I've got a 91 Civ hatch that I'm doing the typical 16 swap. I thought I knew everything I needed to know...but then I stumbled. They've got a long and short block for the swap. Which is it I want? What are the differences...and...stuff?

 

A "short block" is the block, crank, rods and pistons.

A "long block" is a short block with the head.

As Ive come to understand from reading Honda-Tech a "swap" is a long block with intake and exhaust manifolds, transmission, axles, shift linkage and ECU.

 

I've understood short block to be head and block only.
Long block included all the accesories, intake mani, exhaust mani, tb, alt, ps, ac sometimes, and engine harness.
Complete swap includes tranny, axles sometimes, shift linkage sometimes, mounts sometimes, and ecu.

You'd have to ask whomever it is your aquiring the engine from to tell you what all comes with it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by blah13 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've understood short block to be head and block only.
Long block included all the accesories, intake mani, exhaust mani, tb, alt, ps, ac sometimes, and engine harness.
Complete swap includes tranny, axles sometimes, shift linkage sometimes, mounts sometimes, and ecu.

You'd have to ask whomever it is your aquiring the engine from to tell you what all comes with it.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thats what I thought too

 

mighty is correct... a short block is the block only, longblock is block and head... a complete swap would including everything.

Of course there are dealers out there that may "misinterperate" the meanings to get more sales.

 

Just curious, if "shortblock" is just the block then why is it called "shortblock" instead of just "block"? Like I said before you'll have to ask whom your buying it from or tell him what you need and let him decide.

Or check out HMO, everything listed as "longblock" is head/block/accesories, like I said before. http://www.hmotorsonline.com/s...30020

 

a "block" would not include internals... and a motor with manifolds and accessories is still a "long block".

I dont know about other parts of the US, but here in the bay area, most of these importers will sell you a "long block" and they might come with manifolds and accessories, but its not guaranteed.

Why they chose to use the terms long block and short block as opposed to just block... or even why is it called an engine... when in fact it is a motor have probably been lost in time... but its always been that way.

 

So it's kinda like a tootsie-pop...the world may never know? Or more like Trix...SO close, but the rabbit never gets the cerael? WoW...I've been around my foster brothers too long...well, thanks anyways, my interpretation is to just be like "yo, dude, what all's there?" to where as originally I thought I had a misunderstanding that there was two different sized blocks. Haha, wow...guess that's just me lucky ch...DAMNIT!

 

Bare Block - just that, a block with no internals
Rotating Assembly - crank, rods, and pistons. no block
Short Block - Block with crank, rods, and pistons assembled
Long Block - Short block with a head on it
Complete Engine - Long block with manifolds, valve cover(s), oil pan

Accessories(p/s, a/c, etc.) have no impact on the terminology

 

I thought a motor was an electrical device? Engine is an internal combustion?

 

actually you are right, i got them reversed, my bad.

 

WoW...definitly not a noob...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by thumbtack &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I thought a motor was an electrical device? Engine is an internal combustion?</TD></TR></TABLE>

HAHA, good point man.