CivicSwap54

Hey all Honda owers and veterans, Im new to the forum because I just picked up a 1998 Honda Civic EX 1.6 VTEC motor. I am about to swap the engine out and would like to get a few pointers on how to make it easier and what I should look out for. Pictures are below.

Here is the history of the car.
I picked up the car from a girl who had it for over a year. She drove the **** out of it, I mean no oil changes, no coolant, nothing. She said she was driving down the highway, listening to music and the engine loss power (not electrically, mechanically) and started to overheat. She could not start the engine after that and had to get it towed to my house, and she sold it to me for cheap.

So I bought it, and have decided to replace the motor. I've been working on it all day, and Ill write down some facts about the car to help diagnose it.
- Car has 220k miles, manual transmission. (1998)
- Car cranks, but does not start.
- Oil had a horrific burnt smell, and was pure black and thick.
- I believe I see and smell oil in the coolant resistor.
- The rockers have thick black residue all over them.
- Head Gaskets look good, all 3 layers.
- The intake manifolds are terrible, along with the throttle body.
- The pistons look terrible, but it has 220k.
- Coolant level was extremely low, but was anti-freeze not water.
So now to the good part:
I found a 1999 1.6 VTEC Motor for $400 complete from a junkyard, he said the motor still runs, and will show me before I buy it. The car was hit in the rear and totaled. The engine came from an automatic, so I'm not sure if it will just bolt right up, but I'm pretty confident it will.

Can you help answer a few questions please?


Thank you all again for your time, I really appreciate it and hope i can be a help to you if you ever need it from me!

These pictures will show you a lot about this engine.

http://imgur.com/JOD9PRT
http://imgur.com/UIhtxE0
http://imgur.com/C0U3hDB
http://imgur.com/DSaMM8W
http://imgur.com/TL8KCf3
http://imgur.com/TQ6o7zV

CivicSwap54

Also forgot to mention the car has a whining noise when I got it home and tried to crank it. I haven't been able to diagnose that yet.

HondaPartsHero

It'll bolt up fine. You'll need to swap over the distributor from your old engine as the plugs differ. Also you'll need the intake manifold from your old engine as the auto Y8 uses a 3 wire IACV and the manual uses a 2 wire (make sure to use a 96-98 intake manifold gasket when replacing not an 99-00). The exhaust manifolds differ as well putting the oxygen sensor farther down the manifold so you can see if your O2 wire will reach, reuse your old manifold or use an extension harness. Other than that you should be fine.

CivicSwap54

Thank you for your reply, you seem to be the only one who wants to help and I appreciate that.

The junkyard manager sent me a picture of the motor I'm buying today, and the intake manifold looks the same. Can I not just drop the motor in, bolt it up, and all the electrical plug right in? All I have to do is plug the idle air control valves off? I don't plan on replacing the gasket, but if I need too, I will.

My blown engine that sitting in the car:

The junkyard motor:

CivicSwap54

I have researched and found a few threads on Y7 to Y8 manifold swaps. I have found 2 pictures that seem to tell me what to do. Is this information correct?

http://www.ff-squad.com/tech/im/d16y8vsz6.jpg

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2rr5a1g&s=6

HondaPartsHero

Swap manifolds over and use the 96-98 gasket. If you reuse the old gasket it very possible it'll leak. Trust me they're different.

CivicSwap54

Alright, I'll put the intake from the blown motor onto the new one and replace the gaskets. The junkyard motor doesnt come with a starter or compressor, so i hope that bolts right up as well. I might as well clean the intake and throttle body while I'm at it as well. I appreciate your help, I'll keep the thread updated.

CivicSwap54

Also, do I have to take the transmission and engine out to just replace the engine?

Thank you again.

HondaPartsHero

No but it does make it a bit easier to maneuver.

CivicSwap54

Awesome man, I really appreciate your help. Would I need to bolt up the manual clutch plate (as I think its called) to the junkyard motor?

f15Civic

Nice CivicSwap54, I am also doing the same as you. Last month I got a 99 DX 1.6 Non Vtech 2 door with a blown engine from a friend who also ran the car with out oil smh.. I am in the process of swapping the engine my self. Here is a link to my thread, https://honda-tech.com/honda-civic-d.../#post50281256

I still need to find an engine so it might take me a while to post another update. But I will follow your build, if you have questions or suggestions on my thread feel free to post a comment lol.

I am planning to replace almost everything that needs to be replaced as maintenance while I have the engine out.. All the mounts, belts, Timing belt and water pump once I verify the engine is good. Clutch kit, master and slave cylinders and probably the Axles, depending how they are and finally the valve cover gasket kit.

Here is a video I am using as a reference. In case it helps

CivicSwap54

Sweet man, we should have the junkyard motor sitting in there by tonight and stabbed tomorrow. I'm not taking off the transmission so it will be a lot harder to maneuver but less parts to put on afterwards.

I think I have to swap the flywheel off the auto motor and put a "clutch plate" I think its called from the blown to the junkyard motor.

I've seen that video, and that's exactly what in going into right now, we shall see by the end of the day how it all plays out.

I appreciate everyone's comments, and I'm sure I'll be back by tonight asking more questions.

CivicSwap54

Just got back from the junkyard, picked up the same motor for $350. Not a bad deal.

CivicSwap54

I can already tell the manifolds are different, and the intake manifold looks the same to me. Not sure if I still need to swap it out with mine.

HondaPartsHero

Not to be a jerk but I know what I'm talking about, it doesn't have the holes for the iacv because the auto y8s use a 3 wire iacv on the throttle body. You will have to swap manifolds, no way around it.

hvang0921

Nice deal on the motor.

CivicSwap54

Hmm. Alright bud, I'll take a look at that today, I didn't see any difference between manifolds, I might of over looked it.

CivicSwap54

Hmm. Can't get the motor apart from the tranny. I've loosened all the bolts on top and under it, I'll update back today.

Fnix

iTrader: (1)

Use a rubber mallet and pry it apart with something that wont mess up the mating surface.

tony_2018

You can't, because you probably didn't remove the starter. And not only that you'll need to remove the alternator, p/s, ac compressor from the engine and remove the crank to give you enough for wigglign the motor away from the engine. If you're have to ask how I know this is because I had the same idea as you to leave the transmission as is a unbolt the engine.

CivicSwap54

Well damn, I got the top part of the transmission separated by 2-3 inches, but the bottom where the CV axles are don't wanna come far enough loose.

CivicSwap54

About to turn on the air compressor that hasn't been used in 8 months and take the impact to the 32mm axle nut. I will update when it's pulled.

CivicSwap54

She's pulled, was hard as ****, but we got her out.

f15Civic

Good progress man, did you put the other one back in already? Did you check the compression before you bought it? Also are you replacing anything on the new engine before you put it in?

I am planning to do a timing belt/water pump kit, and a valve cover gasket kit when I get the junk yard engine.

CivicSwap54

Just a heads up to anyone doing this, I suggest you don't do it unless you have access to a lift and air tools.