FYI : ZC motor info
06-Feb-2006, 12:23 PM
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FYI : ZC motor info
I see alot of discussions and questions about zc motors on this board.
Here's some info i found on http://www.fourthgenhatch.com
What is a ZC?
The ZC was a group of Honda engines for the Japanese market. There were several kinds of ZC. There is the brown top ZC(similar to D16A1), which only bolts into the 84-87 Civic/CRX, and not into the 88-91 Civic/CRX, so we won't worry about that. But just giving fair warning if anyone wants to give you a really good deal on a brown top ZC swap for your 88-91
. Then there are the black top ZCs. These include the DOHC ZC (which I have), the SOHC ZC (similar to a D16A6), and the SOHC VTEC ZC (similar to a D16Z6).
What ISN'T a ZC?
There is a common misconception that the DOHC ZC came in 88-89 Integras. THE ZC IS NOT AN INTEGRA ENGINE. The DOHC ZC is SIMILAR to the D16A1 Integra engine but it is by no means the same. D16A1 engines WILL NOT bolt into the 88-91 Civic/CRX chassis, it will howeever bolt into a 84-87 Civic/CRX if you have one of those. Also the DOHC ZC does not have VTEC. There was a SOHC ZC with VTEC but the DOHC never had VTEC. If you want DOHC + VTEC get a B16A.
What about D16A8 and D16A9?
These engines are essentially ZCs from the European market. They come from European Civic, CRX, and Concerto from around 88-91 (possibly even later in Concertos), as well as Rover 216/416 GTI (rebadged Concerto) from around 89-96-ish. They are identical in almost every way to the Japanese market ZC, same horsepower, same torque. The engines from Honda cars look identical to the ZC, while the engines installed in Rovers have a distinctive striped valve cover (without any Honda branding), a white timing belt cover, and may come standard with a 4-1 or 4-2-1 exhaust manifold. As far as i can tell, they're probably ~122-130hp, atleast in the stock Rover setup. The difference between 122 and 130 seems to be down to the different header designs used in different models and in different years (and possibly different markets). I suppose the cat. and ECU also play a part in the difference. For example, this link shows 2 different stock exhaust setups for the 216 GTi. A 4-1, cat. version producing 122hp, and a 4-2-1, no cat. version producing 130hp. Another difference worth mentioning, the D16A9 was designed to be run without a catalytic converter. From what I understand of Honda’s specs for the engine, it has lower compression (9.1:1)than the ZC (9.6:1)and A8 (9.5:1), yet produces the same hp because it lacks a cat. It only makes sense that running this engine with a cat will not produce the same power. One potential bonus to finding an A8/A9 from a Rover is that it could be up to 8 years newer than a JDM ZC or EDM Honda A8/A9.
ZC
D16A8 (HONDA)
D16A9 (ROVER)
Can I do this swap on an automatic?
Yes. You will need an automatic ECU and the MPFI conversion (if applicable) is slightly different. Other than that, it bolts right up and works fine.
Why do a ZC swap over a B-series?
There are two reasons to do a ZC swap, ease of installation and cost. Basically it bolts right in and they are dirt cheap. I got my ZC for $450 from a local seller and it came with the transmission, axles, everything basically. Most people get them from importers for about $500 + shipping (which is the downside since it costs a lot to ship an engine). The bonus of getting them local and slightly used (again, since they are already used to begin with from Japan) is that you don't pay shipping and all the vital things like timing belt and water pump and all that have already been replaced and won't have to be replaced again for a while so there is less downtime before installation. Also the ZC bolts right in using your stock mounts and shift linkage, the same is not true for the B-series.
Here's some info i found on http://www.fourthgenhatch.com
What is a ZC?
The ZC was a group of Honda engines for the Japanese market. There were several kinds of ZC. There is the brown top ZC(similar to D16A1), which only bolts into the 84-87 Civic/CRX, and not into the 88-91 Civic/CRX, so we won't worry about that. But just giving fair warning if anyone wants to give you a really good deal on a brown top ZC swap for your 88-91
. Then there are the black top ZCs. These include the DOHC ZC (which I have), the SOHC ZC (similar to a D16A6), and the SOHC VTEC ZC (similar to a D16Z6).What ISN'T a ZC?
There is a common misconception that the DOHC ZC came in 88-89 Integras. THE ZC IS NOT AN INTEGRA ENGINE. The DOHC ZC is SIMILAR to the D16A1 Integra engine but it is by no means the same. D16A1 engines WILL NOT bolt into the 88-91 Civic/CRX chassis, it will howeever bolt into a 84-87 Civic/CRX if you have one of those. Also the DOHC ZC does not have VTEC. There was a SOHC ZC with VTEC but the DOHC never had VTEC. If you want DOHC + VTEC get a B16A.
What about D16A8 and D16A9?
These engines are essentially ZCs from the European market. They come from European Civic, CRX, and Concerto from around 88-91 (possibly even later in Concertos), as well as Rover 216/416 GTI (rebadged Concerto) from around 89-96-ish. They are identical in almost every way to the Japanese market ZC, same horsepower, same torque. The engines from Honda cars look identical to the ZC, while the engines installed in Rovers have a distinctive striped valve cover (without any Honda branding), a white timing belt cover, and may come standard with a 4-1 or 4-2-1 exhaust manifold. As far as i can tell, they're probably ~122-130hp, atleast in the stock Rover setup. The difference between 122 and 130 seems to be down to the different header designs used in different models and in different years (and possibly different markets). I suppose the cat. and ECU also play a part in the difference. For example, this link shows 2 different stock exhaust setups for the 216 GTi. A 4-1, cat. version producing 122hp, and a 4-2-1, no cat. version producing 130hp. Another difference worth mentioning, the D16A9 was designed to be run without a catalytic converter. From what I understand of Honda’s specs for the engine, it has lower compression (9.1:1)than the ZC (9.6:1)and A8 (9.5:1), yet produces the same hp because it lacks a cat. It only makes sense that running this engine with a cat will not produce the same power. One potential bonus to finding an A8/A9 from a Rover is that it could be up to 8 years newer than a JDM ZC or EDM Honda A8/A9.
ZC
D16A8 (HONDA)
D16A9 (ROVER)
Can I do this swap on an automatic?
Yes. You will need an automatic ECU and the MPFI conversion (if applicable) is slightly different. Other than that, it bolts right up and works fine.
Why do a ZC swap over a B-series?
There are two reasons to do a ZC swap, ease of installation and cost. Basically it bolts right in and they are dirt cheap. I got my ZC for $450 from a local seller and it came with the transmission, axles, everything basically. Most people get them from importers for about $500 + shipping (which is the downside since it costs a lot to ship an engine). The bonus of getting them local and slightly used (again, since they are already used to begin with from Japan) is that you don't pay shipping and all the vital things like timing belt and water pump and all that have already been replaced and won't have to be replaced again for a while so there is less downtime before installation. Also the ZC bolts right in using your stock mounts and shift linkage, the same is not true for the B-series.
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