ewaustin

Hi everyone, first post here so lets make this good.

My name is Eric and I've been playing with cars for about 14 years now. I've also worked as a professional body mechanic, so I know my way around cars.
My background consists of mostly VWs, a few e30 BMWs, an AW11 MR2, a '94 WRX and '88 Daihatsu when I was stationed in Japan, and a few other odds and ends (Merkur, Volvo, Mirage, blah blah blah).

Anyway, I'm new to the Honda game and currently have a '92 VX and a '91 SI.
The reason I'm here is that my '91 Civic SI is rusting out from under me. Tomorrow I'm picking up a much nicer '90 DX hatchback.

My plan is to swap the entire running gear from the SI and all the SI specific suspension pieces into the DX.

My first question is, am I better off switching the harness over with the engine or should I leave the harness with the car and do the DPFI/MPFI wiring conversion twice?

Secondly, it seems like the only suspension differences are the front and rear springs and shock absorbers and the addition of a rear swaybar. Is there anything else that I need to grab?

Lastly, From the interior, the seats are much more supportive in the SI so those will be swapped over aswell.

Is there anything else that I'm forgetting that should be moved over between the two cars?

Any words of wisdom from people who have done this type of a project before? I'm intending to get it all done in a single weekend, so I'm planning to get everything done in a big fat hurry.

ewaustin

One more thought,
on these is it easier to pull the engine out the top or drop it out the bottom?

4drEF

Can't get it out the top very easily with the trans on it.

It would be cleaner if you swapped over all the electrical.
However, the DPFI to MPFI would be far easier and less time consuming <- that's how I would go at it.

ewaustin

Clean is good, how far back does the harness go?

F22Master

How nice is the DX dash? You could swap in the Si dash, and that would make a full harness swap way easier. Just cut both where they run to the back (cut the same exact spot on both) and leave that part and just swap in the front dash part of the Si harness and reconect where you cut it. Then swap the engine and engine harness.

Honestly, that is ALOT of work in one weekend. To speed up the process, disconnect the front camber bars/arms at the chassis mount points, the front lower control arms at the inner chassis bolt/nut (the nut is in the engine bay), and then just the two shock mount nuts up top. Then you only need to disconnect 1 ball joint on each side (tie rod). Just an idea!

ewaustin

Both dashes are pretty nice but I haven't spent any significant time in the DX yet. the seller said it doesn't run but she drove it home. I'm thinking main relay. I have a few repaired ones on the shelf. I should hopefully be able to slap one in and drive it home...

I've done engine swaps before (stock and non-stock). I have an area with enough space, enough jackstands, an engine hoist, and friends that like to turn wrenches. It's a big goal but I think it'll be fun.

ewaustin

Well on Monday and Tuesday of this week a friend of mine who was a Honda dealer tech for 7 years and I swapped everything forward of the driver from the SI to the DX. Engine, Transmission, Dashboard, HVAC, Wiring Harness, Dead pedal... EVERYTHING. It's all in now

I just have to replace a few coolant hoses and put the throttle body back on and it should start right up. Cross your fingers everyone...

M-benz

Take some pics if you get a chance .....

ewaustin

I took a few, was doing my best to stay focused though.









The red car is almost completely put back together. Just a few things left, then it SHOULD start right up