chips and see some really killer deals on swaps and an incredible deal on an EK9 CTR clip(less body panels). so because it seems too good to be true i figure it to be, but i did a little research anyway. all i have found against them is slow shipping(like 6 months). anyone else know of any trouble? i wont get my license back until this time next year so i'd definately be willing to wait 6-10mo for a CTR front clip for $3K.

so yeah, anyone have any info on JDM Engines Parts Wholesaler - The biggest exporters of Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) Vehicles - cars, front clips, complete swaps, transmission, body parts, seats, accessories, computer ecu, computer chips? would i need to buy anything besides the clip(provided its all in working order) to make it work in a USDM car?

turbodeigo

wow. thats sure looks like an ad. i just typed in the url(flashoptions dot com) and all that came up, so yeah, sorry about that.

turbodeigo

also, since im working with a vtec car, is there as much of a wiring mess to go to a B16? sorry for coming off like a pain in the ass here, its just that all the information i can find deals with the '99 Si rear mount and wiring nightmares. then i get sideswiped with someone saying i need A/C & P/S brackets from this car, intermediate shaft from that car, axles from something else, yada yada yada

i didnt think a B series swap into a EK could be very difficult, considering the Civic Si. since the EX already has a VTEC d series, is the wiring that involved? could someone point me in the right direction for the information im looking for?

random_hero

OBD Tech:
When dealing with electronics on the 96-00 Civic, things are relatively simple thanks to the fact that they're all OBD II. Although two different versions of OBD II plugs exist, the systems use the same sensors and same emissions components. Honda changed plug styles in '99, so the '96-'98 harnesses are somewhat different than those in '99-'00. Naturally, it follows that '96-'98 ECUs and '99-'00 ECUs are incompatible. So when choosing OBD types the most straight-forward approach is to stay with the OBD type that best corresponds the the vehicle being used. So stick with your OBD type to keep it nice and simple.

Engines and Transmissions:
Since all '96-'00 Civics are equipped with a hydraulic-style transmission and OBD II elctronics, certain engine swaps will make life easier concerning the install. Two B-series engines should come to mind when you are looking for a USDM OBD II engine: The '96-'97 Del Sol B16A3 engine, and the '99-'00 Civic Si B16A2 engine.
Although the earlier-model Del Sol engines will work, they're equipped with OBD I electronics. Compatible JDM B16A engines include those in the '96-'00 Civic SiR and SiRII, as well as the '92-'97 CRX del sol SiR. Since only the '96-'97 CRX del sol versions are OBD II, they'll be your only choice if OBD is a deciding factor. The final OBD II B16 can be found in the '98-'00 Civic Type R B16B

I sourced this info from a book titled "Honda Engine Swaps" By Aaron Bonk Copyright 2004

If you are looking for a good place to buy a B16A swap go to
Specializing in JDM-USDM Engines & Parts...hmotorsonline.com or JDM Honda Parts, JDM Honda Engines / JDM Nissan Motor Swaps, Used JDM Parts - Password JDM I personally am using HMO. They have the best prices thus far and fast shipping. I also go to a lot of other forums and HMO is a popular site, good reviews. I am buying a '92-'95 Civic SiRII B16A for $1750 this Friday.

If you have any more questions I have this "Honda Engine Swaps" book which I refer to as "The Swap Bible." I highly recommend you purchase this book. You can get it at Barnes and Noble or find it online.

turbodeigo

thanks for the insight, however i cant seem to locate any OBDII B16A motors aside from the one at passwordjdm. the swap is $2400 and has a hole in the transmission lol. granted, a new trans case is included in that price, but i dont want to go through that mess.

is there such a thing as an easy OBD1 b16 swap into an EK civic? a guy i was talking to from an online engine place told me he would sell me a sub harness for $100 to make the change relatively easy. im looking at $2700 for the complete swap(OBDI B16A, LSD trans), 99 si rear mount, OBDII-OBDI conversion "sub harness", and shipping. he told me that would be everything i needed.

any truth behind this? could someone tell me what forum would be best to look for help with the actual swap(manual labor in exchange for beer lol)? i live in western PA for what its worth

VTECin5th

Call Hmotorsonline and talk to them, they will hook you up.

