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I have a 2003 Civic LX Coupe Automatic. I'm about to start giving my car a makeover. Basically, I want more juice outta the engine first. I'm thinking of a swap. I want to just change out to a VTEC engine with a manual tranny. But I don't even know where to begin researching this stuff. Any advice from ya'll would be great!

 
Rep Power: 396

Well, advice..... Don't bother swapping the head AND the tranny, you'll be spending WAY to much money and it wont be worth it in the end. It would be more cost effective to either:

1) K20 swap and do your tranny at the same time
2) Just boost your automatic and swap the head

But what do I know...

 
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just so you know a K20 is the engine from a RSX, and to get swapped into your car with tranny will cost $5-8K

 
Rep Power: 350

Your block is still good...but the vtec motor has higher compression. A low mileage vtec motor shouldn't run more than 500 shipped and you can find trannies for 300 or less shipped. All you'll really need are tranny cables and a shifter assembly and possibly a motor mount for the manual transmission. If you tried you could get it done for under a grand.

 
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if you want a turbo then stay non-vtec, it will be easier to tune (and D-series vtec is WEAk). If you want all motor, then swap a K20a3 for up to around 200wph (w/ boltons and hondata) or a k20a2/k20a for around 220+ whp (same mods) of course frankenstein setups (CRV k24 block w/ k series vtec head) can get you decent HP, and more torque (the use of which is debateable in a FWD car). Definitely get a manual tranny w/ any of these upgrades b/c of ease of upgrade (a new clutch vs a tranny build). In short

boost=keep your engine & maybe swap trannies
all motor=swap engine and tranny from something acura
fast=save a lot of money and buy something that is RWD
smart=save your money, leave your car alone, and get a real car one day (my plan!)

 
Rep Power: 285

just save yourself time and money and turbo it

 
Rep Power: 607

If you are gonna spend the money on swapping a motor, you might as well spend some extra money and do it right. Go for a K motor..

 
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agreed, if you have to pull the motor and tranny throw a better/bigger motor and tranny in. Of course this will cost you more money, but for the extra money you will spend you will get a whole lot more out of it. Or i say if you're set on a manual car, swap the tranny and boost it.

 
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k series is the way to go. think about all those aftermarket support. I hear a k20a3 (si) w/ manual conv run about 4.5-5k. If you have the money go frank / k20a2/z2