Savintims

Hi everyone,

I am working on swapping my car's engine (95 Honda accord) out for a F23A (2000 I believe). I am doing this because the company who sold it to me said that it would be a direct swap. In fact, I was under the impression I was getting an f22b2 vtec engine.

I have never worked on cars but my friend has. So far this has been a nightmare of an experience (although I am learning a lot about cars).

What we have done is this:

Removed the old engine and swapped over all of the previous parts. We put the new engine in and bolted up. We started to work on the timing and have run into more problems. We believe that the f23a's timing is not manually adjustable. Moreover, the car would turn over but not run.

I would like this car ready to go this weekend. But we are stumped. I think we need a new ECU, however the tech support for the company insists that this is a directly swappable engine.

Could anyone give us insight? Over the phone, through the forum, or whatever. Especially if you have experience with this swap.

Also, we are using the f22b2 dizzy, ecu, harness, intake manifold,exhaust manifold, flywheel, crankshaft pulley. We just connected them as if the engine were a f22b2.

I do not mind loosing vtec. Just want it to start!


Thanks

NerfGunner420

you need to swap f22b intake manifold. f22b exhaust manifold won't work if i remember right. my bro in law has an f23 in a 95 accord f22b vtec distributor. f22b intake manifold the exhaust manifold is different not the stock one im sure because i measure the studs and they are different sizes f22b exhaust manifold and this tells me that you would need custom exhaust maybe that is why my bro in laws came with custom exhaust ONLY maybe because it never lined up to the catalyst converter idk hell. it should start. what have you done to diagnose it? not enough info. in fact VERY little info......

Savintims

hey,

we found tdc and verified spark. The engine cranks over but it doesn't start. We did swap the exhaust, sorry about the confusion.

Do you know what pins to jump to enter diagnostic mode?

Savintims

Gonna try and run diagnostics now

Savintims

Hey NerfGunner420,
if we change the pulley does that affect tdc? We got a TDC code when we ran diagnostics.

Savintims

You know what we got it running. Turns out we had the firing order wrong. Learning to be weary of some information online.

Fitz Williams

iTrader: (1)

If you run a VTEC motor without the VTEC hooked up it will not perform very well. The intake side of the cam has three lobes, one which operates a single intake valve normally, one which barely opens the second intake valve, and a third for the "performance" mode. The VTEC solenoid provides the oil pressure which locks both the rocker arms to the performance lobe. Without it being operable, the motor will always be in the economy mode with one intake valve barely opening. Performance will suck. Not to mention that your ECU will think it is controlling a non-VTEC motor and try to adjust the fuel accordingly. The best thing you can do is switch over to a VTEC OBDI ECU. All the parts you need are available at your local pick-and-pull. You will need a F22B1 distributor as well.

Savintims

Thanks for the heads up. I am kinda on a budget so I gotta wait, but I will do that when I can.

94 accord typeR

F22B1 is the VTEC motor F22B2 is Non-VTEC. u would need a new ECU if u were swapping B2 for a B1. dont know why they told u it didn't. guess they didnt know.

all F23A motors are VTEC

Radial Accord

Vtec is not i- huh. Funny but it boots up as when actually the middle lobe acquires the outer joints to cooperate in function as when its off and than turned on right?

Fitz Williams

iTrader: (1)

Suggest you find a friend with a VTEC and simply unplug the solenoid for a while. You will see what it is like to run without it.

Radial Accord

I'm needing the vtec to run smoothly is the pressure switch needed ?

Radial Accord

What do you have

Radial Accord

I want to help tim

Radial Accord

Absolutely not your good bro just sleep it off

Radial Accord

Suggest you get a ecu that trusts the driver to have oil (not needing a pressure switch on vtec to save some cash on a vtm

Savintims

Sorry, I have been a bit busy. I'm in college. I have to think about what I want to do. Let me get back to you guys tomorrow or something.

94 accord typeR

this guys tripping out on shrooms or bath salts

Savintims

Another option we were think was to sell then engine (with papers) and buy an f22b2 from another shop. Do I have any takers? less than 50k miles and has papers.

holmesnmanny

I'm guessing the place that sold you this thought you originally had the B1 engine. If you get the B1 ecu it will probably run it but I'm not sure how good it will. It may not run optimally for a few days but it might be able to learn the fuel maps since it's fairly close in volume. Since you've already put that much work into it you could either try that or go full f23a1 and get the f23a1 ecu and convert to obd2 with some custom harness connectors for the distributor and for the crank sensors from rywire and an obd1 to obd2 sub harness.

hondamark35

Except for the non-VTEC F23. the DX/VP Accords came with the F23A5 and had no VTEC.

chrisnick

Also, the heads are the same casting(same part #), the only difference will be the rocker and cam assembly, as well as whatever system the Accord uses to activate VTEC. They also share many of the same valvetrain components.

Savintims

We got it to work. It turns out when we bout the distributor cables they were not pushed out all the way. We are going to do switch over to vtec after we figure out the speedo problem.

asoRm

Did you get the F23A Harness with the engine? I am interested. I already have a Vtec ECU lying around. How much ?! and Where do you live lol

EDIT: Just realized u got it working! WOOT! Mind if I message you on a couple questions? I am planning to swap one into my F22b2 '97 Accord.

chrisnick

I'm going to be posting a write up once I finally finish mine. I'm currently in the process right now.