Hi guys,
It feels like my F23A4 doesn't have long to last, so I'm doing some research into which engine I could put in as a replacement without having to modify anything else. The car is a 2000 Honda Accord Coupe. I would prefer to swap only the engine and leave my current ECU alone. Thanks!

 

Use the engine it came with stock for the most simplicity.

 

Just find another F23 for it, at junkyards you can pull one out for less than 100 bucks.

 

Thank you guys! What about H engines? Would it be more difficult to hook it up?

 

You can use H22/23's or F20B if you wanted to also. They are a straight drop in. You are going to have to change your ECU though.

 

Thank you for your response! So if I were to buy an H22A5 engine, would I have to buy it with a gearbox? Or would I be able to use my old gearbox from the F23A4?

 

The F23 gear box will bolt up, but it probably won't be the best option for getting the best performance or economy out of the H22.

There are a few things that need to be swapped for a 6th gen Accord H22 swap. Here is an older link for a 6th gen H22 swap.

https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-accord-1990-2002-2/6th-gen-h22-swap-info-473019/

Also I'm not sure what the immobilizers are like over seas but the only H22 ECU that doesn't have an immobilizer installed here in North America is the 96 Prelude Si VTEC.

You will also require an H22 exhaust manifold/header......... Obvious bolt-on mod anyway.

However, If you don't want to swap ECUs, I would suggest dropping in another F23.

Cheers

 

Yes the H22A5 will bolt up to your F23A4 transmission, but it will not be the best route to go with. Ghost Accord gave you the best possible answer.

If its just a quick replacement and you want to do a transmission swap down the road or just daily driving it, then its fine.

But if you want a faster 1/4, everytime you are shifting your going to be out of VTEC.

Even the H22 transmission is consider quite long if you are comparing it to a B16/ITR.

You also can get a P28 ecu and chip it using hondata and have it run on the correct basemap.

 

Okay, so I think I'll go for another F23 for easiest installation. One more thing, will an F23A1 work with my old ECU? F23A1 is a little different from F23A4 - the latter is an ULEV engine with a broadband oxygen sensor.

 

Honestly I've never worked on a ULEV motor. I'm not 100% on what the differences are other than the O2 and the tuning of the ECU. If you take the wideband O2 and any other ULEV related sensors/parts and swap them over to the F23A1 it should work.

 

I know the exhaust manifold is different for the ULEV model as well (pretty sure because of the wideband o2 sensor). That's the only other thing I can add to GhostAccord's post.

 

But what about the ECU? Say, I get a new F23A1 (non-ULEV) engine with an exhaust manifold, swap it into my car, plug my old wideband O2 sensor in it and hook the whole thing up to my old ULEV ECU. Will it throw any CELs? Or should I get a new non-ULEV ECU to be on the safe side?

 

As GhostAccord said, as long as you have the correct type of o2 sensor (wideband), you will probably be fine. I can't think of a reason it would have problems with that, but we can't make promises you won't throw a code (because we haven't done it ourselves) but I know someone has done what was suggested and it did physically run fine. Wish I could find that thread...

So give it a shot, unless you can find a F23a1 ECU for cheap, then might as well get that and save yourself some hassle.

 

Just a note, using a F series tranny with a H series motor, will reduce performance, but increase fuel economy. Lower RPMs on the freeway translates to less driveline losses, and therefore more efficient travel.