need some guidance. Have a 92 prelude si 4ws that has a seized engine. Bought jdm h23a v tec blue top (old h23a1 is non vtec) to replace this engine. there are some obvious differences here. Need to know what steps to take to get this engine in and working. How do I address the wiring harness difference? do I have to chip the ecu? what parts might be needed from my previous engine, if any. getting too many differing opinions on my internet searches. Need someone who knows what they are doing to help me out. Thanks!

 

I really hate to say this, but it's not going to work. You need to put some SERIOUS cash into this, you need to rewire the entire car with the JDM harness, all the way to the taillights. I've tried the H23A for 9 months now. It just won't work. You need the JDM ECU, along with the keys to the original car that used the engine. You'd have to re-flash the ECU, and even then, it will throw misfire codes out the ***. I've been trying everything possible with this thing, so I'll just save you the time and just tell you to sell it. Let someone who has the money to do this play with it. I honestly don't know of anyone whose done this swap before. And all those YouTube videos you see, they've all thrown check engine lights and most likely misfire codes. I've found one with an immobilizer he uses to start the car. I'd try to contact him if you have any chance. I think you'd be better off with a USDM H22, sleeve it, and turbo charge it. It'd cost you just as much to do that as it will to get this engine running. If I find anything out, I'll let you know.

 

hmmm that's funny. i didn't have to do any of the things you just said. anyways just check for the esp blue top mystery motor thread. that will explain a lot.

here i got it for you.
https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-prelude-4/jdm-h23a-vtec-blue-top-mystery-motor-true-facts-questions-2341343/

 

im sorry for bumping this but this is just stupid

maybe you should leave the swap to someone who knows what theyre doing cause you sure dont

 

honestly i dont see what the problem would be.
all your doing is adding a different head.
it would almost be the same as guys doing the frankenstien engines.

I've never done one before but i would think you would have to modify the wiring for the vtec and such
and upgrade the ECU to a VTEC ecu

i dont see how you would have to redo all the wiring tto the taillights.
yuor just adding a different head
good luck man

 

I think he is joking, because that is a pretty outlandish response.

Its a motor, and all that needs to be rewired is the engine harness and then add the vtec harness to the original harness. If it has an immobilizer then the same concept applies as the Type S or SH motors with immobilizers.

Just do more reading, its all over the site and the internet as well.

If you do not know how to, then send your harness and the BlueTop harness to www.rywire.com and have Ryan do the conversion for you.

 

dude this **** is simple, get a chipped p28 with a h22 base map, then get an OBD0 dizzy. then your good to go!

 

well it not that bad i have a 91 accord and it had a h22 swap that was blown up i swaped out the intake and the dist and fired the car up and it only threw a vtec code so i have to chek the wiring but it should work for you the only thing is it was idleing high so i tryed to adjust the timing but ????? so iam still trying to figure it out but i think i might change the ecu we will see how it works

 

To put an OBD2 H23A into a '92, you'll want to convert the engine to OBD1, which isn't hard. You can use a regular P13 ECU to get started, but you'll want to get a chipped P28/P75/P72 and have it tuned to get the most power out of it

 

You don't need to rewire the entire harness. You just need to lengthen a few wire connectors to it's sensor. Get a OBD1 P13 Distributor so that it'll plug N play into your stock engine harness cause OBD2 Distributor has more pins in their connector if I'm not mistaken. I've also read that you'll need to swap the top or full intake mani to the H22 IM so you can still be able to retain your 2-wire IACV.

Then just get a p28 chipped ECU so you can get the H23A VTEC tuned.

 

http://s1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc429/djlooneyca/

 

why are we churning up this slop?

 

it in and run like a champ just have to do some tuning

 

Looking good.

 

it just idles a little hi now but runs strong

 

Im doing the same thing but im hearing and reading so much diffrent stuff on it, i want to hear from someone who has actually did the exact same thing i am trying to do.

 

hey guys i am in need of help. im doing the same swap. i got an h23a vtec for my 95 prelude si that originally had the h23a1. so far im seeing that ill reuse my obd1 external coil dizzy, get a chipped and tuned ecu for the h23 vtec. and wiring up vtec. what will i do about the crank sensor or tps differences something about being or not being in the oil pump/dizzy? im really confused what the wiring will entail because i need to stay obd1. im going to use my stock harness on the new motor. what sensors will i need to swap or look out for? do i need any adapters? also is the mount under the timing cover different?

 

It's going to be plug and play since you are staying obd1. Just add the two vtec wires and you will be good to go. Use your original distributor. Unfortunately you will need to source, from the top of the bypass valve on up, an intake plenum/throttle body complete with h22 parts because the h23a vtec has a different egr and iacv system.

 

you do not need the upper part of the manifold, rosko racing makes an adapter plate to convert the three pin to the 2 pin iacv. Also if your going with obd1 anyways, just eliminate the egr, no need for it.