CRV non vtec engine swap?


civicx3

Drop a gear & disappear!
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Jul 22, 2009
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Anyone seen or know if you can swap a complete CRV engine into a EK chassis without doing the b20 vtec conversion?

Can the inlet be swapped for a b16 / b18 on the crv head? The crv inlet looks too big for the EK engine bay but i could be wrong

If you got the ecu from a obd2b 1999 - 2001 in theory it should plug into a facelift EK loom and away you go?

Id also want to change the gearbox but im looking into it for a daily driver. They're putting out upto 150bhp / 140lb-ft standard and the powerband would be lower down which for a daily would be better than a higher reving vtec engine imo. And surely with the better inlet and a few other mods it could be quicker than a standard b16?
 
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Swapping B20 into your 'EK'... Use an intake manifold from a B18B (94-97/98-01 Integra) non-vtec engine. B18B headers also 'fit' - tho the bolt pattern at the catalytic converter is off set. Running a 'matching' ecu with a manual transmission would be ideal, but using an ecu from the same B18B Integra manual trans is common ground. The tunes are very similar. If you really wana do the 'cleanest' B20 swap possible, you can even pick up an engine wiring harness from a Honda CRV, and it will be the factory length for all clips and such.... That's the in house trick, don't tell no one. But finding those can be tricky. And of course, check the basics - all these parts are relative to the OBD2A vs OBD2B year splits.
As far as power out put, you hit the nail on the head when you talked about the power band. Its all about where you want your power. I'm a shifter, so I personally enjoy some top end. You can change how that powerband comes in with swapping 'B' transmissions. This swap does add about an extra 100lbs over the front tires. So If your corner balanced, your gona notice. And B20's are on the cheap right now.
So should you swap your old and worn out civic engine for a 2.0 Liter Honda powerplant? Hell yes you should.
 
thanks for the info, dont think we get the B18B over here so will have to do some research into what intake and exhaust manifold will fit
 
Ahh, well then....you could use a B16 intake manifold - but you would need to cut and modify the 'coolant' area of the manifold. But the intake ports and stud holes line and bolt right up. As far as the exhaust manifold, even any B18C's would be a direct bolt on. At least on the engine side. Or cut a hole in your hood hahahaha. Good luck and do it
:drive:
 
how do you mean it would need to be cut and modified? what would need to be done exactly?
 
Well, its not a direct bolt on. A couple of the intake manifold securing studs wont fit the in the B16 intake manifold. So you do loose some clamping force. The coolant port on the b16 manifold is located in a slightly different location, so its common to cut the corner if the intake out and custom fit some coolant plumbing so you still have coolant flow through you cylinder head. The intake runner ports line up perfectly to the B20 when bolted up. And the B16 intake manifold has been said to be the best intake manifold for lower RPM's … lower being 6,500 - 7,000 RPM's.
Check out "Endyn" and "The old one". The guy is a pioneer of such things. Lost of good reads.
 
ok good to know, would it be easier to just put a b16 head on it even though vtec would never engage? could you drop the b20 cams into a b16 head? If that would work then id probably choose that option over chopping up a manifold.
 
None of that would work. Research what your asking on the internet to learn more and all will be clear to you.
 
None of that would work. Research what your asking on the internet to learn more and all will be clear to you.

A year on and i think im about to dive into this project

do you know what can be done when it comes to upgrades and tuning for the CRV engine? im probably going to get the Skunk2 non-vtec b series intake manifold but im not aware of anything else like cams, pistons etc...
 
I recently swapped a b20 in my 98 civic. Love the low end powerband for the daily use.
As with all non-boost builds, most of your power potential lies in the heads. With some quality head porting and bigger cams (and springs) the b20 can become a serious contender.
Use b18b (integra ls) injectors and intake manifold if you dont get the skunk2 unit so you can close the hood haha. Integra throttle body and cable are also a perfect match for the set up as is the corresponding Integra ecu to run every thing.
you can also swap out the b20 oil pan for a b16 oil pan that has more baffles to help keep the oil where it needs to be when cornering hard.
you can even run all your stock mounts and keeps the vibes down and install some energy suspension inserts....
 
good information, you got any pics or videos of the car/build ?

So the hood wont close with a skunk2 inlet manifold? what stops it closing?

Is there anything special with the b18b injectors or should any b18 injectors be fine? ( b18c, b18c4 etc... )
 
Some stuff was logged in on 'motormo707' on InstaGram- Some stuff was at 'eisenhower707' on IG. U can check it out. I tend to have a wrench in my hand, not a camera...so I slack on the updates of the project names "Eisenhower" - but u just motivated me haha, so i'll catch things up to speed.
The hood will close with just about anything but the factory B20 intake configuration as the intake protrudes past the hood. Skunk2 will work great. (...'side note' : skunk2 intakes are better engineered with high rpm's in mind,.. much of the lower grunt of the 2.0 liter is sacrificed to achieve better top end - but its all about 'useable power band'...so choose ur parts wisely... I chose the LS manifold due to its RPM band. The choice is urs).
Any "B" series injector will work ( auto or manual ) .... And the majority of "D" series injectors will work (auto or manual) - unless u get the "D"s off of a weird super high fuel economy model ( like a "CX" or "VX" ). ----- Just note the OBS1 vs OBD2 injector electrical clip is different and thus are not interchangeable.
 
This build just got real because ive bought a CRV!

However, ive just been talking with skunk2 because i noticed on their website it says the B20 manifold wont fit the B20Z and they've just told me the stud pattern is different and none of their manifolds will fit!

Does anyone know more about this? i thought all B20s were the same!?
 
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