D15Z1 Engine swap project log

[Matt Timion]

As I prepare for my engine swap I figured it was time for me to begin logging my progress, with pictures.

I tried and tried to get the crankshaft pulley bolt off using the air gun and I couldn't do it.

So I resorted to the method suggested by Dax.





I bought a piece of pipe to make the prybar over 3 feet long.



I had my wife stand on the wood and the bolt came off in a jiff. Awesome idea Dax! Oh, I also had to do the same thing when I put the bolt back on. Hopefully it's torqued tight enough.

Success! The pully and the cover are off. Now it's time to replace the timing belt and water pump (both pictured on the right of the picture below)



After lots of confusion and referring to my multiple manuals on the subject, I finally got it all back together.



This was all done yesterday. It was a very good day.

Then tonight I mounted the transmission to the engine. I replaced the Throw-Out Bearing a few weeks ago on the transmission, and I also replaced the axle oil seals tonight as well.

here she is



The next step will be cleaning up a few things (nothing big). I also need to put the alternator bracket back on and get everything labeled so when the other engine comes out I will know exactly where everything goes.

[Diemaster]

Originally Posted by Matt Timion

i'm glad to see a *yelling* MINT PAIR OF BLUE EX SEATS IS ROTTING IN YOUR GARAGE!!!! *deep breath* but i digress BTW your sparkplug wires look broken to me



i give u FREE manuals and u dont even take the three seconds to say thx py posting them w. the motor lol j/k

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by Diemaster

i'm glad to see a *yelling* MINT PAIR OF BLUE EX SEATS IS ROTTING IN YOUR GARAGE!!!! *deep breath* but i digress BTW your sparkplug wires look broken to me

That's just one seat. I'm waiting to change it because I want to swap the pedal cluster at the same time.

Originally Posted by Diemaster

i give u FREE manuals and u dont even take the three seconds to say thx py posting them w. the motor lol j/k

I only keep the crappy manual in the garage, at least until I make the bookcase for car books.

[DaX]

Awesome. I'm glad the method worked for you!

[Compaq888]

interesting method.

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by Compaq888

interesting method.

Welcome to Matt's Ghetto Garage. Lessons available.

[mikefxu]

That engine/trans is in really good shape. Where did you pick it up and how much did it cost?

[Diemaster]

nippon motors. http://www.nippon-motors.com/index.htm i'm going to get my D16Z6 form there eventualy.

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by Diemaster

nippon motors. http://www.nippon-motors.com/index.htm i'm going to get my D16Z6 form there eventualy.

He's right. The engine is from Nippon motors, but the transmission is from a guy on Honda-Tech that was parting out his CRX HF. I paid $50 for the transmission and $60 to ship it.

[budomove]

Tim, The swap looks awesome. I found an hf tranny in NM and I am in NJ. Where did your hf tranny ship from, and what type of shipping was it? I am trying to decide on the cheapest method of shipping it.

[budomove]

Sorry about that. One more ?: Did you do any work on your hf tranny b4 mounting it up? How do you judge whether it needs anything done, before mounting it up and hoping for the best?

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by budomove

Tim, The swap looks awesome. I found an hf tranny in NM and I am in NJ. Where did your hf tranny ship from, and what type of shipping was it? I am trying to decide on the cheapest method of shipping it.

I think it was shipped from somewhere in the midwest. I can't remember any more where it was shipped from. They shipped via UPS. There might better ways to ship, including Greyhound or even DHL. I'm sure the prices are all relatively close though.

You might want to talk to SVOBoy about helping you find a local HF tranny. He seems to be able to locate stuff pretty easily. He's in NJ as well.

Originally Posted by budomove

Sorry about that. One more ?: Did you do any work on your hf tranny b4 mounting it up? How do you judge whether it needs anything done, before mounting it up and hoping for the best?

I didn't do any work on the internals. The tranny has 160k on it, and the seller swears up and down it has no issues. I figure for the price I can always go to the junkyard and find another HF tranny if this one is bad.

DaX is actually rebuilding a HF transmission right now. It's a very intensive process and probably not something I'm ever going to do. I did, however, put a new throwout bearing on it.

I think most of the transmission questions should be directed towards DaX.

[SVOboy]

You might want to talk to SVOBoy about helping you find a local HF tranny. He seems to be able to locate stuff pretty easily. He's in NJ as well.

Everyone loves me. We've talked, I haven't seen one yet though.

Gotta pick up dan's **** (and mine) this weekend, but he's busy with the tour del sol and all that, so he won't get to bug me about it.

[DaX]

Originally Posted by Matt Timion

DaX is actually rebuilding a HF transmission right now.

I'm actually through! I'm just waiting for the time to put the tranny in and do the 5-speed conversion. Time is hard to find when planning a wedding, going to school, and trying to put a contract on a house!

[SVOboy]

I'm actually through! I'm just waiting for the time to put the tranny in and do the 5-speed conversion. Time is hard to find when planning a wedding, going to school, and trying to put a contract on a house!

Cut sex out of your routine for a weekend, swap done.

[Randy]

That's a sweet looking motor. So what all do they throw in? I know it needs an EGR set at least, and I've heard the Japanese imports are rather crudely hacked apart.

I've wondered if I could trade my d16z6 straight up for a d15z1 (w. tranny, as that's half the battle). It's not exactly a B block, but it's probably worth it to somebody.

BTW, those crank bolts are totally insane. I made an inside hex socket by grinding down some sort of tractor drive adaptor, then welding it (via 2 batteries in series... do not try at home) to a steel bar. But your pulley doesn't even have the inside hex? Honda should just forge the crank and drive pulley together and get it over with.

