So im looking at buying an old wagon for pretty cheap, but the engine doesnt run. Im assuming the tranny is still good and in assuming that im hoping to just swap another engine in. What engines could i put in, that wouldnt be too much of a hassle. Ive tried searching in the faq and such but to not much avail. thanks for any help...

 

just the same motor that is in it now. if you'd really like, you can swap in an 85-87 Si motor..

 

ok so that would be the EW15 right?? I could just get that out of any civic of the same year. Would a dohc motor from an 86 to 89 integra work, or atleast bolt to the same motor mounts and the tranny? wiring i dont mind that much

Also what is the 85 to 87 civic si motor called??

 

The 4x4 blocks i think are the same bolt housing as the D16A1's from the 1Gen Integras.

The 85-87 Si Fuel Injected motors are EW4 in 85-86 and D15A3 in 87.

 

All true.

The Civic AWD is an unique model. It uses an engine that is exactly the same as the EW4/D15A3... except that the block is drilled for the 1896-1989 Integra's tranny bolt pattern. So you can not toss in any old EW/D15A3 engine, it has to have the AWD's bolt pattern. But you can bolt in a 1986-89 Integra D16A1 (bigger engine, DOHC) and earn about 20 more hp than stock.

Do not throw away the AWD's engine! CRX/Civic racers love those blocks so that they can use the Integra's tranny in their cars (it is much easier to find a LSD for the Integra tranny).

Scott

 

Ok, well im going to go look at this car in about 45 minutes... And i think i might have found a donor motor also that is the stock one. From what you guys are saying I wont be able find a d16A1 that will bolt right up to the 4x4 tranny. Thats too bad because i really wanna keep the awd. So the only choice i have is to really find a newer stock engine and just swap it out?? Im no stranger to carbureted cars so i dont mind that much, but if i could find something else that would be cool too.

 

Ok well after looking at the civic ive decided to buy it. Its better looking than the civic I have now. The lady that was the original owner put over 5800 dollars in new parts in the civic over the past 5 years. New shocks, brakes, master cylinder, gas tank, distributor, sensors, muffler, and it looks like it has newer tires. All i have to do if find a new motor.
There is a place here that can get me a jdm motor for about 850, or another place that can get one for about 650 but the wait for that one could be months. Neither one seems that bad, but im pretty sure i could get a better motor for less. I was also wondering if I got coilovers for it, could i take the torsion bars(that i think it has) out??

 

scott is correct. the 86-89 D16a1 integra motor will bolt in. 88+motors for civics etc will not!

as for getting coilovers for the front, no. you can not remove the t-bars and just go to coils. the shock towers were not designed to take those stresses from the factory.

 

Will a d16a1 also bolt up to the 4x4 tranny too?? If not then ill just try and find another stock engine...

 

Ok after reading your guys posts over again, it seems that i can. What kind of wiring will i need to do to swap in an A1. Could i essentially just take the whole engine and wiring harness out of an integra and use that?? Also, this wagon, since is a 4x4 will be kind of my work horse, so is there any real way to beef up the suspension much to handle bigger loads...

 

Yes

Bigger loads? This is not a quarter ton pick-up. You will be best served by keeping to the designed load limits. Also, this car is meant for paved roads, open country off-roading performance will disappoint you.

Bigger t-bars are available and you can add suspension travel by removing the brakeline bracket off of the front struts and mounting the lower portion of the front struts lower in the knuckle. I highly recommend adding a set of fender braces to stiffen up the front suspension.

Ground control makes a coil over kit for these cars and you can put big springs on the rear.

Scott

 

Well by bigger loads i don't mean like yards of gravel and and enough wood to build a house. I mean mostly hauling me and my tools around and maybe a rack on top to hold a snowboard and bike (maybe a ladder). Pretty much within its limits, just want to beef up the suspension a tiny bit as to not completely over work it. I never really intended to be able to off-road it either(like rock climbing or mudding). The most off roading ill be doing is taking it up to the local mountains for snowboarding and such.

I do believe ill just be putting bigger or heavier springs in the back for now, and what do you mean buy fender braces? thanks for the help

 

If that is your planned usage, the stock suspension will be fine. No need to upgrade the torsion bars or springs. The biggest single improvement to the suspension would be to add the largest rear sway bar you can find. A junkyard rear swaybar off of a Dodge/Chrysler minivan is an easy bolt on. Addco also sells a rear sway bar that bolts right up.

The car's body essentially ends at the firewall. The engine/trasnmission/suspension is bolted to a sub frame that extends forward. At the top of the suspension are a pair of "arms" that reach forward from the firewall and provide the top links for the front struts. Those "arms" are not very well supported, adding a triangular brace under the fenders that brace the "arms" is a good chassis improvement. But not essential unless you plan on racing.

 

Ok well thanks for all the help guys. I should be getting the head back pretty soon and figuring out what im doing. If it can be fixed easily then I'm doing it, but from what I'm hearing it might be like 400 or something to fix. If that is the case then I'm going for that d16a1 and going all out. Ill try and get some pics up when i start working on it. Once again thanks for the help