Hi, I'm trying desperately to get a 1992 Prelude Si, with a F20A cast iron block (open deck) and 5 speed tranny, back on the road and I really need some help and advice. I have been trying to find a compatible head for it and I keep running into roadblocks!! I bought the car for $300 on July 6 and the man I bought it from said his son had cracked the head (it actually has a bent valve) and if I bought a new head he would install it for me (I have pics of the engine block and the existing head) Unfortunately the man I bought it from has "no internet" and I've been trying to get his help with confirming if a head is compatible for the past 1 1/2 months and I'm getting nowhere fast!! He also has said any 2.0, 2.1, 2.2 or 2.3 head will fit it...Is that true?

My mechanic is telling me I may need a new engine because he feels (from pics) that because of the bent valve, there "may be" damage to the one piston.
I'm also trying to figure out if my Prelude engine was originally a sohc or dohc...I have a feeling they tried to put a dohc on it and didn't reflash the ECM, or change anything else except the timing belt...
I need help determining :
1) Do I need a new engine?
2) If the piston just needs to be cleaned up and ground down?
3) What heads are compatible with my F20A engine block?

At this point I'm not concerned with turning it into a "street rod " I really just want to get my Prelude back on the road as inexpensively as possible. My other vehicle (SUV) needs a lot of work and I need to pull it off the road soon.
I know my car was originally from Japan with a 2.3, the last title (per VIN) said 2.4, and now it has an F20A which I suspect may be an Accord engine. Please help me and thank you in advance.

 

Ok, first of all there is no 2.0 .. 2.1 in a Prelude .... 2.0 in an Accord but no 2.1/2.4 that I know of, so I hope you trust in your mechanic and he absolutely knows this generation of vehicles.
2nd, you said the VIN said 2.4 and now it has F20A ... again, no 2.4 in a Prelude/Accord.

Start by running the VIN# here :: VIN Decoder - Honda-Tech

F20A, if it's JDM and it is just F20A (no number like F20A3 F20A4 etc) and it's DOHC .. then you may run into difficulty finding a head unless you convert to SOHC and grab the head from an accord with ECU .. and timing belt ... and anything else that needs to be converted from SOHC to DOHC ...

If you can identify which valves are bent, it'd be easier replacing those valves, getting a new head gasket and bolting the existing down than it may be to find a used head.

Maybe include a picture of your engine but we need to know the code stamped on the block, and if its DOHC or SOHC.... from there we can help.

 

All kinds of wrong in the first post...smh.

 

Re: All kinds of wrong in the first post...smh.

In my post ? Very likely since I'm just learning and is why I came here for help

 

Please clean up your post, its not clear what you are asking.

 

Okay, let me try to clarify what I'm asking for help with. The engine block is clearly stamped F20A with a serial # 1567891 underneath. I don't know if there is any way to trace the serial # for answers or if it would help. I know that it is probably an Accord engine. I know that it is a 5 speed and is fuel injected (PGM-FI) I have pictures of the engine block and the existing head, which is DOHC. I don't know if there's anyway to find out if this engine is set up for a SOHC or DOHC which is something I've been trying to find out.
Since I originally started this thread, I have been told that a F22 SOHC Head will work and I have found a remanufactured one for a little over $200. I realize that the timing belt and other parts(?) will need to be changed if I decide to go that route. That I should have the oil pan dropped, cleaned and checked for debris. I'm still trying to get clarification on if the Piston needs to be replaced, or if it can be cleaned up, ground down and polished without compromising it. If it does need to be replaced, do I also need to replace the Rod?

 

Pictures of existing DOHC Head PT2-0 HF-0 8A

 

new engine time piston is done head is done for Also on the passenger side under the floor mate pull it up and tell use what ECU (Take a pic of the stickers) u got that can help us tell u what engine to drop in it or if u need to change it for a different one

 

Yeah, I see 2 pistons that look beyond repair, and you could possibly have a slightly bent rod depending on how bad impact was. The head is trashed for a reasonable repair, so the cheapest and best route would be to drop in a complete used engine, probability a jdm swap H22 or such. The ecu situation, should be just buy an engine and ecu package, and hopefully the transmission is ok. New clutch, maybe new axles, a ton of cleanup in that engine bay, verify all wiring is good, add vtec wiring if need and you go with a vtec engine, and should be good.

Depending on the condition of the car overall, and what you have invested into it monetarily and emotionally, it could either be a good fix, or something to get rid of and find another car. From the condition of the engine bay, I have to wonder what shape the car is in overall.

 

ya bud sorry about your luck, that piston is mashed sideways ... no way to repair that reliably ... and the pistons too .. asking for trouble.

If you want to fix it cheap, you can likely find an F22B DOHC engine with P91 (i believe p91) ecu ..I'm running one in my car, it's pretty decent and gets killer mileage. Killer like 6.5L/100km ... that's with a new O2 sensor I/H/E and no cat.

H23A Vtec go for cheaper than H22 because they aren't as plug and play friendly due to ODB2 but with persistence and help on this forum you could get that done on a P14 and have a great upgrade.

If you want to take it on, the best part about doing it yourself, is knowing it's done right and if something is off.. knowing where to go and look and not having the feeling of paying someone else and finding out they missed things that you later were able to repair yourself for free - and probably should have done on your own.

Most of us have endured a blown engine and learned from eachother on forums like this to get driving again... I had a spun bearing in my 92 4ws and upgraded to H22.

Whatever you want to do, we're here to help!

Good luck!