If you have a ZC...

if you've got a ZC in your car, tell me what i have to look forward to. i have been without my 89 CRX for almost a week now, and i'm not getting it back until at least Wednesday. i killed my D16, and i'm getting the ZC as a replacement. i'm getting pretty depressed without my car, so let me know what i have to look forward to with my new ZC.

you can look forward to nothing but problems :)

and not being able to find any parts for it :)

thanks for the inspiration. any other insights? :cwm27:

ummm i dont have a ZC, so i cant tell ya.

talk to Phact. he's got one

Going from a D16 I say you wont be impressed. I was kind of let down over all the hype the ZC has. It is definatly not something I will try to push.

Also, call it bad luck, or something. But three other 4th gens here, have blown there ZC's, without a known reason why.

and Phact will probably blow his one of these days....

i got a ZC and its a definate improvement over my DX engine. and i have a sock zc too so its not like im getting the massive improvement of the dohc zc.

going from 92 to like ~110 gives me a lot better ability to make it up the hills i travel everyday. once i get my mpfi i know ill unlock that hidden potential of the sock so yea thats something to look for ...

it really depends if you have the sock or the dohc.

What do you mean by "sock".?

You guys make ZC's sound pretty crapy, but thats what I'm stuck with if I can't get the money together for a B16.:frown:

-Derek

my swap from the D16A6 to the ZC was done out of need, since like you my bottom end of the D16 was blown. the ZC was a nice engine, Good power over the A6 (109-139 hp) the extra 30 horsepower was noticable. an easy fix for more power for those who don't have the money for a B or Don't want to mess with a Bseries swap. Good news is ZC parts are Off the shelf Honda and acura parts, the only hard parts to find are aftermaket one, but are floating around... Enjoy your new motor

ive never driven a DX engine so i have no idea how much better my sohc zc is ... hopefully one of these days i will get all the shit i need for mpfi

A stock D15B2 is pretty bad. No power at all and the throttle response is horrible. I'm trying to replace mine now, I hope everything works out.

-Derek.

my ZC comes to me out of need as well. to be honest, i wasn't really looking to touch the power component until i had sorted out the suspension stuff. so spending my first $1200 or $1300 on the engine is not something that i am happy about. i mean, that's some Tein coil overs, new bushings, and a new set of tires.

so, overall people with ZCs like them, or they don't like them?
(i'm getting a DOHC)

Originally posted by 90civichatch
What do you mean by "sock".?


Thats what nemo likes to call his SOHC ZC.

I have to tell you, I am thoroughly enjoying my new SOHC ZC DUAL CARB motor over my old D15B3 (single carb - same specs as USA DX model).

Plus the tweaking capabilities of the SOHC ZC is great. Next, I will up some compression, add a more aggressive cam, tune the carbs and I will have a nice NA monster in my 4 door. Last but not least, a 50 shot nitrous...

"the preferred application for nitrous oxide application is an automatic equipped vehicle..." NX

Always hating on the Zc.....


I have one, which is getting rebuilt right now, and I put it in originally by choice, not necessity. I liked the fact that the whole affair is bolt in, you dont need a trans or a new ecu (if its an Si) and because back then no on had one around here. I also liked the fact that there was no vtec to worry about. My goal was to have a quick car, with as little electronics to worry about as possble. Just clean, fast, unique, and worry free.

Id honestly have to say I prefer the Zc over a B series motor, buts thats just my $.02

You should definitley think about replacing the timing belt on the Zc sometime in the near future. Most of these motors are anywhere from 10-13 years old, and the t-belts tend to weaken over time due to dry rotting. This is why my Zc is in the shop, not my car. No matter though, cause the next time I see her, she will be ready for turbo. :bigthumb:

well i had my ZC for 5 months until i crashed it

and i loved EVERY minute of driving the car, the induction noise and revyness of the engine was unbeatable (except for B series)

and the performance for an engine of that size was very impressive, my motor had done 100k and didnt smoke, missfire, or burn oil, i think the ZC is a very good engine IMO

I have a SOHC ZC in my 90 Si, and there is a difference. The ZC seems to rev faster, and I like how it seems to accelerate alot faster from a stop. Overall, it is a nice improvment over the stock engine.

Originally posted by GTA


Thats what nemo likes to call his SOHC ZC.

aye ... sound out sohc as a word and you get sock.

and im not really hating on my engine but it was never my intention to get it. i would have gone DOHC with MPFI if i had the choice ... so ill stick with the sock and get MPFI for it until it dies and get a DOHC ZC.

There is no reason a ZC would be more unreliable than any other Honda engine. If you put in new replacement parts before putting in the engine it should be fine. My ZC has been in for a couple months and its been fine.

Originally posted by nemo_wolf
aye ... sound out sohc as a word and you get sock.

and sound out DOHC.. u get Dock! :thefinger lol
but this is good for me cuz i'm planning on going DOHC ZC with Turbo in the future whenever i get money lol :bigthumb:

going from a d15 to zc is awesome!!!


simply put 40hp is alot..... and really its the best bang for the buck.... rather then going b you can go turbo zc :biggrin:

About how much is a turbo for a ZC DOHC???

depends ... it isnt like theres a turbo kit for it ... you gotta piece together parts and build it.

Originally posted by Melt
depends ... it isnt like theres a turbo kit for it ... you gotta piece together parts and build it. '

sure there is...... off the top of my head greddy makes a kit.... however its not worth it and its much cheaper if you piece together your own 'junk-yard' kit

and to fiqure a price? its almost impossible cause you can (not recomended) cut many corners to cut costs.

Is it really hard to piece together a turbo for a ZC DOHC or is it something that can be done by a local import shop or someone who knows what their doing.

I am going to be getting a ZC DOHC and i was wondering if my AEM Cold Air Intake for a 88-91 civic/crx ex/si will fit it. If not, what cold air intake will?

seriously piece the kit together yourself..... yes, youll have to do tons of research and yes itll take along time but it'll be worth it.

btw check out dropshop.com or something like that cause he sells complete 'junkyard' kits cheap

we r driving stock dohc zc here in Turkey..
any idea to tune up my zc?

ive k&n filter,superchips,exhaust,sparkplugs and wires...
whatelse can we do to a ZC?
any ideas or links please?

Originally posted by 90civicracer
I am going to be getting a ZC DOHC and i was wondering if my AEM Cold Air Intake for a 88-91 civic/crx ex/si will fit it. If not, what cold air intake will?

yes...your Si intake will fit fine. :)

and try this too - http://homemadeturbo.com/ - this dude's been thru it all!!! :icon16:

can someone tell me what the redline is on a DOHC ZC? same as the Si engine? thanks.

im pretty sure with the ZC Ecu (pm7) its 7200...but i could be wrong.

yea the ecu readlines at 7200 (or whatever) but then engines redline is lower.

so how high can i take my new ZC? what RPMs should i not go past? because i think the fuel cut-off for the Si ECU was around 7,500 or something like that. is there a way to lower the fuel cut-off range? thanks.

The genuine ZC redline is 7200, i had a D16A9 which is the same engine, i took mine off the clock a few times (bout 8500 i think lol) by accident but it never hurt it,

its on 7200 but cuts off at 7800-8000 sth.