DanielP

I just got a 1997 Civic DX Coupe 5 speed. I can already tell down the road I'll want to swap in a y8. I know so far that a '96-98' engine, harness, and ecu is the way to go, or keeping my harness and soldering in vtec. I just want to know if there's any other parts I might need to get or anything I'm missing, thanks in advance.
EDIT: Sorry I forgot to ask if I could use stock engine and tranny mounts, if I can I might upgrade to poly urethane mounts while Im at it. Also I heard using the Y7 tranny works but gears are longer than an EX tranny, I'm fine with that but how would I install a rpm reader, and with that can I use a EX cluster gauge? Thanks again.

m90polk1

Would swap in a LS or b20 if your on a budget, the y8 offers minimal gains over the y7, plus you wouldn't have to wire in VTEC. You would just need the si post mount, crv ac mount, lower transmission mount, shift linkage, ECU, motor and transmission. Most of this you can find used either on the marketplace here, eBay or junk yard. There are plenty of write-ups on here regarding doing the d,b,h,k series swaps, so don't hesitate to use the search bar because you can sit here reading for months all the threads about it.

DanielP

Alright, I'm pretty new here so I hesitated making this post but decided to do it either way. Thanks for the help I'll look around. I'm already looking at '99-00' front and rear end conversion. Thanks again.

DanielP

Hey man, so after some thinking I decided, I like you're idea but although... I'm a freshman in high school and I think I might stick with the original plan on swapping a Y8 in and possibly boosting it this summer or next summer. I might spend this summer making sure the engine I might have lined up is in tip-top shape so we'll see. I think I'm gonna save the B-series swap for after high school. Thanks again for you're help though, really appreciate it. Still need some help though. I've compiled a list of what I think I'll need for the swap.
- Y8 Engine from 96-98 Ex
- P2P Ecu
- 96-00 Cluster (Mine has no rpm gauge)
- Y8 Exhaust
- 96-98 Y8 Harness
- Y8 Axles
- Y8 Tranny (I would keep mine but I want shorter gears)
I would solder my harness but everything but the axles and cluster gauge are going to come from my friends ex because he MIGHT be swapping to a B-series this summer, either way is this all I need?

ESQuireMyke

If you are re-using your harness you will also need to mod the harness for the second O2 sensor, and knock sensor . Or you can get a chipped P28 ECU with the appropriate deletes.

Jimi Hondrix

A proper boosting will cost you a lot more than swapping in a B20. An improper boosting will most likely cost you your D-series engine. Spend money on the suspension and handling first if you plan to increase power in the future.

DanielP

Ya I thought about that last night, I think I'm gonna swap in the y8 this summer and just do a rebuild and make sure it's in really good shape so I know for sure it'll last through high school, then just upgrade my suspension, exterior mods, interior mods, brakes, all those things throughout high school so that when it comes time for a B-series swap I have everything done to it besides the engine of course, then I can sell off the y8 for some goodish money since a decent y8 is hard to come by nowadays.

DanielP

I don't plan on reusing my harness, I'm gonna buy all the essentials off of my friend, so everything besides a new cluster gauge and axles.

Jimi Hondrix

Why don't you start by doing a dry and wet compression test and/or a leak-down test and find out how healthy the engine is. If it presently has good compression then there's no reason to do a rebuild.
There's more than just buying and replacing parts to a proper rebuild..there's tolerances and specs that need to be closely adhered to. As mentioned prior consider doing a B20 swap in the future.. JDM long blocks can be had for less than $500 and "supposedly" under 70k miles. It's the torque across the power-band more so than hp that makes the B20 a good N/A engine choice.

DanielP

Sorry, I worded that wrong. By rebuild, I meant fix anything on the engine that needs to be fixed and a complete fluid flush. For instance, I know the engine has a minor leak out of the distributer gasket and head gasket. I plan on replacing all the gaskets throughout the engine just to have my own piece of mind. Things like that is what I meant, sorry about that. I will definetely do a compression test though.

Jimi Hondrix

Head gasket leaking oil? it can (not good) but, did you mean to say valve cover gasket?

DanielP

Yup, sorry about that. My buddys d16y8 I plan on buying has a leak on the valve cover gasket and distributor o-ring I think?

Sevas

Also I didn't see it mentioned but yes, you can just get an EX cluster and swap your speedometer into it(to keep your original miles) and then it's just plug and play. So that way you can have a tachometer

DanielP

So is this list correct? This all I'm gonna need?

DanielP

Bump, starting to consider the B20, going to do some research and look up some write-ups.

DanielP

Bump, sticking with the Y8, plan to do a gasket overhaul just to be safe. All new gaskets for the tranny and engine. Also a complete fluid flush for the engine and tranny + cooling system. Just want to be safe and not worry about leaks and such.
- Y8 Engine from 96-98 Ex
- P2P Ecu
- 96-00 Cluster (Mine has no rpm gauge)
- Y8 Exhaust
- 96-98 Y8 Harness
- Y8 Axles
- Y8 Tranny (I would keep mine but I want shorter gears, and my Y7 tranny has a bad ISB)
This all I'm going to need, the list correct? Everything will come from my friends Ex as he plans to do a B swap this summer. Last time I checked his car had about 160k ish miles on it. 40k less than mine. I plan on keeping my Y7 in case I ever need it, could be useful. Not keeping my harness, taking it out with the Y7 because my friend needs a new harness either way, that way I don't have to solder anything or wire in Vtec. What do you guys think? Pretty sure my friend will sell me everything for the low. Saving the B swap for after high school to rack up some money. Planning to get the swap in this summer, along with some coil overs and new bumpers and such. I'll be making a write-up of the build, keep you guys up to date. Got big plans, wish me luck, lol.

DanielP

Bump

Sevas

Wish I had advice or could answer your questions.

Why did you decide to stick with the Y8 instead of the b16 or B20

civic402lx

Money

mk378

The manual EX uses a 2 wire IACV, all the other versions are 3 wire. So to go from manual DX/LX to manual EX, you have to swap the intake and rewire some.

HondaPartsHero

If you use the Y8 harness you won't need to rewire. You don't need the Y8 axles as they are the same as yours. The rest of your list is fine. The only thing I see is that you'll need to do something with your secondary 02 as on the EX it's part of the cabin harness so you'll have to wire it in manually.
OBD2 Secondary 02 Sensor Wiring ? .:FFS TechNet:.

DanielP

What 402lx said man, moneys tight in highschool, plus I'm a freshman and still need to get a job. Saving up what I make off babysitting my nephew, which isn't alot, at all.

DanielP

I'll be getting the entire setup from harness, engine, intake, exhaust, pretty much everything so I think I should be good, right?

DanielP

Didn't know that, thanks for the info man I'll start reading up on that forum.

DanielP

One thing thats gonna be a bitch is the tranny that comes with the engine on y8 has a bad ISB just like mine except his is knocking while mine only rattles when the clutch is out, so before it goes in I'm gonna replace the ISB and other bearings and seals while the trannys taken apart and replace the clutch and resurface/replace the flywheel. Hopefully theres no damage to the shaft itself, if there is anyone know if you can relplace input shafts? Plus to add on to that, he beats the **** out of his car, so definetely gonna do a compression test and make sure the internals are good. I'm pretty close with my friend, I know the engine doesn't knock. Haven't gotten close enough to hear if theres a tick. Either way I plan on saving up enough money to replace anything that needs replaced. Still plan on replacing as many gaskets as possible and a good coolant flush, just to be on the safe side.