I'm new to hondas but quickly learning to love the abilities of them... I want to get a del sol but there seems to be three engine variations the SOHC, SOHC VTEC and DOHC VTEC. I want the performance of the VTEC and the DOHC sounds like the best bet, but i was wondering if i get a car with just the SOHC can i take off the heads and change the ECU, heads, belts, etc and make it a DOHC VTEC, and is it cost effective or am i better with doing a full motor swap (and does require a tranny change over)? can a SOHC VTEC be changed also to a DOHC and what is the best cost effective way. i have the ability to do an old american motor swap but learning the hondas now and having to learn a new set of designs and concepts. having some books arriving soon but just trying to get a head start on my learning.
thanks for your help.

 

well first off, to answer the SOHC/DOHC combo question. No. Your cannot place a DOHC VTEC cylinder head on a D-Series (ie SOHC Block). You best bet would be to read some posts in this all motor forum for awhile. Learn a little bit on whats popular and what puts down good HP on a dyno (TYPE R Swaps, LS/VTEC's, B20/VTECS etc)... Once you've read up and asked a few questions, take it to a local swap shop. Tell them what you want and see if they can make it happen at a reasonable price. Good luck and welcome to HT.com

BTW, My recommendation on a chassis would be a 92-95 civic hatchback or coupe.

I personally have a 00 civic coupe but if I could have started over I would have wanted the lighter chassis civic first. The EK or 00 civic would have came later.

 

well said