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R18 to K20 swap

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Old Nov 16, 2011 | 03:02 AM
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Default R18 to K20 swap

Hi I'm new to civics. I have a 08 civic sedan lx with the auto trans. I was wondering if a k20 or k24 would bolt up to my auto trans?
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Old Nov 16, 2011 | 03:27 AM
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Default Re: R18 to K20 swap

I can't answer your question directly (although i think it's a safe bet that they won't bolt together) but i can give you this:

think it through first. do you really feel that it will be worth the investment of time and money to have a nice engine drag around an auto box only to eventually destroy it when the extra power you've paid for is put down? most honda auto transmissions don't handle extra power well. by that I mean they wear out and fail rapidly outside of the scope of their design.

why not sell your LX and upgrade to an Si? sure they're a little more expensive, but i wouldn't think the price difference is about what you would spend swapping a K-series into an LX.
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Old Nov 16, 2011 | 04:00 AM
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Default Re: R18 to K20 swap

I like Si's but it gets annoying after a while of constantly shifting. This is going to be a daily driver/ strip car so I'm trying to get the most power I can with an auto trans.
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Old Nov 16, 2011 | 04:48 AM
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Default Re: R18 to K20 swap

Yeah, shifting is overrated ...ha!

Keep the auto **** box man and leave it alone. Were you seriously considering have a "strip" car with an auto trans? too funny!
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Old Nov 16, 2011 | 06:39 AM
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Default Re: R18 to K20 swap

I find shifting fun, and it does save fuel if you do it right.

I see shifting like a new toy when you first start driving, you just can't get enough, but as you age you just use the gears you need to get the job done.
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Old Nov 16, 2011 | 11:33 AM
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Default Re: R18 to K20 swap

Originally Posted by jdes93
I like Si's but it gets annoying after a while of constantly shifting. This is going to be a daily driver/ strip car so I'm trying to get the most power I can with an auto trans.
I did at one point in my life get a little tired of shifting so I understand where you're coming from. I got over it though when i decided no one else would be working on my car but me and I didn't want to deal with rebuilding the autos.

Anyway, with few exceptions, in the world of Honda you must pick automatic or performance. If you continue on your quest for "the most power...with an auto trans." the only way to find that fine line is to cross it a few times and fry a few auto boxes. not fun as i'm sure there is no cheap replacement.
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Old Nov 16, 2011 | 12:17 PM
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Default Re: R18 to K20 swap

No it will not bolt up to your 5 spd tranny. you would need the K24 off a TSX with the trans off a TSX as well. less of a hassle to just trade in and take the hit, you'd be paying for it in the swap in small things here and there to get it running. ie. ECU, Tranny ECU, cables, custom mounts, etc.
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Old Nov 16, 2011 | 03:25 PM
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Default Re: R18 to K20 swap

R18 tranny will not work on any Kseries engine...

Honestly don`t waste your time and money cause you will be disappointed in the end with all the headaches to get the job done perfectly!

Just trade in for a tsx or accord auto or live with it unfortunately!
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Old Nov 17, 2011 | 02:47 AM
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Default Re: R18 to K20 swap

I did find a turbo kit and other parts that will make about 250 wheel hp and about 225 to 230 ft. Ib of torque with my car with the auto trans. and Julio yes i was considering an auto strip car. I've seen plenty of auto trans cars running in 10's and 9's on a drag strip. And I use to have a 96 thunderbird that runs 9.70's in quarter mile with a auto trans.
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Old Nov 17, 2011 | 02:50 AM
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Default Re: R18 to K20 swap

And Julio its not going to be an everyday strip car. Just every now and then to have a lil fun. I want to build a 98 civic or del sol to hit the 10's which I'l probably start sometime next year building. Any engine suggestions?
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Old Nov 17, 2011 | 03:55 AM
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Default Re: R18 to K20 swap

K20/24 Frank build.
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Old Nov 17, 2011 | 05:24 AM
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Default Re: R18 to K20 swap

Originally Posted by jdes93
I did find a turbo kit and other parts that will make about 250 wheel hp and about 225 to 230 ft. Ib of torque with my car with the auto trans. and Julio yes i was considering an auto strip car. I've seen plenty of auto trans cars running in 10's and 9's on a drag strip. And I use to have a 96 thunderbird that runs 9.70's in quarter mile with a auto trans.
I'm sure there are other car manufacturers with auto transmissions that do well on the 1/4 mile but Honda doesn't come to mind. I get what you are trying to do but really, go with an SI or something else.
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Old Nov 17, 2011 | 07:29 PM
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Default Re: R18 to K20 swap

