86 crx si ZC DOHC or SOHC VTEC

[T rex]

I just bought an 86 crx si all stock pretty clean car that I would like to make into a street/track car more track than street (1/4 mile track not road course track) I am looking to stay fairly inexspensive but do have some money to play
My plan is turbo but I dont know what engine is a good starting place I have owned some fast cars but dont know much about these old cars
I was wondering what is the better starting place the zc from the 88-89 teg or the sohc vtec from 93-95 si/ex civic please list why one way is better than the other Thanks for any help

 

[jlicrx]

SOHC VTEC engines from the EG Civics will not bolt into your car without fabricating mounts for it - your best bet would be a JDM "browntop" DOHC ZC 133hp which will bolt right in - the USDM 86-89 Integra engines, which are not ZCs but are D16A1, will also bolt-in - the 88-89 Integra D16A1 118hp is a little harder to swap because it uses electronic ignition advance where your CRX uses a vacuum advance ignition - this means you have to do a lot of wiring to get it to work - the 86-87 113hp Integra also uses the vacuum advance ignition and will plug right in to everything on the CRX, but does not have as much power as the 88-89 - for any of the D16A1s or the "browntop" ZC, you will need parts from 86-89 Integra - you will need transmission, intermediate shaft, axles, knuckles/hubs, shift linkage and ECU for the year of the engine - all of the 86-89 Integra ECUs are PG7, but the 86-87 is not the same as the 88-89 (because of the ignition) - all of the Integra parts bolt right into the CRX without any modification

 

[T rex]

ok that sounds like alot of parts either way is there any hope for power out of the stock engine If so where can I find rods and pistons for that engine If not worth the effort is the engine from the integra worth building

 

[xips(86CRXSI)]

ok that sounds like alot of parts either way is there any hope for power out of the stock engine If so where can I find rods and pistons for that engine If not worth the effort is the engine from the integra worth building

I had the same car and I had no luck with finding performance parts for the stock engine. I did the 88-89 teg engine swap. wiring was a bitch!