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preludeguy · 10-17-2007, 10:52 AM

I have a fairly unique situation, atleast from what i can tell. I have searched for a couple hours for an answer but I am getting contradicting answers.....

I have a 1996 Honda Prelude SI with the 2.3 Ltr DOHC NON-VTEC engine. This engine comes equipped with a crank angle sensor, which is apparently unique to usdm version, jdm doesn't have them. The engine code is supposedly H23a1, but I have an engine dealer telling me that i need an H23a4 to be a straight swap.

The head gasket blew, I was given the car by the friend that blew it, and i am trying to get it running again. The head is warped beyond use, even if redecked.

That same local jdm dealer here in Virginia Beach, VA, tells me that the jdm H23a1 motors he carries do not have crank angle sensors, and the usdm oil pump and sensor cannot be fitted to the jdm one because it is a different housing. So what jdm motor can replace my usdm h23a1?

A few online sources say the F22b block can be swapped in, as long as you maintain the intake and exhaust manifolds. How true is this? That same engine dealer says the housings are still different. He claims that if I had a 92-95 prelude, it would work, buyrt because mine is 96, its unique. Online sources contradict that, but he does service these motors for a living.

If anyone has a link to a car that its been done in, a contact, or just an easy ~1k $ engine that can be swapped in, please post.

Verification of a way to adapt a usdm h23a1 crank angle sensor to a jdm h23a1 that doesn't come with one stock would be great as well.

I already tried my best to find an H23a1 head that can be straight swapped in, they appear to be rare. I do not want any fancy vtec swap or anything like that.

Thank you in advance!

BrutalB83 · 10-17-2007, 03:42 PM

I'm assuming that the reason he's telling you your 96 is unique is because it runs on OBD2, where as 92-95 ran on OBD1. That's probably why you need that specific H23 motor variant to do a straight swap.

You may not be able to find a JDM motor that's a straight drop-in swap for you. Their emissions laws are different, so a lot of the motors are never equipped with certain sensors that their US-spec equivalents have.

What you can do is have a conversion harness made to convert your car from OBD2 to OBD1. Then you will be able to simply drop in an older H23 or F22B. A company like Rywire (Rywire - Online Store) can build you a custom swap harness if you send them the harness from the car and the harness from the motor you want to swap in, although it will cost you anywhere from $100 to $300, and that might be more than you want to spend.

Hope that helps...

preludeguy · 10-18-2007, 12:35 PM

It's an option, but cost is an issue as always. With that being the case, it looks like my best bet is to find a replacement h23a1 head, since mine is unusable. nothing else is wrong with the car. I have found a few companies that sell them either brand new or remanufactured for around 700$ shipped, and that will be cheaper than buying a 1k motor and paying for extra labor. I'm going to try to track down a good head.

JOHNPAUL · 03-15-2008, 08:45 PM

ive just did this swap

BrutalB83 · 03-15-2008, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOHNPAUL

ive just did this swap

Dude...seriously...start reading the dates on shit before you post...this thread is 6 months old...I don't think the OP cares anymore...

NWDRVRBWE · 03-28-2008, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOHNPAUL

ive just did this swap

Yeah, Congratulations on opening a DEAD THREAD

YBLEGAL · 03-28-2008, 02:02 PM

ibtl....

Prelude818 · 03-29-2008, 06:08 PM

last i checked they only made the H23a1 (4th gen. Prelude), a, a2, and a3.. havent heard much about the a4.. unless hes considering the H22a4.. which came standard on all 5th gen. Preludes.. if you wanna keep your OBD2 ECU setup, i would stick with a basic USDM motor.. H23a1 or if you want more power go with the H22a4.. i love my h22 and those are probably the better motors to get if you're keeping a N/A setup and want reliability... if you're looking to boost i would look into an F22 motor.. but as far as getting it running, there is nothing wrong with the USDM motors..

Uncle Buck · 04-01-2008, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prelude818

last i checked they only made the H23a1 (4th gen. Prelude), a, a2, and a3.. havent heard much about the a4.. unless hes considering the H22a4.. which came standard on all 5th gen. Preludes.. if you wanna keep your OBD2 ECU setup, i would stick with a basic USDM motor.. H23a1 or if you want more power go with the H22a4.. i love my h22 and those are probably the better motors to get if you're keeping a N/A setup and want reliability... if you're looking to boost i would look into an F22 motor.. but as far as getting it running, there is nothing wrong with the USDM motors..

H23a4 came in the 97-98 Prelude S....

and in all honest opinion... the H22a4 is JUNK.... id order a H22a anyday of the week and convert to OBD1....

Prelude818 · 04-08-2008, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Buck

H23a4 came in the 97-98 Prelude S....

and in all honest opinion... the H22a4 is JUNK.... id order a H22a anyday of the week and convert to OBD1....

im pretty sure after 97 they stopped putting the H23 in preludes.. they all came standard with the H22a

...and i havent heard of a 97 or 98 Prelude-S either..

