Y8 into 88 DX

Mandalore88

Hey everyone I'm new to the forum, I recently got an 88 DX wagon.

It was smoking pretty bad when I got it so I picked up a 97 D16Y8.

I am just staying DPFI for now just to get the car running.

I am doing some maintenance while I've got the motor out. Timing belt, water pump, clutch, gaskets...

I have run into a few problems, this is the first swap I've done solo.

1) thermostat switch harness plug. On the D15 DX motor it's on the back of the block and on the Y8 its on the back of the thermostat. Can I just cut the plug off any 96-00 civic harness and connect it to the DX harness?

2) alternator harness plugs. The DX harness does not plug into the Y8 alternator and the DX alternator belt doesn't fit the Y8 crank pulley. Can I depin the plug on 96-00 harness and repin it on the DX harness? are all the wires the same?

I have never done any kind of modification to an engine harness before so any advice would be awesome.

3) It looks like I might have to notch the lower timing belt cover to get the original D15 driver side motor mount to fit. I don't want to cut too much off and expose the timing belt to dirt etc. Anyone got away with no cutting the timing belt cover?


this photo shows the two alternators. The D15 one is mounted on the D16Y8.

draginmywagon

i just want to know why you want to go to a y8 so bad.. i would just swap something like a dohc zc..

Mandalore88

I already had it and it's strictly for economical transportation for now...

draginmywagon

ok .. i see. you should just sell that long block and buy a zc swap.. that might be better.. i dont know of anyone that has that swap done.. i will have to look and see if anyone has it... i think they is one guy in washington that has it done.. but i dont think he has it running yet.. i will try to find him..

draginmywagon

sell that motor and just rebuild the old one ... it does not cost that much or take that long to re-build...

Sikocivic

You either have to convert your car to MPFI and OBD1 to run the y8 motor "as is" or convert the motor to DPFI by using the intake manifold from the D15. Your old DPFI dizzy from the D15 should fit the y8 motor too. To convert your car to MPFI you will need some parts. You will have to modify the DX harness to a MPFI harness by adding wires for the 4 fuel injectors and a resistor box. You have add the wires for the vtec, 4 wire O2 sensor, get a jumper harness and OBD1 P28 ECU and rewire the dizzy for the y8 dizzy. This swap has been done before and works well but as you can see it takes some work and you will need to pick up a bunch of parts. If you convert the motor to DPFI buy putting the D15 intake manifold and dizzy on it you may be setting yourself up for problems. You be running a 1.6 motor with a 1.5 fuel system and computer. You won't have any way for the vtec to engage so the motor will be running on the "low cam" all the time. It will run but it won't make much power and it may run so lean that you will damage the motor. Your best bet would be to sell the D16y8 motor and pick up a D15. You can get alot more for the y8 motor than what a D15 will cost.

Here is a link to an DPFI to MPFI

http://www.angelfire.com/d20/hcivic88/dx-siwiring.html

Mandalore88

cool guys thanks for the advice. I am debating what to do because it's my only car right now and I just want to get it running.

mastermind1ra

draginmywagon wrote:

i just want to know why you want to go to a y8 so bad.. i would just swap something like a dohc zc..

the y8 is a much better motor then the dohc zc. i would never wast my time with a zc with there pore flowing heads no aftermarket suport and crap head gaskets. the y8 is a much better choice if your not going to do a b sires swap

mastermind1ra

draginmywagon wrote:

ok .. i see. you should just sell that long block and buy a zc swap.. that might be better.. i dont know of anyone that has that swap done.. i will have to look and see if anyone has it... i think they is one guy in washington that has it done.. but i dont think he has it running yet.. i will try to find him..

i have a y8 in my 88 rtawd and so does bisi in his 700 hp wagon .like it was said abouve you will need some parts to do the swap but there all out there just need to buy them. best bet is to convert the car to obd1 with a p28 ecu thats whats done to mine

91_wago

1 yes it doesnt matter if you mix up the wires the fan will still work.
2 you can use the original dx alternator on the y8 and just use a 3 rib belt it will still work on the 4 rib crank pulley. maybe you could even swap the pulleys on the alternator.
3 yes youll have to trim at the timing belt cover to make the mount fit. no big deal.
im almost positive the stock dx dizzy wont bolt up to the y8. it will go on but the bolt tabs might not line up maybe one will. your best bet will be to go mpfi its really not that hard. and the y8 motor is a very good motor i would keep it if i was you.

mastermind1ra

91_wago wrote:

1 yes it doesnt matter if you mix up the wires the fan will still work.
2 you can use the original dx alternator on the y8 and just use a 3 rib belt it will still work on the 4 rib crank pulley. maybe you could even swap the pulleys on the alternator.
3 yes youll have to trim at the timing belt cover to make the mount fit. no big deal.
im almost positive the stock dx dizzy wont bolt up to the y8. it will go on but the bolt tabs might not line up maybe one will. your best bet will be to go mpfi its really not that hard. and the y8 motor is a very good motor i would keep it if i was you.

i agree best to convert to mpfi and p28 ecu

udubrx7

yes unfortunately you really need to just do the mpfi swap. I did it, and I was really worried about it, but it was a lot easier than I thought it was going to be. If you need help I'll do what I can to answer your questions. I don't know if the 4 rib alt pulley of the y8 alt will work on the dx alt, but I think there is a 4 rib pulley on the dx ac compressor which I know for a fact fits on the dx alternator. I found that pulley in a box of parts from my dx, which never came with power steering so it must be an ac pulley. good luck!

Mandalore88

91_wago wrote:

1 yes it doesnt matter if you mix up the wires the fan will still work.
2 you can use the original dx alternator on the y8 and just use a 3 rib belt it will still work on the 4 rib crank pulley. maybe you could even swap the pulleys on the alternator.
3 yes youll have to trim at the timing belt cover to make the mount fit. no big deal.
im almost positive the stock dx dizzy wont bolt up to the y8. it will go on but the bolt tabs might not line up maybe one will. your best bet will be to go mpfi its really not that hard. and the y8 motor is a very good motor i would keep it if i was you.

Thanks for the advice. I would like to just use the 3 rib DX belt on the Y8 pulley but it's not long enough...I would prefer to swap the pulleys... Anyone know what size socket the pulley bolt is?

I test fitted the dx distributor and it seemed to line up fine. From what I have read, if you have a Z6 the DX distributor needs to be modified but it fits fine on the Y8 motor.

udubrx7 wrote:

yes unfortunately you really need to just do the mpfi swap. I did it, and I was really worried about it, but it was a lot easier than I thought it was going to be. If you need help I'll do what I can to answer your questions. I don't know if the 4 rib alt pulley of the y8 alt will work on the dx alt, but I think there is a 4 rib pulley on the dx ac compressor which I know for a fact fits on the dx alternator. I found that pulley in a box of parts from my dx, which never came with power steering so it must be an ac pulley. good luck!

Thanks for the advice, I'll see if i cant find a EF ac compressor on craigslist. I will try to sell/trade some stuff to try to go MPFI as soon as I can.

Mandalore88

I was just working on the clutch and flywheel, this is also my first clutch replacement....

The pressure plate is really hard to tighten down, there is a lot of resistance. I am afraid it's putting pressure on the flywheel dowel pins? I can't really tell if its rubbing on them.

Other than lubing the throw out bearing, what else am I supposed to lubricate?

This is a horrible photo but it shows where the dowel pins are, does this look correct?



thanks!

udubrx7

You should take some better pictures.... that looks wrong to me.

Mandalore88

Yeah its dark outside with a shop light on my iphone. I will use my camera tomorrow in the daylight. Thanks!

udubrx7

There should be NO pressure on the flywheel dowel pins when installing the pressure plate. You need to rotate the plate until all of the dowel pins align with corresponding holes on the plate. The dowel pins all sit in these holes in the pressure plate so that you can tighten it down right against the flywheel. If it turns out that you cannot align all of the down pins in the holes then you probably have the wrong pressure plate.

91_wago

ya you cant put a pressure plate on wrong. it will only go on one way with all the bolt holes lineing up. if it doesnt match up use the dx flywheel. youll also need a clutch tool to hold the clutch disc center while you tighten up the pressure plate. if i remember right the pressure plate is sprung so it wont sit flat on the flywheel you have to tighten it down.

91_wago

i usually throw a little grease on the trans output to help it slide into the clutch.

Mandalore88

Man thanks for all the advice guys. I don't have anyone local to ask. There is a good chance I am just being a total noob and doing something wrong here....

The pressure plate does line up as seen in the pics. The bolt holes line up %100 to the old pressure plate. As you can see I didn't tight it down, if I did it looks like it will put pressure on the dowels.

It came as a kit from http://clutchcityonline.com/ so if the flywheel is wrong I am scared the clutch is wrong also (It's the same size as the old one).

Mandalore88

anyone know what size the nut is on the alternator pulley? I'm trying to swap pulleys.

Sikocivic

The pressure plate only goes on one way. Just keep rotating it to each hole. You will find the correct position when the locating pins drop into the holes next to the bolt holes.

I hope you take this the right way. I really think you are in a little over your head. I think its great that you are taking on this project yourself but you should try to get somebody that knows this stuff to come over and give you a hand. Good luck and we will try to help you as much as possible but its hard to do online.

udubrx7

Like siko said, there is only one way that the pressure plate can go on. There are three dowel pins, and the three pins sit in the holes in the pressure plate. THERE SHOULD BE NO PRESSURE WHATSOEVER ON THE DOWEL PINS! They go right through holes in the pressure plate. All you need to do is turn the pressure plate until all of the towel pins go through the holes. The dowel pin holes are the smaller holes right next to the pressure plate to flywheel bolt holes.

I would also have to suggest that you are in over your head and should get someone to help you or at least pick up a haynes manual from an autoparts store.

udubrx7

the dowel pins go in the red circles

Mandalore88

man thanks so much, I am glad it was just a noob mistake on my part! :oops:

Mandalore88

This is what I've gathered from my helm's manual, can anyone verify I have a clue what im doing?

On the D15 DX motor, the fan switch plug is on the back of the block

On the Y8 motor it is at the back of the thermostat

I got a plug off a Y8 engine harness

If I solder the connections in this picture, I should be good right?

Mandalore88

Also I do appreciate the constructive criticism. I totally agree I am in over my head.... I have no experience at all with repairs.
But I am having a great time learning, and it is always something I have wanted to do, so I am going for it.

Eagle Beagle

:shock:

Sikocivic

You should be able to find some info in this link that will help you;

http://hondatech.info/downloads/Auto/Manuals/Civic/

Mandalore88

cool thanks man 8)

88hybrid

the way you have it in the pic is correct (fan switch). i did the same thing when i converted to obd1. as stated above you can run all the d15 parts (dizzy, intake manfold, exhaust manifold ect.) on the y8 motor, you just won't have as much power until you convert to mpfi and obd1 vtec. the motor will run just fine until then without any worries about leaning out. trust me i ran the exact same set-up with my first dx hatch for 8 months before converting it over. if you have anymore questions feel free to ask, i've been messing with efs and ees for 15 years now and have tried about everything with them.