My son (31YO!) thoroughly cooked the engine in his 95 Accord. Options are to scrap it, fix it or part out. I don't have the time, place, or energy to part out this car and it seems too good to scrap. The mechanic, who is very good, said they have poor results rebuilding these engines (aluminum block and head) and used engines in good enough condtion are hard to find, so they get JDM engines and swap. I actually found an engine on Craigslist that is local and have considered doing it myself. Haven't seen said engine yet.
How hard is it to swap an engine in an Accord? I have done two Spitfires, which could not be any easier, and the engine in my Nissan truck.
Fairly easy, straightforward, nothing out of the ordinary. Weekend job.
My brother found a good used engine for my 95 Accord. We swapped it out in a couple of weekends. We took our time.
If your mechanic can't do a stock rebuild on a late model Honda engine, find a new mechanic.
The JDM engine may be more price effective, but it is in no way better.
Considering the sheer number of morons running around in motor-swapped Civics, I'm assuming it can't be ALL that hard.
No offense to the non-morons who have motor-swapped Civics 
I've seen those F series motors broken and rebuilt more often than most other motors. Sure, if you warp the head or block, you have to remove material and there's not a whole lot on them, but just going on what that mechanic is saying, it's time to find a new mechanic.
Just don't buy from Tiger Japanese.
If you do get a used motor, just make sure it's never had a turbo hanging off of the exhaust manifold. I've seen a good few stock F series motors pull pretty good numbers with a junkyard turbo, but they don't last. 200,000 miles and THEN turbo, never turns out well.
Any modern FWD vehicle is going to be pretty straightforward. Honda enjoys a lot of support on the 'net, but that is more for the Civic. The most important tools are Ziplock bags, masking tape and sharpies. Label, bag, and tag everything!! (Both ends of each wire and hose connection. ) And keep track of the order that things come apart.
cxhb
Reader
8/19/10 12:48 p.m.
If you go with a JDM replacement, do a timing belt,water pump, and tensioner replacement while its out. Also done in conjunction with this job is the cam seal and balance shaft seals. I recommend doing it all before putting it in, and dont skimp on the balance shaft and cam seal, they tend to leak soon after a timing belt job.
Also, you might as well do spark plugs, wires, cap and rotor... Then drive it 100,000. Repeat, then drive it ANOTHER 100,000 miles..
The engine in question has about 250k miles on it. We had hoped it was just a water pump issue but the mechanic says its pouring water out the back of the block. He doesn't know if the head and/or block are both warped and/ cracked This guy isn't really the engine rebuilding kind of a guy, more of a replacement kind of a guy. He's a good mechanic (was at a Honda dealership before he went out on his own) and has been doing my work for over 10 years.
cxhb wrote:
If you go with a JDM replacement, do a timing belt,water pump, and tensioner replacement while its out. Also done in conjunction with this job is the cam seal and balance shaft seals. I recommend doing it all before putting it in, and dont skimp on the balance shaft and cam seal, they tend to leak soon after a timing belt job.
That is what he quoted me to do (plus all new Honda brand hoses, rear seal and radiator) and the price was $1900-2000. And it gets a 6 month warranty.
pinchvalve wrote:
Any modern FWD vehicle is going to be pretty straightforward. Honda enjoys a lot of support on the 'net, but that is more for the Civic. The most important tools are Ziplock bags, masking tape and sharpies. Label, bag, and tag everything!! (Both ends of each wire and hose connection. ) And keep track of the order that things come apart.
Yes I've been through this before. And take lots of pictures!
Glad to hear its not such a tough job.
Sounds like a lot. A good running F long block shouldn't be more than $200. Just look around for people that have recently swapped an H22 into their Accord and you'll likely find a good F motor.
cxhb
Reader
8/19/10 1:07 p.m.
spitfirebill wrote:
cxhb wrote:
If you go with a JDM replacement, do a timing belt,water pump, and tensioner replacement while its out. Also done in conjunction with this job is the cam seal and balance shaft seals. I recommend doing it all before putting it in, and dont skimp on the balance shaft and cam seal, they tend to leak soon after a timing belt job.
That is what he quoted me to do (plus all new Honda brand hoses, rear seal and radiator) and the price was $1900-2000. And it gets a 6 month warranty.
Im sure you can handle it yourself if need be... If he was gonna do all that he knows what hes doing, most people dont do balance shaft and cam seals and pay for it about 10,000 miles later.
cxhb wrote:
spitfirebill wrote:
cxhb wrote:
If you go with a JDM replacement, do a timing belt,water pump, and tensioner replacement while its out. Also done in conjunction with this job is the cam seal and balance shaft seals. I recommend doing it all before putting it in, and dont skimp on the balance shaft and cam seal, they tend to leak soon after a timing belt job.
That is what he quoted me to do (plus all new Honda brand hoses, rear seal and radiator) and the price was $1900-2000. And it gets a 6 month warranty.
Im sure you can handle it yourself if need be... If he was gonna do all that he knows what hes doing, most people dont do balance shaft and cam seals and pay for it about 10,000 miles later.
Yes he was replacing most exterior parts. This engine got really hot. Sonny boy knows how to do it right!
