I just ordered a JDM B18C5 motor and...

I'm a little uneasy because I've never done a swap. My mechanic and I are going to drop this motor in my 1994 Honda Civic Del Sol.

I still need help with a few things. Can anyone help? My questions are:
1) How can I adapt the JDM harness to fit my car?
2) I curretly have a DC Sports 4-2-1 header. Is this going to be better then the stock Type-R header?
3) I have an ACT clutch, will it work/fit with the new motor and tranny and is it worth the effort?
4) Does anyone want my B16A3 motor and tranny? The motor runs strong, but has a lot of miles, and the tranny needs at least one new synchro.
5) Is there anything else I should know?

Thanks for your help.

Don't see why you couldn't use you stock harness, vtec and knock sensor are already hooked up from the b16 already.
The header depends on what year ITR you got, I've read around this board that the 98+ ones are really good; so I'd use that if you don't have the 96 or 97 version.
Don't know about the clutch, i'd imaging it would work; but don't quote me on that. But if it does just check it out for wear and if it's still meaty then use it; or sell it with the b16.

Don't see why you couldn't use you stock harness, vtec and knock sensor are already hooked up from the b16 already.
Thanks. I'd like to keep my B16A3 harness with the motor for when I sell it. Its ODB-I and the new ECU is ODB-II and I don't know how to do the ODB-I to II conversion - can anyone tell me how? My fall back plan is, like you suggested, to use the existing harness and figure out how to do the conversion, but I'd like to use the new harness if at all possible.

Thanks. I'd like to keep my B16A3 harness with the motor for when I sell it. Its ODB-I and the new ECU is ODB-II and I don't know how to do the ODB-I to II conversion - can anyone tell me how? My fall back plan is, like you suggested, to use the existing harness and figure out how to do the conversion, but I'd like to use the new harness if at all possible.


skunk2 i believe sells a conversion harness for obd2-obd1. basically plug and play. the clutch should work also im almost positive but its only worth it if it has enough life left. your swap should be pretty straight forward. it would actually be pretty easy to just leave in your stock harness and adapt it to the motor. any competent mechanic should be able to do it. then you can sell the type r harness separately and sell your motor short a harness but it would probably make it easier since all the wiring is already there for you.

skunk2 i believe sells a conversion harness for obd2-obd1. basically plug and play. the clutch should work also im almost positive but its only worth it if it has enough life left. your swap should be pretty straight forward. it would actually be pretty easy to just leave in your stock harness and adapt it to the motor. any competent mechanic should be able to do it. then you can sell the type r harness separately and sell your motor short a harness but it would probably make it easier since all the wiring is already there for you.
I saw that, but I need to go from I to II, not the other way...

What about this thing? You think it'll work?
http://www.ardperformance.com/cgi-bin/product_1.pl?serial=230
"ECU OBD Conversion Harness Converts OBD1 (92-95) to OBD2a (96-98) USDM ECU"

you need to keep your harness thats in your car right now the one in the engine bay has nothing to do with the ecu the ecu is running from the inside harness. your clutch will work in it no prob. find someone to trade you ecu's actually just get yours chipped for a better fuell map no need to change your car to obd2 your ecu will run that motor just fine but gettin it chipped would be the best idea. you would have to change the whole wiring of the car to do obd2 not a good idea.
chip the ecu
use your wiring harness off your motor

you need to keep your harness thats in your car right now the one in the engine bay has nothing to do with the ecu the ecu is running from the inside harness. your clutch will work in it no prob. find someone to trade you ecu's actually just get yours chipped for a better fuell map no need to change your car to obd2 your ecu will run that motor just fine but gettin it chipped would be the best idea. you would have to change the whole wiring of the car to do obd2 not a good idea.
chip the ecu
use your wiring harness off your motor

Does the ECU control the redline of the motor? If so, wouldn't my current ECU cut the fuel off too early? Isn't the reline of the Type R 8900 RPMs? That's like 700 more than my car now.

Also, I'm concerned about emissions. If I use the ODB2 then I should have lower emissions, right? I know performance will probably be a bit lessened, but I'd rather be able to drive the car.

If the problem with the JDM harness is that its too short, then couldn't I just cut & splice parts of it?

