I need some motorswap Honda help

[alms24sebring]

Alright so I sold the 240 and was looking for a Civic DD beater car. Got one that I THOUGHT was good with a good price. Its a 92 Civic DX sedan. The motor is a D15B7 (single cam nonvtec). It turns out after a day or 2 of driving when it get hot its blowing a huge amount of burnt oil through the exhaust, I mean so much Im too embarrassed to drive it. It also has a bad rear main seal leak that thankfully isnt slipping the clutch yet.

Ok so now Im looking for a new used motor. I want a clean simple plug and play swap, no rewiring, no costom making unreliable s**t, simple as possible. My buddy was telling me I could get a jdm Vtec D15, <100,000 miles with a warranty, with only 1 extra wire going to the ECU for the Vtec solenoid and thats it, is that true? Im unsure if I can use my ECU I have now too. Its the same motor but one extra wire for Vtec that I know I will have to repin into this ECU or if one comes with the motor. Thats no problem but I want to make sure thats all there is to it and thats my main question to this thread.

So please any help or advice would be good to confirm that this is a simple swap. I need to be able to drive ASAP.

[flohtingPoint]

This sounds like a bad idea you'd get from VADriven, which is a hotbed for terrible plans in the DC area. You can find a replacement motor fairly easily as they only made 2308490238409328490238409823409238 of those cars, toss it in, drive and be merry.

[alms24sebring]

Haha I never go to VAdriven. I was on Hondatech and I thought I read something like I need an Si harness for this.

Yeah and thats what I wanted to do originally but if I can get Vtec out of it for a few very minor mods, like a wire and ground, Ill do it. So it sounds like your saying its much more complicated than that?

[themadscientist]

But look how happy the VTECness makes the peoples!

[Mr1der]

this is fact.

I enjoy winding up my K20A3.

stupid A3....it needs more vtec.

[alms24sebring]

Aight so I decided just to keep it simple with a D15 nonvtec motor. Im no fanboi so I could really give a s*** less whether it has vtec or not. My buddy was pressing me on getting a Vtec'd single cam but for an extra 300 no thanks. I dont wanna waste time and money I dont really have..

The new issue is that all the D15 jdm motors are carborated!? I would figure I could just swap intake manifolds and be done with it as long as the bolt patterns and internals are the same, which I will assume but I will double check on that.

[numbnuts240]

why do you need a jdm engine?

[Dattebayo]

Ya srsly

WHy not just replace with the exact same one you have? There's plenty of junkyards with that motor around here.

[themadscientist]

Johhny Tran helps you get tha SRz mann. They are worth a premium before racewars, though.

[alms24sebring]

Because its straight from Japan y0, duh.

Seriously though, Ive had a few friends put junkyard motors as swap in Hondas back in the day. They always had major issues, major leaks, low compression, etc. I just know Im ganna get one with an unkown 230,000 miles or a bent rod or something and its something I dont wanna risk. Atleast at a jdm shop it is guaranteed to run, compression tested, and has way less than 100k. And on top of that it is the same price with a 100 day warranty, so I dont see myself losing out on anything.

[TTkickedin]

Atleast at a jdm shop it is guaranteed to run, compression tested, and has way less than 100k.

May I point you to this thread?

post6154643.html?hilit=jdm%20engines#p6154643 (vg engines in that link but still worth it to post, hopefully your engine won't be coming from these bad places)

Some good, mostly bad experiences with JDM engines. Be careful as this is suprisingly not the guaranteed way to get a good engine. That would be classified ads, since you know exactly who had it before you.

Also to remember, even though it may be warranteed, it's still gonna take some time for the work to be performed if you have issues. Keep this in mind when you decide on an engine.


As far as your original question, d15/d16 are your cheapest options.