Honda Car Forum

I'm thinking about swapping the engine in my 1989 civic lx with a much newer
civic engine. i don't know if its even possible or if it would be worth it
and need advice. the engine i would like to put in it is an '01-'05 sohc
d17a1. i know they have a much more updated distributor and ecu but the
engine looks about the same as an older civic engine and i'm wondering if
it's possible to mount it into my 1989 civic body. i know some modifications
will need to be done and alot of things will need to be changed over. my car
is an automatic so i'll need to buy a newer automatic transmission along
with axles. is there anybody that has done a civic engine swap or know
anything about the major problems i'll run into swapping with such a newer
engine? currently the '89 civic has a d15b2 engine. please respond and
thanks for your input.

-jeff

besides the fact that the ecu will not function correctly you may want to
check wiring circuits before you try this since the ecu controls all
functions in the vehicle
"hondaman" <jeffscomp@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:tso8e.3412$WB3.565@newssvr31.news.prodigy.com ...
> I'm thinking about swapping the engine in my 1989 civic lx with a much
newer
> civic engine. i don't know if its even possible or if it would be worth it
> and need advice. the engine i would like to put in it is an '01-'05 sohc
> d17a1. i know they have a much more updated distributor and ecu but the
> engine looks about the same as an older civic engine and i'm wondering if
> it's possible to mount it into my 1989 civic body. i know some
modifications
> will need to be done and alot of things will need to be changed over. my
car
> is an automatic so i'll need to buy a newer automatic transmission along
> with axles. is there anybody that has done a civic engine swap or know
> anything about the major problems i'll run into swapping with such a newer
> engine? currently the '89 civic has a d15b2 engine. please respond and
> thanks for your input.
>
> -jeff
>
>

i'm beginning to think it's just too complicated. the engines are still
built the same it looks like but all the wiring connectors are totally
different. i don't think i'd even be able to get the ignition to work
without a modification. and i'm not sure the motor mounts would line up so
i'd need some kind of custom designed motor mount. they may line up i don't
know though. thanks for the help. i may just stay with my old engine.


-jeff
<djmcreynolds1@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:GIu8e.67507$UW6.45734@bignews5.bellsouth.net. ..
> besides the fact that the ecu will not function correctly you may want to
> check wiring circuits before you try this since the ecu controls all
> functions in the vehicle
> "hondaman" <jeffscomp@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
> news:tso8e.3412$WB3.565@newssvr31.news.prodigy.com ...
>> I'm thinking about swapping the engine in my 1989 civic lx with a much
> newer
>> civic engine. i don't know if its even possible or if it would be worth
>> it
>> and need advice. the engine i would like to put in it is an '01-'05 sohc
>> d17a1. i know they have a much more updated distributor and ecu but the
>> engine looks about the same as an older civic engine and i'm wondering if
>> it's possible to mount it into my 1989 civic body. i know some
> modifications
>> will need to be done and alot of things will need to be changed over. my
> car
>> is an automatic so i'll need to buy a newer automatic transmission along
>> with axles. is there anybody that has done a civic engine swap or know
>> anything about the major problems i'll run into swapping with such a
>> newer
>> engine? currently the '89 civic has a d15b2 engine. please respond and
>> thanks for your input.
>>
>> -jeff
>>
>>
>
>

In article <tso8e.3412$WB3.565@newssvr31.news.prodigy.com>, "hondaman"
<jeffscomp@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> I'm thinking about swapping the engine in my 1989 civic lx with a much newer
> civic engine. i don't know if its even possible or if it would be worth it
> and need advice. the engine i would like to put in it is an '01-'05 sohc
> d17a1. i know they have a much more updated distributor and ecu but the
> engine looks about the same as an older civic engine and i'm wondering if
> it's possible to mount it into my 1989 civic body. i know some modifications
> will need to be done and alot of things will need to be changed over. my car
> is an automatic so i'll need to buy a newer automatic transmission along
> with axles. is there anybody that has done a civic engine swap or know
> anything about the major problems i'll run into swapping with such a newer
> engine? currently the '89 civic has a d15b2 engine. please respond and
> thanks for your input.
>
> -jeff

Jeff,
If you are serious about this, I suggest that you visit this website:
www.hondatuningmagazine.com
Send them an email and ask if they can sell you a back issue where your
car is mentioned. They have stories in that magazine on a regular basis
related to this subject. You should also visit the nearest city library
and see if they keep back issues of Honda Tuning magazine. If it's a long
distance from your home--call them and ask them if they subscribe to Honda
Tuning magazine.

