I am thinking about buying a SOHC VTEC from some guy. His car was totaled, i am getting the engine, ECU, wire harness. I would get the trans and axels but it is an auto. So my question is, if i have an 89 crx Si trans can I use that on the 95 civic motor so I don't have to convert to a stupid hydrolic and try to find a 5 speed for it. And if i can can I use the flywheel from the 89 because it has already been lightened. PLEASE!!!!!!!any info asap, I am desperate!!!!!!!

 

Well, I'm also putting in a SOHC VTEC from a 96 civic in my 89 rex. Your motor is out of a '95 si or ex, right? The D16Z6? If so, you're lucky, because you don't have to convert from OBD-II to I, you can just rewire your CRX's harness fairly easily to acomodate OBD-I.
Now, I don't know too much about the wiring, but I'm pretty damn sure you can use your 89' flywheel and you can use a later D- series clutch as well. As for the auto-standard thing, you can use your '89 tranny and axels without too much difficulty, becuase the boltholes will (should) line up. However, I don't know if the autos have less guts than the manuals... help anyone?
Also, get a p28 ecu from a MANUAL Civic (92-95) There is a site that tells you how to tell if your ecu is a manual or an automatic when you buy one, and it is
http://www.hondata.com/civic9295.html

You can also get Auto ECU's converted to manual ones, btw. I don;t know the cost though.

There are a few guys on here who know how to do this swap fairly easily. Do searches, and just keep posting away...

 

i just went and checked out the engine, everything checks out good. it is the d16z6, from an ex 95 civic coupe. what do you mean with OBD-II and OBD-I? I am just starting to learn about this stuff and don't have a clue with wires. My crx is an 88 dx, but like i said i have an 89 Si tranny and flywheel, I'll just get stage 2 or 3 act clutch. Also what is the difference between the auto and manual ecu? plus when I order a clutch to i order it for the 89 Si crx to match the tranny or do i order it for the 95 ex civic? thanx

the only things I need are the full engine, ecu and wire harness,vtec solinoid???? I don't want to have to rig anything for a vtec controller and i don't have teh money to be buyin one anytime soon. I just want the engien to start in my car, no check engine lights, no codes, vtec kick in when it is supposed to, just like it is supposed to be in the car. thanx again...
the dx-R

 

ok, so i have been asking a friend about some stuff. we already know my crx is 88 dx. the motor i am getting is 95 civic coupe ex. d16z6 engine. it is an auto, but i am wanting to use my friends 89 Si crx tranny and the 89 Si lightened flywheel. when i buy this motor next week what do i need to get off of this civic. do i need the wire harness from it or do i re-wire my crx wire harness? Also would it be cheaper to get this civic ecu (automatic) shipped off and re-wired to manual, or am I better off just buying a manual? and all my questions from the previous post under shawnD still stand and need answering except for the OBD 1 and 2 thing, i figured it out. thanx for any help i can get. and will i need to use the radiaotor form the civic or will mine still work alright? please respond somebody!!!!!!!

 

the 89 flywheel and trans will work great with that motor. you need the clutch for the 89. the 92-95 flywheels use a bigger clutch. you will need to rewire your dx wirign to si wiring style. if you're gonna use the p28 computer, you can either have adapters made for the wiring harness plugin(they are different) or just get the plugs from teh wiring harness in your buddies wrecked car adn wire them into your car. your crx radiator will be fine for that motor. I used the injecters, tp sensor, and stuff liek that on my 94 d16z6. it all works just fine with my 90 si computer. hope this helps.

 

Have fun with VTEC

 

I'm pretty sure that you can use a later clutch with that 89' transmission, but I do know that you can use your flywheel (identical). As for the OBD-I and OBD-II, these codes refer to the type of computer you're going to run. You've definately got to upgrade that DX wiring to si specs, and do what civicwagonman says. He's right. I'm just about to try and figure out how to wire my p28. If you really wanted to go ghetto, you could run a stock Si computer and use a switch for VTEC, though you'd have a lower redline. I'd recommend the p28. You'll get better emissions, an the proper fuel maps and ignition timing for that motor.

 

Alright guys. I appreciate all the info, it is helping a little. So let me get some things straight. I need the complete engine from the wrecked 95 civic. I can use my friends 89 Si tranny and flywheel, and then order my race clutch for the 89 Si stuff correct? And you are saying i need to just forget about the computer that is in the civic right now and go buy a p28 for a manual 92-95 civic. and i need to buy a complete wire harness from a crx Si? what year? And if i get a Si crx wire harness is it worth it to spend the time tring to yank out the wire harness from the civic.. or should i just change the adapters. And where do I get these adapters from? Plus does anybody have an idea how much honda might charge for a new wire harness so i don't have to spend hours yanking one from a junk yard, and how much do you think i should pay if i went to a junk yard? And no, i absolutely do not want to ghetto the vtec on a switch or anything, I want the engine to run all on its own as if it is still in the civic...( built a little of coarse!!!) Please keep posting, I need all the info as possable. Thanx so much..I'll be looking for more info.

 

ok, i was just looking at the link the guy gave me above for the ecu's. i went to the site and downloaded the brochure for prices and info. they start at stage two? is there no way to get a stage 1? just a stock manual civic ecu that will work?could i go to a junk yard and find one instead of buying some fancy programable ecu cuz money is alittle tight. thanks again.

 

I have a 93 d16z6 motor in my 89 DX crx. Theres two ways for you to do it. If you wanna save money, you can do it the way i did. I used the d16z6 longblock ( head/tranny/intake manifold) with an 89 Si tranny. I belive it bolts on straight, im not sure if my friend used a different flywheel to make the clutch fit. Since your car is a DX, there's only 2 fuel injectors so it'll have to be wired to 4. I bought the HASPORT wiring kit. They make it easy so you dont have to do any cutting or splicing. Now, the injectors and the distributor must be from an 88-91 Si crx/civic. You also need a 92-95 fuel pressure regulator. The distributor must also be modified to fit the block. As for the ECU, you have a couple choices. You can use the 88-91 crx/civic Si ecu, or you can use an 89 Integra ecu. I've tried both and i like the 89 Integra ecu because it pulls a little harder. I hope i was some help, if you want pics or links to other websites let me know, i have some.

-the new guy

 

I FORGOT! to activate the vtec, you must use an external vtec activator/controller. I'm using one made by summit racing. MSD makes an activation module also. Or you can use the APEXI or FIELD one....

 

costs....this was my cost..oif course itll vary

d16z6 (350)
summit switch(35)
hasport conversion harness(225)
si tranny(250)
89 Integra ecu(80)
Si injectors ( 40)
Si Distributor(100)

 

ok...i already have the 89 Si tranny and flywheel in my possesion. is there any reason i couldn't use a 92-95 manual civic ecu? i don't like the idea of having to ghetto it with a switch. I don't want to lose any power or rpms. and why can't i use the distributor and injectors that are already on the motor. is it because of the way the harness is set up? if so couldn't i just get the civic ecu and wire harness and put it all in? maybe i am just not catching on and for some reason thinking this would be easier to just wire it the way it is stock in a civic, that way you don't have to change any plugs at all. just put the engine in, the computer and the wire harness, plug everything in as if i am putting it back in the civic. The car i am getting it all from is complete, starts and runs great...but it is an auto so i know i would at least need the manual ecu and wires. if anybody has a technically explained how to step by step list it would be easier on you guys to just give me that so i don't have to sound stupid and keep on not understanding exactly what to do, the easiest and or cheapest way without rigging anything up. thanx for the help and paitence.

 

Basically like i said there are two ways of doing it. The wiring harness from the 92-95 civic is different than the harness from an 88-91 civic. You can remove your existing harness and replace it with the new one, but its a lot of work. There are two harnesses, one from the engine bay and one from the interior. The interior is what connects to the ecu and the 9295 ecu has totally different plugs. You'll have to do a lot of cutting and splicing. The distributor and injectors must match the ecu. If you use a 88-91 ecu, then u need to use those parts for it to work. I dont think i made it clear about the vtec. It's not really a switch. Its a thing that tells the vtec to go on, you select the rpm. You wont loose rpms.
Also, dont forget to buy a 88-91 SI injector resistor box for your swap.
here are some links that will help you out. I dont think i did a good job of explaining it...sorry
http://www.geocities.com/bing_bong916/vtec.html http://hybrid.honda-perf.org/tech/sohcvtec.html

 

don't be sorry at all. i appriciate everything more than u know. you say if i use the 92-95 ecu then i can use all the 92-95 injectors and distributor? but there is a lot of splicing and junk with wires.....the matter of taking apart the car to pull the wires out and put the 92-95 wire harness in isn't that big of a deal because my dad works collision work and can strip a car fast.so if the 92-95 wire harness matches the 92-95 ecu the way it does when i yank it from a car...then it should all just plug back in together without splicing, and then all plug back into the 92-95 motor if i leave all the stock 92-95 equipment on the engine block, head, intake manifold, distributor, injectors, etc. or, would it work if i had the full d16z6 engine, and the manual 92-95 civic ecu, could i send off my dx wire harness to somewhere like place racing and tell them what i am using, the woudln't the harness come back perfect for everything to plug in? you aren't the ones being unclear about everything, i just don't want to have to buy a vtec controller and buy a bunch of Si parts i don't have and can't afford. this is supposed to be an easy cheap swap!!! prove me right please!!!!!! thanx , please keep posting for me...i am just getting a head ache tring to follow everybody on this stuff because i have no clue , never done anything like this before.. i'll check back in a short while. thanx again please just deal with me...


[Modified by The dx-R CRX, 4:15 AM 4/9/2002]

 

yes the 88-91 si tranny's will fit on the sohc motor out of the 92-95 civic ex, and si.


[Modified by srollo, 2:38 PM 4/16/2002]

 

havent done this swap. But I do know you need a VTEC controller or a RPM activated switch.


This is a great thread cause ill be doing this to my car and buddies car newxt month

 

...only if you wanna do the swap half-***. dont half-*** it, you'll definitely be disappointed. convert to OBD1 and run the p28...

 

Yeah i know you convert it to OBD 1. But I thought you still needed a rpm activated switch.?????????


[Modified by 89 CRX SI, 11:41 PM 4/16/2002]

 

Alright heres my set up....

-D16Z6 long block in civic DX (dual point)

-'91 L3 tranny W/ D16z6 flywheel, clutch disc, and pressure plate (Yes, they werk with the '91 si tranny...89-91 si trannies all the same....88 has different splines on out put shaft...also the d16z6 pressure plate is stiffer than any 88-91 pressure plate because it was made fer hydraulic system=more holding power)

-Rewired to MPFI with the help with HYBRID board article (not hard at all!!! No need fer the hasport wiring conversion if you know how to follow simple instructions)

-NO VTEC activation switch!!! If you do it this way, when VTEC is engaged yur fuel maps will not be matched to the higher cam lobe (VTEC cam lobe) not good...could run lean...i got a ZDYNE reprogrammed ecu w/ one wire vtec prgrammed in.. for a lil bit over $300 werks like stock! or you can get a p28 (92-95 ecu OBD1) with the OBD 1 conversion harness....nothing better than honda stock ECU.

-axles are regular SI...

and thas it! hopfully that good enough info....just remember to double check EVERYTHING! and when you start the car up..make sure you idle it to operating temp...till the fan comes ...then you can go ahead and break it in if it was a built motor(if not rebuilt, gun the crap out of it!)
have fun with SOHC goodness....

 

just wanted to repost the fact that I have the 90 si computer in my car adn I am running the stock 94 d16z6 injectors with it. I have an 88 crx si distributor and injector resistor box. along with the 94 tp sensor. it all works great. I am currently running without vtec right now, not sure if I want to convert my p28 in or zdyne it. I am also looking into using a 88 accord clutch disk with a 94 flywheel and pressure plate.(so It will fit my 88 model trans, same splines I believe). I will post again if I am sure this will work.