questions about engine replacement

I have a 2000 civic hatchback and im considering doing an engine swap.
The engine has almost 200k and my mechanic says I am having problems
with the catalytic converter. Are there other honda/acura engines of
other makes/years that can be placed in this auto? Also are there
engines that have an inline catalytic instead of the composite
manifold/catalyic converter that I have. The final question what would
the replacement engine cost?

black_13

 

what state are you in? swap legality depends on that, especially on
later models like this. in california, you have to swap for a same
model or newer motor, and if it's not the same model, the car needs to
be refereed and smogged for the donor vehicle type. also, you can't
just change the catalyst type - it has to be per oem for the donor vehicle.

 

--------------------------

Changing the engine might prove you're looking too far upstream. Ever
replaced the PCV?

Also, the efficiency of the cat is measured by two O2 sensors. If
they're shot, you get false readings / Check Engine lights. Maybe you're
getting ahead of yourself on a car that's just getting broken in . . . .
Does the mechanic have kids that need a college education, by chance??

'Curly'

 

an integra engine should fit, but youll need the ECU, wiring harnesses,
etc. an engine swap like that isnt usually smog legal anyway, so if I
was going that route, i might lose the catalyst.

 

A Civic SI, DOHC swap would be pretty easy to do. All the parts are
available online or from Honda. As long as you transfer the emissions
parts over too, cat and other things you shouldn't have any emissions
issues because the SI is already emissions legal.

It takes a pretty boring grocery getter and turns it into a hot hatch.
Have a B18C5 swap in mine. For me the most time consuming thing was
splicing the B18 wiring harness to the D16 harness. You can buy the
harness outright or if you have a wrecked SI, just use the harness from
the SI.

Ek9

 

i am in texas.

 

what would something like that cost?
the cost may mean that i have to keep it as a boring grocery getter
that can i get another 200k. but something that doesnt kill me on cost
down the line where i am having to constantly replace the catalytic
converters. i am on the second catalytic converter and the shop says
the current one i have is shot i will have to replace the catalytic
convert and 02 sensors. this model of engine the manifold and catalytic
convert are a single unit which i think was major design flaw. i wish
honda had place the convert inline with the exhaust so when replacement
came i could just toss the convert and get a new one. this is part of
reason i was looking for an engine swap not so much for performance but
lower the total cost if i had to replace converters in the future.
i had more funds i would probably go for the performace upgrade but
then if i had the money i would by and acura!
thanks for the ideas guys i really appreciate the pointers.
black_13

 

http://www.superhonda.com/tech/honda_engine_codes.html lists different years
that may have the same engine.

You can find the engine code stamped on your engine beneath where the valve
cover sits, near the distributor's connection. It may be covered in oil, so
clean off that area with WD-40 or similar.

 

If you had a nicely tuned manual 2000 Hatch, you should be getting
under 8.6 sec to 60mph. Drop in an EX transmission
from the same model and that time should improve to about 8.3sec.
Exchange old parts for performance addons, like Header, Catalytic
Converter, freeflow exhaust and all that should be good for high 7
seconds. Also, better tires would be a huge help. The stock engine has
enough intial power to break loose the tires while only dropping at
2000rpm (without bogging down).

Replacing all the worn exhuast component might be costly, but after
200k, these parts are already suspect. However, to go this route, you'd
have to have an extreme amount of faith in the old engine and it's
electrical components. Personly, I think it's worth the investment, but
I had my 98 Hatch since new and know it's history. I wouldn't make the
same kind of investment in my wife's 2000 Civic EX. One of the major
indicator, her's rattles a little in cold start-up, mine doesn't (even
thow I have 3 times more mileage then her Civic).

Pars

 

i have noticed a click noise in the passanger compartment, that is very
pronounced on cold days and engine is slow to start.

 

Engine swaps in honda's for good (IE DOHC) aren't cheap. $3-5K not
including labor. The D series engines can be had for a couple hundred if
you can find them. People who swap in DOHC motors tend to just trash the
old ones. I think I got $300 for the 24K mile D16 engine/tranny that came
out of my hatch.

You comment about the convertor means you probably need a new shop.
Basically a convertor should be good for 8 years/80K miles. Like a timing
belt though, when they get that old, they're on borrowed time. If you put
a convertor in and it goes bad early, it means you have some other
problem that's destroying the cat. If you're getting 80K or more out of
them then that's all you can expect from one.

 

I can't see how swapping an engine is cheaper/easier than putting in a
new catalytic convertor. Unless you wanted to put in a different engine
anyway.

 

second one in how long?

its either excessive blowby or running rich thats ruining the cats, im
guessing. the O2 sensors should help protect against that.

 

i have had the second catalytic converter for about 15k.