I am lookin to rebuild the entire drivetrain .My 89 dx 3door has a d15b2 and automatic.Iwant to rebuild the motor and swap the tranny to a 5 speed.Anybody have any recommendations?

 

are you gonna do like an aftermarket rebuild with like performance parts or back to oem parts?

 

Yeah,i wanna get away with as much aftermarket stuff as I can ,and still be able to answer to the smog police.Cali is preety strict.I would like to get at least another 40 horses,but don't have the funds for any turbos.

 

are you going to do the head work?

 

Its gotta be able to pass the smog test in a year,so I don't know what I can get away with. Maybe just a good polish in and out. Its got 180,000 mi. on it.

 

i've almost completed my first one. (leak at the oil pan gasket - had to remove).
i am not into the aftermarket stuff - just needed to pass the emissions test.

reason i asked:
i did the head work - and taking the valves out was a real headache.
get the C-type valve spring compressor if you do. i bought the regular one , and there is very very little room to work with it.

 

If your looking to pick up a couple HP with your rebuild i would run a higher compression. Maybe a 10:1 or 11:1 compression. However, when you order the pistons make sure they are CARB certified so the smog police don't give you any trouble. You might also want some forged connecting rods to go with the pistons.

 

i' m finished; but (lol) ; just stock.
started right up -have seated the rings, but big leak at the oil pan gasket (SIGH).

got it back off - will put back today . i hope.

 

it'll be few weeks before I get mine started.I'm wondering if its even worth it to swap,or if I should look for another car.

 

i just did the el-cheapo route.
in car - only did what was needed.
88 civic with 1.5 liter.
saw one bad bearing - little scar down the middle. should have replaced it but did not.
only replaced what was needed.

if you want to know cost - let me know and i will post.

new rings and new seals (right, could not do the rear main), and 2 new valves and new valve guide oil seals.
went to seat in the rings, and it threw out a lot of oil. had to take oil pan back off and redo it (sigh). never thought i could do it that bad !!
also had exhaust leak at the manifold and engine. retightned this time with a torque wrench. still have a small leak. guess need new gasket - i had put the old one back on.