cmk804

Aight, here's the deal - friend's dropping a 95 JDM B18C1 into a 98 CX hatch. He's using a P72 USDM ECU, and an OBDII to OBDI conversion harness. Now, everything I've read says that the easiest thing to do, and some people say what he has to do, is use a 96-98 EX harness. Since the engine is OBDI, however, and the ECU will be running in OBDI with the converter, wouldn't it be easier to just use an OBDI harness, or a JDM harness, and lengthen the wires to adapt for left hand drive? It just doesn't make any sense to me why if both ends are OBDI, why the middle should be OBDII. If I'm right, which harness would be the easiest to use? Also, will his distributor, injectors, and plugs work with the 96-98 harness, or an OBDI harness, JDM harness? Thanks.

Katman

ok this is why....
You can't use a OBD1 engine harness in a 96+ civic, because it's a 2 piece harness design. All 96+ civics use a 1 piece harness, and what I mean by '1 piece harness' is that the whole engine harness goes all the way down to the ecu, unlike a 2 piece harness where it breaks off at the main harness connectors on the passengerside shock pillar, seen here:




..also, you don't wanna use a JDM harness. It's made for a RHD car (duh) and the battery terminals are on the wrong side along w/a couple other important plugs.

hope this helps you understand.

Reid

Also, on a semi-related note there's no such thing as a JDM B18C1.

All 1.8L DOHC VTEC JDM motors are stamped "B18C", be it GSR or ITR.

Reid, who hates to think that some thieves out there probably are selling "JDM" B18C5's...

cmk804

Thanks on both counts

EKen9

What about the injectors and distributor? Do they need to be changed to OBDII?

Katman

logically yes, if you want everything, electronically, to plug & play. OBD1 injectors and distributors have different styles plugs than OBD2.