ZC Generations

[KrisSmithRocks]

K guys i searched the forums and couldn't find the answer to my question so i figured i'd just throw it out there and see if anyone knows the answer. I've read a few places that there are multiple generations of ZC's i know that there is a SOHC and a DOHC. The DOHC is my perticular area of interest. I've also read that the DOHC has 2 generations only the first of which fit into our cars without modifications. My question to you guys is - What changes did they make between the first and second generations that make them different and or diffiicult to install? what specifically is different with the mounts etc...? any info will be appreciated.

Kris

[84CiviC]

Well...from lxndr i have found out what u have....there are 4 zc motor....i am pretty sure that the difference is that ones american and one is jdm.....but honestly i am not possitive.good luck,what do you want a zc for....(i heard trhat a zc is just a high compression d16)

[KrisSmithRocks]

Ok well the reason that i'm asking is that about a year and a half ago i bought an 85 REX with a Blown motor, I had just previously been hooked up with an engine importer in LA who carried a lot of ZC stuff. So i got a DOHC ZC Blacktop shipped to me for $500 and an ecu and i've been accumulating parts since then since it's a project car and i have enough other cars to keep my busy oni havn't been in a big hurry. Now the donor car was carbed but screw that i'm into fuel injection in a big way so i figured getting an FI motor wouldn't be that big of a deal. Anyway i'm getting ready to drop it in and i'm not really seeing any reason that it won't fit but i havn't phisically put it in yet. The thing that got me worried about the entire thing is that i was having trouble getting the right Transmission/ flywheel combination and it got me thinking about other things. when i searched i found a bunch of people that say it won't fit without major mods but no reasons why. I have the ability to fabricate just about anything that you could think of (TIG, MIG, Machining, CNC Machining) and i'm only going to have the capability for about another 6 months (until i graduate from Western) so i'm trying to get this wrapped up before then if i have to fab anything big now's the time. 130 hp + 1900 lb car = fun

[lxndr]

Can you post a pic of your ZC? This will help us identify which motor you have.

Also, here's a link to a website dedicated entirely to ZC motors:
http://www.thezcresource.com/forums/

If your ZC that has a valve cover with 4 bolts holding it down in the center (like a D16A1), you've got the right one. If it has the valve cover bolts around the perimeter of the valve cover, you're going to have issues when you try to swap it since this is the '88-'91 ZC motor.

[lxndr]

Originally Posted by 84CiviC

i am pretty sure that the difference is that ones american and one is jdm.....but honestly i am not possitive.good luck,what do you want a zc for....(i heard trhat a zc is just a high compression d16)

All ZC motors are JDM or EDM, there were no USDM ZC motors. The D16A1 motor is the only thing that comes close to a ZC in the U.S. Pretty much the only mechanical difference between the D16A1 and DOHC ZC motors are the cams and intake manifold.

[84CiviC]

I knew that...(pft,brainiac)

[KrisSmithRocks]

K here are some pics that i just took





I think this is how to post

[Figori]

Well... The only other thing I can think of (other than the motor being the right one) is that you will have to find a complete engine wiring harness from either an Si or a 86-89 Teg. The main reason being, the 85 Rex was carbed, and it will be Muy Dificulte to try to wire up FI with it. Other than that, you should be okay. Lxndr is the man when it comes to the Rex's, so I'll let him fill in anything else I missed.

[KrisSmithRocks]

well the pic's that i took didn't illustrate it but the motor came with the complete harness cut after the main plug, so i have the main plug and everything else so i really just need to make the jumpers go from the main plug to the ECU plugs that i got.

[aquarius]

then your all set

[lxndr]

Hate to tell you this...
You've got the wrong ZC for an '84-'87 Civic/CRX.

The motor you've got is for an '88-'91 Civic/CRX. The difference is in the motor mounts and the transmission. These will be your biggest issues with trying to get this motor in your car. You will end up welding up your own motor mounts, and I have no clue as to what you'd do about the tranny.

I'd sell it and buy the correct motor. But if you're set on using this motor, here's an option that will work:

Get an '86-'89 D16A1 bare block with absolutely nothing on it but the main caps. If you can get one with extremely low miles that would be best, or go to www.redpepperracing.com an find out if anyone has an '86-'89 ZC block for sale.

Once you have a low mileage block, hone it out and bolt EVERYTHING from your ZC into this block! If you get a high mileage block, bore it out .5mm, get '88-'89 D16A1 .5mm oversived pistons, reuse your ZC rods, then bolt EVERYTHING from your ZC onto this block! You will be using your low mileage ZC crank because it has a 24mm snout which you'll need in order to use the 17 tooth timing belt crankshaft pulley. You have to use the 17T ZC crank TB pulley because the 2G ZC motor uses a 34 tooth cam cear. You will also be using your ZC rods and reusing your bearings, so don't mix anything up!

From here you have a ZC motor that WILL bolt directly into your car and the wiring will be the same as if you were swapping an '88-'89 D16A1 with an electronic advance distributor, VSS and ELD.

Use the '88-'89 Integra tranny, knuckles, cv shafts, etc with this configuration. The '86-'87 tranny will also work, but the '88-'89 tranny is geared better.


Here's another option that MIGHT work (please do your own research):

Use your existing motor and construct your own motor mounts.

If I recall correctly an '88-'91 SI tranny will bolt up to this motor. I'm not an expert on '88-'91 ZC motors so I might be wrong, but I do know that you'll be making your own transmission mounts regardless.

Use the appropriate CV shafts for the tranny you end up using, but you will also have to swap the outside spline cup with one that matches your hubs.


Hope this helps.

Good luck!

[KrisSmithRocks]

k well i mocked it up today and as you probably know there are 5 bell housing bolts total. 4 around the top and front of the motor in which the holes in the tranny go through to threaded holes in the block. The fifth hole is the opposite being that the transmission is threaded instead of the block. subsequently that is the hole that doesn't line up. If i hog out the hole on the little ear on the back of the block with a die grinder and turn it into a little slot it looks like it'll work. i'll post pics later... PS i'm using an 87 integra Tranny.

[lxndr]

That's great if you can just enlarge one hole to make it work! Please post pics, I would like to see how this works out!

[KrisSmithRocks]

K well here are some pics that i took tonight as i was working... The hole ended up being a little bit bigger then i would have liked but seeing as its going to get pinched in between the motor mount i think that it'll be fine... let me know what you guys think (the black in the first pic illustrates the material that i'm goin to remove

[KrisSmithRocks]

k well i did some research yesterday down at the local NAPA and i do enough business with them that they all know me and didn't feel put out of place when i asked to compare clutch kits and it turns out that i'll be using my original CRX flywheel, i need a CRX pressure plate but the clutch disk has to be out of an 88 Civic wagon 7-1/2 inches 21 splines and that's the only disk that fits that description anyway. After i'd looked into that i probably cant really spare the money for that until like next week so i decided to paint my engine bay. i got some driveway degreaser and a brush and went to town i also pulled off all the the wiring harnesses and stuff so that i could get it really clean and it is i'll post pics tonight. Tomorrow when i get done with school i'll be painting it with some spray on undercoatin that i picked up and is supposed to be really durabe any way that's what i'v been up to.