What is the correct way to install this engine into a 90 CRX Si. I have done some searching but 9 times out of ten, I find folks who are going from OBD1 engines to a OBD0 car. I assume I need aftermarket motor mounts and shift linkage from Hasport or one of the competitors. Do I need a conversion component since I will be using a hydro tranny? And can I use the existing engine harness? What ecu should I have and will I have issues with connect harnesses to said Ecus?

I currently have a 94 Civic that I planned on putting this engine in and the only thing I pretty much needed was an OBD1 P72 and everything else was plug and play. This car is turning into a rust bucket that I can't keep up with so I am eyeing a 90 CRX Si but wondering how much more work and/or parts I will need.

 

Use an OBD1 computer. My GSR block I believe was also from an OBD2 car and has a sensor or two that didn't need to be hooked up. You use an ECU conversion harness inside the car which will also give you some extra wires you need to run to the engine bay. Use your existing CRX engine harness since it appears it would be MPFI. Using a hydro transmission means you have three options: some metal rig that connects your clutch cable to the clutch fork (not really the best way to do this), use a kit that converts your clutch cable to a hydraulic system (I do this with the Hasport CMA - it works OK), or get a kit to convert your pedal to a complete hydraulic system without the cable (probably the best way but you need to do some modifications - look up "Hush" kit I believe). Motor mount kit (they differ between hydro and cable transmissions FYI), shift linkage, B series axles, etc etc. CRX fuel injector clips on the harness won't plug into OBD2 injectors but can be made to work with some cutting, then you also delete the resistor box. Speed sensor on the transmission is electronic and not cable driven, so you either swap your dash cluster to something compatible or get some sort of adapter that gives you the old speedo cable while still sending the needed signal to the ECU so your VTEC works.

Be prepared to hammer and cut various parts of your car to make things fit. I run the Hasport mounts and it gives good clearance at the bottom but your hood won't close without spacers. Your radiator will also have smaller ports than what a B series uses. I run a DA Integra radiator which MOSTLY fits. There's a lot more you need to research as this is just what I happen to remember off hand.

EDIT: also you'll probably either need an OBD1 or OBD2B distributor (and then you'll also have to make adapters for the wiring). I think the OBD2A one doesn't include a certain wire that you need... I forget which one though.

 

The P72, motor mounts and clutch conversion seem easy enough to find. Was not aware of the speedo problem as well as the "Be prepared to hammer and cut various parts of your car to make things fit," part. The hood not fitting properly was something I haven't heard also. I'm starting to think I need to look for another civic, possibly an EK. I figured Hasport would have designed a kit that fit in the engine bay without the hammering and hood problem. Somewhat disappointed now. I have had 3 crx's in the past and had to sell them for various reasons and was excited to get back into one.

Any one have any other opinions and experience and can confirm netfreak's comment.

 

This isn't a Hasport mount problem.. You're attempting to put a motor physically larger than what was ever intended into a small engine bay. It has to either sit too high for the hood or too low it'll smash speed bumps, while also lining up your axles and such properly. I'm OK with just using hood spacers. The other parts you need to modify MIGHT not be that bad, but you could have clearance issues with things if you don't.

 

There are other options with the hood, such as getting a CF hood which usually are lower profile. My Vis hood fits fine without spacers. I believe you can also just trim the webbing under the OEM hood rather than use spacers.

I just swapped out my old ebay mounts for Hasports and they are top notch. They come with instructions for where you need to "hammer and cut" and it's pretty minimal.

For radiator, just go aftermarket like the Skunk2 Alpha which they make to fit EF's and it bolts right in, except for the need to cut some webbing under the hood to clear the cap.

 

I just assumed that it may be a Hasport issue because I had been going through a lot of different posts and didn't hear that anyone had the hood clearance issue with the Innovative mounts. Not sure how big of a difference there was between the 2 sets.

netfreak, what was your solution for your gauge?

 

IIRC the Innovative mounts might place the motor a bit lower than the Hasport ones, or at least this is what I read. I was concerned about ground clearance though since my car already scrapes on some of our horrible roads so I went with the Hasport. If you had a B16A you might not run into the same hood issues I did, or if you run one of the other hoods mentioned in the thread. I didn't have to go crazy with the spacers but I think I needed about an inch of clearance plus cutting out some of the webbing.

For my dash I'm running a cluster from a 99 Civic SiR (Canadian version of the Si) to the newer VSS. Physically this fits pretty decently but you have to get a bit creative with attaching it to the existing cluster hood (90-91 CRX, the 88-89 doesn't curve as much).

 

You will still have hood clearance issues with innovative's mounts. What netfreak said is true. Even the Si-R models from over seas have a different hood to fit the b16.

 

Can confirm I have a b20 with type R head and use Innovative mounts. The previous owner just use to smash the **** out of the valve cover to get the hood to close, I wouldn't say "properly".



For now i put in some hood pins that lock into place a bit higher than the OEM Hood Latch. Later I will be going to a SIR style carbon fiber hood, it has a rise in the middle instead of the dip for the double overhead cam engines.

As @netfreak mentioned this isn't a issue with the Innovative mounts, it simply you are putting a larger engine into a car that it wasn't meant for. It the best case scenario.

I also have heard that Innovate Mounts make the engine sit a little lower then the Hasport mounts, but no real world experience with the Hasport mounts so can't really comment.