Hi- brand new here - trying to put a new engine in my 92 Civic LX. Not trying to make it a racing car, just trying to get it working again.
Right now it has the stock SOHC non-VTEC engine. Sorry if these questions are basic, I don't know very much at all.

Questions:

1- I know that if I replace the engine with a VTEC engine, I have to also replace the computer, and get some VTEC wires. Is there any other compability issues I should be worried about or anything else I'll have to change?

2- If I replace it with a DOHC non-VTEC engine, do I have to change the computer? Are there other compatibility issues I should be worried about?

3- I figure I'll just get one of those Japanese imported engines off of Ebay and have it shipped to the shop where a guy said he'd take out my old one and put the new one in for $650 (before I knew I might have to change a computer/wires- I don't know if he'll charge more labor for that). Does that sound right? Any warnings? Are there other places to get used engines online? Does $500 for a 30-40K SOHC VTEC engine sound good?

If you can offer any advice on any or all of these questions, any input is much appreciated. Thanks.

 

Most swaps come with the tranny and ECU included, unless you get a longblock. I wouldn't reccommend an ebay motor, especially for $500. There are tons of other great places for JDM motors out there.

http://www.hmotorsonline.com
http://www.sunrisejdmmotors.com/honda.php
http://www.nippon-motors.com/honda.htm
http://www.ardperformance.com/
http://www.totaljdm.com/
http://www.foreignenginesinc.com/contactinformation/

 

Thanks a lot- that was helpful. I found a cheaper engine (still JDM ~40K miles) on the nippon website. Since I'm trying to just get my car running again for as cheap as possible, I'm trying to put the same engine into it, replace just longblock, not tranny and ECU.

The engine I'm looking at and the one that came stock in mine are both non-VTEC, SOHC, 1.5L, 4 cyl, 16 valve, 92-95 Honda Civic.

The one on the website says "D15B2" and that it has a 24 mm crank snout. Is this still the same engine that I have in my car, or am I still going to have to change the computer and/or will there be compatibility issues with the 24 mm crank snout?

Thanks again.