Hi. Just want to first off say that I'm a long time reader of this forum, but first time poster. I mainly keep to the road racing/autocross forum.

A friend of my mother owns a shop and is selling a customers car, its a 94 civic ex coupe with a Y4F/S20 ex tranny and the D15B/P08 jdm vtec motor. It is running off a P28 ECU. The reason for the new motor is because the previous owner did not take care of the car and the engine seized up; non-frequent oil changes will do this. Also, the tranny has been completely rebuilt with new bearings and a fifth gear. I don't remember if the intake manifold is off the old D16Z6, or if it is the D15B/P08 intake manifold, but i assume its the Z6 because it has all the emissions stuff hooked up.

The car is in good shape overall, a little paint oxidatioin on the roof. Its and ABS Ex, so it has rear discs...car runs great overall.

I guess my real question is, for any of you that have experience with this, is, will I have trouble passing smog with this setup, a D15B running from a P28
and will I have trouble putting a title on the car since the engine does not match up with the VIN on the chassis (obviously since its a JDM motor). Will it have to be a 'salvaged' title since it doesn't match? How do i prove the motor is legit? I think i will have to get a written statement from teh shop owner and all, i'm sure he has receipts for the motor...

I am in california if that makes a difference, and I know it does.

Thanks for any help in advance. I basically want this to be a cheap but good beater car, hes (the owner of the car, not the shop person) asking $4000 but imma pitch lower. I will likely auto-x the car and possibly build it for HPDE events, as well as use it as a commuter.

also as a last question, what is a sure fire way that i can tell that the P28 ECU is letting the D15B motor go into vtec? or should i just listen for it witht the resonator off the intake? I know about applying voltage to the vtec solenoid, but how much voltage?

 

dont know about the emissions stuff, but your vtec will work with the p28 as long as its wired up.

 

i suppose if i had trouble smoging it, i'd have to take it to the BAR/referee station for that carb/bar sticker since the emissions sticker on the hood doesn't match the engine stamp.

 

I just called the california BAR referee place to make an apointment, and, since the engine is swapped, I would have to take it to a referee station to get it certified and smogged. They said I don't have to have documents for the motor if it didn't come with them, they will just ensure the motor has the current model year of the car of emission stuff and that it passes the tailpipe test. Then I'd get the sticker.

The valve cover on this D15B is silver/non-painted, so i assume its a 95+ http://asia.vtec.net/article/d15b/ going by that site. The chassis is a 94, so that works out. I'll check the stamping on the head to be sure.

The car owner wants $4000, but KBB says about $3200-$3500......so i think that what i'm going to offer.

 

from my experiene with the jdm d15b motor.....

i had no troubles at all getting it smogged. pulled it into a smog station and they did it in and out. this of course, is the ideal situation with the smog tech not even knowing i performed the swap into my hatch.... dont ask, dont tell...


but i was on my way to being completely legit, taking it to the BAR station and all. it should pass with the p28, its the usdm counterpart of the p08. have all your wiring straight, no loose odds and ends. clean the bay up a little, give it a tune up, you should be good.....

 

For sale? This needs to be in the Classifieds section...

 

I'm looking to buy it, i was just asking you guys your opnion on the car/motor, mainly about getting it smogged/BAR'd and titled. I'm not 'advertising/selling' the car.

I already did research on the engine and the car etc. All I figure its gonna need its brakes (new blank discs all around, and hawk HPS pads), brake fluid, new suspension bushings (including the rear trailing arm bushings, and control arm bushigns and front sway bar endlinks), tie rods/ends etc, new shocks (I'm gonna go with koni yellows for now) and matched tires. Its a peeve of mine when the tires aren't matched.

Do you think if i offer the seller $3200-$3500 it would be too low from his asking of ~$4000? KBB maxes out at about $4000 if the car is in 'excellent' condition; this car is in fair condition in my opinion; some scratches, and oxidized paint on the roof....but it is mechanically sound.

 

That's an OK price, go for it.

 

who you getting the car from i know a thing or two about manteca