D16 "mini-me" swap, is it worth it???

[SilverY2KCivic]

The mini-me swap is the addition of VTEC to a standard Civic DX D16Y7 motor, right? if not, what is the correct term for what I'm describing, and is that conversion to adding VTEC to a D16Y7 DX motor with the money for it, and the effort? What parts are involved in this "swap", Y8 EX head, VTEC controller, Civic EX ECU, VTEC solanoid, and what else? Wouldn't I need the cams from off an EX as well, since mine wouldn't have the 2 different lobes? ALso about ho much does this conversion cost? If I remember reading right a while back, it's about $500 for it, right? Or am I way off base on that? Thanks for any info anyone can provide on this.

[marked001]

head swaps are unreliable and more work than they're worth. do the full swap or dont do anything IMO.

[praxis]

I agree. All or nothing.

You don't have to have vtec to be fast, though. Look into building the one that you have or swap...

[SilverY2KCivic]

Yeah, I wasn't sure on that, but I've heard (and seen myself) that a Non VTEC motor, at least in the case of a D16Y7 vs. a D16Y8 (DX motor vs. EX motor) the DX one will beat the EX off the line, simply because the "econo" lobe of the VTEC cams is smaller than the one sized DX cam, thus allowing the DX to actually get out of the hole quicker, of course the difference in time is very minute, but it can make a differance. Now obviously the EX will catch the DX in the higher RPM ranges, and in the long run, but I'm just curious to know what some people do this swap, the "mini-me" swap...

[Rgacke]

I don't see what the big problem is with this set up, I've seen lots of people do it. All your doing is adding the same parts they would of done in the factory to make it an EX.
A) I don't know why you'd mess w/the cam?
B)use the same generation parts as your car
C)if you do this, replace the head bolts and use a OEM head gasket. You want a complete EX head, IM, TB, ECU. I really don't know if theres any wiring to be done but more can be found on this @ CRX web sites, and yes it's called a mini-me
D)It was rated 1st or 2nd best (can't remember) mod for the money and HP results by Honda tuning

[SilverY2KCivic]

Originally posted by Rgacke
I don't see what the big problem is with this set up, I've seen lots of people do it. All your doing is adding the same parts they would of done in the factory to make it an EX.
A) I don't know why you'd mess w/the cam?
B)use the same generation parts as your car
C)if you do this, replace the head bolts and use a OEM head gasket. You want a complete EX head, IM, TB, ECU. I really don't know if theres any wiring to be done but more can be found on this @ CRX web sites, and yes it's called a mini-me
D)It was rated 1st or 2nd best (can't remember) mod for the money and HP results by Honda tuning

Hmm, thanks for the info. Where is that at, where I can find more info on this?