Need to know, I see a lot of red vlv cover JDM engines on ebay and need to know if it will drirectly swap in without any problems or having to get kpro, etc, please let me know, may be looking to do this to my 02 RSX type s next week (blown engine)

 

nope you will be good Donny, as long as you are using the same ecu that the car came with.

 

No, it is not as simple as that. The OP's car is a usdm K20A2. If he swaps in a jdm engine, they aften have different pistons, running different compression.....so a stock ecu may run it, but not properly. It depends very much on which engine is purchased, displacement and compression, cams ect

 

Gets a bit more involved. First off, the ignition/ECU system in the K20A2 unit would be running an immobilizer system, cannot remember if the JDM runs the same, but that can cause havoc/difficulties if it does. Deetz is correct, the K20A2 ECU will not run the K20A engine as well as it should/could, whatever. Best thing to do, which most people hate hearing b/c they're wanting to be so cheap about it, is purchase the Hondata K-Pro. I had a K-swapped EG as a DD for about 6 years and after several tunes I can say that it is DEFINITELY worth the money invested.

 

^ to add....
To confirm, the JDM EP3/DC5 K20A ecu's do not have an immobilizer to worry about.
Also, true about the K20A2 Type-S ecu not running the K20A-R engine to its fullest potential, though, you can still use the S ecu to power the engine and get running and drive around. Again, its not optimized for the K20A-R engine in regards to lower US fuel octane, compression ratio, and cam timing (VTC) (type-R cams are not 100% the same as 02-04 type-S cams).

A Kpro and a tune is highly suggested if you drop in a JDM K20A engine.

PS: JDM K20A engine's do not have a VTEC pressure switch on the vtec solenoid. So you'll need to swap over your USDM VTEC solenoid over or just the VTPS itself onto the JDM VTS (its blocked off with a removeable screw)...all this if you plan to use your stock Type-S (PRB) ecu and don't have the loot to go KPRO yet or if your engine doesn't come with a JDM K20A ECU. If it does come with an ECU you'll need to add a wire to E1 or E10 (forgot exactly) for fuel pump activation when using a JDM 01-05 EP3/DC5 ecu (they use a different pinout for fuel pump relay)

Other than that, I believe its a straight replacement of your type-S engine.

btw, the only biggest difference between a JDM Type-R has over a Type-S engines is:
transmission & flywheel (10.5lbs flywheel, shorter gearing, 4.7 final drive, & LSD) -- (this is the biggest perk of the R swap imo)
11.5cr
better camshafts
red valve cover
intake manifold has bigger runners (but PRB/PRC intake manifolds are garbage if you're going to upgrade to a RBC or RRC manifold anyways).

Personally, I'd suggest saving money and convert your S into a poorman's R by
(1) swapping in a used set of R cams
(2) getting an R transmission & flywheel
The .5 increase of compression isn't much to worry about honestly.
(3) getta Kpro and go get tuned (especially for the R cams)

Lastly, if you have the money and REALLY want the cream of the OEM crop, yet this isn't quite a turn-key option without some light mods, look for an 06-10 JDM CTR K20A engine.
This engine is an upgrade of the JDM 01-05 K20A-R engine with the following updates:
11.7cr pistons
R trans w/slightly longer 4-6th gearing (same as 06-11 Si trans) but has a 5.0 final drive (same LSD, same 10.5lbs lightened flywheel). you will need a speed converter chip if you get this trans because of the updated high frequency digital vehicle speed sensor, or you can swap the CTR gear set into your Type-S trans to retain your existing mechanical VSS intact.
RSP head (best OEM flowing head of the K-series has a mild porting job same job NSX heads get) (same R cams as 01-05 K20A-R)
RRC intake manifold
This engine is the best of the OEM JDM K20A Type-R engines stock-for-stock.

sorry for the long reply LOL