Getting Real About Honda Engine Swaps || B Series vs. K Series vs. J Series vs. More

[@garagegnomes]

Did my first Honda swap back in 2003 at 19 years old in a crappy 1 car garage with good friends and hand tools! B16A into a 97 Civic EX, such an easy job. It was a blast over the D16Y8. I still own the car today! Although, its back to a single cam once again after numerous swaps.

[@jimackland3026]

58 years old and just getting into these civics. My first swap in a SOHC ZC into my '90 Si hatch! Can't wait to get this EF on the road. Thanks Brian and all the gang for the great content. Kudos!

[@VTECAcademy]

Thanks for watching! That Si hatch is going to be so fun.

[@bbdetailing9123]

Ha. That's also my first swap. The ZC replaced the d16a6. In a 91 hatch

[@SamslamminCars]

Hell yeah!!! Awesome powertrain

[@Outvid171]

EG style K swap is not super easy. Maybe for a team with a full shop and adquate budget. For a dude in a garage its a huge project with many projects within the project. Lots of thinking,planning and parts buying. Welding, wiring, and usually learning. Months of work on a steady basis. I can respect anyone who has seen this job start to end.

[@nessusing]

Love the crv table😊

[@davereiland9921]

I used to refer to mine as the emergency picnic table. Some people would be confused as hell 😂

[@WisconsinEric]

Elements came with the table too, but you had to pay extra for the legs unlike the CRV's

[@TheDwightMamba]

When my 1998 was vandalized beyond repair, I was secretly happy I got to use the table full time.

[@lsturbohatch10]

Did my first swap in 2004 when I was 16. B18b1 in a cx 1992 eg. took one day and I literally had no experience doing anything like this before. Was amazed with the power over the cx motor before that. Hooked me for life. Ran 9.6 in the 1/8 and we thought it was so fast lol.

[@racerx9931]

I've done lots of D to B swaps on old 90's cars. Super easy (as long as you have the parts on hand) Because the B series was made to fit inside civics even tho we never got em in the states. they drop right in. I've always referred to Honda's n swaps like Lego's. sure the 1st kit might be expensive, but everything you get after still fits!

[@racerx9931]

P.S. a proper swap will be a better upgrade for any stock project.. boost might make more power in theory but you can only boost so much on stock, swap then add boost. There are no "bolt on" mods that will compare to a simple swap. No Intake / Header / Exhaust / Cam is worth its dollars vs a good swap. I don't care if your just adding vtec to a SOHC mini-me or going from a B20 to a GSR / K24 to K20A. Adding 30-100+ base HP is awesome and then you build more from the better base.

[@VTECAcademy]

That's what really got the party started.

[@theniceneighbor]

Yo this dope. Just chilling talking about swaps.

[@VTECAcademy]

Right? Plus, we thought it'd shed some light on some swaps that are now kind of taken for granted.

[@Busydadgarage717]

Did my first swap in my 90 Civic base. Put a D16Z6 into it. Did the DDFI to MPFI, OBD0 to OBD1, vtec wiring, and hydro clutch covertiin all in one shot. First start was a fail. Ground under the battery not attached. First test drive, the car would bog at WOT. Throttle position sensor wires not swapped. 0 problems after that for 3 years. Then it stopped passing smog in AZ. Went B20 afer that.

[@VTECAcademy]

Nice!!! That’s the best way to learn.

[@diyclay525]

Wish u guys talked about the DA😢

[@edvas02271]

Going from boosted gsr in my ef to all motor so I can have ac again. I'm getting old lol. Still cable trans

[@VTECAcademy]

LOL You gotta do what you gotta do!

[@tommoon2700]

Love having comforts in my rice burner, AC and ps for life 🤙

[@edvas02271]

@@tommoon2700 looking into the artec manifold to keep both

[@jdcarguy1242]

D to B20 is the 1. Easy mode. Take a cx/dx/lx and direct drop the b20/hydro trans. About a 5 hour start to finish swap.

[@VTECAcademy]

Totally B20 or B18B/A.

[@racerx9931]

100% d to b18a/b or b20b/z is pretty straight forward. stupid easy if you start with a Ex / Vx / Hf / Si and don't have to do the dpfi to mpfi conversion.

[@thatloudCG5]

​@@racerx99311 engine out in an hour and another back in another hour.

