Engine for 91 Civic hatchback.

chunney · Post by **chunney** » Tue May 15, 2007 2:37 am

Alright, I've been doing some research and browsing for an engine, but some things are still unclear. My car has a standard D15B1 (Mmmmm... 70hp) that is blown and I'm looking to replace. I decided I was going to order a D15B SOHC VTEC from hmotors until I realized that it comes with a hydraulic transmission and mine is a cable-type. It seems that the three engines I was looking at (the mentioned d15, ZC SOHC, and the ZC DOHC) all have downsides. What would I have to do to get the D15B to work and would the ZC SOHC bolt up with my stock axles and mounts? The ZC SOHC looks 100% identical to what I have now and its $100 cheaper so I figured I would throw it in. I heard talk of a Cable to Hydraulic conversion kit, but I didn't have any luck finding it online. Thanks.

chunney · Post by **chunney** » Tue May 15, 2007 2:52 am

Here's a pic of what I'm looking at right now...

http://img488.imageshack.us/img488/5048/civengkk0.jpg

Also, i forgot to ask. Is it possible to swap a 4spd out for a 5 spd? What has to be changed? I was told that it would be more difficult than just swapping it out for a 4spd, and that getting a new 4spd would be a better idea.

JustRob · Post by **JustRob** » Tue May 15, 2007 3:51 am

chunney;43227 wrote:Alright, I've been doing some research and browsing for an engine, but some things are still unclear. My car has a standard D15B1 (Mmmmm... 70hp) that is blown and I'm looking to replace. I decided I was going to order a D15B SOHC VTEC from hmotors until I realized that it comes with a hydraulic transmission and mine is a cable-type. It seems that the three engines I was looking at (the mentioned d15, ZC SOHC, and the ZC DOHC) all have downsides. What would I have to do to get the D15B to work and would the ZC SOHC bolt up with my stock axles and mounts? The ZC SOHC looks 100% identical to what I have now and its $100 cheaper so I figured I would throw it in. I heard talk of a Cable to Hydraulic conversion kit, but I didn't have any luck finding it online. Thanks.

chunney;43233 wrote:Here's a pic of what I'm looking at right now...

http://img488.imageshack.us/img488/5048/civengkk0.jpg

Also, i forgot to ask. Is it possible to swap a 4spd out for a 5 spd? What has to be changed? I was told that it would be more difficult than just swapping it out for a 4spd, and that getting a new 4spd would be a better idea.

This is everything you need to know about getting the D15B to work correctly in your car.

-To get the D15B to work, you would need to convert your car over to MPFI and to OBD-1 using the Rywire conversion harness.

http://http://rywire.com/store/8891-crxcivic-dxstd-d16z6d15b-obd1-vtec-p-66.html?osCsid=703399c7602581792f9d6e0cbf1b60ec

-You will need the manual P08 or manual P28 ECU to run your car.

-You will need pigtails to plug into the VTEC solenoid on the D15B to get VTEC to work. You will then need to wire in VTEC to the conversion harness. You will also need to wire in a 4-wire O2 sensor (From a 92-95 Civic EX/Si)

-You can use the 4 spd. transmission on any of those motors, it will bolt up. The best one to use is an EX/Si transmission, which I PM'd you about.

-You will need to take the driver's side mount off of your D15B1 motor to replace the mount on the D15B.

To make the SOHC ZC work in your car...

-You will need to convert to MPFI using this conversion from Rywire and a manual PM6 ECU.

http://rywire.com/store/8891-crxcivic-dxstd-d16a6-dpfi-mpfi-p-63.html?osCsid=d9a4dc8f9dc701552d2b42f71fda2a8c

-Your transmission will bolt up and work, as well as any other 88-91 Civic transmission. But, as stated earlier, the EX/Si is the best.

To make the DOHC ZC work, PM budget_crx, he has a lot of experience with this swap.

I would just use a cable transmission and save money instead of converting to a hydro transmission. Like I said before, get the 5 spd. Its an easy swap.

PM me if you have anymore questions.

chunney · Post by **chunney** » Tue May 15, 2007 5:09 am

Thanks a ton!

Post by **budget_crx** » Tue May 15, 2007 5:42 am

between the engines you listed the DOHC ZC would most likely be the best (and i'm not just saying that because im partial to em for once! lol) only because it will give you the most power and will be just as easy to swap in as the SOHC.

chunney · Post by **chunney** » Tue May 15, 2007 1:25 pm

So, if I decide on the DOHC ZC I will just have to convert to MPFI as with the SOHC and buy a new ECU? If the Si tranny and my STD axles and mounts all work with this combo, then that will probably be what I end up getting. Also, is there a DIY tutorial to convert to MPFI? I think $200 is a little steep when I'm pretty handy with a soldering iron.

N2HIFI · Post by **N2HIFI** » Tue May 15, 2007 3:15 pm

there are a bunch of write ups on the internet about doing the DPFI to MPFI (like d-series.org) but its a little more then just soldering a cpl wires you have to cut splice, move and add wires along with adding a resistor box. But if your some what mechanically inclined and good wit wiring then its not that difficult i would say 6 out of 10

good luck with your choice and let us know if you need anything else

chris

Post by **budget_crx** » Tue May 15, 2007 3:41 pm

chunney;43299 wrote:So, if I decide on the DOHC ZC I will just have to convert to MPFI as with the SOHC and buy a new ECU? If the Si tranny and my STD axles and mounts all work with this combo, then that will probably be what I end up getting. Also, is there a DIY tutorial to convert to MPFI? I think $200 is a little steep when I'm pretty handy with a soldering iron.

the DOHC ZC uses the exact same harness as any other MPFI OBD0 engine, (D16A6, SOHC ZC, etc..) just with the addition of two wires that run to the external cam sensor. (I also have this harness from rywire if you need it).

http://www.zcspeed.com/DXZCwiring.pdf

JustRob · Post by **JustRob** » Tue May 15, 2007 8:40 pm

chunney;43299 wrote:So, if I decide on the DOHC ZC I will just have to convert to MPFI as with the SOHC and buy a new ECU? If the Si tranny and my STD axles and mounts all work with this combo, then that will probably be what I end up getting. Also, is there a DIY tutorial to convert to MPFI? I think $200 is a little steep when I'm pretty handy with a soldering iron.

Yes and Yes. The Si transmission, STD axles, and mounts will all work for the DOHC ZC swap. Heres the best write-up that I've seen on doing an MPFI swap yourself. PM me if you need the parts for it, I have everything to do the swap.

http://www.angelfire.com/d20/hcivic88/dx-siwiring.html

APVN · Post by **APVN** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 9:05 pm

good luck man, dont mess up anything