Picked up a 92 ex last night for a couple hunderd bucks. Its in really nice shape, but has engine issues. Previous owners says his mechanic(Actually owns a shop) did $1600 worth of work to it, including replacing head gasket, rebuilt head(New valves, professionally machined etc) now the thing doesnt run. I havent done anything with it except trailer it to the house.

so, heres my question, if i check it out...and it has big issues(Bent valves..or bad compression...head gasket...or whatever, that will require extensive repairs) what would you guys do? This is likely going to be a flip, if my son doesnt snathc it up, so I want to get it running to maximize profit. It has the f22a6 engine. From my understanding, this is kinda a weird engine. I havent been able to find many...plenty of f22a1 though. Ideas? Thanks! Heres a picture

 

Engine Swap. :D

Sorry, its reflexive whenever I see a clean non-running 4/5g accord. Taking that thought through, you can get a F20B + lsd trans for $1650 shipped on eBay. Dressed H22A long blocks are less than a grand shipped as well, assuming the transmission is good. Another possibility is a f23 swap from a later accord, you'll get more power and mileage from it.

Even if you just find a replacement for the engine in there now and do a simple pull-in-plug, if you did get it for a couple hundred as clean as that car looks I doubt you'll have trouble making a profit on it.

Another point, it looks lowered, and a little too low at that, I'd check what springs are there, replace the shocks if they're blown. About 1.5" is all the lowering the stock shocks can handle.

 

I normally dont mess with suspension, unless the stock is broken. I need to get up under it and see what all is going on. All the parts I can see form the outside look new. F23 is interesting, would I need a new harness and ECU I assume? Would all that plug into the dash and whatnot with no issues?

 

I don't know exactly what's involved in the 2.3sohc swap, I just know that its done, you'd need to look it up. My guess is that you would need to have it retuned/new ecu.

 

Maybe someone else can confirm but I think the f22a6 is the same as the f22a1, EXCEPT the dual path intake manifold and exhaust downpipe. In other words, you could swap in a f22a1 and it wouldn't make a difference. F22a4 is also the same, except it has the 2 to 1 exhaust header but the standard single stage intake plenum.

 

Just researching it on the internet, but from what I have found, the A6 has a different cam, different intake, stiffer valve springs and a windage tray in the oil pan. Plus, the ECU is different. But, same block and head. So, what i was thinking, if the head is bad...I will get an A1 head, swap out the cam and hardware. Anyway, I will take a look tonight, hopefully it is something simple. Thanks for the advise guys.

 

get a 94-95 F22B1 OBD-I engine
96-97 is OBD-II

 

He doesnt have a 5th gen accord. I dont understand why you bother giving out advice, its almost always wrong. Or maybe you need to really think about what youre talking about before giving out advice.

The A1 and A6 exhausts are different just so you know.

 

h23 vtec swap

 

notice a pattern here

 

Update:

Got it tore down today...has 0 psi compressiom on #3 cylinder. Heres my first indication something was wrong:





Maybe the engine was hungry?

Then when we got the valve cover off off:




Rocker arm nut had come off...ruh roh.




#3 cylinder




Valves of #3 cylinder head

So, I found a f22a1 with 180K. For $120. He says it ran fine when he pulled it. Ill go over it really well...and drop it in and hope for the best.

 

I am honestly speechless.

 

Wow, that's impressive!!

I think you're doing the right thing with the F22A1...direct bolt in replacement and cheap. Make sure you keep the intake plenum and exhaust manifold from the A6, even if the A6 has a different cam, you probably can keep most of the extra power by retaining the intake and exhaust.

 

Looks like is sucked something down the intake. Wonder what?

 

Like you stated the f22a6 does have a different cam, intake manifold, and exhaust manifold, however the f22a1 or a4 are direct swaps. Most f-series and h-series are interchangeable, except obviously an h22a which has a limited amount of interchangeable parts. Your best bet is to go to a junkyard and get an f22a1 and swap it in. Very easy swap and seeing that you know how to pull a head off, im pretty sure you can handle it.

 

I know the A4 has the 4-2-1 exhaust header like the A6 (thus the 5 hp boost), I think the A1 and A4 have the same cam though.

 

Someone didn't tighten the locknut for the rocker arm down and it came loose and took out that cylinder.

 

Yeah, thats why I posted that picture.

BTW I got a F22A1. Will be swapping it out, hopefully over the next week. Have to pick up some parts, timing belt, gaskets...water pump, clutch...seals tstat etc.

 

Bam.....That is some damage.

Side note: I don't think I'd let that shop (the owner you got the car from) even check my tire pressure.

 

Update....So, I eventually finished the car. I used the f22a1 block and head. Used the a6 cam and springs. Plus the a6 intake and exhaust. Car runs pretty good. New timing belt, water pump head gasket clutch etc. I do however, Have a code 12, egr issue. It does tend to idle a little rough. I'll test the egr at some point, probably wouldn't be a bad idea to clean out egr ports. It does drive pretty good though...considering.