so I'm curious about my motor.. I have a jdm H23A non vtec out of the jdm 92-96 ascot innova si-Z2.3.. so far I haven't found any solid facts about the motor. some people I had talked to said it was open deck just like the other h23's, it's not tho. I found that out when I did my valves, it's closed deck. and nobody can tell me why it makes 3 more hp than the usdm h23. and now I'm on to the crank Q's, some people are saying it has the same "balanced" crank that the h23a vtec has, and some are saying it does not.. so I'm gonna find out I wanna tear off my oil pan and check it out, but I haven't got underneath it in a while. i can't remember, is the pan gasket similar to the d-series y8(rubber multiple install, or will I need a new one? lame question, but I wanna know before this weekend so I can order it if I need one

 

hmm, well I found a pic of the gasket.. looks like a flat silicone on gasket.... not 100% sure tho

 

It's most likely just like the USDM H23a1 and has a steel pan, if you see a gasket there then order the one for the Si and use that. Hondabond wont work when bonding steel to aluminum, that's why there's a gasket. If it really does have any more HP might be the same reason as most JDM motors, higher compression due to more lenient emission laws. Couldn't tell you about the crank though but the H23a VTEC has an open deck block because it's OBD2, your motor is OBD1, the USDM H23a1 was closed deck too.

 

Ive rebuilt all the h series and thers cranks are simular on non vtec h blocks. And yes jdm pistons are known for popping the dome on theres. But i think the 3 hp comes from the jdm ecu itself.

 

hmm, I didn't know that about the blocks being closed(obd1, and open(obd2.. I'm anxious to see if my crank is balanced or not. I have driven a prelude with the stock h23a1 in it and it definately felt powerless in the top like the power band had dropped off closer to 6300rpm. and mine feels like the peak power is closer 7200rpm right about rev limit. I know that doesn't mean anything for sure, but thats why the pan is coming off can anyone tell me, how spry is your h23a1? how strong is your top end? and when you grap 2nd and 3rd gears do you spin your tires at all?? odd Q's, but I'm curious how yours runs