OK.

I just picked up a lovely 1986 Honda Civic hatchback. I believe it's a HX (or whatever the base model back then was) as it has no trim level tag on the back glass.

It is a 4-speed manual.

The previous owner broke the timing belt on it while driving it, and totaled the valvetrain.

I've heard that the popular head swap for those years of Honda were old Prelude heads.

I currently am planning on using a 12-valve Prelude head. The stamp on the front of the head (above #3 plug) is PEO-5.

The engine in the car is the 1.3 (I think) and the engine number/code is EV1.

Are these two compatible?
What timing belt should I use?
What head gasket? (probably the Civic right?)

It will simply be a winter beater for a while. Maybe more later. I just want to get it running, and need to know what to do.

Thanks!

 

You might try:

http://www.redpepperracing.com

 

ur gonna wanna put the si head on it if any head at all its a 1.5 head from the si and ull want to toss ur exhaust manifold in the process for the si one if u can since ur catyltic converter is right at ur head

 

Went there and registered, but I can't post there for some strange reason.

 

You sure? It was one of the popular Civic books that I saw that you could use the Prelude head.

The junkyard that I bought the head off of even said that it was identical to the 1.3 Civic head, except that it was 12-valve instead of 8.

Plus, it looks identical in shape, size and water/oil passage location and size.

 

Well, if you have the time and will, you can always see if the head mates to the Civic block and try to get it running.
But if you need the car fixed ASAP, and need it done right you should just get the exact same head.

In order you swap on the Si head, you would need to convert to Fuel Injection, because the carburetor on the HF engine has an inferior fuel flow for the Fuel injected head.
FYI: COnverting to fuel injection is a big hassle.

You can however swap exhaust manifolds with the Si one like JDMB16 hatch mentioned, since it flows better. But you will need to grad the Si oil pan, and the Si downpipe to complete the swap.

Hope I helped you out.

 

interesting idea.
but i'm not sure if anybody on this site is old-school enough to answer if it'd work or not.

 

Hry I'm old school enough. Seeing as how that's my first civic (then I found and '87 Si). I read about it "back" in the day, but I've never seen of it. I have a friend that says he did it (I don't know if I believe him though), but had valve clearance issues he had to sort out. I tried the ZC and B16's up until recently when I did a B20 that's all I've tried with that chassis. Ef's are still a new thing to me. I like those old boxes.

I'm getting a "MINT" Civic CVCC soon. I was just told today that he's going to sell it, but only to me. It belongs to this old guy that I go and chill with and talk about cars of the olden era. Like in the '50's. It only has 17,000mi. on it.

I know there's gotta be some more old skoolers out there that can help with this. Im sure most of them have probably moved up a notch or two, to the most expensive imports (BLECH!). I'll stick to my little Go-Karts. I'm sure they remember their roots though.