[@add_the_l]

Is there a video of someone doing a engine swap in 5 hours? 🧐

[@ice9dragon]

Lmao it took me 2 months to do a D to D swap 😅 I just kept prepping and cleaning everything, first time ever doing a swap

[@wolfpac550]

I called a few friends over removed my D16 and swapped in my B18c in 5 hours on a very hot day lol

[@alexkinnane5831]

Thanks guys! I did a d16y8 into a Honda Concerto which was more of a headache than i was hoping for! They came out with a midshaft D16Z2 which so i had CV joint issues! Would love to see you guys swap a Honda City! Maybe with a F20 or something silly

[@mikepelletier3018]

Ps I did a 98 civic d16y7 swap in my garage with a floor jack and ratchet straps over Labor Day weekend 2014 in my garage. 🤣 Hire me Brian!!!!

[@RHD_Miggz]

My easiest swap was a DOHC ZC into an EG. Super fun swap!

[@VTECAcademy]

Right on

[@jamesbagguley868]

First swap still in progress - after far too long. Lol. UK CR-V RD8 - with CL9 K24A3 motor and 6 speed transmission internals. Bolt in? Pretty much, yes. Plug and play? Less so. Sticking with the RBB IM, while using an EP3 TB and wiring in a factory wideband, have provided some challenges for a first time swapper!

[@marcozuniga8163]

I always install or remove swaps from top with a cherry picker. The trick is to give the strap or chain slack on the transmission side while lifting the swap from about 1" off the valve cover.

[@cammi_sammi]

I'm hoping to stuff a K20 into my DX EF hatch this winter, pray for me lol

[@MrWilliam.Stewart]

Some say, the rod bolts for the K series engines are made of Unobtainable, reinforced Adamantium, and you hang the weight of the moon off just one bolt alone, and the new turbo L15 engines use what look like sump bolts to hold the rod caps together, all we know is, Brian's a rev head legend.

[@ryanward4728]

H22/23 into an accord was easy. First swap we did as kids back in 99 or maybe 2000. Then we did one into an eg vx which was harder but only because there was no write ups on the interwebs yet lol. Wiring still was direct plug and play. It surprised us when it started on the forst bump of the key haha. Even the accord we forgot the coil wire and it didnt start the first try lol 😂

[@VTECAcademy]

Hell yeah! If you had a H22 in your Civic back then, you were a big dog.

[@ryanward4728]

@@VTECAcademy it was my roomie at the time. I had a 98 civic dx coupe with y8 and transmission and super 60 turbo and dsm 450cc blue tops and a station front mount that I converted to a back door set up with JB weld lmao. Built all I could spend money on clutch and flywheel and slicks. All done I was in the build under $1000 and it ran daily(abused...I was a kid still lol) for over 2 years and got 31mpg and 13.9@99mph. we boosted my roomies H22 eg hatch and he ran 12.4@109mph. his wasn't janky like mine though 😂 maybe someday I'll build another. I'm waiting for a k series mount kit for a 02 accord to show up... Otherwise I guess I'll just build and boost my dx f23 non VTEC since h series cost a fortune these days haha plus crome has lots of features now compared to 20years ago. Hmmm budget accord... Time to beat 13.9 hahaha

[@Lost10mm.]

​@ryanward4728 that's awesome. I got a really rare cb7 se I'm rebuilding and doing rods for boost if I choose to later after I'm done going from rat's nest back to the pavement.

[@seanrose3951]

Accords are the best honda sleepers cb, cd, 7th gens all day !

[@timscheuermann2554]

Why I went with a ep3. Already has a K and swaping in a good version didnt require much at all.

[@VTECAcademy]

Absolutely!

[@HigginsHobbies]

No parts needed. F20b twin cam with a factory LSD 5 speed in to my stock 90 accord wagon. Factory 5-speed. I tapped the trans to accept all 90 accord mounts. Used all factory 90 accord axels and wiring.

[@CarAholic86]

Which scissor lift do you use for engine swaps?

[@KellyLeephonethech]

94 to 97 Accord h22 all you need is a prelude driver side mount

[@PeteDetails]

Easiest swap by far is any low spec k24 (a1, a4, a8) to a higher spec k24a/a2 Literally plug and play and tune ecu

[@alexrex20]

What would everyone swap into an EF hatch? My mind was set on a TSX K24 but now I'm a little nervous. opinions?

[@erik61801]

my h22 CB7 was easy and is fun.

[@VTECAcademy]

Great swap for that chassis. 🤙🏽

[@BETTALIFE101]

I’ve done a b series into my eg in about 6 hours using basic hand tools. No lifts and just a cherry picker. Out of the motors. I still love the b series more vs the k. The sound is just so much better.

[@VTECAcademy]

That sound is addictive! The B series tax is a real thing now tho.

[@Lost10mm.]

Nothing beats that single cam sound. Especially if they upgraded the cam and no exhaust

[@BETTALIFE101]

@@VTECAcademy that’s for sure. Back in 2004 when I bought a half clip for $2,400. Now it’s more than $3,000 for a full swap.

