88-91 DOHC ZC in 85 CRX

Hey, i have been studying my car and motor swaps all over the internet, but i'd like some help.
I have a 1985 crx, it has the carbed 1.5 motor, i have ordered a 88-91 DOHC ZC motor that has been imported from japan, stock 137hp. I have read that putting a 88-91 ZC motor in my 85 crx may be difficult, can someone tell me where i would have troubles and how to make this motor fit.

I have already ordered a full performance bearing/seal kit with low compression turbo pistons and 3 layer metal head gasket. i will be ordering a full turbo kit off of ebay, i will be using a 88-91 integra computer,(brings redline to 7800rpm), i plan on getting cams, cam gears, pulleys, full msd ignition set-up, intake, intake manifold, injectors, fuel rail..... and so on, i plan on making this car 275hp +, so can someone please tell me how i can get this motor to fit nicely in my car?

Thanks,

Nate aka. SoopITuP

The easiest way to get this motor to fit will be to sell it and buy an '88-'89 "Integra" ZC.

The '86-'89 Integra motor/tranny can be swapped by using "bolt on" parts from any donor '86-'89 Integra. You will want an '88-'89 Integra motor because it has the electronic advance distributor you are looking for.

The '88-'89 Integra ZC is pretty much the same motor as the '88-'91 DOHC Civic ZC (only with a different valve cover), but it shares the same motor/tranny mounts as your '85 CRX. Even an '88-'89 USDM Integra D16A1 is the same as the Integra ZC, but with different cams.

The '88-'91 Civic ZC uses a different motor mount location and won't bolt up to your '85 tranny (it won't directly bolt up to an '86-'89 Integra tranny either). If you use the '88-'91 Civic tranny, you're looking at fabricating all new mounts since there is no kit for this swap.

This swap has been done but it requires fabricating a motor mount and using an '86-'89 Integra tranny. In the tranny flange, you will need to elongate one hole and helicoil another hole to get it to bolt up.

You're going to need a complete '88-'89 Integra wiring harness from the ECU to the motor. The '88-'91 Civic harness will work, but the Integra harness keeps the ECU in the stock location and the routing of the wiring harness will allow it to easily be grafted into your CRX. You will need a fuel pump from an '85-'87 SI or '86-'89 Integra. You will also need to route a fuel return line to the gas tank.

Most people doing this swap usually just pick up a donor Integra for about $500. This way you get the motor, tranny, mounts, hubs, axles, knuckles, ECU, wiring, 4 wheel disk brakes, and pretty much everything else needed for this swap.

Here is a link to a helpful thread:
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=199192

You can also search "D16A1" or "ZC swap" for related topics.




I personally would not proceed with the Civic ZC for 2 reasons. 1) An Integra motor is essentially the same thing and much easier to swap. 2) With the ammount of fabrication involved with swapping in a Civic ZC, you might as well swap in a B-series.

My advise will be to sell the Civic ZC and either buy a donor '88-'89 Integra or buy an '88-'89 Integra D16A1/tranny from a junk yard for a few hundres bucks. Since you've already got bearings, gaskets and pistons, it looks like you'll be rebuilding the motor anyway, so why not save some money and start with a USDM D16A1 motor that will bolt right in? The only major difference between the D16A1 and DOHC ZC motors are the cams, but you will be using aftermarket cams or regrinds anyway right?










*Rant on*
I've seen this over and over. Why don't people research and ask these questions BEFORE they start buying parts!
*Rant off*

I am going to put this motor in my car, the 5 speed tranny is included, now could someone tell me what i'll have to do?, i am ordering a 89-91 zc motor that is from japan, can you please tell me what i need to do to make it fit, or tell me why it wont bolt in and how i can overcome this problem?


The reason i am ordering this motor, is because I live in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada.
and the motor has already been imported and is in Richmond, B.C. which is fairley close, and will ship fast
I am paying $550.00US for the motor, tranny, all required cables, distributor, complete intake manifold, alternator, a/c, power steering pump, all brackets and sensors; and is guarenteed to have less than 30,000kms. Shipping is $200.00. sounds like a wicked deal to me....

Please help me out guys, I would really appreciate it, this is my first import, and i would really like to make it go, i have seen an 85 crx with a turbo motor in it wooping muscle cars and street bikes, i would love to be able to do that!!

thanks alot for any help,

Nate
aka SoopITuP

Mole569 (at) Hotmail (dot) Com

I am going to put this motor in my car, the 5 speed tranny is included, now could someone tell me what i'll have to do? can you please tell me what i need to do to make it fit, or tell me why it wont bolt in and how i can overcome this problem?


The '88-'91 Civic ZC uses a different motor mount location. If you use the '88-'91 Civic tranny, you're looking at fabricating all new mounts since there is no kit for this swap.

You're going to need a complete '88-'89 Integra wiring harness from the ECU to the motor. The '88-'91 Civic harness will work, but the Integra harness keeps the ECU in the stock location and the routing of the wiring harness will allow it to easily be grafted into your CRX. You will need a fuel pump from an '85-'87 SI or '86-'89 Integra. You will also need to route a fuel return line to the gas tank.

In addition to the parts and modifications listed above, you will also need '86-'89 Integra steering knuckles and axles. The ZC axles are not the correct length, and your '85 Civic knuckles won't accept the Integra axles due to a different spline count.

You will need to extend your shift linkage or use the linkage from an '86-'89 Integra.

You'll need an aftermarket fuel pump or an Integra/SI pump.

The only hard part is going to be fabricating all new motor/tranny mounts and getting the motor/tranny to sit correctly in the engine bay. As mentioned earlier, NONE of the motor/tranny mounts will be the same.

right on thanks, so since my cardoesn't have an ecu at the moment, would the harness for the zc motor work alright? or are you saying i need to get the 88-89 integra harness for this to work and fit propery?

It will be a little easier to use an '88-'89 Integra harness only because the 1st gen Integra is based on the Civic/CRX chassis, which means all the firewall grommets, wire length, conectors, etc, will be the same as your CRX and you will be able to mount the ECU under the passenger seat.

The '88-'91 wiring harness is a little different, the connectors and wiring on the motor and at the ECU are the same but everything else is routed differently. The '88-'91 Civic uses a main fuse box that is bolted to the top of the right strut tower, the grommet in the firewall is slightly different and in a slightly different location. Since the strut tower on your CRX is different from and '88+, this will require a little fab work. Also the ECU will need to be mounted on the passenger side foot well (not a big deal).

Seeing as you're starting from scratch with the wiring, I don't see that it makes any difference either way. It's going to be a little easier to use the Integra harness, but you've already got the Civic harness so you might as well use it. The wiring is going to be a chore either way (believe me, I know) so I don't see that it really makes much of a difference either way.

Oh, here's a link to the CRX I built:
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=527841

Since I also decided to go with an electronic advance distributor and an '88-'89 Integra ECU, I pretty much had to rewire everything from the ECU to the motor.

If you need help with the wiring, I'll try to help, but I'm not sure how much assistance I can provide over the forums.


Good luck!

I think i might say screw the swap idea, i am going to order this wicked weber conversion kit, here is the link:

http://www.webercarburators.com/Images/Catalog/K704.htm

I also found exhaust headers, and cat back exhausts, along with AEM cam gears, so i think i'll get my motor rebuilt and bored, then get these parts...

I'd rather get 2nd crx for a swap.

I really like how you molded the header panel with the hood, thats sick!

Do you think I would I be able to mold in some headlights for a 2nd or 3rd gen crx or civic??

Thanks, hit me back.

heres the link for my crx:

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2590243

Just some food for thought.. you're NOT going to safely get 275+ HP out of that motor.. the best D series builds I've seen don't even peak much over 230, and they're track only. You're going to end up wasting alot of money looking to make that much with a street car, not to mention with a D-series engine (which the ZC and Teg motors are.) IMHO, if you're looking for 275+ HP in your lil tiny 1700lb CRX, you're:
1.) insane
2.) you don't know what "power to weight ratio" entails
3.) You should be trying to swap a K or H motor into your roach on rollerskates...
4.) all of the above

You choose.

No matter what the outcome, you're going to spend your entire life tuning and fabricating parts to make that much HP with a D and not blow it up in the process.