im planning on getting a swap but theres a zc in a crx right now and he is trying to sell it for 500, i was just going to take the motor out and put it in my hatch, *90*, and was wondering if the zc swap was worth it? anyone got a zc in there hatch? if so have you timed it yet? let me know cause i dont want to get it if it isnt worth it

 

If you can afford to get it, get a B16. If you're strapped for cash, the ZC is worth it. That's the situation I was in and I've been happy with mine for the past 6 months or so. Sound like you'd be doing it yourself so the ZC is just plain easier, but the B16 though is a better route for the long run though. I'll probably get one in the next year or so.
My suggestion, unless you really need a new engine right now, or unless you're going to go forced induction, save your pennies and get a B16.
Evan

 

can you beat the 99 si or the gsr's?

 

Before you buy it, make sure you check the compression on it. Is he just selling the engine for 500. I got my zc motor for 500 used and it came with everything. I was really happy how strong it felt, I my case I was driving a stock HF for like two years and said to myself that It was time for me to get an up grade so I got me a ZC motor which are cheaper than B16s if you dont have that much money and have the look of a DOHC motor in your car instead of the stock SOHC. Just go and do some reading first before you buy it.

 

What's up, I was just thinking about your question today, and I think first of all(and this is STRICTLY my opinion) depends on the scene around where you are, do you drag race or auto-x alot? Maybe then the B16 is the better bet, but for me, I live in the midwest, and you either have ricers(you know those guys who put body kits and monstrous wings ontheir cars and have maybe an exhaust and intake and header, and you have the good 'ol boys who would'nt give up their Chevy, Ford or Mopar if you put a gun to their head. I talked with someone who has owned a B16 and from my figuring and what he said, for less than the price of a B16 you could get a ZC and hook up and 50-shot of NOS and be able to smoke the B16's, granted they are not hard tuned street cars. Anyway, that's just my .02, I'm going ZC...

 

uhh, I don't know what you mean. Drag racing? I've never been. Auto-xing, depends. I run in D-mod around here and it's dominated by two guys with gutted CRXs, 1 with a B16 and 1 with a B18C, so they pretty much smoke me. But my times are usually faster than those of the stock Si or GSRs out there. But in the end it depends a lot on how good a driver you are.

Evan

 

i think it all come down to CASH...how fast do you want to go is ...how much money you got ..... i just put a zc in the wifes dx civic and i think it`s way better than the 1.5 it came with....but for $2000 i would have liked the vtec too...

 

just like the man says, it all depends on how much cash you have and how fast you wana go. If you got the cash for a b16a go for it, if you dont have enough get the zc. Cars dont run on gas they run on cash.

 

alright thanks guys, well the car is coming with a zc for 500 thats why i was thinking of buying it, but wondering if it was worth the time to swap it, but right now im in the budget of a zc, but if i wait a couple months i can get a b16, i just want speed asap cause to many people be reving up on me and my dx aint going nowhere, so i was just thinking of the zc for now and then the b16, well thanks for your opinion and help, i guess i might get that zc, do they make a lot of aftermarket parts for this motor?

 

don't get a ZC cause it isn't smog legal. get a D16A from a 88-89 integra. same stuff pretty much.

 

sorry, I don't think i know wtf this guy is talking about...smog legal depends on the state doesn't it?

 

I ran a 15.1 in the quartermile with ZC in my 89 hatch. that was the second time I ever ran my car. I'm planning on breaking into the 14's this year with no further mods. I ran against a 90 hatch with B16 and I beat it by .011 seconds. His car was fully gutted too. musta been a bad driver I only have cheapo intake, focuz header, and exhuast. I'd say ZC's are damn good deal for the performance. I beat gsr's preludes, and si's all day long.

Rae

 

i've got a b16 that i'm puttin in, but what should u get? it depends on how much money you've got to throw into this. w/ the b16 you're going to run into more charges than you think. if i had to start the project over, i would have gotten the zc, mainly b/c it's cheaper and right now i'm tryin' to save up for an s2k. mwahahaha. i really like the b16, but the zc is an awesome engine too. i've got a friend w/ an '88 civic hatch w/ a zc and a stage 3 act clutch. he can bark the tires in 4th gear. it's a monster. if u go w/ the b16, make sure u know how to do the swap, cuz if u pay someone to do it....$$$$. anyways, hope i helped.

