im looking at a eg hatch with a k20 swap. how can i tell these 2 motors apart? where are they stamped? what noticable differences are their? also its suppost to have a hondata kpro ECU. how can i tell if it's real? is it true that only kpro's have a green little light??

anything else i should look for??


thanks alot

 

I've actually never seen where they block stamp is for the K series engines. The best way I could guess to tell them apart would be to

A: What kind of tranny does it have? Although trannys can be swapped most likely the same tranny that came with the motor is on it.

B: I think the intakes on the A2 are different than the A3. And the base RSX has a plastic intake I believe.

C: If is the K20A2 the I-VTEC will have another kick at whatever engagement point it is set at (dunno what it is) that will be similar to normal VTEC whereas the A3 motors doesn't really have that...

D: If it has KPRO ask to see the ECU. Usually Hondata puts stickers on the ECU and there will be a spot for a USB port for external tuning. I am pretty sure it HAS to have KPRO if it is a K swap into an EG. No other form of engine management available.

E: Ask the owner?

Hope that helps. Some people on here will probably be able to tell you right away. That's all I could think of.

 

They stamp the block by the starter under the intake manifold. The intake manifolds for the base are completely different than on the type-S. The Base models have an ugly black manifold with dual runners. The type-S has a regular looking metal intake.

The k-pro isn't a flashy green light. Not if it's swapped into a eg hatch. The flashy green thing is the immobilizer key light that gets disabled on the k-series when you install k-pro.

Hondata doesn't put on the sticker, they give you a sticker, so it might not be on the ecu. But the ecu should have a cut out section for a USB connector.

 

hmm **** my ecu came with a big *** hondata stock badge on it..

 

well i looked at the car, and the ECU (kpro) have a solid green light when the cars running?! is this normal?

 

Don't base it on by looking at the Intake Manifold only though because the K20a3 that coms in EP3's has a metal IM, not the black one like the a3 in the base RSX. Try and find the block stamp. I'm not sure about the green light but just because it has K-Pro doesn't mean it's an a2, you'd still need K-Pro if you were to swap an a3. Another thing you could check is where the rev limiter is set. Most people with a3's wouldn't have it set past 8, and so unless they brought it down which is unlikely it should atleast be around 8200 or 8300 if not higher, depending a2 or z1.

 

drive it and you'll know...

 

lol. A+

 

if you had the valvecover off it would be easy the cams are different. best way with it all still intact id say is to drive it. k20a2 you can hear feel the vtec crossover, with the a3 you cant.

 

isnt the a3 5 speed and the type s motor 6 speed?

 

yes but you can swap a six speed on the a3.

 

i cant feel the vtec crossover in my a2.... i can hear it though o.0

 

green light on all the time is fine

 

a2 cams are 3 lobe. you can also look at the sticker on the timing chain cover. but looking at the cams and block stamp are you're best bet. ecu, intake manifold, trans, etc can all be switched.

 

WAT? would you like to explain the reason to do this?

 

WOW! to some of the responses in this thread.

1) There is definitly a block stamp as 1 person has already stated. Look under the intake manifold area.

2) K20A2 and K20A3 (from an EP3) both come with PRB intake manifolds so thats out.

3) You ask why 6-speed? Close-ratio transmission = "faster". Shorter gearing is better for acceleration. I bet if EPs came 6-speed, people would not dog on the EP3/K20A3 as much

Honestly, theres a ton of ways you could be getting screwed over that can't gurantee anything when you buy it. Hopefully the guy you're buying from is trustworthy.