Regrets And Crxs
In 1974, I had a '63 Chevy Nova with a Corvette engine and sold it for $800. Boy, do I regret that. In 1979, I bought a CVCC hatchback that I later had Oscar Jackson soup up when he had his little shop in a Huntington Beach, Calif., business park, and then sold it in 1986. Boy, do I regret that too. Now I drive a '99 Civic DX hatchback, but because of my two aforementioned regrets, I've kept parked on blocks my '86 CRX Si, with dreams of someday making a George Barris-ish-type, souped-up project car. The minor of my two problems is not knowing where to start looking for upgrades, what I should upgrade, and what will fit. Secondly, how many original Van Gogh paintings must I sell to finance this. I don't have any paintings though. Maybe I should just let go of my baby and move on.
Richard, Denver, CO
Dear Honda Tuning mag staff, I've been a subscriber of yours for several years now (it's full of useful information), and I have a quick question. I own an '86, 12-valve, carbureted CRX with a blown engine and I want to swap in a fuel-injected one. What would be the best engine for me to swap in, in terms of ease of installation, cost, and horsepower?
Travis Moon, whereabouts unknown
You've both got to consider the B-series. You could swap in a SOHC VTEC D-series or a DOHC ZC engine for less money, but those just won't come close to the B in terms of horsepower. There are several different engines you might consider but the B16A, the B18C, and the B20-VTEC are the most common. A pre-OBD B16A would be the easiest and the least expensive. It'll fit slightly better than the GS-R engine since it's a bit shorter and has a slightly smaller intake manifold, and it'll give you the least amount of trouble wiring-wise, but it lacks in the power department when compared to the other two. Of course, if you go the B20-VTEC route you'll have to source a B20 block and a VTEC cylinder head and do some pre-installation surgery to make it all work. In short though, you can't go wrong either way. No matter which B-series you go with, you'll want to get in touch with Hasport, who has everything you need to make this swap happen, including the engine mounts, wiring harness, and axles. Hasport's engine mount kits are designed for the older B-series engines, which use cable-operated transmissions. You can use a newer engine, but you'll want to stick with the older gearbox unless you're interested in a cable-to-hydraulic transmission conversion.
You'll also need to modify your shift linkage, pick up a pair of '92-'93 Integra GS-R radiator hoses, a '90-'91 Integra RS/LS/GS throttle cable, an '88-'91 Civic clutch cable, be prepared to ditch your AC if you have it, and to put a sizeable dent in your frame rail for alternator clearance. It really isn't all that bad of a swap though, and for less then $3000, you just can't beat the B-series. Of course, carbureted models will require a bit more work-like an entire fuel system conversion and engine wiring harness swap, but the end result is worth it.
The H-Series Myth
Hey, what's up, HT? Great mag! I've been a long-time reader-I still have the first issue with Ed Bergenholtz' nine-second CRX on the cover. I recently bought a '96 Civic DX four-door with an automatic tranny, and now I'm planning to drop an H22A in with a stick shift, of course. A few shops say it will be too heavy, and in the future my front suspension will give up and sag. I want an H22A because, out the box, that motor halls and has lots of torque. I want to get my hands dirty and would like to drop the motor in myself. Are there any modifications I need to do to the engine bay or does the H just drop in with the correct set of aftermarket mounts? What else do I need to complete this swap, and will I be able to keep my power steering and A/C?
Lionel Mathews, whereabouts unknown