Alright first off I need to say that I'm a total car noob. I'm trying to get into it and I've just had a hard time finding accurate data. But anyway this is what happened.

I have a 1992 Honda Prelude Si non vtec, right after christmas the engine totally quit, straight up seized. I was told that it would be just as easy to replace the motor as it was the fix it. The car was a clunkier when I bought it so that didn't surprise me.

The mechanic who had it (which was probably a mistake because he normally doesn't do 'lude's) couldn't find an engine. So I went online and found an engine. I figured hell, if I'm gonna buy a whole new engine may as well step up to a vtec right? So I asked the company if there was anything I needed to know special about a engine swap since the old engine is not a vtec. The guy said no.

So I bought this http://www.jdmenginescorp.com/engine...96-engine-only

An H22A, a good engine from what I've heard.

So I buy it and it shows up, my mechanic puts it in. He calls me to tell me that the front pipe is a different size than the headers. I try finding this exhaust pipe at the local auto stores. The only one they found for that engine was a single outlet, when I guess I'm suppose to get a dual.

So I look online agian and I see that I can't really get it without having to just buy a whole new header as well. So yesterday I bought this.

http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/de...P40701251.html

Can anyone confirm that I bought the right header?? And if I did, is there anything else I should watch out for on this engine swap?

Thanks for the help.

 

that looks like the right exhaust mani, it's just kinda strange that they only list 93 vtec and the motor is a 96....

i have done a couple swaps myself, only swapped out h23 to h23 though....the only other thing i would watch out for is electrical...i hope you got the h22 ecu because that's the only way to get the vtec operational.

i can't remember if the axles match up with this swap but i'm sure someone will be able to confirm that

 

I did the same swap. I had the same problem. The H22 uses a bigger B-pipe than the H23. We used an EBAY header for an H22.

 

Hey thanks for the reply Ritz. No I didn't not buy a vtec ECU. I tried looking up one and to be honest only about half the options make sense. What does one look for in a ECU? And whats a good reputable site. I want some good speed out of it but I'm not going to go crazy with my prelude, no turbo but defintily some preformance parts.

 

The downpipes and header's differ from H23 - H22. If I were you, I would just go with a megan header. Its easier, and you know it will fit your h22.

That pacesetter header, IDK about that.

 

Well you MUST have a VTEC ECU, otherwise the car is going to run like ****. The P13(OEM H22 ECU) has different fuel/ignition maps, rev limits, and last but not least VTEC control. Rev limiter will kicks in way too early and VTEC will not engage at all. My H22 came with the ECU, but I would just find one in the for sale thread on this site. Or just look around on eBay, they're all over the place. Actually I plan to get rid of mine when I install Hondata but that wont be for 2 more months.

 

I've been hearing alot about these Hondata ECU's. Are they really that awesome? Becasue they seem to cost a crapton.

 

No they arent that awesome. All they let you do is tune your car, and if your not doing it yourself, and or saving up money to pay someone to tune it for you, you shouldnt even be thinking of driving it around on a base map.

If you are going to have someone else tune your car, take it to them, and ask them which hardware they use. Not every tuner uses Hondata. Some use other systems.

If you go to a tuner, ask them, they might not be comfortable tuning with something they don't know how to use.

 

Yeah, some will even offer discounts if they can use your car as a test dummy for their trial and error on a new system that you bring up to them.

To the op, you should be fine with a p13 ecu. How far do you want to take the car though? Knowing now and planning will save you alot of money in the future.

If its just intake, header, exhaust you'd be fine running the p13.

Don't get me wrong though, tuning an h22 can increase your output by a substatial amount over the stock maps with a good tuner however.

 

I am also working on swaping from an H23 to an H22 in a 92 prelude and i am wondering what would be a good header to go with if i run into the matchup problem?

 

Ok so update. That pacesetter header I bought....WRONG SIZE >_<

This is killing. Anyone with a H22A who bought a new set of headers send me a link to what they bought? Cause this crap is getting ridicolous!

 

its not that hard to find a "header" that will fit your car. just search the web. when i was dropping in my jdm h22, my cash became low due to some other problems i ran into during the swap. i bought a $20 2 piece header off ebay and it fit perfectly. i will be replacing it soon, but for now it did get my car to running.