BrutalB83 · 04-08-2008, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prelude818

...and i havent heard of a 97 or 98 Prelude-S either..

He probably means the SH. It was a slightly higher performance version with the ATTS transmission. Also, there was a Type S and SiR in Japan...

10-17-2007, 10:52 AM	#1
preludeguy Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 3 iTrader: 0 / 0% Rep Power: 0	96 Honda Prelude Replacement Engine HELP!!!! I have a fairly unique situation, atleast from what i can tell. I have searched for a couple hours for an answer but I am getting contradicting answers..... I have a 1996 Honda Prelude SI with the 2.3 Ltr DOHC NON-VTEC engine. This engine comes equipped with a crank angle sensor, which is apparently unique to usdm version, jdm doesn't have them. The engine code is supposedly H23a1, but I have an engine dealer telling me that i need an H23a4 to be a straight swap. The head gasket blew, I was given the car by the friend that blew it, and i am trying to get it running again. The head is warped beyond use, even if redecked. That same local jdm dealer here in Virginia Beach, VA, tells me that the jdm H23a1 motors he carries do not have crank angle sensors, and the usdm oil pump and sensor cannot be fitted to the jdm one because it is a different housing. So what jdm motor can replace my usdm h23a1? A few online sources say the F22b block can be swapped in, as long as you maintain the intake and exhaust manifolds. How true is this? That same engine dealer says the housings are still different. He claims that if I had a 92-95 prelude, it would work, buyrt because mine is 96, its unique. Online sources contradict that, but he does service these motors for a living. If anyone has a link to a car that its been done in, a contact, or just an easy ~1k $ engine that can be swapped in, please post. Verification of a way to adapt a usdm h23a1 crank angle sensor to a jdm h23a1 that doesn't come with one stock would be great as well. I already tried my best to find an H23a1 head that can be straight swapped in, they appear to be rare. I do not want any fancy vtec swap or anything like that. Thank you in advance!

10-17-2007, 03:42 PM	#2
BrutalB83 Crusher of Noob Ambitions Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Oxford, MI Age: 25 Posts: 5,900 iTrader: 0 / 0% Ride: 97 Integra LS Coupe Rep Power: 113	I'm assuming that the reason he's telling you your 96 is unique is because it runs on OBD2, where as 92-95 ran on OBD1. That's probably why you need that specific H23 motor variant to do a straight swap. You may not be able to find a JDM motor that's a straight drop-in swap for you. Their emissions laws are different, so a lot of the motors are never equipped with certain sensors that their US-spec equivalents have. What you can do is have a conversion harness made to convert your car from OBD2 to OBD1. Then you will be able to simply drop in an older H23 or F22B. A company like Rywire (Rywire - Online Store) can build you a custom swap harness if you send them the harness from the car and the harness from the motor you want to swap in, although it will cost you anywhere from $100 to $300, and that might be more than you want to spend. Hope that helps... __________________ If you find something I say helpful, please rep it up! Also, DO NOT PM me with tech questions! Use the forums so we can all benefit from the answers. I will NOT respond to tech-related PMs... 97 Integra LS Coupe: AEM Intake/Megan Header/Magnaflow Exhaust Tokico Shocks & Springs Megan Strut Braces & H-Brace 98-01 Conversion (Front/Rear Bumpers & "Mesh" Alloys)

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10-18-2007, 12:35 PM	#3
preludeguy Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 3 iTrader: 0 / 0% Rep Power: 0	It's an option, but cost is an issue as always. With that being the case, it looks like my best bet is to find a replacement h23a1 head, since mine is unusable. nothing else is wrong with the car. I have found a few companies that sell them either brand new or remanufactured for around 700$ shipped, and that will be cheaper than buying a 1k motor and paying for extra labor. I'm going to try to track down a good head.

03-15-2008, 08:45 PM	#4
JOHNPAUL Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 9 iTrader: 0 / 0% Rep Power: 0	ive just did this swap

03-28-2008, 02:02 PM	#7
YBLEGAL Regular Member w/ Cheese Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 2,193 iTrader: 0 / 0% Ride: 2000 EJ8 w/ SiR-II Rep Power: 45	ibtl....

03-29-2008, 06:08 PM	#8
Prelude818 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 10 iTrader: 0 / 0% Rep Power: 0	last i checked they only made the H23a1 (4th gen. Prelude), a, a2, and a3.. havent heard much about the a4.. unless hes considering the H22a4.. which came standard on all 5th gen. Preludes.. if you wanna keep your OBD2 ECU setup, i would stick with a basic USDM motor.. H23a1 or if you want more power go with the H22a4.. i love my h22 and those are probably the better motors to get if you're keeping a N/A setup and want reliability... if you're looking to boost i would look into an F22 motor.. but as far as getting it running, there is nothing wrong with the USDM motors..

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96 Honda Prelude Replacement Engine HELP!!!!