My VTi engine conversion - 56k not safe - plenty of pics
Discussion
Hi,
As some of you may know i have recently dropped a VTi into my civic (originally a 1.5 LSi) and thought i would post up some of the pics of the drop. Enjoy
The car before, note the small brakes and the car is sitting slighty high at the front.
Standard exhaust is now gone, when i took it off the baffles fell out through the tailpipe.
The old 1.5 block.
The engine finally comes out after a matter of a few bolts, unhook the exhaust and some cables. Note how small the engine hoist straps are...It turns out they were bought at a 99p shop, this may explain the next 2 pictures...
The engine is finally out, after almost losing my thumb under the falling engine. Ah well you live and learn.
Making space and planning our next move in the garage. New engine sat in front of the car.
The most fiddley job ever, taking the dash out and replacing the wiring loom.
Source of music - shame it was all Scissor Sisters and Mika.
Engine bay all cleaned up and ready for the new engine
All the heater matrix had to be taken out to taken for the new loom etc.
The doner car - went backwards into a tree. Oops
2nd day in.
Making sure this engine doesn't fall off the crane by using proper straps.
An "arty shot" taken by the tea monkey. Cheers for the help Tino.
3rd day and the engine is finally in.
My car finally has vtec.
As some of you may know i have recently dropped a VTi into my civic (originally a 1.5 LSi) and thought i would post up some of the pics of the drop. Enjoy
The car before, note the small brakes and the car is sitting slighty high at the front.
Standard exhaust is now gone, when i took it off the baffles fell out through the tailpipe.
The old 1.5 block.
The engine finally comes out after a matter of a few bolts, unhook the exhaust and some cables. Note how small the engine hoist straps are...It turns out they were bought at a 99p shop, this may explain the next 2 pictures...
The engine is finally out, after almost losing my thumb under the falling engine. Ah well you live and learn.
Making space and planning our next move in the garage. New engine sat in front of the car.
The most fiddley job ever, taking the dash out and replacing the wiring loom.
Source of music - shame it was all Scissor Sisters and Mika.
Engine bay all cleaned up and ready for the new engine
All the heater matrix had to be taken out to taken for the new loom etc.
The doner car - went backwards into a tree. Oops
2nd day in.
Making sure this engine doesn't fall off the crane by using proper straps.
An "arty shot" taken by the tea monkey. Cheers for the help Tino.
3rd day and the engine is finally in.
My car finally has vtec.
New master cylinder vs old master cylinder.
We should have really replaced the brake servo before the new engine went in....
This is what happens when you start the engine and the power steering pump is not attached. Look at the rafters and you will see how far the fluid went.
Dashboard going back in, if you do this make a note of how the wiring goes through the dash because we were stuck for ages.
The car finally sees the light of day.
Decat pipe on. Shame it was too long and pushed the exhaust back into fuel tank casuing fuel to leak all over the hot exhaust. Oops.
Not much point in putting an better engine if it doesn't stop. Now has disks the whole way round and massive brakes up front
The old strut assembly came off with not too much hassle. Only had to use the angle grinder once!
VTi rears on and working.
It turned out one of the calipers was seized and we couldnt get a replacment in time so we had to leave the old front brakes on. One of the bleed nipples were seized so a 19mm nut was welded in place. Pretty ghetto but it did the job!
Coming up for the end of day 5, been long and at points very frustrating but fun.
Now time for the big brakes.
Old vs new. New wins
Some final bleeding done and then out onto the road. In fact a trip across to Oban the following day!
The car as it is now, just needs the rust on the arches sorting, new bonnet and my jap tailgate putting on. Will get some pics of the new interior and momo steering wheel when i have a chance.
The car now sits a lot lower at the front and doesn't look like there is a sack of cement in the boot.
hairydave said:
good story 
was it difficult getting the b16a in? as in physically getting it in the hole? and did you do it from on top or underneath?
i ask because i'm thinking of something similar with a b18c in the jordan...
was it difficult getting the b16a in? as in physically getting it in the hole? and did you do it from on top or underneath? i ask because i'm thinking of something similar with a b18c in the jordan...
It was actually not too bad at all! Just try and get the gearbox in first at an angle then lower it down onto the mounts. As long as the engine and gearbox sits into the mounts either side of the engine bay it will support itself and you can make adjustments as you need.
And, yes, it was fun
Especially now that i know the car inside out it feels like i can fix anything that goes wrong on it, which it probably will. ha 
). How much quicker is it? How do the brakes feel?joe_90 said:
what sort of power difference are you expecting for all that hard work?
The car "should" be running 160bhp compared to the 105bhp standard LSi. It is soooo much faster, pulls the whole way up the range and now revs to 8700rpm. All i have done to the engine mods wise is a new exhaust, and a decat but i am putted a 5zigen fireball on and i have a new exedy light flywheel on order from yank land. Should make some difference to the beast.
Xenocide said:
Amazing!
(Shame it wasn't a 6th gen ). How much quicker is it? How do the brakes feel?
(Shame it wasn't a 6th gen ). How much quicker is it? How do the brakes feel?
The car is much quicker mate, and the brakes are awesome. Very progressive, but when you stamp on them they bite and stop you in no time. Its and upgrade i would definately recommend.
Is there anyway i can post videos up on here?
Tonight i have been trying to get the new VTi interior in but it turns out the mounting brackets do not exist in the LSi so i will have to chop the old ones out and weld them in. More photo's are to follow
As for the 6th gen..... I do like the EK's and for my next car i am torn between a EK9 or a DC2. Be a good decision to have.
Nice work. Really nice work.
I have a 65kkm (40k miles) VTi, and I love it. However, I would like to change its brakes. Can you point me to what have you chosen, what other options you found, and, of course, if those fit under the original 15"s.
The car is completely original, but I find it lacking a bit of bite on that area, and would like to improve it.
I have a 65kkm (40k miles) VTi, and I love it. However, I would like to change its brakes. Can you point me to what have you chosen, what other options you found, and, of course, if those fit under the original 15"s.
The car is completely original, but I find it lacking a bit of bite on that area, and would like to improve it.
bihus said:
Nice work. Really nice work.
I have a 65kkm (40k miles) VTi, and I love it. However, I would like to change its brakes. Can you point me to what have you chosen, what other options you found, and, of course, if those fit under the original 15"s.
The car is completely original, but I find it lacking a bit of bite on that area, and would like to improve it.
I have a 65kkm (40k miles) VTi, and I love it. However, I would like to change its brakes. Can you point me to what have you chosen, what other options you found, and, of course, if those fit under the original 15"s.
The car is completely original, but I find it lacking a bit of bite on that area, and would like to improve it.
Cheers mate!! The calipers on the car are those from a prelude, but i believe you can also have the calipers of a Rover 620 turbo. You will need brake discs of a MG as the hole (PDC??) is 100 x 4 (The same as the Civic).
As you have the VTi hubs already it should be an easy swap. Just google "Civic 282mm brake conversion" to get some more accurate info. I would also consider swapping your servo, the type R one fits no problem and should add some extra bite.
As for it fitting under the wheels... mine never and i had to fit some spacers to the front wheels but beleive me, it is worth it! Let me know how you get on.
Dan
Gassing Station | Honda | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff