Ok so I have an Automatic 93 Prelude SI (H23 motor). Over the summer my timimg belt broke unexpectedly and caused all of my intake and exhaust valves to bend. I had all the proper engine work done on the valves and timing belt to get it running again.

About a week after that a leak started from the rear main seal due to the added pressure from the newly replace front main seal because of the timing belt and valve mechanic work. My mechanic advised me to replace the rear main seal so I did so. Once this was done the crank shaft started making a rattling noise I had never heard before. My mechanic claimed it was because the rear main seal wasn't allowing enough oil to reach the crank shaft eventually causing the ball bearings to get worn down causing the noise I was hearing.

Just last week I was driving it back to Portland, OR from where I live and in the middle of the freeway my car suddenly stopped driving and was making a load rattling sound. I had it towed to my mechanic and he now says the rod just broke and the bearings are done for.

He advises me to get a new motor because it will be cheaper to replace my current engine (120k miles) with a new one. I need some advice and what the wisest path to take would be. Should I just have him fix what needs to be fixed or should I purchase a new JDM motor with 35-40 k miles and drop that in? Should I have to replace the motor, I want to swap my tranny out for a manual as well as upgrade to an H22a (Vtech) from my current H23.

Some questions I have regarding swapping the engine are:
1. Will my current ECU work with an H22a?
2. What exactly does my new engine need to include in order for me to do the swap? Will I need to purchase new axels or can I use what I have?
3. Will my current tac be comptabile with my new engine? Isn't the redline on an H22a manual different from an H23 automatic?
4. Is it possible to change the odometer on my car to reflect the mileage on the new engine or will I have to just provide documentation of this when I come to sell the car?

Any help is GREATLY appreciated. I am without a car now and need to get this fixed as soon as possible. If anyone has any recomendations on where I can get a new engine and tranny for a good price online then please let me know. I am still in the shopping and education phase of this whole deal. Thank you!

 

http://www.hmotorsonline.com

talk to Steve, he can help you out with the motor, tranny, ecu part.

you tach will still work fine but your redline will be higher

than your tach reads.

I'm sure others will add their piece as well, good luck

 

I'll go ahead and check that site out. Do you think it is safe to purchase a motor off of ebay or should I stay away from that?

How much cheaper would it be to replace the crank shaft alone without doing the whole tranny swap? I think a swap, in the long run, would be better because when I come to sell the car with an H22a with less mileage on it than my H23 with 120k I would most definitely get more out of the car right?

Thank you for your help. This ordeal has been hell and is not really fun to deal with but hey, it happens. I appreciate it!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ramikassab &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'll go ahead and check that site out. Do you think it is safe to purchase a motor off of ebay or should I stay away from that?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I would stay away from that personally.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ramikassab &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
How much cheaper would it be to replace the crank shaft alone without doing the whole tranny swap?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I don't quite understand your question.
Do you mean the longblock vs an whole engine tranny setup?

Your better off buying the complete motor, tranny, ecu as one.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ramikassab &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I think a swap, in the long run, would be better because when I come to sell the car with an H22a with less mileage on it than my H23 with 120k I would most definitely get more out of the car right?
</TD></TR></TABLE>

That will help when selling it but unfortunately
they go more by blue book value

120k miles isn't that many miles for an h23,
I don't really understand how yours is having
so many problems.

Do you beat the hell out of your motor all the time?

I do quite a bit

 

I do beat the hell out of it I guess. The problems started only when the timing belt broke. The rest was result damage and I guess I got the worst of it.

Yes I meant longblock instead of tranny. I think I will just replace the engine. I am still undecided as far as whether or not to drop a manual tranny in it though. As much as I want to, I am planning on selling it soon and can't quite justify the cost difference between simply replacing the engine alone and doing both. Thanks for all your help!