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by Randy

I've wondered if I could trade my d16z6 straight up for a d15z1 (w. tranny, as that's half the battle). It's not exactly a B block, but it's probably worth it to somebody.

You can probably sell your entire z6 swap (with tranny, ECU, etc.) for around $800. You can get a good z1 swap (ECU, tranny, etc.) for less than that.

My engine was $550 shipped to my door. ECU was $30. You can probably get the tranny for next to nothing (people just throw these things away). You can get a EGR control box for around $20 on honda-tech.

I've actually seen entire Z1 swaps go for $200 on honda-tech before.

[Diemaster]

Originally Posted by Matt Timion

You can probably sell your entire z6 swap (with tranny, ECU, etc.) for around $800.

or just sell it to me. or doit the svoboy way and GIVE it to me :P

[SVOboy]

I've actually seen entire Z1 swaps go for $200 on honda-tech before.

Indeed, I know one guy who bought his for 100, getting another for free from another guy I know.

I refuse to pay more than 100 for the engine, just waiting for one local.

[DaX]

Originally Posted by SVOboy

Cut sex out of your routine for a weekend, swap done.

I'd need to cut sex, talking with my real estate agent, shopping for wedding supplies, and figuring out how to start repaying school loans back out of THIS weekend to make time. Maybe next weekend.

[thisisntjared]

Originally Posted by Matt Timion

You can probably sell your entire z6 swap (with tranny, ECU, etc.) for around $800. You can get a good z1 swap (ECU, tranny, etc.) for less than that.

thats super optimistic. ive seen complete z6 swaps hang out for 6 months online for $500 then get sold for $450.

either way a z1 swap should be super cheap

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by SVOboy

Indeed, I know one guy who bought his for 100, getting another for free from another guy I know.

I refuse to pay more than 100 for the engine, just waiting for one local.

I was happy to pay what I paid. Not only is my engine low mileage (under 60k miles) but it had all of the sensors (minus 1) AND it has a one year warranty.

Not that I need it since it's just been sitting in my garage, but whatever.

[thisisntjared]

your really paying for peace of mind, and it is well worth it in your circumstance.

however selling a d16z6 swap for $800 does not come with the peace of mind... you see my point?

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by thisisntjared

your really paying for peace of mind, and it is well worth it in your circumstance.

however selling a d16z6 swap for $800 does not come with the peace of mind... you see my point?

Absolutely. I actually tried to get a cheap z1 swap but no one was selling one. Or, no one would ship it to me.

I then bought a cylinder head and was planning on doing a mini-me, but then I realized that my compression ratio would be over 12:1. So much for saving on gas.

For a brief instant I considered getting a spare block and buying new p07 pistons/rods/etc and making a z1 engine.

The total cost was going to be more than just buying the engine. So I chose the engine.

Sold the cylinder head for a ridiculously low amount of money.

[Diemaster]

*chanting croud* WE WANT MORE PICS!!!. how bout your civic. never seen that inside engine. or inside. just painting pics. give us some b4 pics :P

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by Diemaster

*chanting croud* WE WANT MORE PICS!!!. how bout your civic. never seen that inside engine. or inside. just painting pics. give us some b4 pics :P

I'll take a few tomorrow and get em posted.

[Matt Timion]

I have this week off of work. I'm hoping that this week unfolds as follows:

Monday

• Get lower ball joint buller and punch for the b-pin from autozone.
• Rent hoist from autozone
• Drive n600 to the autoshop and get safety inspection
• Drive civic to DMV and get new title/registration on n600
• Go to Junkyard and maybe get SVOBoy rear tranny mount - look for anything worthwhile when I am there.
• Get new sprinkler heads at Home Depot
• Go home - remove b-pin and axle bolts - maybe remove axles
• Put new springler heads in the backyard.
• Go to family event

Tuesday

• Remove Engine
• Go to friend's wedding and party afterwards

Wednesday

• change wiring on my car while the engine is out. I will be upgrading from obd0 to obd1. I will also be upgrading from Dual Point Fuel Injection to Multi-Point Fuel Injection.
• Double check everything on the new engine. Ensure that crank pulley is torqued properly.

Thursday

• Drop in the new engine
• Reattach axles and make sure wiring is right

Friday

• figure out why the car won't start
• re-do anything I did wrong or forgot to do
• Drive around town to make sure it works and to get an idea of my new fuel economy

Saturday

• If all goes according to plan. return the engine hoist

I may end up buying an engine hoist instead of just renting one. You never know when you might need one of these things, especially if you're a backyard mechanic.

Wish me luck. Tomorrow is going to be a big day.

[krousdb]

Originally Posted by Matt Timion

Tuesday

• Remove Engine
• Go to friend's wedding and party afterwards

A party celebrating the removal of your engine? Awesome idea!

Sounds like you willl need a SuperMID soon.....

[DaX]

Originally Posted by Matt Timion

• Remove Engine
• Go to friend's wedding and party afterwards

******************

I may end up buying an engine hoist instead of just renting one. You never know when you might need one of these things, especially if you're a backyard mechanic.

Wish me luck. Tomorrow is going to be a big day.

HA! I've got a wedding this saturday then I'm going to go finish my 5-speed conversion!

I would just buy the hoist if you can afford it. I got mine from Pep-Boys for $120 and it has been INVALUABLE.

LUCK!

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by DaX

HA! I've got a wedding this saturday then I'm going to go finish my 5-speed conversion!

I would just buy the hoist if you can afford it. I got mine from Pep-Boys for $120 and it has been INVALUABLE.

LUCK!

If they are that cheap I'll definately get one. I've only seen them for $200 at autozone or Harbor Freight.