So I have a bunch of non-performance engine swap questions. I am getting a swap in my 92 civic CX. The engine, ECU, tranny, and axles are going bye bye. The engine has 140K miles on it, runs fine, uses ~1 quart of oil/5000 miles and gets ~40 mpg.
My brother has a 91 SI with 250K miles, it uses a quart of oil about every 1000 miles and gets ~25-30 mpg. I know he would be taking a hp loss by doing this swap, but he doesn’t care, just wants some reliable wheels for a while.
So here are my questions:
1. Does anyone know how difficult this swap would be? Sounds like some wiring issues but probably not too difficult. Distributor issues?
2. Would the engine/tranny bolt right in?
3. Any idea how many hours it would take a competent mechanic to do this?
4. I’m recommending that he change the: timing belt, clutch, water pump, thermostat on the CX engine before he installs it. Anything else?
5. Is this pure lunacy. Should he just invest the swap $$ and get a rebuild done. How much would that run, roughly?

thanks for any help!

 

1. just the engine very simple, bolt right in. Even more simple if you use the '91 ECU, Distributor, and Injectors
2. the tranny will not bolt in, 92 and up use hydraulic clutch, 91 and down use cable type. but unless his tranny has serious problems, he'd want to keep using his old one anyway
3. good backyard mecanic could probably do the motor in a weekend
4. you've got the basics covered here, new injectors wouldn't hurt if he's swapping Si injectors in it anyway.
5. not sure how much it would cost, I'd take the spare money and start rebuilding the Si botom end and stick a d16y8 head on it.... "mini me" he'll have plenty of time to build one up on a limeted budget while the CX motor gets him around.

 

Thanks! Would the ECU from his motor (16 valve) be able to run my motor (8 valve)?

 

I'm pretty sure as long as he uses his Distributor and injectors, he should be able to use his ECU