Keep your existing harness from the b16.If you want to continue to use obd1. Just swap out the type r distributor and put the b16 and same with the fuel injectors along with its wiriging. Also swap out the sensors on the manifold and put your b16 sensors on. I'm pretty sure thats about it. Now you got yourself a obd1 type r. You can use your existing ECU. Get it chipped if you want. You dont really have to. Its a str8 plug in play after that. :)

1) How can I adapt the JDM harness to fit my car?

The JDM harness is for a RHD car, and is backwards. Adapting it would mean completely undoing it, and lengthening and shortening wires to fit, in other words, building a new harness, use the B16A3's

2) I curretly have a DC Sports 4-2-1 header. Is this going to be better then the stock Type-R header?

The B18C has a taller deck height and clearance for the B16A3 header is going to be tight, but I believe you can make it fit

3) I have an ACT clutch, will it work/fit with the new motor and tranny and is it worth the effort?

Yes it will work, and it's worth it if you like the clutch and it still has some meat on it.

4) Does anyone want my B16A3 motor and tranny? The motor runs strong, but has a lot of miles, and the tranny needs at least one new synchro.

Sure, box it up I'll PM you my address.

5) Is there anything else I should know?

Yes, if you ITR motor is from the JDM five lug, you'll need to use the B16A3 axles, since the JDM five lug is 36mm axles, and the your like all the four lugs, USDM five lug, and CTR has a 32mm hubs

If you can get a USDM ITR harness, or GSR harness, it will plug right into your Civic, and you can run a OBD I P28 chipped to the ITR specs instead of buying an adapter for the ECU

1)
If you can get a USDM ITR harness, or GSR harness, it will plug right into your Civic, and you can run a OBD I P28 chipped to the ITR specs instead of buying an adapter for the ECU[/b]


He can use his existing harness. Thats what i did with my friends del sol. He can use his existing ecu and get it chipped. Theres no need to get another harness. Unless he wants it to be an obd2. I think its easier to just swap out the distributor and fuel injectors along with the sensors on the manifold, then it becomes obd1.

He can use his existing harness. Thats what i did with my friends del sol. He can use his existing ecu and get it chipped. Theres no need to get another harness. Unless he wants it to be an obd2. I think its easier to just swap out the distributor and fuel injectors along with the sensors on the manifold, then it becomes obd1.
Weigh the cost of a distributor, injectors, sensors, against a harness, harness gets my vote. Or, he can cut up and swap the plugs on his del sol harness. The absolute easiest way is to just use the right harness to begin with.

B18C5 Engines redline is not 8900, its 8400 and it cuts the fun at 8700 I believe.

The absolute easiest way is to just use the right harness to begin with.

What harnesses can I use?
The harness from a USDM ITR, right? But I'll never find one of these. The local Acura dealer wants like $850 for one.
How about the harness from a 96-00 Civic EX?
Or H22 Prelude?
Or Civic Si - but that's ODB2b, right?

Will any other work?

What harnesses can I use?
The harness from a USDM ITR, right? But I'll never find one of these. The local Acura dealer wants like $850 for one.
How about the harness from a 96-00 Civic EX?

Or Civic Si - but that's ODB2b, right?

Will any other work?


Those will work. Except for the EX theres one wire you dont need on it which is the orange wire. Man just do the way what i suggested to you and use your stock harness to keep it obd1. Use your b16 distributor,and fuel injectors and your set. Its not hard.

Those will work. Except for the EX theres one wire you dont need on it which is the orange wire.
So I could use an EX harness, but I just don't connect the orange wire?
There are a couple of EX harness for like $100 on Ebay, should I get one?

Man just do the way what i suggested to you and use your stock harness to keep it obd1. Use your b16 distributor,and fuel injectors and your set. Its not hard.
I think thats a good idea, but the engine doesn't ship until Monday or Tuesday, and takes like a week to arrive. I'll use the ODB1 harness and ECU if I can't find another solution by the time it gets here, but I'd really like to keep the B16A3 all together. I know I'd be more interested in buying a swap if I knew it included the ECU and harness, wouldn't you?

BTW, thanks for all your help...everyone...

I know I'd be more interested in buying a swap if I knew it included the ECU and harness, wouldn't you?

BTW, thanks for all your help...everyone...


When i bought me a jdm b16a for my crx , it came with the harness. IT was worthless cause its all backwards. So i used my stock harness and added 4 wires for v-tec. And your welcome. Everyone on this thread has some good ideas. Its up to you which route you go.