hi, i have no knowledge and technical skills to do engine swap, and have been reading some of posts here for average price of engine swap by a tec with engine.

My car is Cr-x 1989, Si.

i was thinking that engine swap to B16a is around $3000, but I was dead WRONG!

I went to this shop today, to get estimate of how much it will cost if i want to have B16A or B18C1 swap.

B18C1 swap, engine(with LSD)costs $3500, and labor costs $1200.

all other parts wiiring, hasport mount kit, obd1, shift linkage, mis. parts, clearners, oil, antifreeze costs around $800 all together.

so total cost will be around $5500.

i also asked what price will be if it is B16a.

was told $5500 minus the difference price between B18c1 and B16a.

also was told i can bring engine and they will put it(labor and other parts prices are the same)

is this kinds of reasonable price?

 

$3500? damn so I work at autozone and a new crate engine is about that price, im assuming they'd buy it used and mark up the price from what they pay. but other than that, the lowest labor costs ive seen were $90 an hour so, it sounds about right. what state are you in? I know people in washington...

 

Way to much for the engine. The labor sounds right. The parts eh. You can go pick up a complete B18C1 swap from Hmotorsonline for 3200(it comes with Engine,tranny, ecu,shift linkage, etc) They are very nice and willing to help. Or just buy one off craigslist/ebay for even cheaper. Then you will just need mounts(300ish)and you are pretty much set. For around 5500 you can almost get a Kswap.

 

I agree the engine price seems a little high but I would think it would depend on where you live and what the going rate is for one... May also include warranty/extras not included in an eBay or Craigslist engine, which would affect the price. And of course, no shipping to be concerned about.

Also, you may want to consider the following 'little extras' like changing the cam and crank seals, doing the timing belt, water pump, tensioner, replacing the clutch, pressure plate, release bearing, rear main seal, changing the plugs, oil change, tranny drain/fill, cap and/or rotor, replacing the thermostat and/or flushing the coolant - some of which are much much easier to do with the engine/transmission out of the car. Hell, maybe some of them are included in the price of the engine, which would raise the price... I doubt it, but it's worth asking.

 

rebuild sohc + turbo = pawnage

 

I wouldn't do this! Haha. It's possible, but I'd rather make around the same power out of an NA build and not have the complexity of the turbo tuning set up, ect. I know SOHC can put out well over 150 HP, but the B swap seems more reliable to me personally.

But onto the swap, I bought an engine, tranny, axles, starter and a ACT clutch for $1000 on here. Then a rebuilt dizzy, ECU, shift linkage and odds and ends for another few hundred bucks. Had to get knew knuckles and brakes because I have a standard. But I'd say my b16A swap cost about $2400 for everything said and done. Tops. Did the labor myself. I'm still doing some finishing up, but that's what I paid.

EDIT
I also put in a new water pump and a timing belt, valve cover gasket, new fluids, ect. The thermostat was fairly knew on my motor, but who knows.

Test the compression and buy in person. I'd rather do it myself, obviously since I did, but it might be worth taking it somewhere just so you don't have to mess with it all.

 

Buy the parts and do it yourself. It's really not all that difficult, and it's really a great learning experience.

 

thanks guys. I live in MD.

 

$1200 for labor ouch.

You can buy a nice floor jack, jack stands, an engine hoist and all snap on tools required to do the swap thats pure robbery no matter what city/state you live in!

If you can read you can perform a honda engine swap yourself there are so many great write ups on here buy a helms and download a factory service manual and you're good to go!

 

he wouldn't even have to rebuild the engine, just drop in the turbo, and would be making 150+whp, and 140+wtq on conservative 6psi.
be on par with whp on a b18c1

for reliability, if he was to rebuild the engine, and beef up some parts, he'd be good for 10psi, and close to 180-190whp. maybe even higher with a good tune.

it's when you go higher then 250whp, that the sohc starts to fall apart, unless you have a lot of money.

 

I have no time to do it by myself. I work and study whenever i have time.

I went to another shop today,labor(around $1000) and am thinking to do it when i have more money.

A guy at the shop told me to look up H-Motor, and the price for B18C is around $3200(complete change over), $3000(motor, tranny, ECU)
he always buys the motor from here, and i was told that it is ok to buy it and bring it to him.

so now i have a question.

this complete changes over, does this include all stock parts or customized parts?

what else do i need?

$3200+ $1000(plus 10% additional labor per hour)= $4200 seems very reasonable.

 

by the way, I really want V-TEC. then later if i have money or i am not satisfied, then turbo.

so he also recommends B18C (not type R).

 

wires, mounts, and modified shift linkages. as far as i can remember.

 

PSI doesnt mean a damn thing.

@ the OP if you dont have the time or cash to do this yourself, my suggestion for you is to read up on what it takes to swap a DOHC vtec into your car and save and save somemore.

10% extra per additional labor hour? So if labor rates are 100/hr and they quote at 10hrs your 11th hour will cost 110 or did I misinterpret your post?

 

Unless you have a super clean shell, and you have already done all of your suspension and steering (replace and/or upgrade), then dont do it.

Think about it. That's $4200. Go look up what cars you can buy for $4000. ALOT. You can get some pretty awesome cars for that price. And most will be at least close to as fast as a B swap CRX. You could find a nice GSR for that price! There's your Vtec, and full leather interior with PS and AC! And it's going to be around 10 years newer than your car.

Just think about it.

Im all for swaps. Have a JDM B16 in my hatch. But think about what else you could get with that money. If you still think it's worth it then go for it. I spent ~$3000+ so far on my car, just for the drivetrain and suspension/bushings/steering. But everytime I drive it, you couldnt wipe the smile off my face for anything haha

 

^ a good point I even overlooked! Your brakes at the very least should be refreshed.

 

10% additional labor per hour means
that if i bring parts, labor per hour increases by 10%.
if it is 100 per hour without parts, , then 110 per hour with parts.

i also consider buying used cr-x with B18c with/without turbo as well. my car is from CA, and has registration till next year of january. I am considering to give it to one of my close friends or my gf, if i buy used Cr-x.

I love the shape of Cr-x and i grew up reading car comic (yorosiku meka doc)which the main character drives cr-x. cr-x is my dream car second to NSX.