I hear ZC makes good power but is a bastard engine and is unreliable. For those of you who have it do you think it is good or bad?

 

i want to know the same thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i have heard both.

 

dont have one, but i've heard they're really hard to find parts for when they're broken

 

Parts aren't much of a problem (Stock one anyways). Most 4g Civic/2g CRX will work, along with 88-89 Integra parts. Aftermarket parts aren't that bad either (D series header, etc). Cams are a little tough, but that's not bad. I haven't had many problems with mine (Yet). It's been blown about a month and going strong; puttin in the new injectors this week along with the SMC. Ask me after that and I might have a different outlook

jB

 

hmm, dunno about the dohc, but the sohc is just the jap d-series, completely interchangable

 

Cheap as dirt, easy swap.......hmmmmm sounds like a winner to me. Runs low 15s to high 14's stock. Put a bottle to it and it will run 13s. Doesnt sound to bad to me.

 

I've had mine 2 or 3 months now. Lovin every minute of it.

 

hmm well b18b prices are starting to come down a lot. a b18b swap is almost as cheap as a zc nowdays. and the b18b would own it

 

B18B prices are going down?

That's music to my ears!

 

i love my dohc zc, correct me if im wrong, but the 88-89teg motor is the same as this motor, and you can just get parts for that. Mines fast i guess, faster once i get my junkyard turbo set up on and running...

 

I like my ZC, I haven't had a single problem with it since I installed it. It also makes twice the power of the engine it replaced (HF). It is definitely a worthwhile swap (and it can be pretty cheap).

 

don't we talk about this weekly???

 

some read my mind! I put a ZC in an HF and this thing moves! I can sqeal tires all through first and sometimes part of second! Plus, even with my A/C on, I still get 29 MPG in the city!

 

It's ok. For the price, it's a great deal. But I didn't get that big "wow" factor when I first drove it post-swap (going from si to zc).

If you're looking for a cheap engine replacement, I'd recommend it; otherwise (unless you're going FI), you might want to think about saving up for a more manly alternative.

 

I've had no problems. I'm somewhere in the range of 5 years. The original distributor bearings died about 6 months in. Other than that, its been going strong for years now. It ran a best of 15.2 (Civic Si not CRX) with basically nothing done to it, and it runs low 14s now with the turbo, although that was with a severly leaking intercooler that eventually popped apart (JB WELD GHETTO COOLER). For an idea of how bad the intercooler was leaking, It would only hold about 6 lbs of boost in third gear. I took the intercooler out and it was actually trying to boost about 11.5 lbs of boost that whole time.

For the money, its a lot of fun. I'm sure this will turn in to a Z6 vs ZC battle, but I really think the ZC is the best swap for the cash. You can be out the door on that swap for a little over $550 if you're careful.

 

The ZC is a good motor...I had one but went to a b series because I decided not to boost the ZC and rather go to a mild all motor setup on the b16a. I loved the ZC when I had it. It was so much better than the stock d15b2.

 

BAD!, aftermarket suport for the motor sucks. you can make just as much power with an si motor, from what ive seen ZC's are weak. i feel the only reason people buy ZC motors is because they want to say they have a swap. why not just spend an extra 300-400 and get an LS swap?

 

you have got to be kidding. my stock 91 si rex would pull 3rd sometimes, 1st and 2nd were never a problem. lol i hope you were joking


[Modified by thrashin, 4:35 PM 10/1/2002]

 

just put in an A6 if your car doesn't already have one, i hate to see another person wasting effort on a ZC. save your money and do it right, at least an LS swap.

 

mine runs really strong, i like it... its not that hard to find either... and its not that expensive AT ALL.. SOHC ZC like mine is 120hp? im thinkin?? it is quite fast for a SOHC

 

No. I was not kidding. I'm not running stock tires or rims either. If I was I'm sure that 1, 2, and 3 would be no problem. I have 195/60/r15's....which are 9.6% taller then stock. These things are quite wide and grip like a mofuger. There is 90 degree turn down by the mall that I can take at over 55 MPH and not squeel or fishtail. In my Ford contour with SVT rims and tires I could only do it at about 40 MPH. In the rain these are dangerous though. Tire size makes a BIG difference in drivability. Here is where I got my specs from if you were wondering:
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

 

1.47 "s taller than stock to be exact. i was running 205/50/15s when i had me rex on 15s which are only .5" taller than stock. you should invest in some new tires yours are way to big for your crx.

 

"you might want to think about saving up for a more manly alternative."

Like a Chevelle SS454?

 

- it all depends. Considering their age, this isn't a motor that I would buy and just "drop in" my car. For the price you could get a low mileage y8 and have about the same power, without having to worry about the reliability as much. I think it just depends on what you want to do. A definite freshen up or rebuild would be a very good idea if you do go with a zc.

 

my zc been runing great. only thing that went down was the alternator but thats a matter of time. and if no company sells stuff for zc. just make it.