greenxj96

xRiCeBoYx

iTrader: (22)

How bad did the timing belt go? Like, TB snapped and all 16 valves bent?

You do have a few options, however.

1) Harvest the valves from the donor car and swap them into the -A2 block. Part numbers for VTEC and non-VTEC are the same.

2) Swap the head and transmission from the -A1 to the -A2. If you decide to swap the -A1 into the car rocking the -A2, it'll run in limp mode (i.e. won't rev past 4k RPMs) since you'll have nothing to hook the VTEC wiring to. I'd recommend putting the D17A2 oil pan on the -A1 block so you have the extra oil capacity for VTEC.

3) Complete swap (full engine, tranny, and ECU) from -A1 car into your EX. You'll have to either get your current keys reprogrammed to mate with the D17A1 ECU or change all the locks and ignition cylinder so the -A1 keys work, assuming you have them. You'd need to swap the O2 sensors from the 05 into the 01 since after 2003, Honda started using wideband O2 sensors as the upstream (I think?) sensor.

If your timing belt broke, the only thing that I could see having any damage would be the valves. You can possibly use the parts car timing belt, but unless it's in great condition and low mileage, I personally wouldn't risk it, especially considering timing belts are all of maybe $40-50 at a dealership ($26 + shipping if you shop online). The tensioner is the expensive part with a list price of $130


One other random thing to think about, since I'm assuming you have a 2005 civic dx/lx as a parts car, you won't be able to swap over front struts from the 05 to 01, in case you had to in the future, since the crash bolts on 04-05 civics are 16mm, whereas 01-02 civics have 14mm crash bolts. Also, exhaust mani and downpipe are different from -A1 to -A2, but the B-pipe is the same. Otherwise, everything else should be able to swap over without issue.

greenxj96