Not quite the introduction post I wanted to make when I finally got here, but, unfortunately, I've only been a proud (even still believe it or not) Honda owner for 1 week.

Bare with me, as I'm used to domestics only (of which I still have them, just felt like seeing what the Honda thing was all about - while having somewhat of a practical car), though I'm not completely ignorant (about engines in general).

That being said, I seek the help/assistance of the many knowledgeable folks here please.

I have this 1999 Honda Civic Si that I owned for 2 weeks, paid cash. It was a private sale. Long and behold, called the person after it happened, phone disconnected. Ooookay. Stopped by the house where I bought it from, the person lived there for two years and they've never had the car. Turns out the meeting spot BOTH times (within a week) was at someone elses house! I told them "I just bought this car from HERE 2 weeks ago", their response, "I'm sorry, we were on vacation two weeks ago for almost a month". So much for a reliable house sitter!

Yes, I realize this is something that sounds straight out of a movie/book, I'm still in denial myself.

But, those are their own set of problems. The immediate problem is, getting my daily driver on the road. Besides, the seller has no legal obligation to repay me, etc. I simply wanted insight on what was wrong with, thus, what was being hidden from me about the engine.

I gave the car a good run down too, including the engine, compression check, leakdown and had the oil drained with no metal in it, lifted the valve cover, etc. Basically everything a person could do within an hour while the seller held onto my drivers license.

So anyway. It dropped a valve. Head appears to be damaged beyond repair and there is a hole in the #4 piston. I have no desire to rebuild this engine at this time, I may keep the short block off to the side for the heck of it and will likely take the head to a recycling place.

It has a B16A3 in it. Funny, because every reference I could find it should be a B16A2. Only the Del Sol's seem to have had the B16A3's in them. Go figure.

The PCM (I think its referred to as an ECU to you guys right?) harness doesnt appear to have been modified in any way and the PCM/ECU that it has is the one found in the 1999 Honda Civic Si (forget the part number of it darnit, but, cross referencing/googling showed it as a PCM/ECU from that car). And engine mounts do not appear to have been changed out, but, with my limited knowledge of what all the generations and models of Honda mounts look like, or complete lack thereof... who knows.

With all that said. Two questions for you experts/Honda knowledgeable type please:

1. What engine will drop directly into this? (I suspect B16A3 will since that is what is in it, but the B16A2 seems to be the one that was supposed to be in this)

2. What engine will drop in with MINOR modification (adding sensors, if so which ones, etc.) ALL the details please?

Thank you in advance guys.



Modified by Broken99Si at 10:32 PM 12/28/2006

 

Having a difficult time googling what will fit directly in. I'm assuming there has to be some differences between the B16A, B16A2 and B16A3, just unsure of what.

If it helps at all, I've read that my PCM is an ODB2. Here's for hoping someone knowledgeable will chime in. Thank you.

 

The B16A3 did in fact come in the 96-97 Del Sol which the largest difference between the B16A2 found in the 99-00 Civic Si being the version of OBD2 used by Honda. All 96-98 Honda vehicles use OBD2a, and in 99 Honda began using OBD2b. If in fact you have the original OBD2b ECU which would have come in the 99+ Si then I would venture to suspect that your original wiring harness is still intact and uncut. To answer your question any of the B series with VTEC will be a straight bolt in including wiring with the exception of the GSR motor which utilizes IAB (secondary intake butterflies) which in your case would require the simple addition of a single wire to the ECU in pin location 16 on the “B” ECU plug.

Sorry for you position, sounds like this motor spent a lot of time bouncing off the rev limiter.

 

1. the b16a2 and a2 should drop right in. you also have a choice of the 1.8s. the b18b5 and c1.

2. Since this motor is allready a b-series. You can drop any b-motor in there. If I was you I would just look for the original motor, or a del sol motor.

sorry to hear that your first experience went down like that. Honda's are great cars and will last and perform well forever If you take car of it.

 

Firetech, do I remember correctly when I think I read something concerning wire harness (secondary off the engine itself?) are different amongst B16's?

From my research on the forums here, it seems hmotorsonline.com is a good company to purchase from, is this true? If it is, perhaps it may be more idiot proof (for me of course) if you were to paste the link to the cheapest solution / swap at that site.

I'd love to find just another B16A3, though it seems most are sold with the tranny, axles and PCM/ECU of which are things that I have. Heck, I don't even have a need for an intake manifold, header, distributor (unless I dont go with a ODB2 B16 from what I've read), etc, etc.

Trying like hell to find all the information I need, though as with 99% of the forums on the net, there are no blinking icons or flashing signs saying "Look here! This has what you need to know!" lol, ashame really.. I wish they did.

I appreciate all you guys help thusfar.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by firetech &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The B16A3 did in fact come in the 96-97 Del Sol which the largest difference between the B16A2 found in the 99-00 Civic Si being the version of OBD2 used by Honda. All 96-98 Honda vehicles use OBD2a, and in 99 Honda began using OBD2b. If in fact you have the original OBD2b ECU which would have come in the 99+ Si then I would venture to suspect that your original wiring harness is still intact and uncut. To answer your question any of the B series with VTEC will be a straight bolt in including wiring with the exception of the GSR motor which utilizes IAB (secondary intake butterflies) which in your case would require the simple addition of a single wire to the ECU in pin location 16 on the “B” ECU plug.

Sorry for you position, sounds like this motor spent a lot of time bouncing off the rev limiter. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Just to clear it up b16a3's come in 94-95 del sol VTEC's
b16a2's came in 96-96 del sol VTEC's and in 99-00 civic si's like
you have

I would try to find a complete bottom end, and b16 complete head (you can check the for sale thread on here or ebay or something like that).....then just put them together using your existing head bolts. People are always selling short blocks and heads on here that you can pick up for around $300 and a head usually for around $500. Then all you need to do is take all your stuff like IM and EM and put them on this new set up and put it in. Sorry about you situation though.

 

The difference between the engine harnesses is directly related to the OBD version of the vehicle. Each version of OBD uses different ECU plug configurations. Some of the sensors and their respective plugs are also different between the OBD configurations. So long as you pick up an engine in the same OBD family (OBD2 in your case) it will be a straight plug and play install.

 

Thank you both Firetech and Delslo for the clarification it is greatly appreciated. I had every intention to learn as much as I could about my Honda/import, just didn't know I'd have to do it in such a hurry lol.

As for the situation, ahh, no worries. Blowing up engines is part of the game no matter what "game" you're in domestic, import, etc. It does suck, though I see it this way, I wont be procrastinating learning things now.

Unfortunately, since I'm the n00b I am to the forum, if I do find a longblock for sale, I'm unable to PM anyone and/or reply in the FS forums it would appear. Completely understandable though, so far from a complaint, just makes things 'trickier'.

Thank you bros.

 

please stop with the "domestic", "import" stuff. your a car guy, just like the rest of us, no need to explain your self.

 

Oh, I feel the same entirely. Though, just keep in mind, the company that I keep typically doesn't care much at all for "imports". I obviously do not share those sentiments though, making a clear generalization/categorizing I suppose is a habit. I'll break free from it, I assure you just may take a little time.

Didn't mean to offend anyone.

 

I think you need a certain amount of posts to go the the for sale forum and to pm people (I think 25??). Go to the appearance and cosmetic forum and just post stuff like "hey man nice car" and whatever to get your post count up so you can go check out short blocks and heads that people have for sale. Good luck man.