Me and my friend just bought a 91 CRX for 200 bucks. It needs some body work, but my friend is taking care of it all. (helps that his dad is a body shop guy) He will be buying the engine for it though. I said just swap in a b16a1, its cheap and it will be nice and quick. But he wants to make it legal. Whats the best motor for it and still be smog legal? thanks guys

 

if you want a b-series....94 b18c1. obd1 gsr engine...


[Modified by 88CiViC_DX, 1:00 AM 3/15/2003]

 

we can make that smog legal too? What about the east of installtion?

 

Obviously it all depends on how much you want to spend and how far you want to get into it!!

Option #1; just get a D16Z6 out of an 91 Civic Si. It bolts up to the existing transmission and has VTEC. This is about as easy as it gets!

Option #2; Go with a B18b out of an Integra. You will have to get a 90-93 Integra engine AND transmission (along with a bunch of other items). The reason for the years listed is that you want a "cable" transmission!! You will need a "mount" kit for it. Not that difficult to get smog legal.

Option #3; Go with a B16A. Most of these (as I understand it) are JDM. You will also need that "B" series transmission and mount kit. The problem is that you will have to smog it as if it came out of a 94 Del Sol. Smoging it is possible, but not as "cut and dry" as doing the Integra. It's got VTEC.

Option #4; Go with a B18C. Once again, you need the "B" cable transmission and mount kit. With this one you get a 1.8 liter with VTEC. The BIG problem with this is the cost of the engine!! To smog it, you need everything from a 94.

Wes Vann

 

IMO, to make a legit temporary swap, drop a B18A (90-91 integ) in.
the wiring is pretty much the same.

Make sure it is running right and then get it refferied asap. then after you get the ref sticker, you can swap all you want.

If you do drop a B16 in you would have to convert the car to OBD1 which is a pain. I would definately drop a 90-91 integ motor.

I would go with a B20 motor and a 92-93 gs-r tranny.


[Modified by BCRUZspec, 10:16 AM 3/15/2003]

 

There is a lot of validity to what BCRUZspec says in regards to simplicity of getting the smog certificate and wiring, however you should keep in mind that if you swap in another engine at a latter date that doesn't match the tag that the referee makes up, you could face problems if the police ask you to open your hood. It would also not match when you have to get your normal smog check.

I'm not trying to get you too worried, but you should keep it in mind. I've heard a fair amount of stories of cops checking out this sort of thing.

The answer would be to keep the B18a in the garage for easy swapping back if you have a problem, or have to go for a smog check. Of course, that would be illegal and you didn't hear it from me!

Wes Vann

 

Thanks you very much Wes V and BCRUZ. I'll go over that info with my friend and from there he will determine what to use. His only really concern with the swap was to make it legal. He wants to drive it around. The difficulty is not that much of a problem. But thanks for the good info guys

//Jesse

 

I used to think that the ref sticker was real descriptive but it isn't. My ref sticker for my car(94 CX with a gs-r motor) says: smog as Acura 1.8L.

Meaning I can drop a ITR or LS motor in there and not worry. No VIN number from the motor is on the sticker. This is just a little loop hole and I know somebody else on the board with a EF that reff'd with a B18B and now has a LS/VTEC. As long as you have the typical smog equiptment(cat, o2, EVAP ****, PCV valve) you should be okay.

 

Isnt there a law out now that prohibits the use of Dual cam engines in a car that's meant for a single cam? I read it in a post somewhere on here a few days ago. Also, the D16Z6 didnt come in the 91 Si's, they were in the 93+ Si's, EX's, etc.


[Modified by ThE bEe GuY, 8:27 PM 3/16/2003]

 

CALIFORNIA SMOG LEGAL

my car was a single cam

 

Yea but when did you do the swap, i heard the new lew was put in effect beginning this year. I think if you got it before the law was in effect then it doesnt apply to you. I dunno, i just read it in anothe rpost somewhere on H-T

 

I got my BAR sticker January 17, 2003.

 

here is another buddy of mines who has a 97 HAtchback with a 97 GS-R motor...


he got his on the 9th of January. In June or July, the reff test will be a lot stricter. they will test for emissions under load.


notice that it doesn't say vtec or dohc on the bar sticker?


[Modified by BCRUZspec, 2:49 PM 3/16/2003]

 

u mean they are going to dyno? cus that is what i am hearing from alot of people

 

does it matter if it is a JDM or USDM motor

 

yup they are going to smog your car while the wheels are in motion on a dyno. this isn't a dyno to determine horsepower, this is a dyno to test emissions more realisticlly. Under load.

 

from my understanding in Spades ref thread, You can only ref a JDM motor if it is a direct replacement of your motor. If you blew a motor in your 94+ up gs-r, you can use a JDM SIR-G motor to replace it legally.

If you blew a motor in your Civic you can not use a JDM SIR-G motor as a replacement.

I have heard of loopholes though that you can transfer all of the USDM smog equiptment on a JDM motor and it will pass.

 

i was under the impression that you can get a away with a jdm swap. like if you said "oh well i swapped to a usdm gsr motor but it blew then i went to a jdm gsr motor"

i remember reading something very similar...damn shitty memory

 

now that I have the sticker I can drop a JDM motor in... I think it would be difficult to ref with a JDM motor though. I don't have experiance in that.

 

there was a big pissing match on here a week or two ago about getting jdm motors smogged

its a pita, but in the end i think theres a loophole

 

California sucks when it comes to smog and swaps. The new law here in calif is if your civic came with a sohc you have to to put a usdm sohc motor the same year or newer with all the smog parts from the doner car if you want. your not a loud to put b motors in now. You can put the twin cam from the newer si's, but thats going to be a lot of money. I had my zc for 10 years now. smoging it wasnt a problum till about 96. It started off paying a guy $50, then the next two years $100 now people ask me $300 to $400. Thats why im just going to drop in a d16z6 cause its hassle free.

 

Please only post facts. Post up a government link or something to back that statement up.

When does this 'so called' law start?

 

I'm sorry your wrong. the b18b came in 94-up tegs. the b18a came in the 90-93 tegs. also the d16z6 came in the 92-95 civic si and ex. and also the delsol


no sir. they came in the 92-95 civc si and ex. also the delsol.

 

just call a smog state ref, he will tell you, there the ones that told me.

 

it was reffed on 1/17/03