s2000onvolks

hey, i'm new to this site, but not new to Hondas. i just bought a 1993 Honda Del Sol for a steal. it is a 5 speed and has 170k on it but runs well. it has a few mods, but i know it's nothing special. it has lowering springs, a jdm short shifter, high flow cat, header, exhaust (it is quiet though thank God), and integra rims. here are some pictures...



As you can see, in those pictures, there are altezza lights and 4 bolsters for a wing he must've previously had on the car. i have since taken the bolsters out (they left 4 small holes in the trunk ) and i had him replace the altezza lights with the stock lights because i think the ones he had on it were rice. i do not plan to do anything crazy to it or think it is an extremely nice or fast car. i have had much faster cars and got this because i think it will be a fun/dependable car...not to go fast. the interior is in pretty good condition. the only flaw is the paint. the right rear quarter panel is primer gray. the rest of the body is Samba Green, and is in decent shape, with minor nicks and scratches here and there. i feel as if it was a VERY good deal, though, as i got it for only $1,800. like i said, it runs and shifts very well, and more importantly, has a CLEAN title.

The seller told me that he did a rear drum to rotor conversion. that leads me to believe it must be the S model. so i thought it'd be the D15B7 motor with only 102hp or even worse, possibly the D15B8 with only 70 hp! BUT he said it was a 1.7 liter NON-VTec...well i searched and there is no such thing for this car so i think he is mistaken (no there was no swap). although he does seem to know quite a bit about cars, i think he didnt know the kind of engine that was in it. i looked all over the engine and finally found the engine code which is D16Z6, which is supposed to be a 1.6 liter VTec 125hp motor (i believe the most powerful motor the Del Sol offered this year). my question is, it says D16Z6 on the block, but the valve cover is just solid black, and does not say VTec. i was wondering if it was possible that another head may be on it. i thought the D16Z6 would say VTec on the valve cover. since it says D16Z6 on the block beside the header, i know that at least the short block is a D16Z6, but my only concern is that i thought the head would have a valve cover that says VTec. since it doesnt say VTec, i'm curious to see if it is still possible for it to be a D16Z6 head. i thought that NON-VTec valve covers could not go on VTec heads but i could be mistaken. i'm confused and am hoping i have the D16Z6 because it seems to be the best motor out of any option they offered in 93. i know the B16A was later available, but a 93 couldn;t have that without a swap. any input on what motor i have or opinions on the car would be appreciated. thanks for any input.

EDIT: here are some pictures of the motor...


hopefully someone can verify if the head is the D16Z6 as well. i'm hoping the entire motor is a D16Z6.

Modified by s2000onvolks at 8:53 PM 1/22/2008


Modified by s2000onvolks at 9:06 PM 1/22/2008

z6hatchboy

The 92'-93' d16z6's doesnt say vtec on the valve cover. If it says it on the block its more than likely a z6 engine. Look on the valve cover/head and if the plugs are in the front (below the centered "H" symbol and "honda" lettering) its a z6 vtec motor. You could alway post a pic of the bay too.

*edit* Thanks to NOFX for the 5th gen v/c write-up, thats the only reason i could answer your question.

ke98248

iTrader: (1)

Some valve covers don't say V-TEC on them, don't worry too much about that.

NOFX made a valve cover thread recently for 5th and 6th gen civics/del sols if you care to do a quick search.

ekhatchling

Your title asks about the engine yet you include a pic of every part of the car EXCEPT the engine bay? WTF? RU just bragging about the deal u got?

To answer your Q, check for the vtec solenoid on the head. That will indicate if you have vtec.

s2000onvolks

thanks for the help. i am going to take a quick pic of the engine bay now. it will be dark, but i will use my flash and hope to get a decent picture. i'm hoping it's the D16Z6 but would like someone who knows more about these cars to concur my concerns.


Modified by s2000onvolks at 9:09 PM 1/22/2008

z6hatchboy

Use NOFX's threads as ke98249 stated, its not too far below these, its has nothing but valve covers on it and i know your motor is in there. It'll save you from going outside. She did the work so we can use it

s2000onvolks

too late! i already ran outside and snapped pics. i went back and edited my original post and threw them in at the bottom. can anyone verify that the motor is a complete D16Z6 (shortblock and head?)

also, i didn't mean to sound like i was bragging "EKHatchling," i posted pics of the car because they were some the seller had already listed over the internet (i bought it off of craigslist). these motor pics are the first pictures i have personally taken of the Del Sol.

94CoupeEJ1

There is also the VTEC solenoid on the back of engine by the distributor.

z6hatchboy

Congrats you have a d16z6

s2000onvolks

good. so am i correct in the assumption that the D16Z6 is the best motor that is offered for the 93? is the B16A that is offered in later years THAT much better?

i also find it odd that he did a rear drum to rotor conversion. that must mean this car is a del sol s, opposed to the si. i figured since it was a "S," it'd have one of the less powerful engines.

z6hatchboy

I am a d-series guy myself, but i have to say with opinions set aside that the b-series would be a better motor if you can get one. THey're also a better base to start with.

93egSLEEPER

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by s2000onvolks &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">good. so am i correct in the assumption that the D16Z6 is the best motor that is offered for the 93? is the B16A that is offered in later years THAT much better?

i also find it odd that he did a rear drum to rotor conversion. that must mean this car is a del sol s, opposed to the si. i figured since it was a "S," it'd have one of the less powerful engines. </TD></TR></TABLE>
a b16 IS better then a d16z6 from the factory in everyway hands down. it has 160hp whereas the d16 is 125hp. torque isnt too different but by a few points.. and there really is not torque in a 1.6. lol

raiden571

simply put, yes it is a better motor with more potential. but truthfully it has the same amount of torque as your d16 and the horsepower isnt all that great either. you would be disappointed if you left it stock.

schardbody

eh, atleast the z6 gets better gas mileage. thats about the only advantage it has over the b16.

s2000onvolks

well obviously the B16A is better because it has more power. but B16A's were not available to 93 models, so i am happy that i got the best possible engine. i believe the only engine options for the 93 are the D15B8 (70 hp), the D15B7 (102 hp), the D15Z1 (92 hp) and the D16Z6 (125 hp). i believe i definitely got the best motor out of those 4 options. i just assumed that since it was only $1,800, it'd be one of the NON-VTec, sub 100 horsepower motors.

on a side note: from the pictures i've shown, and knowing that is has a clean history, as well as the D16Z6, does it seem like i got a good deal? what is the average going price for a 93 del sol with a D16Z6 with 170k?

jasony0630

yeah, i noticed that when i swapped my d16y8 for a b16a3....omfg gas mileage (oh well, its not TOO much of a decrease but i thought it was worth it)

schardbody

i would say $1800 is a pretty good deal.