 

yeah it wont pass smog, but it all depends on where you live. well for me i got the hook up. hehehehehe. dont put a us 1g integra motor into your car cuz all the engine mounting is different.

 

i think the zc is the best bang for the buck. if you want to spend more cash, then go for the b16a...

 

I had a strong si and I ran a zc with cams, intake and exhaust...he beat me by a bumper. I consider myself a good driver, but none the less I expected more from a ZC. Personally, I would just wait. Its been 5 civics and 7 years and Im finially getting my swap! I say take your time...figure out EXACTALLY what you want, get a plan together and save up for it. Waiting is worth it, in the end...how much determination do you have?

-Jake

 

That's fast! Nice driving. The fastest I've hit with my ZC is a 15.2 in a 91 hatch.

Agreed. You can beat a stock GSR or stock Si with no problem at all. If you want a round about comparison or how the ZC compares to the A6... I had an A6 in my car and raced my friend numerous times on this old empty stretch of highway where we can go full out through 4th and in to 5th. He has a 94 hatch with the Z6. As we hit 3rd gear, he would pull on me by about 1 car, and by 5th, he was about 5 cars out. With the ZC, I can give him a 2 car headstart, catch him by 3rd, and by the end of 4th I'm about 5-6 cars on him and pulling hard, and he can drive really well (he races carts and motor-x, so he's used to driving, racing, and shifting etc.). We've done this test many times and the results are always the same. The ZC is well worth the money as long as you use the Si or ZC/Si hyrbid trans.


[Modified by therealciviczc, 2:22 PM 3/13/2002]

 

I have 89 4-speed std hatch. it only weighs 2010 lbs, so that's probably why mine's quick.

 

I would go with the ZC. I love mine. I spank modded GSR's all day long. The only mods i have are intake, exhaust, and 50 shot of nitrous. I am running on a dx tranny too. Oh yeah i beat the GSR's off the bottle too, not by much maybe about a fender length. People say its hard to find parts for the ZC, but its not. Best money I've spend

88 DXZC running a 9.2 in the 1/8 mile with slipping clutch

 

I couldnt have said it better. I have a 90 DX HB with a ZC and 50 shot and I just spanked a new Mustang. In the long run the Stang will take you, the ZC has no high end power After feeling the ZC I am very happy with what I got. I especially like it when my girlfried says to me "Don't go so fast, I dont like the way it pulls my face back." HB+ZC+50 shot=

 

I have my ZC and its a cost effective replacement motor if your primary concern isn't maximum performance, I've driven both and the B16 has much more *****. But then it had a ys1 trans and therefore a substantial gearing advantage over my stock DX trans with the ZC. I've begun to reassess that mine is in fact running right since riding in my brothers 91 DX HB that has a DPFI 1.6 not the 1.5 and he gets tire in 3 gears when I cant with my ZC. So I can't be running as good as I thought it was. BUt then again this is a work car that has to be economical and since my motor went south I needed something. Total cost was important since I get reimbursed a paultry 29 cents a mile. Mine runs smooth as silk but has less torque than my brothers car which motor and tranny wise is bone stock, we both are running 15" wheels, he has 195/50-15 I have 205/50-15 both are lowered 2". Mine was a '89 DX his a '91 DX . I should be able to kick his *** and can't and that sucks


[Modified by virginia_dude, 9:34 AM 3/14/2002]

 

ZC = Cost Effective
B16a = Performance

Do the same mods to the B16 that you do to the ZC... the b16 will always win assuming both cars weigh the same and have drivers of equal abilities.

Overall, the B16 is a much better and more reliable engine. If you don't care for the B16, go with a B18B.

 

What exactly makes the B16 more reliable?

 

hey i have had my ZC for about 2 years now and it is a good little motor, good potential and is an all around nice engine. It revs high and after like 3500-4200, it comes alive.......i posted a best of a 15 flat on regular tires and the motor was totally stock....other than obvious boltons, but no cams or porting or anything done to the fuel and electrical system........i can peg the speedometer on my civic with ease too....i like this motor but i want to move on into something Vtec motivated....something i can tune and control a little better.....hope that helps

 

for what we do to them on a daily basis....they are just better, they are built to rev high and get beat on....the ZC is the same.... almost, but it still doesnt compair...the parts are also more readily available....the ZC....if it breaks down and you cant find a ZC to part off of, you have to use integra parts which arent all exact...this may hamper performance......just my guess though....