Please Post D16A1 Swap Info Here

[lxndr]

Originally Posted by CRXdan

Regarding the D16a1 ECU.
It will not improve power. Many people think its a cheap way to make ur car faster, but that is not true. Heres why;
Your car will run rich and you might have idling problems. The only advantage is the higher rev limit, but it is not worth it. In fact, your car will feel sluggish, and foget about it being smog legal.
(cbstdscott from RPR)

OK, I have finally installed an '86 Integra ECU in my '86 CRX SI...





Here's what I did:

When I replaced my head gasket, I decided to also swap in a rebuilt head since my old one had a bad valve guide. After I got everything together, adjusted and timed, I decided to start playing around with the extra ECU's that I have laying around.

I took it for a test drive with the stock '86 ECU, I drove it normally around town and took it on the freeway for a while then got off the freeway and started driving like a maniac (safely)! I turned around and punched it to get back on the freeway in order to take some mental notes on performance.

I then swapped in an '85 ECU and took it for the same test drive with no noticeable difference in performance.

Then I swapped in the '86 Integra ECU and noticed no signifigant difference in performance while doing the "normal " test drive around town, but when I punched it to get on the freeway, there was definitely a difference. The car definitely felt more responsive in the mid to high end.

In doing this swap I found that the '86 integra ECU plugged directly in to the CRX wiring with NO modifications. There are NO idling problems and there is definitely NO lag or "sluggish" feeling. I did have to adjust the idle and re-check the timing after installing the Integra ECU because after installation the RPMs shot up to about 2,000. I have not yet checked my plugs to see it the car is running rich, I figure I'll drive it for a week or two then check. Also, I need to get an emissions report at the end of December so I'll find out then if it passes. I have not installed the Integra injectors because I see no point in doing so right now.

No, I did not Dyno the car after swapping the ECU's so I can not provide any numbers or verify that the car is actually performing better, but it seems to, and right now that's good enough for me.

Next I plan to fabricate an adapter plate so that I can swap in a larger throttle body. From there I'll see if I need to swap in different injectors or a fuel pressure regulator. I'm also toying with the Idea of regrinding my cam and installing my turbo system with a 2" exhaust. I found an exhaust manifold from a Civic 1500 S that seems like it will make an excellent turbo manifold!


Edit:
DO NOT USE a California emissions friendly ECU! You won't be happy with the results!


Update:
The car would not pass emissions with the Integra ECU so I put the stock ECU back in.

[88novarules]

sweet! cause im getting an old 86 crx si from my cousin for free ! hes tired of it and he has too many project cars. It needs to have the injectors cleaned and fenders. CHEAP PLASTIC GRRRR.... and i know a guy with an old 86 integra sitting at his shop he wants to get rid of. got rear ended.... What a sweet situation if u ask me, but the d16 im going to take some time and rebuild it and drop some 8.9 comp ratio pistons and some higher lift cams. This is still far off but dreaming never killed ne one... well maybe. One other good question, how hard would it be to retro fit 88-91 after market fenders? but im stoked... tired of not having a running car... piece of crap 88 nova. tried to get a fuse for the efi, cant get it ne more ...

(I had said lude but I was thinking of my brothers 86 lude DX)

[lxndr]

Originally Posted by 88novarules

One other good question, how hard would it be to retro fit 88-91 after market fenders?

Slightly off topic...

'88-'91 fenders won't work because the body contours are completely different. Also, the front end on a 2g CRX is several inches shorter than a 1g. You would have to swap the entire front clip and do lots of metal or fiberglass fabrication around the doors. About the only thing that interchanges between the 2g and 1g CRX are the wheels.

[88novarules]

Originally Posted by lxndr

Slightly off topic...

'88-'91 fenders won't work because the body contours are completely different. Also, the front end on a 2g CRX is several inches shorter than a 1g. You would have to swap the entire front clip and do lots of metal or fiberglass fabrication around the doors. About the only thing that interchanges between the 2g and 1g CRX are the wheels.

