Hi, im a first time honda driver. I scored a sweet deal on a 1989 Honda Civic EF (Si). It is coming with a B18 with the matching tranny. Unfortunately, i have to do the wiring myself, and the more i read, the more im finding out about this project.

ill be posting pictures of the car and the progress when i am able to.

but i need help with basically everything, so if any coud start off by telling me the first thing that needs to happen. and then we can have a discussion after.

id like to basically restore this car back, and get it in perfect working condition.

 

https://www.google.co.nz/search?q=ef...&client=safari
Check that link out, I'm using it as a guide for my B20 swap

Its even harder for me cause in NZ b swapped EFs are rare and its hard deciphering American codes into JDM like you call engines B18C5 H22A4/7/6 etc but we just call it a plain B18C or a B18 CR so it's a learning curve for me, but with everything a bit if common sense and trial and error will help.

 

yeah, i just call it a B18, but im positive its just a B18B1.

 

do you have all the matching components with it? if so a lot of the swap is plug n play, obd1 conversion and a few misc sensors, motor and tran bolt in, get a speed sensor out of a Cable tranny so you can use your cable speedo, said it is a Si so your hubs will work with b-series axels and its already mpfi, theres 2 things out of the way already.

 

I believe I have all the matching components.

im sorry, im fairly new to this and I learn really fast but sometimes the abbreviations for things throw me off.

this wiring job is huge for me.

I wish someone could give me detailed step-by-step instructions on how they would go about wiring this car and getting it back to running condition.

at the same time, I would be providing all the necessary information needed.

 

If it really is an Si (does it have a factory sunroof?) then it should already be MPFI, which is 80% or so of the wiring, already done. So all you should need is an obd0 to obd1 conversion harness, and maybe a distributor conversion harness. That should be about it...

 

yes it has the factory sunroof.

is there any diagrams for a obd0 to obd1 conversion harness? one with pictures would help a lot.

I need diagrams so I know where im running the wires.

plus, this sounds stupid, but what is obd0 and obd1?

 

my biggest question is, if im swapping in a B18, do I use the diagram from that car or the diagram for my EF? and where can I get the right diagram where its readable.

or if anyone has done this build from start to finish and has posted the steps, please link it to me.

as far as I know, the engine and tranny are already hooked up in the car. it is fully gutted, and only the tires and shock remain.

so whats next?

 

If you buy a conversion harness the only thing you'll need to wire is vtec, O2 and poss Distributor

 

You are creating a car (swap) that has no "official wiring diagram". You are going to end up using someones DIY wiring guide off the internet.

Or you can just buy the pre made "swap" harness from Rywire or other companies.

Have a look through the FAQS section at the top of the forum.

 

it is my understanding that this engine is Non-vtec though...

 

any links to these peoples DIY wiring guides?

 

Sorry I dont, use the search function here or google.

 

do you use any kind of search engine?

 

Is the original wiring harness in the car still? I did a b18a in my si and used all the original
wires and connectors. I have the same harness on still with a b18c used rywire
obd0-obd2a jumper for the ecu and distributor jumper.

 

Use. Google.

 

are you sure its not a b18a1? life would be alot easier for you

 

I feel really silly now, I took a closer look and did some more research and found out that it is a B18A1 and not a B18B1

 

Alright, take a breath. This is one of the easiest swaps there is, whether its a B1 or A1 doesn't matter, what does matter is what ECU and distributor you have.

As said before, your car is a Si so there is one step out of the way from going from DPFI to MPFI.

If you have an A1 ecu and distributor, everything is plug and play, because the ED(what an EF is in the states) is an OBD0 car and so is the A1. You can unplug the factory ECU and plug in the A1. Now for the engine harness, you need the harness that came with the car, not the engine, never swap the engine harness for the one that came with the engine. If the engine and trans is already in the car with a harness hooked up, if your lucky they already swapped the harness for you. If your not, you have a lot of choice words and scrapped knuckles ahead of you because you need to remove the harness and get the correct one on it that I hope came with the car when you bought it. If it did note, you need to find a replacement for an 89 Si, not an 88, 90, or 91, an 89 Si. Once you have the harness swapped out, plug everything up and you should be good to go.

If you did have a B1, you can either do a quick "OBD0 to OBD1 Jumper Harness" search in google and pick your poison. You can either make your own, or throw down the money and buy a premade one. I've went with a premade one on one of my previous cars, saves a lot of hassle, just plug it up and go. You will know if the ECU doesn't plug up to the factory harness. I've been out of the game too long to tell you ECU codes or distributor codes, but both will be the same issue, they won't plug up to the factory plugs.

The first rule of wiring: calm down, take a breath and think about it. If you want to make it complicated, it can be that very quickly, but if you stop and think about how it works, wiring is simple. If you can't break it down and simplify it to keep from overwhelming you, I suggest to leave it alone and buy the premade stuff.