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k20dc5

96EKB18C5

turodeigo, sounds like you have a lot of unanswered questions about this swap you're doing.I to had the same trouble but the one thing that really helped me out was buying the "Honda Engine Swaps" book random hero was talking about.It talks indepth about Ek b-series swaps.I'm a complete noob, I won't lie but I've researched this swap for about 3 months now,and thats where I learned the most.I also own a 96' ex and this weekend I'm finally doing my swap, b18c5/LSD.I'll let you know how it goes.

turbodeigo

i appreciate the info, however im starting to have second thoughts about doing this swap. first of all, its a coupe chassis, which as we all know is a bit of a porker. i think i might just fix the car and re-sell it and try to buy something a little more to my liking. i woud really prefer a hatch. im gonna try and source a trans from the local yards and sell the whole thing for whatever i can get out of it. its a '96 EX, power everything, moonroof, 211K miles. i figure i could probably still sell it for $3K or so all things considered.

another thing running thru my head is the fact that a girl nearby has an R33 GTR that she cant get registered. she bought it with light front and side damage, but the body work has since been completed. she wants $8500 for it. im pretty confident that i could swap the VIN tag and just tell the police/insurance/DMV its a custom 240SX.

i guess i'll hafta figure something out

ef8

i have heard bad things about flashoptions.com There was a guy on a forum i was on recently that bought a front clip from them and when he finally got it after like six months it had all kinds of parts missing off of it that he needed and was told it would come with.They also would not refund him on the parts.I would just call hmotors because i have not heard anything bad about them and they have good pricing.

random_hero

This is where I'm getting my engine from and I'm ordering tomorrow. You will have such a struggle getting an R33 registered. Also if you do decide to do the swap stay with your OBD type. '96-'98 JDM Civic SiR

turbodeigo

i've said it before and i'll say it again, OBD2 B16's are almost impossible for me to find online. can anyone else point me to where i can get one?

VTECin5th

Try calling homotorsonline, just because it's not listed there doesn't mean they don't have it.

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k20dc5

turbodeigo

i've been meaning to ask you specifically(VTEC in5th). whats up with the fuel economy ratings in your sig? u have a sail on your roof or something? lol j'k

VTECin5th

I really could not tell you how it happens
Better than a single cam... faster than a single cam....prettier than a single cam

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k20dc5

turbodeigo

well, hmotorsonline.com wants $2800 for a non LSD OBD2 swap. with LSD im looking at roughly $3100. from the same place i can get OBD1 swap with LSD for like $2500. is it worth THAT much to have OBD2? how about these sub or conversion harness' i keep hearing so much about?

i appreciate all the help and information from you guys, but seriously, WHY does everyone tell me to stay in my own OBD vintage? what are the drawbacks of not doing it?

IKONZls/vtec3

go ls/vtec obd2 b18b bottom end and then just find a b16 head CTR cams and a p73 ecu chipped or virgin with a vafc-2, trust me you wont be happy with just a b16 in a coupe its really nothing big, id either do this or sell it and get a eg hatch and do h22a swap ,

IKONZls/vtec3

hey id help ya for beer, not that i know much but if you ever need hand me n a couple buddies always lookin for honda guys to help out maybe learn a thing or two ourselves, what part of western PA u live in since im from there as well...?

turbodeigo

i understand that your offering your opinion on what you believe to be the best, however, im paying for this stuff, and i have established a $5000 budget(including car, taxes, registration, etc) for a reason.

anyway, my initial powertrain budget is limited to $3K, and LSD is absolutely mandatory. so my options are OBD1 B16 for about $2700, B18B for $2600, or B20B for roughly $2400. ideallly, i could stretch my budget about $400 and just turbo the B20, make way more power than any other option, but if i allow for that exception, why not just stretch it another $400 and turbo a B16 to make even more power? hell thats $3800, why not just go a little more and put a damn CTR/ITR swap i it? you see where im going with this?

im looking for an easy(ish) swap with room to grow. i think the B16 is right up my alley, and certainly within my price range. as i mentioned before, i can get a complete LSD swap, shipped with everything needed to put it in the car for $2700.

and for what its worth, i live in Masontown, PA(Fayette County), about an hour south of Pittsburgh

DarkElfTRP

I got my B16 from JSA motors, and got a hell of a deal on it, paid for ODB1 and ended up with ODB2 with a P30 ECU, I am a happy camper.

Engine pulls hard, it did come with a bad MAP and TPS but from what i have been reading alot of them come that way.

element

i have a 98 hatch with a b16a 2gen swap that i swaped in so basicly the same thing as your looking for, all i needed was a rear tranny bracket off 99-00 SI and had to convert my wiring witch was obd2a to obd1, get some diagram take your time and everything is gonna go aright

ef8

Its better to stay in your obd to make things go alot smoother.You will endup buying less things and will not have to worry about converting obd.Also its illegal to swap a motor thats older than the car,such as a obd2 car with a obd1 motor.Why is LSD mandatory?