My friend has an 89 CRX manual and wants to get an engine swap. My question is what engine do you recomend if he wants to:

I) Keep it smog legal for California?

II) Go all motor?

What do you guys recommend?

Thank You

 

b16a would be nice in a crx

 

depends on how much money ur willing to spend, u can go with a wide assortment of engines, just have to make sure that u use a good amount of usdm parts to make the car emissions legal in california, u probably dont want a b16a1 because it'd be very hard to pass emissions, as well as the zc so ur cheapo options are out of the question. ud be left with a b18c engine series as well as the ls engines from integras also could do a built d16 engine.

 

So his options are:
B18b
B18C1
B18c5 ????

Those engines will keep him Cali-smog legal right? I dunno how much he wants to put in?
Would he also need to get the same tranny from the engine that he buys? Example if he gets b18c1 would he need to get the GSR tranny or keep the crx one?

 

Any B-series transmission will work, although it might be easiest to use a b16a1 tranny since its got a cable clutch. B16 is still a very viable option... he just has to get one newer than his car with american smog equipment. A delslo vtec engine or new si engine would work.

 

so the b16ai tranny sounds good or what other tranny might work?

 

any B-series transmission will bolt to any b-series engine with no problems(aside from the old prelude B20 tranny and the crv tranny). He wont be able to use his stock transmission. So that means any integra, del slo vtec, or civic si transmission can be used. Like I said tho, the 1st gen B16 tranny is cable actuated, which might simplify things a little, since his stock crx tranny is also cable.

 

The easiest swap would be a 89-90 Integra motor with tranny. Keep it simple. Their is a cable clutch in the car, why go through the headache to convert it? The swap uses the exsisting mounts, with one modification as long as you get the rear mount bracket from the integra. If your CRX is and SI then even better, less wiring to deal with. The swap is nice with good power and clean installation. I have done it, but took a carb. automatic CRX and swapped a ZC with Fuel injection 5-Speed. Took a month, but the customer was happy and the car ran solid. If you have any questions I can help as I take notes on all the swaps I do.

On a side note, one other advantage to going with the older 89-90 is that you can usually find this year CRX or Integra in a pick a part yard. It can save big $$$ to pull the part you need yourself.