[@claudedottin1312]

@@Lost10mm.agree mine sounds mental !!

[@Lost10mm.]

@claudedottin1312 I remember one of mine that lost just the muffler. It wasn't so bad I didn't have to listen to it everyone else did, and then it broke off with just the downpipe and I couldn't even bother trying to listen to the radio anymore.

[@undergroundkingsgarage3215]

K20C into Accord/TSX YES PLEASE

[@VTECAcademy]

It would be sick, right?

[@undergroundkingsgarage3215]

@@VTECAcademy i-series is cool but turbo K on E would be 🔥🔥🔥

[@Lost10mm.]

I'm going to either build the d16a6 or swap with a f22/h22 on a civic wago rt4wd.

[@ChasingCards]

K into em2/es1/es2 is pretty easy too.

[@VTECAcademy]

That’s what we’re saying. We used to have a black and blue one with a K24.

[@karrackhalcyon8826]

Got my DA3 1st Gen integra. Rebuilt D16a1, blacktop American dohc zc. How rough would a K swap go?

[@jerardogonzalez8103]

So I have a civic dx hatchback. What would be the best/easier swap for that car? I just want a nice daylie

[@esnebta]

H swap into F series Accord is even easier because you're able to retain the transmission, axles, pressure plate, clutch, flywheel, etc.

[@kossmotic3097]

What would be your recommendation for a 1989 Legend KA3 manual? The C27A is just okay, would love a K or J swap, but there's not that much info on old Legend swaps

[@VTECAcademy]

J is the way. We haven't done one yet, but it's such a plentiful engine and it makes a wide power band stock compared to pretty much any NA Honda engine.

[@tomcurtisiii9840]

E-at to d16a1, super easy. Unless non SI, extremely difficult!

[@VTECAcademy]

Right? There are levels to it.

[@SneakyMuskrat]

C32B in the back of a CRZ with a RWD conversion.

[@elijahwilson1548]

Ive got a 2001 prelude type sh, still has working A/C and P/S, im only 20 yeas old, I have a mechanical background but cant find much of anything on these H series, let alone how to "upgrade preformance" while keeping reliabilty, i was thinking about a top-end ( port/polish, valves, springs, cams, intake, exhaust) what are your thoughts?

[@deeteevee]

Is the k20 the easiest for a first gen insight? I assume a b18 would fit but not sure about the wiring.

[@VTECAcademy]

K20 is a better match since it's OBD2.

[@jaimecabrera9112]

Are guys going to finish l15b7 integra

[@thatloudCG5]

Meanwhile, CG5 (98-02) H22/H23A VTEC swaps are drag and drop with only rewiring the crank sensor and distributor wires from 1 prong to 2 prong from the cap.

[@rootedorganically4911]

How about 2005 accord automatic into manual k24 factory

[@relentlessking8919]

I want to know as well i have a j30a in my 2006 honda accord but i dont see the vtec connector and my car only revs to 5000rpm limit or 4800rpm idk if its a inspire engine or something but the wire harness doesnt have the vtech

[@Bozzzish]

How about a F20c and an S2000 six speed into a Honda S800? that's the route i went, I'd say that's quite a complicated engine swap but the S800 transmission tunnel is huge. I have the engine further back than the stock 791cc engine was without cutting into the tunnel. it's pretty much a mid front engine. Engine runs on 45 dcoe webers and there is a vid on youtube of it running. not quite road ready yet. Had the S800 for 17 years now. it was a cheap car when i bought it.

[@d.i.mdoitmyselfgarage8874]

92-95 civic vx with gsr

[@TheDwightMamba]

I have a 2005 and 2009 TSX. '05 auto. '09 manual. I got the cars so I wouldn't need to K-swap anything. My only issue is that I now want to swap stuff between them, so the 2005 could be the track car. The K24A2 has 280K and the K24Z3 has 170K with a spun bearing. The A2 has the kind of miles that needs a refreshing anyway. Both engines have to open up. Why not swap it all? Z3 block/ A2 head and the 6-speed into the slightly lighter '05. Everything left goes into the '09. I drive my daily with a focus on MPG. It will never need V-tec on the exhaust side. I'm addressing the spun bearing 1st and will see how she feels. Either way, the A2 head goes on the track car.

[@VTECAcademy]

The 08-12 Accord EX engine is cheap and available as a replacement for your Z3 block. I’m not sure the auto transmission from the older car works in the newer chassis. The manual transmission will need a custom mount in 05. It is on my list of parts to builds.

[@TheDwightMamba]

@VTECAcademy , I will absolutely be a buyer when that happens. Hope all is well down in Arizona.

