As this is a very common question asked on this forum, I decided to create a thread that lists sources for purchasing Honda/Acura engines.

Please post your suggestions.

The list will be divided into "Reliable" and "Less Reliable" sources. Please indicate the category into which your source falls, in your opinion.

If this thread is successful, I will add the link to the FAQs sticky thread.

Reliable Sources
hmotorsonline
http://www.jdmsource.ca/
http://www.sunrisejdmmotors.com/
http://teknotik.com/blog/
http://www.jdmracingmotors.com
http://www.alnjdmautomotors.com/index.php/


Less Reliable Sources
Local junk yards/scrap yards/salvage yards, especially the pick-and-pull types
Craigslist
.
.
.
http://www.osakajdmmotors.com/
http://www.jdmtigerjapanese.com/
http://www.jdmenginescorp.com


Awaiting Feedback
http://www.japanmotorimport.com
http://www.jdmenginedepot.com



For details, please read all posts below.

 

I came across this business when looking at the 3 stage D15B motor. They claim to be the largest JDM importer in North America.

http://www.jdmtigerjapanese.com/

 

This was the supplier for a local swap shop here in Seattle (at least it was 7-8 years ago):

http://www.osakajdmmotors.com/

 

Junkyards: When visually assessing the potential quality of a motor, bet on a damaged/wrecked vehicle having a decent engine over one with no visible problems.

If a car is wrecked then there is a better chance that the car was written off due to the cost of this repair vs. one with no visible problems which may have been sent to the wreckers due to mechanical issues.

Also, a rear impact will lead to fewer potential issues with the motor than a front impact.

 

They aren't based in US but they ship here. Everything comes nicely wrapped just need to double check everything when its received.

 

Mark Craigslist a last resort source

 

these are places that im looking at buying engines from
http://www.jdmracingmotors.com (bought one engine from here came looking very clean with some new parts internatly)
http://www.japanmotorimport.com
http://www.jdmenginedepot.com
http://www.jdmenginescorp.com (heard stories that this place wasnt a good place to get motors sends them dirty)

 

JDM Source in Alberta is great, everything I've seen come out of there is nice and clean. Sunrise JDM Montreal sent me a great engine about 6 years ago when I needed one for my own car, super clean, cheap and I never had any issues with it in the 5 years I ran it for.

Both Tiger Japanese and Osaka are notorious for sending out junk, the wrong stuff and just generally being hard to deal with when something goes wrong. I have heard if you actually go to Tiger and pick out an engine yourself you can usually find something decent, but if you're depending on them to pick one and send it out, good luck.

 

Thanks. Do you have website links for these suppliers?

Should I drop tiger to the "less reliable" list?

 

I can't agree with this. In my area we have a semi retired mechanic that likes to rebuild honda motors and sell them on craigslist for a reasonable price.

I think Craigslist is like ebay, a hit or miss kind of thing. Sometimes you get raked over the coals, sometimes you find a real gem... Wait that's like garage sales.

I would, I never bought anything from them, just came across them when looking. Now that we have some actual purchaser feedback even if second hand, I think it warrants the switch IMO.

 

For the guys in Ontario/Canada Teknotik is the #1 source for JDM engines and related parts ! http://teknotik.com/blog/ they have a very good reputation through out Canada even.

 

Yes:

http://www.jdmsource.ca/
http://www.sunrisejdmmotors.com/

I would put them on a list of places you should never buy from personally. All of the import shops send out bad engines from time to time, it happens. I don't care if they say they compression test, almost none of them do (I believe Montreal JDM actually does, and they show videos of it) however Tiger Japanese is just consistently bad.

 

back in the day I read a few good things about tiger. Then a few years back the stories ive read where they messed up and either sent wrong engine or a damaged engine. They want yuo to pay the return shipping. then take their time sending the replacement.

So now they have your cash and your engine and at their mercy until you call your financial institution.

 

I've heard nothing good about or from OsakaJDM.

One of my friends just recently received an SR20DETT from HMO. The lifters were trashed, and a couple sensors were FUBAR, but HMO did a good job of getting replacement parts to him. I'm not a Nissan guy, but evidently the lifters are a common issue with that motor, and there's no way to know until you run it?

I'm personally a HUGE fan of scrap yards, especially the pick-and-pull style yards where you can rip out your own stuff. Any time you buy a motor to swap it in, there's no reason not to at least freshen it up with new rings, gaskets, seals, spark plugs, cap and rotor (or coil packs)...ya know, all that fun wear stuff that every motor has. Get a cheap motor from a scrap yard, replace the common wear items, and you'll have a cheap motor that's as new as you decide to make it.

 

http://hmotorsonline.com/shop/

 

i have to agree with NotARacist on this on i have pick-and-pull many of times for engines but if you are going to go that route you have to be able to know certain things to look at when you doing that many of times when i first started fixing cars that i pulled an engine from an totaled car and the engine looked good and the block or something would be messed up to where it was unfixable.

 

I've had several positive experiences from an Ebay seller by the name of ALN JDM autoworks. Largest item was a B-series transmission which was shipped quickly to my front door without any hassle/loading dock BS/drama. Prices and shipping were also very reasonable.

They seem to be somewhat Nissan-focused but have Honda stuff too --

http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAP...edbackAsSeller

EDIT: Website: http://www.alnjdmautomotors.com/index.php/

 

+1 for Teknotik, they are top notch up here in Canada. Every engine they sell is cleaned up and compression tested before being installed/delivered/picked up, and everything comes with a no-hassle warranty. Great guys.

 

You can ad the Ebayer texasjdmcorp I just got a nice engine from them, good price fair shipping and the engine was in great shape! Been in for a week now....

 

How much have people paid for b18bs with 5speed at a you-pull-it?