Rep Power: 0

Hi all,

So I’m a relatively new Honda owner. Bought an 05 civic DX for a commuter car to save miles on my truck. Anyways….

So driving to work Tuesday my car shuddered as if it was out of gas, it’s not. But it died and won’t crank back. After getting it hauled home today I had my brother watch the rocker arm through the oil fill hole and it isn’t moving at all. So based on what I’ve read it sounds like it’s unlikely that I could get by with just a timing belt replacement? I guess I’m looking to replace the engine and I have sourced a junkyard engine with only 92k out of a wrecked coupe. Due to the age of these cars I am planning to do some preventative maintenance and upkeep on the transplant engine before putting it in the car. My questions for those of you with experience in the Honda world are:

1) What items should I be replacing in the junkyard engine before installing to prevent headaches in the near future? (Rear main seal?, timing kit, top end kit, valve cover gasket? Etc…)

2) What is a reputable source for any items needed? I’ve heard OEM Honda parts are preferable, but I’m hoping there is a better option for a vendor than my local dealer?

thanks for any advice I can get!

 
Rep Power: 222

You might get lucky by slapping a belt on and testing compression. You'll need a new belt and tensioner for the junkyard engine anyways

 
Rep Power: 0

Yeah I guess just replacing the timing belt is an option I need feedback on too. I’m a little reluctant to do so just due to the amount of work it entails. It seems like a few more steps and you’d have the engine ready to drop completely out. But based on some info from guys with first hand experience I may try it anyhow.

 
Rep Power: 511

Pull the valve cover and the upper timing belt cover first. You can inspect the timing belt that way. If it looks in tact, rotate by hand (19mm socket, extensions, breaker bar. Rotate counter clockwise looking at the engine from the driver's side wheel well. There's a wheel well liner penetration for that) and inspect further. If the timing belt snapped, probably not a good thing. I had one snap at like 3k RPM and it bent all 16 valves on my 2002.

If you go with the junkyard engine, I'd def replace the timing belt. Rear main seal might be fine. Valve cover gasket is cheap, so might as well. Obviously fluids. If the engine has been sitting pretty much in tact and internals not exposed to the elements, it might be fine. Pulling the oil pan might not be a bad idea to inspect how the bottom of the engine looks, would probably be a good indication of how the rest of the engine may possibly be. Oil pan gaskets for the D17A1 are cheap, anyways. If you go with a top end kit, you'd have to pull the head since those overhead valve spring compressors don't work with the D17. You gotta use that giant *** C-clamp looking thing to pull valve springs and retainers to get to the valve seals. If you go that far, might as well do a full-ish tear down, inspect, and refresh (deck the head and block, hone cylinders, inspect main bearings while you're at it, and clean the ever living crap out of it).

As far as parts sourcing, hondaautomotiveparts.com (Majestic Honda) has been my primary go-to for.. at least a decade now. Usually best prices there, even with S&H. I got lucky a couple times, and my local dealership price-matched, provided I selected overnight shipping. Saved me a crap ton for a head gasket kit. Dealership wanted like $350 way back when, told them I could get it for $185 overnighted from Majestic Honda. They reacted with, "ah ****, you know about Majestic..." then offered $200 out the door for the kit and I was able to take it home that day.