Std Civic dilemma

I have a 1990 Civic Hatchback, Standard. I would really like a few more ponies under the hood and I'm looking into a possible engine swap. However, after researching, I'm a bit leary of swapping the engine in this particular car since I've found out the nearly everything from the fire wall forward had to be changed (i.e.- engine, driveaxles, ECU, etc.). And most of the parts would have to be from about three different year/model cars. I mean, I wouldn't mind changing these if it were straight forward. Which leads to my question...
Is there another Honda/Acura model that I could buy and swap the engine, driveaxles, ECU and everything directly into my Civic? This way I would know that everything would match up.

Any D16A6 motor (88-91 Si) tranny, etc will plop right in. The ZC motor, and Si trans would be a little better also.

Originally posted by Db Diablo
I have a 1990 Civic Hatchback, Standard. I would really like a few more ponies under the hood and I'm looking into a possible engine swap. However, after researching, I'm a bit leary of swapping the engine in this particular car since I've found out the nearly everything from the fire wall forward had to be changed (i.e.- engine, driveaxles, ECU, etc.). And most of the parts would have to be from about three different year/model cars. I mean, I wouldn't mind changing these if it were straight forward. Which leads to my question...
Is there another Honda/Acura model that I could buy and swap the engine, driveaxles, ECU and everything directly into my Civic? This way I would know that everything would match up.

First, welcome to the forum newbie. I have an 89 std. I have a complete ZC swap. Yes things have to be changed if you want to run a 5spd tranny. Its really not that bad. Are you planning on doing the swap yourself? A good running ZC and trans in our light cars does very well when it comes to acceleration. You should consider a sway bar for the front though. My car has body roll now since the ZC is heavier than a std engine. Any swap in your car will need a new ECU. Dont sweat the stuff man, just do it!.
"Hondas are like Legos, you just have to find the right parts to make them fit together perfectly" - Me.

sure you could just buy any model type R and not worry about it.......

i thought the zc was only like 20 pounds heavyer than our egines....

oh nevermind, the std engine only weighs in at like 100 pounds....so the zc is a little more than twice that...lol

the engine i was comparing it to is the d16a6 not the d15b7 or whatever it is in a std

Originally posted by slammed89civic
oh nevermind, the std engine only weighs in at like 100 pounds....so the zc is a little more than twice that...lol

the engine i was comparing it to is the d16a6 not the d15b7 or whatever it is in a std

yeah, Ive been told the ZC weighs 40-50 lbs more than the SI engine...So yeah when you couple the increase of wieght of the ZC motor over a std motor, its considerable. Plus our cars dont have front sway bars. Makes for shitty handling but Progress makes a kit for 4th gens that dont have sway bars stock.

Welcome!!!!! I'm getting out this postwhore inside of me... its coming out sloooowwwwly :)

So, if I were to get the ZC engine and find a wrecked SI with all the parts, I'd be in business, right? I'll be doing the swap myself. I've changed V8 engines in domestic vehicles, so I've got a little experience doing engine swaps. I think the biggest challenge will be wiring.

What about Integras. Are there any Integras out there that would be a direct bolt-in for my Civic?

Std Civic dilemma ... man I gotta read forum titles more closely:o