Ok well I have everything apart and I have put the new water pump and belt on, have to wait a few days for a new crank shaft pulley. I broke the original in the process of trying to remove it. I turned my cam by hand and it seems to move without any bind and the same with the crank. So as soon as I get the pulley back on I will check the compression. What is the life of the tensioner like? Is it something that will fail as often as the belt or water pump?

 

Spin the tensioner by hand to judge if the bearing is getting loose/noisy. They usually get plenty loud for a while to warn you instead of failing catastrophically. I think a general rule would be to replace it every other time you change the timing belt if you're doing it yourself, or every time you change the timing belt if you're paying someone to change it.

But don't buy any more parts now until you know if the valves are OK.

 

24' chain wrench and a breaker bar with a pipe in the end of it took mine off

 

Thanks for all the replies. I wont buy anything else I figured if i need a new motor I will just buy a used one from a wreck I know of for 450 and put the new belt and pump on it. That used motor has 30k miles less than mine does with 155 psi compression in all 4 cylinders.

 

155 only? i think its suposed to be 180psi....... thats what mine is running.... but mines a newer motor....

might wanna check your specs to what it SHOULD be..

 

the donor I have in mind has 180,000 miles which is what my car had when i bought it. My car now has 210k. Is 155 not good for a 180k mile engine?

 

could always swap

 

well it would survive fine BUT will probably burn some oil...... but thats IF your compresion is suposed to be higher.... i could be wrong...... 150might be good for THAT motor... have to check your manual for specs.... i dont have my book on me so im not positive.....

whats the stamp on the motor block?

 

Ok I found out the compression should be about 185 psi but I think it would be normal for 180,000 miles to bring that down a bit.

Whatwould bea decent swap to make. If I need a new motor transplant why not upgrade. Call me crazy butI really dont have this car for horsepower but for reliability and economical to drive,compared tomy other option is my 79 ford pickup with 33 inch tires, non overdrive automatic with a carbureted V8. So Horsepower would be nice but I dont wanna lose my 40 mpg highway economy either. IfI want economy should I keep the d15 motor? Is there any newer models that have the same motor that I could find with lower miles easier?


I was looking at http://www.downtoground.net/charts for swaps. says the D16A-SOHC 1.6L or D16Z6 SOHC 1.6L VTEC might be good for what I am looking for with direct bolt in. I understand the VTEC takes some wiring. Has any body done these swaps.

If I am looking for these motors in a salvage yard, what vin codes or civic models should I look for?

 

well the stamp on the block infront will tell ya the model motor......

but ya i hear ya with the HP.LOL i have a 66impala with 400motor and 2speed powerglide tranny... its got PLEANTY OF POWER BUT HORIBLE MPG! main reason why i went to honda civics