Maybe blowed F22B1 '97

[Jr1sthonda]

Hello everyone new member and my first honda (97 vtec ex automatic). I'll try and make this short. Heater core went out, I did a crappy bypass of the hoses. (Due to cold outside) I have overheated it twice, with what I could tell no consequences, finally got the hose's clamped good enough so they don't leak. then other day top radiator hose blowed, got a new "flex" hose cause it was cheaper than the molded one. (I was low on funds) going down the highway the hose blows off cause of the pinch together clamp and of course it overheated, this time it pushed and stripped 1 valve cover bolt. I've been checking the oil past 2 days and it's not mixed with water and no oil in radiator. I feel that it's about to blow up. So my question is should I rebuild it, swap, or get a drop in, or sell it? I would like to put some more hp into it also like cold air, maybe turbo, headers. Trying to stay around $2000-3000 or less. I need all the information you experienced honda people can give me. Car body has 275,000 miles and motor has about 180,000.

 

[dilbeckskate]

just because isnt mixing coolant/oil etc doesnt mean not blown head gasket... if it is overheating still you have cooked the headgasket and are venting compression into cooling chamber. Its a auto F22 economy car best bet even for $$$ is just throwing another f22b1 into it and look for somthing else to modify if want to spend $2-3k you can spend like 500 on another f22 and buy a civic for 1500-2500 and pocket $$$ and have a better platform for performance. Cold air and header etc wont give you anymore power. Welcome to Hondaswap

 

[Jr1sthonda]

just because isnt mixing coolant/oil etc doesnt mean not blown head gasket... if it is overheating still you have cooked the headgasket and are venting compression into cooling chamber. Its a auto F22 economy car best bet even for $$$ is just throwing another f22b1 into it and look for somthing else to modify if want to spend $2-3k you can spend like 500 on another f22 and buy a civic for 1500-2500 and pocket $$$ and have a better platform for performance. Cold air and header etc wont give you anymore power. Welcome to Hondaswap

Thank you for the welcome. I haven't had to put coolant in it since I filled it up and it was only overheating when the water got low due to the leak. But I haven't put but maybe 10 miles on it this weekend. I'm only looking for a few upgrades for a little more hp. I'm 40 y/o so I'm not looking for a street racer. Lol. Thank you for the advice, cause the research I've did online is about the same as what you just told me. Thank you again

 

[dilbeckskate]

Make sure shes topped off on coolant and a spill free coolant funnel is a good way to get air pockets out and honestly nothing you can add to that motor short of forced induction/nitrous will make any at all difference other than louder. And no problem on the welcome you are ! Mostly a bunch of adult owned hondas here with active base a few of us modify them still

 

[dilbeckskate]

and im not saying the F22 is a bad engine its literally one of the best engines Honda ever produced and reliable, but on that 2 sided coin it was made for the CB7 Accord originally as a large displacement low compression SMOOTH running engine (hints balance shaft etc) for economy and to make the accord run top notch smooth to compete with more expensive cars. Super reliable when maintained and even swapped into the older chassis 80s cars or smaller civics etc are fun but not much potential performance per $$$ compared to other engines

 

[Jr1sthonda]

and im not saying the F22 is a bad engine its literally one of the best engines Honda ever produced and reliable, but on that 2 sided coin it was made for the CB7 Accord originally as a large displacement low compression SMOOTH running engine (hints balance shaft etc) for economy and to make the accord run top notch smooth to compete with more expensive cars. Super reliable when maintained and even swapped into the older chassis 80s cars or smaller civics etc are fun but not much potential performance per $$$ compared to other engines

I guess I'll just find another f22b1 and drop in it. I've had it about a year and until heater core went I really haven't had any problems with it. Besides it's a automatic. oh and the slow ass windows.

 

[dilbeckskate]

take the door panels off and lithium grease the gears on the motor where goes to the window regulator and yea man they are solid cars

 

[Jr1sthonda]

take the door panels off and lithium grease the gears on the motor where goes to the window regulator and yea man they are solid cars

I just put new Regulators in all 4 doors cause the drivers side cable broke. I've read that it's just a "thing" with that car. Oh well. I really appreciate the help and advice.

 

[BrutalB83]

Welcome to HondaSwap! The H22 Prelude engine is a direct swap in to your car and it provides 200hp and dual-cam VTEC. I don't know if you'll be able to find one within your budget, though. I would say probably not if you're buying from an importer but maybe if you're buying from someone locally.

 

[Jr1sthonda]

Welcome to HondaSwap! The H22 Prelude engine is a direct swap in to your car and it provides 200hp and dual-cam VTEC. I don't know if you'll be able to find one within your budget, though. I would say probably not if you're buying from an importer but maybe if you're buying from someone locally.

So a '97 prelude H22?

 

[BrutalB83]

So a '97 prelude H22?

One that matches your car's OBD setup would be best, yeah. An older engine can be made to work fairly easily though.

 

[Jr1sthonda]

One that matches your car's OBD setup would be best, yeah. An older engine can be made to work fairly easily though.

How do I find out my OBD setup? And what about the f23?

 

[BrutalB83]

How do I find out my OBD setup? And what about the f23?

Everything from January 1996 onwards (plus some models that launched in late 1995) should be OBD2. There are a couple of variations on OBD2 though. 96-98 was OBD2A and 99+ is OBD2B, so the easiest, most drop-in H22 swap is going to be an engine from a 96-98 Prelude.

I wouldn't worry too much about that if you find a good deal on an older H22 though. There's lots of info to be found online on how to deal with that. Also, if you come across a package deal (someone selling both the motor and trans), I would go for that. The H22 will bolt up to your existing transmission but the H22 tranny is geared more appropriately for the engine and you'll easily be able to freshen it up (new clutch, flywheel, etc.) if you want to before you install it.

EDIT: Sorry, you're automatic, right? H22 auto tranny would still be nice to have, but like I said, not required.

 

[Jr1sthonda]

Just a update on my possible blowed engine, I overheated it so bad it pulled a valve cover bolt stripped out when it overheated must of had air in the cooling system, refilled with water and coolant and no overheating issues now. Just a little mixture of coolant and oil from where the valve cover bolt has been stripped. But thank you to all that replied and tried to help me.

 

[Xspade17x]

Just a update on my possible blowed engine, I overheated it so bad it pulled a valve cover bolt stripped out when it overheated must of had air in the cooling system, refilled with water and coolant and no overheating issues now. Just a little mixture of coolant and oil from where the valve cover bolt has been stripped. But thank you to all that replied and tried to help me.

I had the f22b1 in my 95 accord. I ran into the ground. Stripped the valve cover bolt and ended up buying a new head remanufactured and Rebuilt the rest and it really didnt make it last all that much longer, i still kept having issues. I dumped about 2k into new parts then i gave up and I just put an 2001 h22a into my accord. Im happy i did. 146 hp on the f22b1 vs 220 hp on the h22a euro r. I was looking to add some power to my accord just like you. I got what i asked for. And the swap was not that hard at all.