to be honest I think this is a great swop. Especially if you go with the vtec model. Have a look at the howto's I suspect it should be similar to make your life easy look for a cable gearbox
d16 swap into 1986 lude?
hello all, this is my first post on the forum so i hope you all welcome me as part of the prelude group,
(before i start note that i sadly live in smog land) i have a 1986 prelude base model, 1.8 sohc carbureted. and i have discovered how much of a hasssle this old engine can be as far as parts go. part of the vacuum system broke and i am unsure if i can find a new part as it is a very specific plastic bit on the thermometer casing that the tubes connected to. i am going to see what i can do to get her running for now but i am thinking about swapping a d16 into her some time in the future.
thought about a b16/18 but i dont want too much power and would prefer the reliable, simple, gas efficient d16 SOHC
i was curious if anyone else has any knowledge about this swap? im aware i will need custom motor mounts but beyond that will everything fit? and yes as long as i have the proper emissions equipment for the engine i choose it is perfectly legal (yet changing my carb system isnt? thanks cali...) i was hoping it would be just a matter of mounts but im worried about how the transmission, pedals, cluster as well as the other inns and odds would work?
any general advice at all is appreciated! and no i will not sell the car and buy a new one, i love this car too much for that lol
(before i start note that i sadly live in smog land) i have a 1986 prelude base model, 1.8 sohc carbureted. and i have discovered how much of a hasssle this old engine can be as far as parts go. part of the vacuum system broke and i am unsure if i can find a new part as it is a very specific plastic bit on the thermometer casing that the tubes connected to. i am going to see what i can do to get her running for now but i am thinking about swapping a d16 into her some time in the future.
thought about a b16/18 but i dont want too much power and would prefer the reliable, simple, gas efficient d16 SOHC
i was curious if anyone else has any knowledge about this swap? im aware i will need custom motor mounts but beyond that will everything fit? and yes as long as i have the proper emissions equipment for the engine i choose it is perfectly legal (yet changing my carb system isnt? thanks cali...) i was hoping it would be just a matter of mounts but im worried about how the transmission, pedals, cluster as well as the other inns and odds would work?
any general advice at all is appreciated! and no i will not sell the car and buy a new one, i love this car too much for that lol
1 - 7 of 7 Posts
i was definitally oplanning on the vtec for some extra fun! glad to hear you think ti would be a good swap, ill for sure make sure to search up some howtos like you suggested and definitaly keeping it cable, hydro clutch is not my favorite lolto be honest I think this is a great swop. Especially if you go with the vtec model. Have a look at the howto's I suspect it should be similar to make your life easy look for a cable gearbox
true that, no way it makes toooo much less than my worn out A18 makes already anyways though so it is what it is lolJust dont expect torque haha
I wrote a guide on upgrading the carbs to Webers if you want to keep the engine.
This is the hardest part. Like a lot of 80s vehicles, the car is smaller than a typical modern car, plus it has a wedge design that compacts the engine bay. I'd like to know the answer to this too. I do know an electric motor can fit, and if you live in California, the state government is pushing you to that kind of engine.im aware i will need custom motor mounts but beyond that will everything fit?
Ive considered doing a d16z6/y8 swap on my car. The 1.8l is pretty similar in size compared to the d16. One thing I noticed is you will not be able to keep your original speed sensor with the power steeeing lines on a cable clutch transmission because of clearance. This speed sensor regulates the amount of assist the steering rack gives you based on speed. Its possible to use the original speed sensor on a hydraulic transmission, but then you would be converting to hydraulic which is a seperate challenge. The only sensor that would work is the civics, which does not have power steering lines flowing through it.
You would also have room to keep a P/S pump unlike some of the b18 swaps on 2nd gens ive seen.
I think the biggest challenge for me would be converting to fuel injection.
As far as mounting, there is no existing transmission mount on the chassis for a d16, so you would have to weld something there. A plate bolted in with nutserts may work as well. The engine side mount will also have to be changed on the chassis as well. Just recommending this so you can still use the softer oem mounts.
You would also have room to keep a P/S pump unlike some of the b18 swaps on 2nd gens ive seen.
I think the biggest challenge for me would be converting to fuel injection.
As far as mounting, there is no existing transmission mount on the chassis for a d16, so you would have to weld something there. A plate bolted in with nutserts may work as well. The engine side mount will also have to be changed on the chassis as well. Just recommending this so you can still use the softer oem mounts.
1 - 7 of 7 Posts
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