lxi heads vs dx heads

[bigbrat41]

i'm doing an '88 accord dx for my son ( and myself).
the car is straight and PAID for.
my question is Is there a difference between the efi head and a carb'd dx head?
is this difference(if any) MAJOR ENOUGH to require getting a efi head to be able to run an efi system( i have a complete manifold, harness, cam, and ECU)?
thanks for your time.

[diegoaccord]

The heads are exactly the same. I would say get rid of that A20A1 motor period.

You could try 3Geez.com. I'm the only one here who probably knows more than just Civ/Teg.

My opinion on a 3G Accord is to get an original B18A motor. By original, I mean the B18A that came with those Accord's factory. In fact, they were the first B18A motors, and came in the 86-89 JDM Accord GXL-S. 130 HP, and still carbureted. Hard to find an orginal B18A.

The 2nd best option is for you to swap an original B20A. This came in the 86-89 JDM Accord 2.0Si. 160 HP, and FI. That IS more HP than the B20B, abd B20Z CR-V engines. These seem to be hard to find with a manual tranny, and moreso, the B20A5 in the similar year Prelude is not related to the Accord's B20A at all, and nothing from it is useable.

There are DOHC VTEC Accords, a few using B16A, B18C, and 1 hatch using an H22A. The mounts are discontinued now, but maybe you will get lucky.

If you go to 3Geez, they will try to spit off about how great the A20A is. Don't believe it. The 86-89 ones that are quick/fast have turbo in them, or the even rarer DOHC VTEC swap.

But as it is, that A20A1 is 98 HP. It's only 12 valves, and SOHC. A PGM-FI swap may yeild 15, if that HP, and that is if you use a 88-89 Intake manifold. The 86-87 will be even less. Also, of interest, a B16A intake manifold will fit on the A20A head with only little extra work involved.

If you register, tell em diegoaccord sent ya.

[bigbrat41]

as much as i understand all that you have so graciously said, our finances are shoe string at best.
the car is pretty straight. the efi manifold (complete) only cost me 88. on e-bay and for another 22. i purchased an efi camshaft. i guess we are off and running down this road.
one other consideration is that it will be my 17 year old son's car.
I don' need it to be a firebreather, in truth my concern to only to make it more appealing to him.
thank you again

[diegoaccord]

Head over to that site, and they'll point you in the directions for bolt on parts(Intake/header/ect).

You don't need that cam. The swap to PGM-FI has a how-to on that website.