Honda Car Forum

"black_13" <jjosburn@gmail.com> wrote in news:1139845799.570250.47550
@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com:

> what would something like that cost?
> the cost may mean that i have to keep it as a boring grocery getter
> that can i get another 200k. but something that doesnt kill me on cost
> down the line where i am having to constantly replace the catalytic
> converters. i am on the second catalytic converter and the shop says
> the current one i have is shot i will have to replace the catalytic
> convert and 02 sensors. this model of engine the manifold and catalytic
> convert are a single unit which i think was major design flaw. i wish
> honda had place the convert inline with the exhaust so when replacement
> came i could just toss the convert and get a new one. this is part of
> reason i was looking for an engine swap not so much for performance but
> lower the total cost if i had to replace converters in the future.
> i had more funds i would probably go for the performace upgrade but
> then if i had the money i would by and acura!
> thanks for the ideas guys i really appreciate the pointers.
> black_13
>

Engine swaps in honda's for good (IE DOHC) aren't cheap. $3-5K not
including labor. The D series engines can be had for a couple hundred if
you can find them. People who swap in DOHC motors tend to just trash the
old ones. I think I got $300 for the 24K mile D16 engine/tranny that came
out of my hatch.

You comment about the convertor means you probably need a new shop.
Basically a convertor should be good for 8 years/80K miles. Like a timing
belt though, when they get that old, they're on borrowed time. If you put
a convertor in and it goes bad early, it means you have some other
problem that's destroying the cat. If you're getting 80K or more out of
them then that's all you can expect from one.

In article <1139809198.175604.282690@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups .com>,
jjosburn@gmail.com says...
>
>
>I have a 2000 civic hatchback and im considering doing an engine swap.
>The engine has almost 200k and my mechanic says I am having problems
>with the catalytic converter. Are there other honda/acura engines of
>other makes/years that can be placed in this auto? Also are there
>engines that have an inline catalytic instead of the composite
>manifold/catalyic converter that I have. The final question what would
>the replacement engine cost?

I can't see how swapping an engine is cheaper/easier than putting in a
new catalytic convertor. Unless you wanted to put in a different engine
anyway.
--------------
Alex

black_13 wrote:
> what would something like that cost?
> the cost may mean that i have to keep it as a boring grocery getter
> that can i get another 200k. but something that doesnt kill me on cost
> down the line where i am having to constantly replace the catalytic
> converters. i am on the second catalytic converter and the shop says

second one in how long?

> the current one i have is shot i will have to replace the catalytic
> convert and 02 sensors. this model of engine the manifold and catalytic

its either excessive blowby or running rich thats ruining the cats, im
guessing. the O2 sensors should help protect against that.

i have had the second catalytic converter for about 15k.