Wrenchin' Technical
Unbelievable, but it was March 2004 when I first did the K-series Hybrid How-To for the dearly departed Sport Compact Car. Then, only a few months after that for Honda Tuning. So here we are five years later and the swap has finally gained enough momentum that it's in danger of becoming routine. Good thing Honda Tuning already told you about the J-swap!
Now that the K-swap has become fairly easy with a decent number of shops having done it and a large number of companies like Hybrid-Racing and K-tuned turning out parts dedicated to the swap, it's time to bring down the cost a bit. Supply and demand economics.
Here's the basics of doing a K-swap in an EG/DC (other chassis are very similar):
| K20 engine (real VTEC) |
- |
$2,000(Type S) to $3,000(ITR) |
| 6 Speed Trans |
- |
$900-1500 |
| Engine harness conversion |
- |
$250-350 |
| Shifter and cables |
- |
$450 |
| Fuel system |
- |
$250-500 |
| Clutch line |
- |
$100 |
| Header |
- |
$350-800 |
| ECU |
- |
$995(K-Pro) + Core |
| Axles |
- |
$300-600 |
There's more, like mounts and radiators and power steering and a/c, etc, but that's for another day. What I'll concentrate on here is the big upfront-the engine and trans, and then all the extras that seem to nickel and dime you to death.
Let's start with the engine. Obviously the king of the hill is the K20A, A2, Z1 and Z3. Or, if you want more torque, the K24A2 from the TSX. These are the only Ks with true VTEC. BUT, there are those who would be happy with just having a K-swap to cruise around in and for show.
-
Here it is in all its cheapness, the 2003-up Accord K24. There are over one million of the
-
On the ground is a K24 five-speed. Attached to the engine is a complete K20A3 or EP3. Hasp
-
The left side bracket is also a complete mismatch on a K24 transmission. The solution is t
For these people, there's the two-liter and 2.4-liter Ks with the 12-to-16 valve VTEC system. Think about it, if your EG went from a 1.6 with 125 hp and 106 lb-ft of torque to 160 and 160, it would be a whole new dimension. Perhaps every bit as fast as a B-series swap. Even the two-liter from the RSX and EP3 have the same 160 hp, just a little less torque.
Some phone calls to junkyards reveals that Accord motors are like hair on Robin Williams-everywhere. LKQ is one of the largest in the country and you'll find them on eBay often, and just as likely down the street. For me, they had 11 '03-'07 Accord 2.4s. Mileage was from 33k to 111k. Prices from $800 to $400. Then I asked how much if I bought five of them. Ready for this??? $1,500 for the lot. What am I going to do with five Accord motors? I don't know but they're only $300 a piece! How much cheaper is that than a K20A2? Here's a thousand dollars saved already.
You can also source the 2.4 from the CRV and Element. I found regular RSX engines to be about $150 more than an Accord and it's likely that there are just so many Accord engines they will be the cheapest period. But now we've run into a problem. We can't use the Accord engine harness. It terminates in the engine bay like an EG or DC harness. We need one that goes into the cabin like an EK. So be on the lookout for any '02-'06 RSX (yes you can use '05-'06), '03-'05 CRV and '03-'05 Element engine harness and charging (battery) harness.
-
Hasport already makes a kit for the Accord/TSX tranny, but it's for the '92-'96 Prelude an
-
Here's what you need to do for a tensioner pulley. You can also get stock EP3 parts. Cost
-
Another problem with the Accord/TSX trans is the shifter cable connection points (arrows).