[downest]

Last week I was talking to someone about my next motor, and the possibility of boosting my D. I don't know if I want to get another CRX or swap, but I really want to get some more power. Turbo is still out, I don't like the way it feels, and I have a thing for NA that I can't explain. B series doesn't appeal to me, a B16 is hardly better than my D at this point, and a GSR is just too much. K is just out of the question because of the price.
So talking to my friend, we got into the H22... and for some reason I've been obsessed with it since. I can't understand why nobody is doing this swap. I can get a complete motor and tranny from a local importer for around 1500 bucks, and explicit speed is selling the mounts and traction bar package for 770 shipped, they clear the stock hood. I could probably get one cheaper from a wrecked prelude, I know of a couple at home in NH.
The whole setup weighs only 35lbs more than a GSR, moving the battery out makes that a negligible difference. I'd also get to rock the EP3 style shifter, and have the BIGGEST VTEC lettering on my valve cover (50% faster than any other motor ) . Also, not too many people are running this setup, which is appealing to me as I don't want to have another JDM'd out B16 powered CRX.

Anyway, I think I'm going to start saving for this and plan to do it this spring after I get my tax return. I've been researching it for the last couple of days, it really doesn't look nearly as bad as I thought. Hopefully I'll be rolling into N13 with a H22 (and from what I heard, one of the few running ones!). Maybe we will see if the H22 can hang with the K20 (or the other way around?!).

So what do you all think, I want to hear some opinions. I haven't heard much bad about it, but I know there's barely anyone running this motor (black_krix_si aside), so there must be a reason, especially since the swap is relatively cheap for the power.

 

[SETI20]

black rix si has a H22 in his crx.

I recently drove a H22 powered civic, and I found it disappointing.
The stock H22 really lacks pickup. Feels clunky and sluggish.

However I know that those H22's make buttloads of torque, and respond to modifications fairly well. So there might be hope for them.
I still feel those engines belong in accords for instance. Heavy cars that need some more pull.

 

[ITruns20s]

my buddy used to have a h22 in his 89 hf. it had a header and catback and ran a 12.5 with a 100 shot of nitrous with slicks. even without nitrous it was retarded fast.

 

[Savage]

you want fast?

H23 block
H22A head
mild cam
full bolt ons

i think you'd haul but that's not exactly cost consiouce.

 

[downest]

you want fast?

H23 block
H22A head
mild cam
full bolt ons

i think you'd haul but that's not exactly cost consiouce.

Care to elaborate? Bolt ons are a given for me... after camming my Y8 I think it's the best for your money power increase, I'll probably do that too...

 

[coldtotouch]

Would gas mileage ever be an issue? Would you be going H2B tranny?

 

[downest]

I think I will be using the H tranny so I don't have to shim the hood like black_krix did, and so I can use the cable linkage and EP3 style shifter.

 

[chet90si]

Dibs on your D-series. :wink:

 

[downest]

Dibs on your D-series. :wink:

I'm unsure yet what I'll do with it, I'm getting attached to it. The block is fresh and the head is good too, and for a NA D it moves pretty nicely. I may get another EF/CRX for the H22, I'm still undecided about that. My car is autoXed a lot, and I think the H22 might have a little too much power for that. Then again, it might help to have more torque...

I love my D... I don't know if I would part with it, even if I didn't have a car to put it in.

 

[Wasuri]

Dibs on your D-series. :wink:

I'm unsure yet what I'll do with it, I'm getting attached to it. The block is fresh and the head is good too, and for a NA D it moves pretty nicely. I may get another EF/CRX for the H22, I'm still undecided about that. My car is autoXed a lot, and I think the H22 might have a little too much power for that. Then again, it might help to have more torque...

I love my D... I don't know if I would part with it, even if I didn't have a car to put it in.

I say keep the D and get a beater for the h22 then make it a project car. No reason to get rid of a perfectly good engine. :wink:

 

[Krix]

I think you will be very happy with the setup. The H22 has become a pretty easy swap but the years of negative talk about it on HT has pushed it out of many peoples minds i believe.

Plus you hear people say all the time, Ive got a b16/b18/lsvtec, but when you say H22 peoples eyes light up :lol:

 

[CRXBart]

Ah the H series..... I've done a H series in a EG 4-door, and it was torquey thats about it. It seemed to lack topend. Not to mention it was one of the biggest shoehorn operations I had ever done, plus it big in all the wrong places. It was wide, and long no room on the side, no room in the front, underneeth it hangs low too. In a CRX chassis it would just be that much worse. So an H2B would be a better idea, but then you can have a gay EP3 shifter like you want to. :rolleyes1: It is so cramped in the EG I but it becomes a real pita in a CRX, plus adding weight is always something I shy against, and I beleive with an H tranny it is more like 75lbs. more than B or K, if memory serves me. I have friends that run Honda Challenge, and tried running a H in their cars, and had nothing but problems setting the chassis up, so they went back to B20VTEC.

