Just got this car a few months back and the motor went on me. Have a local mechanic that won't do any swaps with anything other than what came stock in it. He found the same motor with 130k miles for 1600 shipped. I believe it is the 160hp k series. He would put it in for 4k including engine price.

Now here comes the stuff I need help deciding. There are tons of posts on the k20a1/2 or the k24. I will not be doing this swap myself cause I don't have the resources. What motor could I put in there that would take the least amount of fabrication? I see complete changeover kits on hmotorsonline and want to go with something like that with the transmission and everything you need for the swap.

Someone mind helping me out in deciding which engine will be reliable and fun? Any help and time is appreciated..

Thanks,
Greg

 

Find another mechanic, quick. $4000 to swap in another stock motor is a complete rip-off. For $1600 you can can get a K24A2 from a TSX and $2400 for labor is just absurd considering you're just swapping in another stock motor. All he's gotta do is disconnect all the sensors, drop the motor, swap your trans onto the new motor and reconnect everything. You shouldn't be paying more than $600 max for a used K20A3 and $800 max for labor. As far as alternative motor options with the least headache you have 2 choices, K20A2 swap from a 02-04 RSX type-s or a K24A1 from a 02-04 CR-V. K20A2 you will need the complete changover including the engine harness and ECU. You could use your stock trans but you'll fall out of vtec when you shift gears due to different gear ratios so it's recommended that you use the K20A2 trans. K-pro is recommended but not needed as you can just have your local honda or acura dealer reflash the K20A2 ECU to your car. K24A1 will just need a CRV passenger mount and will drop right in. You can use your stock trans no problem. As far as ECU you have 3 options: K-pro, try to find a 02-04 manual trans CRV ECU and reflash it to your car or your stock ECU with 310cc fuel injectors.

 

Similar thing happened to me man. I bought this engine (according to wikipedia, it has ~200hp, not 160) and had it installed before I found honda-tech and learned about the different swaps possible with the ep3.

I agree with Poetic, definitely find another mechanic. $2400 for labor is crazy. I paid $1000 to have mine installed.

 

k24a2 all day, then do a Rsx type S oil pump and water pump conversion. It will last you forever.

 

lol that thing doesnt have 200hp

 

All JDM motors are stamped "K20A" so it's a little more difficult to tell them apart

 

Yeah Andy I was bummed when I found out but glad I found this site cause it gave me hope that I could end up with a more reliable and powerful car.

So the k24a2 from hmotorsonline for 3800 would be what I'm going for I think. The one with the complete changeover kit. Any other advice on motor decision would be awesome I love hearing everyone's opinion and views on what to decide on. Going to try and get Humble Performance here locally in Tulsa, Ok

 

You can't use the K24A2 transmission, the bellhousing is different than the EP3/RSX trans. You could swap the internals into your stock bellhousing but I don't know if you wanna go through the trouble. K24A2 can be mated to your stock trans or any 02-04 RSX trans. You also should try to get a K24A2 from a 06-08 TSX, honda made some serious improvements to the motor those years. Check out turbohatchBnut's thread if you wanna go K24A2, lots of great info there:
https://honda-tech.com/forums/acura-rsx-dc5-honda-civic-ep3-32/offical-k24a2-swapped-ep3-thread-3006754/

 

I bought my k24a2 off a guy on ebay that lived in the same state I did so I got a steal of a deal @ 1550 shipped for a 2006 spec k24a2. You wont need the transmission, you can use the ep3 one. Things that need to be changed are passenager side engine mount bracket and the crank angle sensor. Look around for a longblock k24a2, I seen them go from 1200-3000 shipped depending on year and mileage.

 

He probably thought that because the title said "K20A" which is the Type-R motor. But that's definitely a K20A3, sorry to burst your bubble dude.

Good luck with your engine swap, bro.

 

If you're near NY I have a stock K20A3. PM me for details.

 

go k24a2, and definitely find a new mechanic that isnt ripping you off