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I hope this is the right place for this...

Anyway, I have a 93 Honda Ballade (as it is called here) - but I prefer to call it a 93 Honda Civic (4dr Sedan).

Im planning on doing a motor swap and either will get a B20; H22; K24 or K20A.

Im really liking the K20A of course, though I would have to import it into my country (South Africa) because we have never had any R-types of any of the Honda's we get. From hmotorsonline.com it will seem to cost me roughly 6500U$D which is like 3 years salary for me, so its REALLY steep!
I really like the K-series because:
a) Its the newer of my options, so it will be "supported" for longer
b) Its a distributor-less design! I have reeaaally had a lot of problems with distributors in the past and this is a big bonus for me :P
c) Its got a lot of va-va-vooom!

Anyway, my questions to you pro's are:
a) I just spent close to 1k U$D to get my air con fixed (before engine (a) lost compression and (b) distributor died a second time). Will I be still be able to use my air con? It might like a stupid question for many reasons, but im a n00b for one and yes - I REALLY "need" my aircon, its damn hot around here :P

b) Which motor would you guys choose ?
Any K-series will cost me a fortune which is its biggest downfall for me.
The H-series apparently will screw up my handling. Locally, its parts are apparently 'becoming scarce' according to a local mechanic. Though this is apparently not -that- expensive (Especially compared to a K series) and its kick isnt bad either.
With the B-series, only ones I have locally are the ones found in Honda CRV's; so if I want some decent performance, Im surely gonna have to import a transmission that came on a "sportier" B-series car.

c) If I do end up importing an engine and/or tranny - what would you guys say about hmotorsonline.com ? Apparently they're 'the best' (or one of the best anyway)? Any other suggestions?

d) Lastly, since I'm not exactly a mechanic, though I am willing to learn and so forth. Do you guys think an engine swap is something I could accomplish by myself over time - or would you guys consider it a huge mistake and recommend I throw it on to someone who knows what theyre doing?

 
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Biggest Civic forum out there and no one can help me?

 
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Dude ... AFirst of all COnfirm this ... 93 ? 0r 04 Sedan???

If its 93 do u even have the mounts available to get it mounted in the engine bay !!!... Secondly, if its $6500 like 3 years of ur salary, Y wud u spend it on a civic man with a k20 ??? In the long run it wont be so good ... might aswell sell ur car and get a RSX-S if its avaliable or something ... im pretty sure theres tons of fast cars in S.Africa man ....

The AC thing ... I have heard some people removing their AC's after engine swaps but Im not really sure ...

Finally, B16 / B18 is ur best choice ... and if u said B16 is locally available .. go for it man !

just my opinion though

 
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im not sure how the 5th gen civics there are different from the ones here, but ive built quite a few. i would deffinately go h22 or h23 with an h22 head. ive swapped a few b series and ive got a b20b for my 90 integra. nice motor and easy to find parts for, but the h22 has far more potential. the b20 isnt exactly in the b series family like the b16, b17, and b18. then you run into the trouble of wanting more power and you build a crv-tec and run into problems if everything isnt perfect. ive got 3 98 preludes. 2 with h22a4's and one with a jdm h22a. i love some h power. stay away from trying to swap an h22a4 if you can. the atts system can be a bitch. find an h22a1 or jdm h22a and you wont be sorry. as for parts being scarce, just seach for h22 parts. there are millions. one of the most popular engines ever made. hope some of this info is useful.