My fiance just agreed that we should get her a commuter car, because gas is just about $4 here in NYC so that means this summer were going to see $5 a gal again, and her awd v8 thats averaging 14mpg around the city really needs to either get parked or sold.

Regardless, I was thinking about picking up a older civic like 95-96 or there abouts. The car will be getting parked on NYC streets, so were looking for something that runs like a dream, but looks like crap, lol. Well she isnt, but I am.

I had her drive an older civic and shes mainly concerned with the speed of the car, simply because shes traveling on the taconic and Garden state parkway quite a bit, and you really need to be able to get to 60 mph pretty quickly to zip in and out of traffic and get on/off.

I understand her point on the issue....where base model civics are dogs (but get great mpg) so I took her to look at an integra and that was ok....the problem now is finding a integra that doesnt have a fart can/lowered etc etc.

So....I was thinking, swap a B18 or so into an older civic....while I got it apart, change it so its pretty dead reliable..... got a friend that knows swaps real well, so he agreed to help me out, only issue is......my finance doesnt drive 5 speed, and I cant seem to locate an automatic engine swap.....

Do auto trans/ engine swaps exist?
IF they arent available, my only choice is to buy say a b18 jdm, and then grab a usdm auto tranny from a junker, or c/l or something?
Is there anything I need to know about mating a usdm auto tranny to a JDM engine?

I did one engine swap in my whole life and it was a jdm zc into a crx si in 1998 and it was pretty easy, however it was a direct swap with one wire to be hooked up. As Ive read, a b18 into a civic is pretty easy as well?

Sorry in advance for my ignorance. Also, is there any swap shops that have engine sales in or around the NYC/NJ/CT/PA area?

 

Why not teach her to drive stick and save the hassle? And as for Integras with crappy exhausts that can be fixed relatively easy so I don't see why that would stop you from picking one up. If you want some good pickup automatics are not the way to go.

 

Oh, if this isnt feasible does anyone have an recommendations of a good quick little 4 cylinder honda/acura? (quick=not 500hp. Just fast enough to keep up with the flow of traffic and quick enough to get on and off highways that most drivers go 80-85 mph. )

I was thinking maybe an integra or a prelude....I took a type II acura legend for a spin that was quick...but it was a 6 speed...and standard cars aren't an option.

 

How about an accord?

Not a v6 of course, but the 4 cylider ones are decent on gas and a bit more power than a civic.

 

Yea...I completely agree. I was showing her the basics of driving a 5 speed in my car, however I was getting annoyed because I dont want to be changing the clutch in my car, lol. She was getting it in about 10 mins of driving, however shes really against the 5 speeds or standards in general, Id say more then 50% of her driving is in NYC, where you are only going about 400 yards til you have to stop at a red light, so said she'd be more then willing to do a standard, if it wasn't all in NYC.

I sorta agree with her, driving a standard is such a pain in the ***** in the city, however I do like the fact that it keeps me alert, but man it does suck shifting every 30 seconds....

 

Hmmm.... an accord, I was just under the assumption they were slower because they seem like they'd be heavier to me....I never really thought of it.
My buddy has a acura tsx that is absolutely painfully slow, so thats really tainted my ideas of any of the 4 door variety of hondas.

Ill have to find one to take for a spin tomorrow maybe over in NJ at a used car lot.
Thanks Jason

 

Well if you are running into a lot of riced out Integras with automatics I would just pick one up and swap the exhaust-de-rice it. An EX Civic is too bad but it's still a civic. I loved my Prelude. Even if you get one that's an auto it would be plenty fast I think.

 

i just said this in a previous post, but a 92-95 civic has the vx hatch rated at 50 some mpg.

doubt there is an automatic though

 

VX only came manual.

And I don't believe the automatic B trans fits in the Civic. I mean, it probably could be forced to fit with cutting and welding and extra wiring, but that's not something most people would want to do.

 

it is possible to swap auto b18 into an auto civic my friend did this swap not to long ago.
you would need to get the tcu from the acura as the civic's don't use them. it is a pain thats why no one does them. i would also say get an accord they do alright.

 

huh?


automatic b-series civics are almost half of the sales in japan...


yes, an automatic B16 can be found on ebay, or at any engine importer, and they are usually cheaper than a manual swap in purchase price.

the car that the engine is going into would need to be an automatic already, but simply swap the drivetrain, computers, and some minor wiring, and you are done...

i had a friend in school that had a RHD automatic EG hatch he imported... was considerably quicker than a d-series, but was still an auto...

 

^swapping a auto b in a eg is a **** ton easier then a 96-00. From what I have seen a auto b 96-00 has never been done.

The auto B series ek's in other countries have different frame rails to make it possible.

My dx auto has no problem keeping up on the highway.
For what it is, its suprising quick.

 

Get an accord. Most of them came auto.

IMO stick > auto, better gas mileage and its more safe to drive. Also teaches a person to actually DRIVE a car, not just P to stop and D to drive. 90% of people who drive auto's don't even know what the other functions are or what they do.

 

never seen a full auto swap for sale but you can probably piece one together ive seen auto gsr and b16 trannys on http://unlimitedjdm.com/

 

Guys lets think for a minute, you're suggesting to teach his wife to drive a manual car in NYC? How many of you have ever driven in NYC? I'm betting very few, I have and that would not be the place I would want to try to learn to drive something basically greek to me.

That being said, in my opinion your best bet is going to be to pick up a used auto Integra, even if it does have some undesirable mods done. You've done a swap before so you have the basic know-how to be able to figure it out. You could always ask your buddy to lend a hand. Auto Integra's quite peppy and can keep up fine with highway traffic. They're also remarkably reliable. I would prefer an auto Integra to my Civic with LS swap and GSR trans when it comes to highway driving.

 

I have. I lived there for 24 years. And it's not rush hour there 24 hours a day. Most people commuting into the city usually park and take the train in. And have you lived in NYC? With the public transportation there it is almost unnecessary to even own a car. I knew people living there that never had a drivers license. Also, NYC consists of 5 boroughs, Queens, Staten Island, Manhattan, The Bronx and Brooklyn. Not all of the vehicles driven in NYC are automatics either.

But it was just a suggestion. It was already stated that an auto is preferred. It's just a matter of finding a suitable one.

 

If you want a Civic with a B-series engine and an automatic transmission, you're going to want a '92-'95 Civic to start with. Buy the engine you want (if it comes with a manual transmission, just sell it). Then get yourself an "LS" transmission and use that.

While there are '96-'00 Civics in other countries that have B-series automatics stock, for whatever reason there have been severe clearance issues with these swaps here in the states. It could be the frame because the bell housing part numbers of the LS auto is the same as those B16 equipped cars.

Either way, a 5G Civic ('92-'95) is going to be easier to get up and running.

Speaking of up and running though, IIRC the wiring can be a huge pain in the ***.

I do know it can be done though. A local friend did it a few years ago.

 

I'm well aware of the traffic patterns in NYC and thank you for your geography lesson. I'm from Philly so I know exactly how unfriendly city streets can be to a car. The discussion is about the OP's wife WHO DRIVES and PARKS IN NYC DAILY as he stated in the first post. City streets are certainly not the place I would want my girl learning to drive a manual, thats all I was saying.