So, I know it's an older engine, but I have it sitting here in my wrecked CRX, and the engine in my 92 LX is burning an incredible amount of oil (almost a quart every 200 miles). What trouble am I going to be looking at?

 

This should be a drop-in fit if you only swap out the engine block / head assembly and reuse the manifolds and controls. that came with the 1992. You may need to re-align a few coolant lines. VTEC will not be hooked up but that isn't a big deal in daily driving.

 

That's what I was thinking, the only difference I am seeing is where the bottom radiator hose attaches to the block/thermostat. The 1992 has a 2 wire plug there that the CRX doesn't. Looks like the only way to swap it would be to swap the whole pipe from the water pump to the thermostat. Is that possible? If not I guess I will have one plug not attached...

 

That plug is important, it turns the fan on. The problem with swapping the whole pipe is that it has o-ring seals at both ends that usually are terribly corroded. You can try though.

The 1991 and earlier has a temperature sensor on the back of the block, above the alternator, to turn the fan on when the engine gets hot. You can just splice two wires to the 92 plug and run them to the other sensor. It is a different style of sensor but it does the same thing, they are both simple on-off switches that close when the temperature rises, which will energize the fan relay.

 

Power steering pump mounts are different as well... grrr. I think I can make it work.

 

The holes in the head should be the same though-- you will need to swap over the motor mount bracket on the end, the A/C mount, and the P/S pump bracket.

Also if you've never R&R a Civic engine before, know that the alternator MUST be removed first to get clearance to lift the engine/transmission assembly out of place.

 

Alright, swap is done. Thanks all for your help and advice. Next question, at higher RPM's it's quite a bit louder than the stock engine was... think this is because it's a bigger engine? Or maybe timing is off a tooth? Seems to run really good but at 4k RPM or higher it's LOUD, really nice and quiet at low RPM's

 

Check the timing with a light (something you should always do after changing distributor). Did you put a new timing belt on? Check for exhaust leaks.

 

Doesn't seem to have exhaust leaks, new timing belt and water pump. I'll have to track down a light

 

Yeah I had the timing belt off a tooth... All fixed now and running awesome.