Hey. I currently have a stock 97 EX. I am overdue to have my timing belt done. My engine burns oil, and rather than putting the timing belt money into this engine, I would rather get a newer one.

I dont want to spend alot of money. I dont need a B16 or B18. I probably need to stick within the D-series to keep compatible with my current tranny. My question is, what are my options for engines remotely around the same price(under $1000 complete and installed). And where would be the best place to get this purchase/work done? If I am replacing the engine, I would rather have a little more power. I just dont want to dump too much much money in this car.


Thanks,

Eirik

 

Honestly, your best option would be a d16y8. I assume you have a d16y7 currently? If so, this will give you a bit more power and it will still be a relatively cheap engine to purchase. You may also want to think about changing the transmission for better acceleration, this will also make a huge difference in the feel of the vehicle when you are accelerating. This swap will require you to purchase a new ECU, wire up v-tec, the IACV and extend a few wires on the intake manifold. So the labour will be a tiny bit more.

Doing the swap PROPERLY for under $1000 with labour/parts/engine included might be do-able but don't be surprised if you spend $200-300 more, especially if you opt to do the clutch, timing belt, water pump and full tune-up.

For install I would definately bring the vehicle to zeeman and myself. You will see by our reputation on the boards that we are fully qualified to handle all your needs (except provide you with an engine). More importantly, the job will be done properly and you will have no issues afterwards.

 

You can always save money just converting your current non vtec ecu to vtec. Its pretty cheap to do. Xenocron Tuning: Fuel Management and DIY Tuning Resource Center for Honda and Acura Performance - Hondata, eCtune, Neptune, Crome, TurboEdit, Uberdata.

 

So, who has the best reputation for selling quality engines? And, that figure you gave me, does that include the tranny, the ecu?

 

You can find a Y8 relatively cheap. Anywhere form$200 to $400 for just the engine. You just need to look around and see whats available.
Second of all to get the piece that converts your ecu to vtec is only like $20+ bucks. Check the link I posted.
And you can use your tranny if you want,its just the SI tranny is better.

 

you can't mod obd2 ecus like you can obd1 ecus. Also, in order to be able to convert a non-vtec ecu to a vtec ecu you also have to chip it. So its not "only $20" to do such a modification.

To get the swap done for $1000 labour and parts would be tight IMO. I'd recommend doing as chris_v2 said and change the timing belt, water pump and clutch and do a "tune-up" on the engine you are swapping in, to save yourself the headaches later on down the road, not to mention labour will be less doing it while the engine is out of the car VS doing the timing belt/water pump/clutch once the engine is installed.

I'd say you can find an engine for around $500 (if not less), then the timing belt, water pump, clutch and tune up parts could cost you another $500 (if not more), plus labour.

Around $1500 seems realistic to do all of the above mentioned including labour. If you wanted to change to a SI tranny as well, you could be spending another few hundred bucks.....unless you can find someone pulling their d-series parts out swappin in a b-series engine and willing to get rid of the engine/tranny for cheap. But you never know what you're gunna get with a deal like that.

 

zeeman already answered the question! $1000 would be your very basic swap/labour with a $250 motor and no transmission. Like I said you may have to spend a few hundred dollars more to do it properly.

Do it right the first time, trust me. It'll cost you more down the road.

 

The Y8 is a pretty decent SOHC, with just a few bolt-ons it can be a fun little motor. But spend the extra now on the extras, that way you know everything is taken care of and there won't be any surprises.

 

hmmm...that does sound pretty good. right now, that's a little bit out of my price range If the problem with my current engine is in the head, is there another head that i could put on that would me a little more power?(and just doing the timing belt on this motor?)

 

just do it up with the y8 really worth it guy no mods really just the wiring for the vtec and ecu to be chipped I would if I still had a EF but I know yours is newer but I would do it up

 

in my opinion, adding a vtec head on a SOHC isn't really worth it, you'll feel more of a difference from using the SI tranny.

I'll say again, you CAN'T modify/chip the obd2 ecus like you can the obd1 ecus. He'd have to get the SI ecu if he put a vtec head on, or convert to obd1 and use a chipped p28.

If you're gunna go through the trouble of changing the head to a vtec head and swappin in a SI tranny, ur better off just getting the complete SI engine/tranny/ecu and swapping it in.

Typically, if an engine burns oil, its because of worn piston rings. If its the valve seals in the head, it'll usually only burn oil when the engine is cold at start up. So I doubt changing your head will even solve your oil consumption problem.

 

correct me if im wrong but you want to avoid spending monely on a timing belt and woud rather buy a whole engine/ install for as cheap as possible. Don't you think this other engine probably has a t-belt that will need to/ should be changed? If this is the case then your better off driving this car untill the tbelt snaps and the engine goes, save money in the meain time and replace the whole engine and tbelt kit properly.

 

so any idea how much for an SI set up in my car? How much without the labour?
(I appreciate the patience/feedback)

 

call a junkyard/importer and find out, thats the only way you'll know for sure.

I'd say you're prolly looking around $600-800 for just the engine and tranny.

 

what tranny can be swapped out on my d16y8 ?? its the Si with vtec but sohc... is that the tranny you were talking about?

 

the only better tranny would be a d15b LSD....you basically have the best USDM tranny available for the d-series engines of that generation.

 

sorry i'm not too knowledgable on this. So, I would also probably need the ecu and wiring harness? Would the engine come with the alternator and all of that stuff? Would this set up be noticeably better than the other one?

 

yes, you will need the ECU, not the wiring harness though, whoever is swappin in the engine can run the few extra wires for vtec on the cars original wiring harness.

Engines usually come with the distributor, alternator, injectors, etc etc, unless they tell you otherwise.

Yes the SI vtec engine will be noticeably better than the old non-vtec engine.

We're here to help man.