The crz and the cvt trans and hondata just came out with flashpro for the crz and also made flashpro for the auto version.
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Old Nov 18, 2011 | 07:50 AM
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Default Re: R18 to K20 swap

Originally Posted by honda250r&crx
The crz and the cvt trans and hondata just came out with flashpro for the crz and also made flashpro for the auto version.
Flashpro is for the ECU there is still no way to tune the tranny ECU as it runs on its own independent factors etc. end goal will be shitty tranny shifting, shifting between pulls 2 second shift delays etc. all crap that cant be tuned yet.
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Old Nov 22, 2011 | 03:50 PM
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Default Re: R18 to K20 swap

Originally Posted by jdes93
I did find a turbo kit and other parts that will make about 250 wheel hp and about 225 to 230 ft. Ib of torque with my car with the auto trans. and Julio yes i was considering an auto strip car. I've seen plenty of auto trans cars running in 10's and 9's on a drag strip. And I use to have a 96 thunderbird that runs 9.70's in quarter mile with a auto trans.
I bet your tranny will be toast pretty fast if you install a turbo. I know that D-series trannys don't last long at all, even with mild turbo setups. You can't compare your tranny to the auto tranny in, for example, a Supra. They're built for completely different power levels.
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Old Nov 23, 2011 | 01:30 PM
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Default Re: R18 to K20 swap

It's really, really hard to build a fast, reliable honda with an automatic for 2 reasons:

The transmission is a horrible design for holding power beyond stock levels, it's not a planetary design.

  1. It's basically a manual transmission with clutchpacks instead of synchronizers.
  2. There isn't any tuning software that supports automatic transmission in a Honda.
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Old Nov 27, 2011 | 03:19 AM
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Default Re: R18 to K20 swap

you need to be running a 6 speed tranny
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Old Jan 3, 2012 | 03:49 PM
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Default Re: R18 to K20 swap

im new at this aswell and i got an 06 civic lx, last week i blew my engine so now i got this guy thats selling me a complete 08 k20 swap harness,ecu,shift linkage,motor mounts my question is if with all this since its the same 8th generation civic will this swap be a plug and play any help will be really apresiated
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Old Jan 10, 2012 | 07:22 PM
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Default Re: R18 to K20 swap

even with a hole parts car this is still not a plug and play swap. you have a chiped key thats the first prob you will also need the sub fram of the si and thats the 2 big things i can think of right now
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Old Jan 21, 2012 | 05:44 PM
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Default Re: R18 to K20 swap

K24 AND K20 BOTH HAVE AUTO VERSIONS
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Old Jan 21, 2012 | 06:01 PM
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Default Re: R18 to K20 swap

Originally Posted by Turtle_FA5
K24 AND K20 BOTH HAVE AUTO VERSIONS
Don't give the OP any ideas
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Old Jan 22, 2012 | 07:18 PM
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Default Re: R18 to K20 swap

I JUST GOT AN FG...
DONT KNOW MUCH ABOUT CARS EXCEPT THAT I LIKE GOING FAST LOL

NEED IDEAS ON SUM SET-UPS FOR SUSPENSION AND ENGINE MODS..
THANKS
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Old Jan 23, 2012 | 02:37 AM
  #23  
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Default Re: R18 to K20 swap

Originally Posted by HoNDA_8TH
I JUST GOT AN FG...
DONT KNOW MUCH ABOUT CARS EXCEPT THAT I LIKE GOING FAST LOL

NEED IDEAS ON SUM SET-UPS FOR SUSPENSION AND ENGINE MODS..
THANKS
LOUD NOISES
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Old Jan 24, 2012 | 01:03 PM
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Default Re: R18 to K20 swap

Originally Posted by Turtle_FA5
K24 AND K20 BOTH HAVE AUTO VERSIONS
Originally Posted by HoNDA_8TH
I JUST GOT AN FG...
DONT KNOW MUCH ABOUT CARS EXCEPT THAT I LIKE GOING FAST LOL

NEED IDEAS ON SUM SET-UPS FOR SUSPENSION AND ENGINE MODS..
THANKS
Quit shouting you two.
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Old Jan 25, 2012 | 06:14 PM
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Default Re: R18 to K20 swap

save your pennies and just buy an si to play with on the weekends. Doing the swap would be a huge mistake due to the money/time it would cost and the end results. I'd bet you that you'd be 4 grand deep before it was even drivable leave alone worth relying on. Spend that 4k on a project car and build it from there. That way you'll have something much more fun/fast and a DD to drive to work.
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