Guys I just completed my GSR swap! But I have a problem. The ECU is damaged and I can't get a hold of the guy I bought the motor from? I swapped a96 B18c in my 99 civic EX. Question is what are my options if any for the ECU.. possibly get another p72 or can I look into another kind? I don't ahve mnuch $$ left. Also I don't want to throw any engine codes.

 

My first choice would be to run a OBD2b-OBD1 jumper with an OBD1 ECU (P28, etc.) After that your choices get more limited due to the fact that your Civic is a '99... (If so) do you still have your IAB's in your IN manifold?? I personally HATE the stock P72 but that's just me... The VTEC (~4400rpm) is waaaaaay too low... If you do have IAB's on your car then you'll either want to take them out or pull the vacuum line which keeps them open (if you run an ECU without IAB control) Anywayz, the other options would be '99-2000 Si (P2T) or another '99-2001 P72 / P73 (ITR) ECU with the immobilizer removed... If emissions aren't a big big deal around you I still say go with a chipped P05/06/07/28/etc. and an OBD1 jumper... Power wise you'll get the most and you can always toss something like Hondata on it later Just my $0.02... Good Luck

 

if you do run an ecu other than the p72 make sure you get it chipped for your engine. also for this reason i would just get another p72 being that you said money was an issue.

 

Damn I'm so confused as to what I should do If I do convert from obd2b-obd1 and get another type of ecu (p28, etc.) how will that benefit me more than the p72? The IAB won't kick in, correct? Won't I lose torque or hp? Or how can I avoid that?

 

Sorry man, I didn't mean to confuse you but lets put it this way... Some people won't agree with me here either but oh well... IAB's are gay, they do allow your motor to make better bottom end but if later on down the road you put a CTR/ITR cams in your car they like your VTEC x-over higher (~5200-5700rpm)... That really messes with your motor a lot... If you run the stock P72 ECU with that you'll notice that when you kick VTEC your car will bog all the way till your IAB's open... The negative effects aren't that noticable where as when you go in the power direction you see... My friend Albert (JDMEKhb) has his '96 EJ6 with a B18C1, SK2 IN manifold (which I personally don't really like, just pull the IAB's in your P72 IN manifold or don't run the vacuum line and you have a single stage manifold with the downside only being that your the runners are kind of long), CTR IN cam (GSR EX), DC 4-1 header, '2000 Si (S4C) tranny, ACT clutch, etc... Anywayz he used to run his stock P72 till he tried a JDM B18CR ECU in it... The difference is amazing and if you want I'll go tape his car from the inside sometime... The P72 won't even break the tires loose 1st gear... The more aggressive fuel/timing mapping also pulls a lot better on top end... He actually got his current P73-00 ECU off E-bay for $120 + $8 shipping... That's cheap as hell... It's just a lot easier with his car being OBD2a, he can run Teg ECU's which didn't yet have the ignition immobilizer... Let me know if you wanna see the difference sometime... Good Luck!!!

 

Should I look into going the skunk2 route? Just buying that for 300 and finding a itr p73 ecu for cheap? Think that would be my best bet?

 

I actually think that's an awesome setup if you wanna stay OBD2... Like I said, that JDM B18CR ECU is pretty good for being factory... If you know how to chip an ECU you could probably do a P28 for about the same price... It's up to you... Just for being easy I say look into an OBD2b-OBD2a jumper and an '96-98 ITR ECU... Latez

 

lol I was actually just talking to a few of my friends and they said I might be better off doing the OBD1 conversion now. What are your thoughts on that?

 

Also someone said I can chip my stock ex ecu?