Engine swap
Engine swap
I’m buying a parts car this Friday to fix my project. I understand it’s a Honda and will be slow, but am I able to slap a turbo on it with stock internals? Haven’t driven this car in over a year just want it to be a little bit faster nothing crazy.
And would it matter if the old engine is a vtec and the new one isn’t? What other Honda engines would I be able to slap in it without a ton of work?
And would it matter if the old engine is a vtec and the new one isn’t? What other Honda engines would I be able to slap in it without a ton of work?
Last edited by BubbleGumDumDum; Jun 27, 2023 at 07:10 PM.
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Re: Engine swap
Stock internals should be good for up to 8psi, 10 if you have a really good tuner. Make sure fuel delivery and the tune are prioritized in a turbo build. That'll make or break your setup. The plastic intake manifold will be just fine at those boost levels, too.
If you're not going for crazy boost, RSX-S 320CC injectors should do you just fine as far as fuel delivery goes. They plug right into the OEM injector connections, and you'll just have to get install like.. ¼" spacers on the fuel rail so it sits happy, since the RSX-S 320cc injectors are about ¼" longer than the D17's OEM 230cc injectors. A walbro 255lph fuel pump if you want extra added assurance but not entirely necessary. Converting to a return-style fuel system if you want to open the possibilities of raising that boost more significantly in the future.
Tuning, Hondata kpro is king, but can be expensive. I've heard of good results with the AEM F/IC. Almost had mine on that at one point, insofar as having the AEM F/IC in hand. Never did get around to getting it installed and tuned though. I had decent results with a piggyback system (A'PEXi VAFC-II), but the ECU will def try to fight it. Luckily for me, there was a problem with the internal wastegate and the shop could only pull 2.5psi boost out of it, but still made 160-ish out of my 110WHP/127BHP D17A2 (vs your 110BHP/100WHP D17A1, assuming you have a manual tranny. 90-ish whp if you have an auto).
If you're not going for crazy boost, RSX-S 320CC injectors should do you just fine as far as fuel delivery goes. They plug right into the OEM injector connections, and you'll just have to get install like.. ¼" spacers on the fuel rail so it sits happy, since the RSX-S 320cc injectors are about ¼" longer than the D17's OEM 230cc injectors. A walbro 255lph fuel pump if you want extra added assurance but not entirely necessary. Converting to a return-style fuel system if you want to open the possibilities of raising that boost more significantly in the future.
Tuning, Hondata kpro is king, but can be expensive. I've heard of good results with the AEM F/IC. Almost had mine on that at one point, insofar as having the AEM F/IC in hand. Never did get around to getting it installed and tuned though. I had decent results with a piggyback system (A'PEXi VAFC-II), but the ECU will def try to fight it. Luckily for me, there was a problem with the internal wastegate and the shop could only pull 2.5psi boost out of it, but still made 160-ish out of my 110WHP/127BHP D17A2 (vs your 110BHP/100WHP D17A1, assuming you have a manual tranny. 90-ish whp if you have an auto).
Joined: Aug 2003
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Re: Engine swap
just realized.. because reading is hard. Are you swapping in a D17A1 into an EX? Are you swapping ECU as well? If not, it's gonna throw a CEL because the ECU is looking for VTEC. I skimmed the thread and naturally thought you were just planning on slapping on a turbo to your stock engine.
Now.. if you're so willing. You'll theoretically have both a D17A1 non-vtec and a D17A2 vtec engine. Slap that VTEC head on the non-vtec block. You get the benefits of VTEC on the top end (aftermarket support, really), and the lower compression ratio of the non-vtec which is safer for boost.
Let's say you do have an EX. The easiest swap would be a D17A2 (straight up replacement with the same thing)
Swapping in an LX's D17A1 will require a bit more work since you'll have to do an ECU swap and get your keys reprogrammed.
K20Ax would be a great swap, but definitely requires the most work. K20A3 came from the Civic Si hatch and base model RSX. K20A2 came from the RSX-S, K20A came from the JDM Integra-R. Much more aftermarket support, and a much better starting power level. 160, 200, and 215-220, respectively, if I remember correctly. I'm too lazy too google right now.
If you have an LX, a D17A1 swap would be easiest bc, again, straight up replacement.
D17A2 would require a bit of work. Either install a VTEC controller (like a VAFC-II) or swap in an EX ECU and get your keys reprogrammed.
Now.. if you're so willing. You'll theoretically have both a D17A1 non-vtec and a D17A2 vtec engine. Slap that VTEC head on the non-vtec block. You get the benefits of VTEC on the top end (aftermarket support, really), and the lower compression ratio of the non-vtec which is safer for boost.
Let's say you do have an EX. The easiest swap would be a D17A2 (straight up replacement with the same thing)
Swapping in an LX's D17A1 will require a bit more work since you'll have to do an ECU swap and get your keys reprogrammed.
K20Ax would be a great swap, but definitely requires the most work. K20A3 came from the Civic Si hatch and base model RSX. K20A2 came from the RSX-S, K20A came from the JDM Integra-R. Much more aftermarket support, and a much better starting power level. 160, 200, and 215-220, respectively, if I remember correctly. I'm too lazy too google right now.
If you have an LX, a D17A1 swap would be easiest bc, again, straight up replacement.
D17A2 would require a bit of work. Either install a VTEC controller (like a VAFC-II) or swap in an EX ECU and get your keys reprogrammed.
Re: Engine swap
just realized.. because reading is hard. Are you swapping in a D17A1 into an EX? Are you swapping ECU as well? If not, it's gonna throw a CEL because the ECU is looking for VTEC. I skimmed the thread and naturally thought you were just planning on slapping on a turbo to your stock engine.
Now.. if you're so willing. You'll theoretically have both a D17A1 non-vtec and a D17A2 vtec engine. Slap that VTEC head on the non-vtec block. You get the benefits of VTEC on the top end (aftermarket support, really), and the lower compression ratio of the non-vtec which is safer for boost.
Let's say you do have an EX. The easiest swap would be a D17A2 (straight up replacement with the same thing)
Swapping in an LX's D17A1 will require a bit more work since you'll have to do an ECU swap and get your keys reprogrammed.
K20Ax would be a great swap, but definitely requires the most work. K20A3 came from the Civic Si hatch and base model RSX. K20A2 came from the RSX-S, K20A came from the JDM Integra-R. Much more aftermarket support, and a much better starting power level. 160, 200, and 215-220, respectively, if I remember correctly. I'm too lazy too google right now.
If you have an LX, a D17A1 swap would be easiest bc, again, straight up replacement.
D17A2 would require a bit of work. Either install a VTEC controller (like a VAFC-II) or swap in an EX ECU and get your keys reprogrammed.
Now.. if you're so willing. You'll theoretically have both a D17A1 non-vtec and a D17A2 vtec engine. Slap that VTEC head on the non-vtec block. You get the benefits of VTEC on the top end (aftermarket support, really), and the lower compression ratio of the non-vtec which is safer for boost.
Let's say you do have an EX. The easiest swap would be a D17A2 (straight up replacement with the same thing)
Swapping in an LX's D17A1 will require a bit more work since you'll have to do an ECU swap and get your keys reprogrammed.
K20Ax would be a great swap, but definitely requires the most work. K20A3 came from the Civic Si hatch and base model RSX. K20A2 came from the RSX-S, K20A came from the JDM Integra-R. Much more aftermarket support, and a much better starting power level. 160, 200, and 215-220, respectively, if I remember correctly. I'm too lazy too google right now.
If you have an LX, a D17A1 swap would be easiest bc, again, straight up replacement.
D17A2 would require a bit of work. Either install a VTEC controller (like a VAFC-II) or swap in an EX ECU and get your keys reprogrammed.
yeah the current engine is a 2004 civic ex D17A2 5spd. The car I’m getting is a 2003 Civic DX non vtec auto
Joined: Aug 2003
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Re: Engine swap
A2 head, A1 bottom end, EX manual tranny. Boost that franken-bish. EX ECU if you're going the piggyback route. Tune for 5-8psi and giggle while you drive.
A2 head for the VTEC. A1 bottom end for the lower compression ratio (safer for boost). EX MT for the shorter gear ratio and, well, manual tranny can take a whole lot more of a beating. Lightweight flywheel if you so desire. OEM clutch kit will be good for up to like 200ft-lb torque. I'd be damn impressed if you squeeze that out of a D17 with low boost. You'll prolly get up to 170-180ft-lb at 8psi with a tuner worth a damn
A2 head for the VTEC. A1 bottom end for the lower compression ratio (safer for boost). EX MT for the shorter gear ratio and, well, manual tranny can take a whole lot more of a beating. Lightweight flywheel if you so desire. OEM clutch kit will be good for up to like 200ft-lb torque. I'd be damn impressed if you squeeze that out of a D17 with low boost. You'll prolly get up to 170-180ft-lb at 8psi with a tuner worth a damn
Last edited by xRiCeBoYx; Jun 28, 2023 at 02:30 AM.
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