--
NEWSGROUP SUBSCRIBERS MOTTO
We respect those subscribers that ask for advice or provide advice.
We do NOT respect the subscribers that enjoy criticizing people.

hondaman wrote:
> I'm thinking about swapping the engine in my 1989 civic lx with a much newer
> civic engine. i don't know if its even possible or if it would be worth it
> and need advice. the engine i would like to put in it is an '01-'05 sohc
> d17a1. i know they have a much more updated distributor and ecu but the
> engine looks about the same as an older civic engine and i'm wondering if
> it's possible to mount it into my 1989 civic body. i know some modifications
> will need to be done and alot of things will need to be changed over. my car
> is an automatic so i'll need to buy a newer automatic transmission along
> with axles. is there anybody that has done a civic engine swap or know
> anything about the major problems i'll run into swapping with such a newer
> engine? currently the '89 civic has a d15b2 engine. please respond and
> thanks for your input.
>
> -jeff

you can do it, but the wiring is utterly different. depends how much of
a project you want to undertake. i've considered it for my 89, but the
thing that's held me back is the speedo - apart from the fact that it's
electronic, not mechanical like yours, it doesn't physicaly fit the
console. you could have a console made, but unlike most engine swaps,
this vital component is /not/ a plug & play swap. back burner.

"hondaman" <jeffscomp@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:gzv8e.50$L03.43@newssvr17.news.prodigy.com...
> i'm beginning to think it's just too complicated. the engines are still
> built the same it looks like but all the wiring connectors are totally
> different. i don't think i'd even be able to get the ignition to work
> without a modification. and i'm not sure the motor mounts would line up so
> i'd need some kind of custom designed motor mount. they may line up i
> don't know though. thanks for the help. i may just stay with my old
> engine.
>
Probably a wise choice. The question has come up with regard to other
modifications on all sorts of cars, especially people wanting to add or
remove turbos on older Volvos. After looking through all that is involved,
the best way to do things like that is usually to trade vehicles.

Mike

the only reason i considered it is i can probably get a practically brand
new engine with only 3000 miles on it for very cheap but then i'd need
everything else and my current engine has a slight tick in it but it still
runs strong and doesn't burn or leak anything. my transmission shifts a
little rough into 2nd gear after the car is warmed up but that's even
starting smooth out. i bought the car from NY and i'm only the 2nd owner but
i'm fixing it up a little at a time. it would be great to have that new
engine/transmission in my car but like you brought up the speedometer would
be a major issue by itself and the engine i was thinking of buying doesn't
have much more hp than the older sohc 16 valve engine in my civic. its not
even a vtec its one of the ordinary civic dx or lx engines honda still uses.
thanks for your help.


jeff
"jim beam" <nospam@example.net> wrote in message
news:1113796024.4180999a774a7756e1d76c39c5cc49d4@t eranews...
> hondaman wrote:
>> I'm thinking about swapping the engine in my 1989 civic lx with a much
>> newer civic engine. i don't know if its even possible or if it would be
>> worth it and need advice. the engine i would like to put in it is an
>> '01-'05 sohc d17a1. i know they have a much more updated distributor and
>> ecu but the engine looks about the same as an older civic engine and i'm
>> wondering if it's possible to mount it into my 1989 civic body. i know
>> some modifications will need to be done and alot of things will need to
>> be changed over. my car is an automatic so i'll need to buy a newer
>> automatic transmission along with axles. is there anybody that has done a
>> civic engine swap or know anything about the major problems i'll run into
>> swapping with such a newer engine? currently the '89 civic has a d15b2
>> engine. please respond and thanks for your input.
>>
>> -jeff
>
> you can do it, but the wiring is utterly different. depends how much of a
> project you want to undertake. i've considered it for my 89, but the
> thing that's held me back is the speedo - apart from the fact that it's
> electronic, not mechanical like yours, it doesn't physicaly fit the
> console. you could have a console made, but unlike most engine swaps,
> this vital component is /not/ a plug & play swap. back burner.
>

You can swap in a D16Z6 or D16Y8 from and EG/EK chassis.They're both SOHC
VTEC motors,or you could do a B series swap using a DOHC VTEC B16 or even
B18 from an Integra GSR.And H series is possible but it's alot of work and
extra weight.A friend has a 91 Civic hatch with a 2nd gen B17 (170 hp) with
Type R cams and it keeps up with S 2000's.There's alot of choices with the
EF chassis you have,just depends on how fast you wanna go and how deep your
pockets are.Try www.honda-tech.com for more info.
Glenn

"hondaman" <jeffscomp@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:tso8e.3412$WB3.565@newssvr31.news.prodigy.com ...
> I'm thinking about swapping the engine in my 1989 civic lx with a much
newer
> civic engine. i don't know if its even possible or if it would be worth it
> and need advice. the engine i would like to put in it is an '01-'05 sohc
> d17a1. i know they have a much more updated distributor and ecu but the
> engine looks about the same as an older civic engine and i'm wondering if
> it's possible to mount it into my 1989 civic body. i know some
modifications
> will need to be done and alot of things will need to be changed over. my
car
> is an automatic so i'll need to buy a newer automatic transmission along
> with axles. is there anybody that has done a civic engine swap or know
> anything about the major problems i'll run into swapping with such a newer
> engine? currently the '89 civic has a d15b2 engine. please respond and
> thanks for your input.
>
> -jeff
>
>