New Crx Buyer!!! said:
i have a 90 honda crx 1.5
Screen doors FTW! Seriously, enter keys are useful. More on to swaps: Baker offered a good suggestion, having a budget is key in properly managing the money and usefullness you'll get out of your car. Not to mention the enjoyment.
You have a few options and all this information can be had by searching but I'll placate your desire a little bit:
1. B series - 18A, 16, 18C - Tough little SOBs, and pretty damn good power on the highend. The 18A is the non-VTEC one and has the ability to push out good torque numbers and takes great to a turbo. The b16 is kind of a worthless swap, as the D15 you have in your car can be built up to have better power across the band than the B16 will experience - which is really just top end performance. The B18C series is my engine of choice, being out of GSRs or Type-R in the B18C5 case. These engines have pretty good torque, nice hp numbers, and can swap in without much weight issue.
2. H series - H22, etc. - Monsters, not much heavier but you're talking ~200 hp and close to that in torque (not at the wheels) from a honda I4 displacing 2.2 litres. One of the nicest options out there beyond K series. Once again, great motors, VTEC also.
3. D-series mini-me (frankenstein motor) - Headswap for a Vtec head, which isn't great when you have a 1.5 bottom end so I'd say just swap the whole engine. Not great as its still SOHC but you can see some real nice power numbers and from what I've heard boost up to 200 hp pretty reliably.
4. K-swap - Probably far too much money for your budget, I know it is for mine. You've gotta have fab skills, know your ****, and be ready for hassles. Arguably the best engine swap availible to a CRX owner, it isn't for the faint of heart. Not that its terrible, but you will be spending time on it. Talk to Bart or Krix about this one.
5. LS-VTEC / CR/VTEC - B20 or B18A bottom end with a VTEC head (usually GSR or b16 head). Brutal combination for power but pretty involved in making sure everything is clearing whell and the whole thing isn't just going to take a dump on your chest. One minor screwup in building a good LS-VTEC engine can send your effort down the crapper.
6. Keep the stock engine, sell some of the rice, and turbo that baby. Ebay turbo kits aren't too expensive and while made like crap, reinforcing the welds and getting a new turbo elsewhere (thus just using the intercooler and piping) can be relatively cheap. If you know someone who can tune with Crome or Turboedit you can be set for nice HP numbers on a light motor setup that could be tons of fun for cheap.
Hopefully that helps a little.