IF it was me, and you wanted somthing cheap and fast, B20VTEC, or LSVTEC, with mild cams. B series were made to go in our chassis, H series was not. I think when they designed the K they made it smaller so it would it in these chassis no problem. LOL! There are few clean H22 swapped cars out there, but it just seems like too much a squeeze.

 

[ComposiMo]

Just go K... Its still a rare swap anyway, and has more reasonable potential than an H, and it just fits better... especially if you're trying to keep the stock H tranny.

And you can still do the EP3 style shifter if you must

Oh, and for the cost... yea, it does cost more to do a K, but not THAT much more than an H... the only real cost difference will be the initial motor purchase itself. Everything else is sorta the same for the most part. Although, the H may require more fab work and frame mods than the K, so that could cost you more if you have to pay someone to do it.

 

[crxter]

THere is nothing more fun that making 160 LB/ft of torque out of your little D series engine. I run 7psi and turbo edit. For around $700 you can turbocharge your current engine, keep it under 7psi and don't over rev it.
Who cares about B H or K series that require so much money to make them work???? D series are cheap, they are every where and are lots of fun to play with.
Get a T3 .42 .48, cast manifold and cheap intercooler, all for under $500 new. Don't go brand name, that's the fun of it, cheap and powerful.

 

[Baker]

Keep the d and boost it.

You want a K series under the hood, buy a Civic Si/ Rsx ,you want the H series, buy a Prelude.
Those motor were just not meant for for the tiny "EF" chassis.
On paper it looks good, but i think in the long run it just might not be worth it with intial costs, time and fab work.

 

[ComposiMo]

Don't go brand name, that's the fun of it, cheap and powerful.

Thats a pretty reckless statement there buddy... :rolleyes1:

 

[jfrolang]

You want a K series under the hood, buy a Civic Si/ Rsx ,you want the H series, buy a Prelude.
Those motor were just not meant for for the tiny "EF" chassis.

That's not the proper hot rodder spirit. Those engines were meant for larger cars, and that's what makes them perfect!

 

[toxiclows]

I have talked with black krix about his many times. . . .and it really does seem like a cool swap.... . .heck there are so many b's and d's i just did my first b swap last year. . . .and yeah in my town where hondas are not huge and i am like the honda god. . . . by b swap is a big deal. . . . but in a city or at a honda meet i would just blend into the crowd. . I would go k series just for the wow factor alone even if the power was equal... Ples you just can not ignore that big VTEC on the top of it..

 

[mattminerDOTcom]

cmon, the H22 is the 454 of the honda world.

I say go for it, and Ill be right there with a wrench and a BFH to help.

[email protected]

 

[downest]

it was torquey thats about it.

Umm... it's a Honda, that's AMAZING!

Ok lots of comments...

crxter:
I am not boosting my D. I have it built as an NA motor with NA cam already, I don't want a peaky, stressed out D for the sake of a little more power in my daily.

Bart:
You may be right about it not as good in a race car. I'm not running Honda Challenge, I only autocross my car. That's why I'm thinking about keeping the D around or getting a second car to put the H into. Even Matt Miner's car is a handful to autocross with almost 200whp. It's not just about cheap and fast either, if I wanted that I would be boosting, or have LSVTEC. I like the style of it, it's true hot-rodding, trying to stuff the biggest displacement motor I can in there (John keep quiet about K24).
And yeah, who wants that lame EP3 shifter anyway :wink:

John:
I really think the cost difference is a lot more, I can't just "do the K". Not only is the motor more, but I would need the management and the SiR front. I'm already converted to OBD1 with my current setup, and switching to the 22 would just be a matter of reprogramming my chip. As far as fab work, that's not an issue (check your PMs from last week). Maybe as far as price, I could ghetto-rig a K20 for the price of a clean H22 install. In that case I take the H22 no question.
I know the K has a higher power ceiling, but I'm not going for big power with my car. I think 200-250whp is about the usable limit on the CRX, and that's with good tires and suspension. I don't drag race, and I daily drive my car, I like the idea of a stock reliable motor that puts out good power.

Seems like the K guys are most against it... nervous? :twisted: