Daks

Ok guys here's the deal this is my first time posting here and all great site btw. I oxn (owned) a 2001 Celica. After getting in numerous disputes about the car with the parents they decided to sell it today. So in about 5 months or so I figure I'll scrape enough cash to buy a decent car. I am definite that I wanna buy a civic and put a new motor in it. My question is what body style civic and what engine. I was thinking along the line of a 91 SI with a b-16 any other suggestions would be more than welcome. Thnx. Keep in mind that the budget is tight, and since I'm in Canda the options for Hondas are endless.
Dave

spyder

It all depends on what your longterm goals are for power and reliability.

The best body style would be a hatchback, but I'm not gonna take that one any farther, I'll let the more experience HB guys elaborate.

Where the big choices come in are in the engine. You have several different options. You need to decide BEFORE you buy the engine if you will ever want to go with forced induction (turbo or supercharger). Which engine you get depends on your longterm goals. Tell us a little more and we can help you out.

Spade

Nice reliable car!!!! Get a 92-95 hatch, yeas everyone says that and everyone will tell you to do it. I say get that cause then you have a very popular platform and everyone knows what to do when something goes wrong. I own EK coupes but, if I could do it over again, I be driving hatches well.....one would be a hatch, the wife doesn't like the hatches.

I would get the EG hatch and then swap a B18B if I wanted to turbo and a B18C if I didn't want to turbo. Total cost.....hmmm, 8 g's at the worst end.....I don't really know how much the car will cost but the good swap with lots of new parts should be no more than 4,000

Daks

I'm not planning on forced induction. A civic hatch is what I had in mind, motor wise I was thinking along the lines of a b16 or b18c. I don't know about the bubble bodied hatch or the square. Ah fack boys I'm gonna be carless.

Spade

B18C if you don't plan on forced induction....the B16 doesn't have enough torque!!!!
The 92-95 is lighter. They swap the same in everything but, the weight is a big thing. I would get a VX it has all of the wiring that you will need.

Daks

Wait a vx is that crazy one that is like super low on fuel consumption right? What stuff will I exactly need for the transplant? motor,ecu,motor mounts?......

92sleepR

IMHO,

I have a 92 SI hatch and i love it. My recomendation from a price/performance standpoint would be to get the cleanest, newest fifth generation (92-95) VX hatch you can find. If you are a creature who likes more comforts get the SI model

My engine of choice would be the B18C1 (GSR). Great all around engine and best torque curve of the B18's. The B18C5 (Type R) is a fantastic engine but it doesn't come cheap. The B20's from the CRV are becoming very popular. Great torque right off the line but lacks top end. It's a great platform to build on though.

Those are my choices for what it's worth. Go for it! swaps are so much fun. There is nothing like driving around in a fast machine that you built yourself

Mike

spyder

VX = Light as hell.

I agree about the VX chasis and the B18C1, it's a good combination.

Spade

Big list. Do you get Sport Compact Car magazine in your area? They are doing a series of honda swaps. They have already done the Prelude into the hatch and the B16 as well. Those articles will tell you everything that you will need for a swap. The list is long. You are going to need axles, hubs, radiator hoses, i mean you are better off doing a search in the hybrid section and finding out all of the parts that you need, I am still in the process of dreaming about a swap.

The VX is the low fuel comsumption one. But, it has VTEC-E so the wires are there for the vtec of the B18C. There are a lot of things that you might want to do to the engine while you have it out of the car too like replacing the clutch and resurfacing the flywheel, replace the water pump and other things like the thermostat. It is of course a big project.

Spade

DAMMIT YOU ALL HAVE DONE IT, I HATE YOU ALL.

I have decided to leave the stinkin' coupes alone and jsut get a EG VX hatch!!!
What the hell, I want to have a good toy and finding a 2000 engine sucks a fat one.

Daks

Alright thanks alot guys this is the one I'm looking at right now


Year: 1993
Make: HONDA
Model: CIVIC
Model Detail: SI
Price: $3,850
Mileage: ------- km
Date Posted: 10/11/01
Ad Type: Dealer

93 CIVIC SI $3850!!!
Comment: 5 spd., sunroof, a proper SI! And only $3850 cert. + E-tested!! PELESHOK AUTO Call Peleshok Auto Sales. 509 Bayly St. E. (905)428-8871. (TSGWN
The motor I can get, that's no prb here. My girls cousin is like some guru here when it comes to motor's so I'll have a talk with him tonight.
Thanx for alll your help


[Modified by Daks, 5:52 PM 10/15/2001]

WAFFLES

Sorry but the CX is lighter. But for the lightest either go with a crx hf, 92-95 hatch CXor VX. And for a budget engine go with a b16a transplant and some itr cams.

Spade

The CX is lighter? Oh that's the one that came with the 1.5 right?

WAFFLES

The vx had a 1.5 vtec producing approx. 98 hp. the cx was a 1.5 that produced 70hp. I know, i have one, it sucks. You get airconditioning and a cassette player. That's all the good options. It weighs 20xxlbs.

Daks

so the b16, that's the one I looked at all along. And you say the cx body right. How hard is it to do a disc brake conversion for the rear drums on those.

Spade

If you want to save money go with the B16 if you can wait a little longer get the B18. You will be able to do the samething to each engine just you start out with more from the B18

Daks

I need the car asap I got school and I can't bus it's pretty far.

WAFFLES

Don't rule out the CRX HF. Very cheap.

Daks

That's the 88-91 style right?

gsrvx

hey..how about going h22? That's what I'm doing.

WAFFLES

Don't come in here with some unrelated ****.

And yes the CRX is the 88-91 bodystyle.

gsrvx

Please explain how it is unrelated? He asked for opinions on which engine to get.

-rk

Daks

I would man great power and torque and all I just heard it's to hard to fit and plus you got the cabel shifters and stuff too much cash I need a vtec motor (probably a b16) with a light body. Another question when I get the motor am I gonna have to get the tranny as well, what else is needed to make the car up and running.

spyder

Plus no matter what some people say, it has been said by MOST people who have done the H22-into-civic swap that without serious suspension upgrades, the handling absolutely SUCKS. Not only are you adding even MORE weight to the front end, you are shifting the point at which that weight rests. Messes stuff up completely.

Spade

The fact that I have to relocate the motor mounts is what turned me off of the 2.2

Yes, you have to get the tranny as well, ECU, Axles, distributor, Intake manifold, new exhaust, lots o stuff, swaps are projects not bolt ons.