Yea its as i figured, i got the thing today, its needing some serious work but nothing too major. I was wrong it was an 85 i didnt get to see the front of it, but its still an si. The cool thing is the spedo goes to 140 which is really fast for that car. (Eventhough it wont touch that speed stock) But i need a new front bumper and bumper cover, fenders, and fascia. I can make the fascia easy and make it look cool. The car didnt get in an accident its just the pieces fricken shattered. but the inside is practicaly gutted and it doesnt have a moon roof cause the previous owner b4 my cousin rolled it! It rather difficult finding fenders for that car. Any suggestions?

[lxndr]

Originally Posted by 88novarules

Any suggestions?

Become very good friends with the people at your local junk yard.

P.S. Start an new thread so that you can draw more attention to your questions and we can keep this one on topic.

[lxndr]

Car runs a little rich (still acceptable) with the Integra ECU. I found a hunk of 3/4" aluminum to make an adapter for the throttle body with, I'll see what happens next.


Update:
Never got around to making the adapter. I swapped in a D16A1 instead.

[cvcc_wagon]

Dylan (can't remember his user name) just finished a d16 swap and has a pretty good write up about it. this will be especially interesting to you DX guys going from carb to FI here is the link:

http://the-compound.com/dylan/crx

i also put the link into my original post

[Spider228]

will my d16a1 (86 Integra) motor fit in a 89-91 civic without a mount kit. If not where can i get a mount kit to do the swap and what do i need to know about the swap.

[cvcc_wagon]

no it won't and i don't believe the make a mounting kit, usually swaps go the other way (ie newer to older car) my advice, go b-series. better power and in most cases it will be a bolt in

[Spider228]

The reason being is that i have a runnin d16a1 and i have a 91 civic with a blown motor.

[Figori]

This is the wrong forum... You need to be posting this on the 88-91 forum. They might have better advice (not really, but it's worth a shot. )

[88novarules]

Originally Posted by Spider228

The reason being is that i have a runnin d16a1 and i have a 91 civic with a blown motor.

Honestly, the money its going to take to swap it you would be better finding a b16 and swaping it, crx go hell fast then ^^, also I have a running crx motor out of an 85 si for sale.

[Spider228]

I was told that the d16a1 will fit in a 87 and below civic/crx is that true.

[lxndr]

Originally Posted by Spider228

I was told that the d16a1 will fit in a 87 and below civic/crx is that true.

Yes

An '86-'89 D16A1 from an Integra will fit into any '84-'87 Civic or CRX. The '86-'87 D16A1 motors will be the easiest to swap into an '85-'87 SI since the electronics are near identical. The '88-'89 D16A1 motors are a little more involved since they use a VSS (vehicle speed sensor), ELD (electronic load detector), electronic advance distributor, and a different ECU.

In order to swap any of these motors into a carbureted car you will also need a donor wiring harness, ECU, fuel pump and some sort of check engine light (PGM-FI light) to let you know if the ECU is sending a code. Or you could convert the D16A1 to run on carburetors. But be warned, you're on your own for a carbed intake manifold since no one makes them for a D16A1.

There are other differences between the motors as well. For instance, the '86-'87 D16A1 motors use slightly stronger rods and have dished pistons. While the '88-'89 D16A1 motors use slightly lighter rods with domed (interference) pistons. The '88-'89 motors also produce a little more power over the '86-'87 motors (stock comparison) due to the increase in comression ratio and also because of the slightly better flowing intake plenum.

The main difference between the '86-'87 and the '88-'89 motors is in the cylinder head. The cylinder heads are swappable between the years but are not compatable with the different engine management system. Meaning you CAN put a, '88-'89 D16A1 cylinder head on an '86-'87 block, but in doing so you will need to use the '88-'89 ECU, VSS, distributor, etc.

[Spider228]

do i need a motor mount kit to do the swap. what other parts from the integra would i need except for the things you already told me.(ex. cv joints, shift linkage, etc..)