My 04 Civic LX Sedan had about 225k miles on it when the engine seized last week. Don't know where the oil went (it wasn't blowing smoke out the exhaust or dropping it on the ground when I parked anywhere for long periods of time) but there wasn't a drop of oil in it after I got it to the shoulder of the highway. The oil light never came on and intermittent ticking had started about 15 miles before the engine went, they were the only symptoms and I was at 4,800 miles on this oil change (change at 5,000 mile intervals). I was going to check it out when I got home but it didn't make it.

It's a commuter car, I only use it to get up and down the highway for work. Im looking to swap a new engine into as "easily" and as cheap as possible. I've been researching this for days on forums (including this one) and anywhere else I can find info on it. From what I understand, and please correct me if I'm wrong - that's why I'm here, I need to find a d17a1 out of an 04-05 civic?

All I can find are vtec engines (d17a2) and JDM engines (d17a). d17a1 engines are far and few between. LKQ has some but they want like $1,000 plus shipping for an engine with 160k miles on it.

Am I correct in thinking that a d17a1 will not work if it is out of an 01-03 civic because 1) they did not have EGR valves and 04s do and 2) the 01-03s had narrow band O2 sensors and the 04-05s have wide band O2 sensors?

I don't want to have to use a new wiring harness or have the ecu flashed so my key starts it, and I don't want to switch to vtec. I just want to swap my old engine out with a newer one. Any help or clarification is appreciated.