Some intro swap information
Switching OBD motors
Many people think that swapping in a pre OBDI motor into their 92+ Civic is a good idea. I disagree. First, you’ll have to swap the car from OBDI to OBD0 ot try and change the motor to OBDI. If you get a swap older than a 1991, you have to deal with the cable to hydro tranny conversion. The 1992-1993 Integra is the oddball swap of the bunch, being OBD1 and cable tranny. Your stock Civic has a hydraulic transmission.
Swapping from OBDII to OBDI is a common thing more and more now. Although the idea is quite good, it has flaws. If you use a jumper harness, it is very difficult to get the ECM to fit back in it’s original location. Also, unless you feel like changing things back at inspection time, it’s going to be impossible to pass in some areas. Now places are implementing OBDII testing that will have the tester plug a computer into your OBDII port to check for legality (no pulling the check engine light bulbs anymore to pass).
General swap info and tips
This could be better covered by someone with more swap experience, but I’ll put in my $.02. Do it from the top. Just because more people have access to the tools and locations where putting in a swap from the top is easier. Also, make sure you have some way to crack the axle nuts loose. Air tools are a lifesaver when you have to turn bolts in a job like this, as is a torque wrench and a GOOD set of sockets.
If you can follow directions on here and unbolt things and rebolt them with a little wiring, you can do a swap.
A special thanks goes out to JDMlyfestyle for this thread [FAQ]Lots of Swap info for your EG and Del Sol - Honda-Tech - Honda Forum Discussion
JDM Swaps
Honestly, unless these come from a friend in Japan, you’re taking a gamble every time. You have no real way to know how many miles are on the engine, nor how it was treated. Just keep that in mind. It has not been proven (no matter how many claims) that these JDM motors make any more HP.
Where to find them
First of all, if you are looking for a USDM motor, I’ll suggest local junkyards. They are probally your best bet, as you can look at what you’re getting instead of having to order it. Many people on here have bough swaps online, and they have posted their experiences in this thread:
Where did you get your engine? Overall experience with company? - Honda-Tech - Honda Forum Discussion
Possible Swaps
Now before someone jumps on me and says anything is possible with enough time and money, I know. These are going to be fairly straightforward options with the pros/cons.
D series swaps
These are fairly inexpensive and come in a variety of Civics. IMHO, these are the easiest swaps to drop in. I also don’t want to hear a bunch of whining about the opinions on power levels. Of course there are going to be some exceptions to the rule.
Pros
Inexpensive
Decent potential (200 whp or so on stock internals)
OEM parts are cheap
More than enough for most people
The best D series come with ~130 hp tops
Optional factory LSD in the JDM D15B
Cons
Not as much potential as some other motors
Transmission not geared for accelleration
Don’t respond to bolt ons well
Only way to get real power out of them is FI
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B16
These can be found in the JDM SIR and SIRII (among other JDM cars, which I don’t claim to know all of which it came in) as well as the USDM 99-00 SI (EM1) and the 99-00 Canadian SIR. They can also be found in the Del Sol VTEC (thanks NinetySevenDC2 and Syndacate).
Pros
160 hp stock
High RPM power
Fairly inexpensive
Good transmission
DOHC VTEC
Cons
113ft/lbs torque (very little more than a D16z6 stock)
Without knowing what you’re looking for you can end up with a high mileage JDM model
Under 4k or so it feels just like a D16
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B18B
This is the motor in the non Type-R and non GSR Integra.
Pros
Good torque for a 1.8L (127 ft/lbs)
Inexpensive (even cheaper than a B16)
142 hp (more than any stock D series)
Boost heads love them
Cons
No VTEC
Longest B series transmission
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B18C1 (or JDM B18C)
These come out of an Integra GSR.
Pros
Good Hp and TQ numbers (170, 121 ft/lbs respectively)
DOHC VTEC
Tons of potential
High revving
Cons
Expensive
Becoming moreso as people keep scooping them up
Slighty longer tranny than the ITR and B16
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