Sadatay

Hi

I got question about the B18b engine going into a 90 Civic DX hatch. I can't remember where i heard/read about this, but is it true that the b18b block is a little taller than the b16a's? Therefore the b18 would have to be placed a little lower in the engine bay causing clearance issues? Or is there a way to raise the hood by getting custom one or am i just gonna be wasting money for all this and should just go for the b16a instead? OR do i have all my facts mixed up and totally wrong?

cosmic zx2

from what i can remember the b18b/b18a swap is NOT a drop in....you do need new mounts...or you can get the HCP Power Inovations bolt-in kit.... i don't know too much about the kit.... so you'll have to look it up on google

Sadatay

Yea i understand that it's not a drop in like a ZC, but i was just wondering about the height problem... The b16 has no probs sitting in the engine bay with a mount kit, but i heard the b18b in a 4th gen civic might have some height probs though. Will it have to sit lower in the engine bay so it could fit?

cosmic zx2

these mounts are welded in lower...thus eliminating your hight problem.

Jugglez

That is correct... Place Racing also has a good 4th gen- Bseries mount kit. KSRD can source Place Racing knockoffs for you if that's the route you wanna take. they are cheaper... quality is pretty good too from what i've heard. Doesn't matter which kit you go with you'll still have modify the engine bay to get everything working.

You don't need to worry about the block heights... mounting points are all the same on b16's and B18's.

Regardless of the year of the B18B motor you will need the non-OBD PR4 ecu from the '90-'91 Tegs. I think the early OBDI P74 Teg ecu's will also run well with the modifications but not sure, i wouldn't take the chance. PR4 is your best bet. (No need to convert your wiring to OBDI or OBDII)

Also, you'll need to modify the shift linkage and use 1st gen Teg axles.

imported_JookSingKid

Taken from Civicland.com

4th Generation 88-91 Civics and CRX's EF body style

The easiest to do swap for this generation civic would be the ZC swap, The JDM ZC motor drops right into the car without the need for different motor mounts. Also the USDM 88-91 SI and DX tranny will bolt right onto the motor. Remember the ZC is a D-series motor (d16A8/9). The SI tranny has the best final drive, the ZC tranny has the best 1-5th gear, and the DX tranny is good only if you want to save gas. So go with either the SI or ZC tranny or make a tranny hybrid by putting the final drive of the SI into the ZC tranny. You can use either ZC or 90-91 Integra axles, and for ECU you can use either a 88-91 SI, 88-89 Integra or JDM ZC one.

Next would be the b16a, (first gen) b17a, motors these motors will not bolt in but can be installed with the use of motor mounts, Integra 92-93 ls axles could be used and either a modified shift linkage or JDM sir shift linkage will be needed. Most likely the motor will come with a Y1 cable tranny which will work fine with the cable system on the 4th gen civics. It is advisable to get an Y1 tranny with LSD if possible. For the ECU you will have to use either a del sol vtec ECU, a SIR ECU, or a modified stock ECU which might require an external switch to activate vtec.

The B18 motors can be put in the 4th gen civic with motor mounts and it would be advisable to use all parts from the donor car. Integra axles and ECU along with shift linkage, one problem however with this swap is that the motor sits higher then the ZC and b16as so either a aftermarket hood, modified stock hood, or sir hood (does not fit USDM bumper so a complete front end JDM conversion is needed) is needed to clear the motor.

***4th gen motor swaps often create the most wiring problems.
** Different EG civic models have slight differences and certain parts are needed for some and not for others. Important thing to remember is that always use OBD1 with OBD1 and OBD2

Jugglez

Buying a new hood isn't neccessary. I've seen in person 4th gens with B18's all running stock hoods. Like cosmic said with the custom mounts installed lower (and properly) your problem should be corrected. And i don't agree with the b18 sitting significantly higher than the b16's... any differnce would be miniscule at most.

Sadatay, speak with KSRD for more info.. they are 4th gen specialists.

Sadatay

Thanks a lot guys... I appreciate how you reply so fast to my question and helpin me clear it up...