Hey all,

I was thinking about doing a full rebuild on my 97 Prelude (base) engine and have been doing some reading up on it and trolling the forums for a couple months now. I decided to look at the benefits of dropping in another motor versus rebuilding the one I have currently and found myself looking at JDM engines. I was nearly 100% sure my engine was USDM (despite living in Canada) but decided to look at the stamp on my block today and it reads H22A. Came as a big surprise to me!
Anyways, that being the overly long lead-up to my questions, here they are:
Are there any other ways to make sure it is JDM vs USDM? Apart from looking at the colour of the valve cover (given that it could have just been painted...) Mine is black, just in case.
The only readily available rebuild kits are for the h22a4, will there be any fitment issues if I buy one of those?
Finally, I was thinking of documenting my rebuild and throwing it up here, just wondering if anyone would be interested in that sort of thing?

From my research I think it is the JDM black-top with 200HP, but until an hour ago I thought it was an h22a4. So any help or info outside of my questions is appreciated as well. Thanks all!

 

USDM engines will have a # after the H22A (i.e. H22A4), JDM engines will just be H22A, with no number after the A.

What do you mean by fitment issues?

 

If that's the only way to check, then it's most definitely a JDM engine.
Sorry should have used better terminology, I mean fitment in regards to going about doing the rebuild. Will there be fitment issues with replacing, pistons, rings, bearings, gaskets, ect meant for an H22A4 into my engine?
Thanks for the info

 

Sounds like you might need someone who knows how to use a caliper next to you when fitting anything in this rebuild.

Unless I am mis-reading you and you acutally know how to build a motor. Its not just plug and play, there are measurements that need to be taken to fit piston and ring sets. If done incorrectly then you mess up a build and have to spend twice the money to fix your first mistake.

No one on here knows you so we are assuming you know how to work on cars and specifically the H22, but with your first post, I am leaning toward you do not know much about these motors. Am I correct in my assumption or not?

 

Rebuild back to stock? Surely you jest.

1.) Why?

2.) Why not just buy another JDM longblock for like $800. Swap it in. Transform and roll out.

 

Because if I buy another block then I'm stuck in the same spot where I'm not sure of the condition. It's pretty expensive here in Canada, cheapest I've found is around 1200$

 

You're in Calgary, go in person to jdmsource ask about a long block .. You can pick one out take the valve cover off etc ...

I have to agree with the other comments.. Even the sweetest rebuilds sometimes go wrong, consider if you spin a bearing or don't torque something perfectly after a rebuild, is it worth chancing it ? I don't know of any great shop on cgy either that wouldnt charge you over 1200 so now youre looking at shipping both ways ... or straight edging head block, bore or resleeve ....

price it out . im in cgy too bud so when you decide if you want another luder to help out im game.

 

Thanks Yohan, that's some good advice. I've got a lot more research to do, but I've got three months to do it. Thanks again, Yohan

 

Yeah you have 2 options, go pick one out at Jdmsource (maybe go to an H23A), or pull your engine, disassemble it, measure all of the clearances, and order the parts accordingly. If you don't need any machining, you could realistically refresh your engine with oem Honda parts for ~600 bucks, bearings, seals, rings etc.

 

Ideally I would go the refreshing route, and that's what I was planning until yesterday. You guys can probably help me on this, as you're all far more experienced than I. I took off my oil pan yesterday and found this..
The chunks are about 1.5" square and are thin metal that has been mangled into that shape. Any ideas on what the heck those are?