Does anyone have good suggestions on buying a motor through an online retailer/distributor? Or know of reputable ones that you have used? The used car parts market around here is too small so I'm thinking of sourcing a motor from somewhere else.

All the feedback I've seen online I still can't trust since they're strangers and I'd trust the feedback from someone from here who have done it more than on random feedback sites.

Any first hand experience referral is appreciated!

 

hmotorsonline
risingsun

 

HMO

 

hmotorsonline. They have lots of other new and used stuff too besides motors. I've personally bought 2 swaps and both run great. I've also bought suspension stuff through them as well.

One swap was a SiR-II B16A for a 92 Civic hatch. We were able to get the complete matching exhaust system with cat to make it a full bolt-on affair. Only extra stuff we had to order was a dual-core radiator and a USDM Del Sol VTEC engine harness. This swap took a couple tries to pass the sniffer smog test with the JDM ECU (which runs rich). It did pass on it's second attempt though.

The other was a 96-spec B18C Type R for a 94 Civic hatch. This motor has been amazing. I ordered it with the matching cat and had my aftermarket 2.5" exhaust extended to meet at a muffler shop. The R swap doesn't come with an intake so I got a short-ram off of ebay along with a velocity stack & filter. It's also OBD2 so I just got a chipped obd1 P28 ECU to run it. I still have to sell my ITR ECU. I also had to buy a dual core radiator and USDM engine harness (OBD2 ITR or GSR) to make it work. This swap with chipped ECU passes the sniffer test no problem every year. My chipped ECU came from Kenji on Honda-Tech, but I don't know if he still sells these or what. Pherable.net would be another great choice for ECU.

Plan to replace all fluids cause they will be empty. And it's recommended to change the timing belt, water pump, wires, cap & rotor too.

 

JDM Engine Depot.

 

hmotorsonline.com

Have bought 4 engine swaps from them over the years, never one problem, either with shipping or picking up in person.