[@relentlessking8919]

If i want to swap a j35 into my 7th gen accord is it hard or easy?

[@pond.3509]

Crv table 👌

[@VTECAcademy]

Someone noticed! LOL

[@CarlTedrick]

ef is step2....or possibly easiest would be an dohc zc in a 88-91.. even 92-95

[@aaronwetmore8393]

Sweet

[@rjaybruhh]

*_Somehow speedfactory for their b series to 2200+whp 😮‍💨_*

[@VTECAcademy]

It's boost and a billet block, baby!

[@Carslol234]

I think it’s about time to finish up the auto k swap into the rd1 crv. These manual transmission prices are getting insane.

[@VTECAcademy]

Totally!

[@seanrose3951]

Opening up the market to the 5/6speed autos in general platforms would be awesome. Id rock an auto j32a3 tl swap into a civic or the rl sh awd 🫡

[@Carslol234]

@@seanrose3951 there’s just so much more abundant than the manuals , so it sorta just makes sense and it would be a perfect daily driver during rush hour traffic.

[@willsudik9398]

What about h22 in ef

[@racerx9931]

if you can do a b series swap, you can do a h series into a EF.. If your not comfortable doing basic dpfi to mpfi and obd0 to obd1 conversion, or adding vtec.. it might get stressful

[@ryanward4728]

Or H22 into an accord. Easy.

[@VTECAcademy]

Tighter fit and about the same amount of wiring pain as a B.

[@Adrianzx]

Sr20s were easy to swap in s chassis

[@VTECAcademy]

Couple of sr20s would pull a premium one week before Race Wars.

[@lgutierrez4431]

B18b by far easy on eg swap

[@jayspeedchannel]

K swap or j swap that Db1

[@franciscocollins6715]

EG 93 play 94 Integra swan 4 hours run two wires and you just use everything from the 94 Integra easiest swap I've ever done

[@uknterror508]

I think the rating you guys were doing would be better understood if you were to separate it from people who never really worked on cars to someone who its pretty versed in atleast doing swaps

[@seanrose3951]

Auto j series swap!!! Cheap and plentyful whole cars can be had for $800 . Its super easy to run the car with the 06-07 tl ecu and flash pro. If the autos can handle superchargers in 3,400 tl's they would take a beating in a civic

[@trennyboy3315]

you forgot b18a1 obd0 into a obd0 ef... so after mpfi its easy!

[@VTECAcademy]

Right.

[@FBTRCanada]

You guys did not bring up the DA chassis Integra at all & there is even one on the hoist in the back ground. Just curious is your difficulty rating on a K-Series into DA?

[@VTECAcademy]

It's like an EF with more space, pretty comparable.

[@FBTRCanada]

@@VTECAcademy , cool.Thanks for the reply. It’s on the list of future upgrades for my DA9 race car. The B17A does a great job, but I’m slightly out gunned power wise for the class my car falls into at my local track.

[@marrerowski]

​@@FBTRCanadaIf you swap a k series into your da gsr. Keep the unicorn b17 and put it in a crx or del Sol chasis for a daily if you are able to. Imo b series are great for daily spirited driving and k series are good for racing. Da gsr is a rare car as well.

[@kyleharrison713]

Are K-Engine Swaps into S2000's easy?

[@sylviadinnam2343]

What bout 08 civic lx coupe with a j anything engine

[@VTECAcademy]

We haven't done this yet.

[@lancefretwell8768]

Does anybody know a good shop or person In Fort Worth to get a k swap done. I have a 94 eg ....

[@miguelmendoza8077]

Do it yourself it ain’t that hard

[@octanemayhem2686]

Didn't really talk about J swaps... And what about an Automatic Jswap. We've done 2 of them...

[@VTECAcademy]

That's cool! What did you put the automatic Js into?

[@octanemayhem2686]

@@VTECAcademyMy boys, twins, 97' EJ coupe and a 00' EJ hatch. And I have a 99' EJ coupe but mine is 6 speed.. all J32A2.

[@mikepelletier3018]

I so idolize Brian. My question I’ve have for the tsx j32 swap why not just switch out the control arms to make up for the width issue. Accord and TL are nearly identical. The tsx is an accord which is still a TL. Help me out here Brian.ive worked on them both at the dealer level. My dpts number goes back to 2001

[@denvertobler1713]

Has anyone done a J series in a fit?

[@VTECAcademy]

We heard of someone doing it, but we haven't seen one yet.

[@denvertobler1713]

Would it even be possible to make a fit AWD with a Manuel transmission and a supercharged j series?

[@mross302]

H22a into a cb7 accord is about as easy as a vtec b series in a eg and a h23 non vtec is like a ls into a eg.