So I recently purchased a 95 civic ex with a bad bottom end. I replaced it with a CRX D15B2 bottom end. I'm using the Y7 cam gear D16Z6 timing belt. I set the timing up and everything was pretty much on the money.

Car runs great at low rpms (idle to 4500) but once I get to the VTEC activation point for a stock P28 I can't feel the VTEC coming on and it doesn't pull like it should.
Also the engine cuts out at around 6500 rpm like a fuel cut-off. I don't have any check engine lights but this is a factory ABS model with rear disc and the ABS light is on but would this have anything to do with it?

I thought it might be a ground problem so I gorunded the VTEC selenoid at the selenoid but same problem. I've searched and read that others have had the same problem but can't find a reason why. Is this a timing issue? Oil level is good and like I said the engine feels great up to the VTEC activation point where the power starts to fall out.

PLEASE help or chime in if you've had a similar experience.

 

common 9 views and no-one has anything to say?

 

bump somebody?

 

bump my friend has a b2/z6 mini me in an ej1 and its blew up, same symptoms as yours. he took the head off after if threw a rod and there was a 1/4" play with the cam and cam gear

 

try setting base timing to like 14

 

well IIRC the d15b2 is a stock 88-91 civic/crx dx dpfi block right? did you remove the oil restrictor on the rear deck of the block before you put the head on? this is what you usually do when you do a mini-me (what it seems like you did) conversion. This could be possible related b/c of the fact that the vtec system works off of oil pressure (RIGHT? lol) and the oil restrictor would restrict oil flow, thus no vtec?... any1 see where i am coming from. its been a while since i've worked with a mini-me so its kind of fuzzy for me.

 

yes that could be it, but he said that it goes into vtec

 

Yes I took the oil jet out. I've also now replaced the cap and dist. assembly. Same problem. I had a Z6 in the car before this with bad rings and it did the exact same thing. I've also tested the press swith and vtec selenoid so they're def both working and have continuity at the ecu. When it revs past 5500 it starts acting like its loosing fuel pressure and bogging down but I pinched off the reurn line to raise the pressure and it bogged worse.

Would a slightly blown headgasket cause this? The motor runs great, doesn't really smoke and doesn't overheat. The fan also comes on when it should but the top and bottom hoses feel just a little bit tight. I used a brand new headgasket, the head was resurfaced and flat (checked with a snap on straight edge) and I reused the Z6 head bolts.

Why would I want to set the timing to 14 degrees? Just curious. I plugged in my Hondata P72 for my CRX and it does the exact same thing so I know its not an ecu issue. Running out of ideas? Did I need to use a SOHC VTEC oil pump?