d16a6 -> d16a9/d16z5

GoeletteGoelette Wagonist
in Engine & Drivetrain
Hi,

can anybody tell me if a d16z5 (or d16a9) is an easy swap in a 1988 RT4wd with a stock d16a6 engine?
-motormounts are the same?
-Gearbox is bolt on?
-Axels are same?
-Ecu??
-Wiring??

I guess it should be fairly easy, but I'm not sure... anybody done this swap?

thx

Comments

  • eldonciv777eldonciv777 Wagonist
    It should work fine. The most you would have to do is change over some sensors on the block, but everything else should be the same. I think you will want to reuse your intake and exhaust manifold (90% sure). You're going to keep your stock transmission, so the axles will be fine, just make sure it has the holes tapped on the back of the block for the halfshaft (it should).
    It will run on the stock ecu, but you will see better performance if you swapped it for another obd0 ecu that was made for a dohc D-series engine, or if you got an adjustable fuel regulator you could just up the fuel pressure a couple psi (3-4 should do the trick).

    I'm assuming the mounts are the same, because I haven't heard differently. I believe they should be, but here in the US we have a dohc d-series engine that has different engine mounts.

    You should probably wait for someone more knowledgeable on the non-US things to chime in, but this is how I would think it should work out.
  • GoeletteGoelette Wagonist
    Will the other ecu just be plug and play? or do I have to swap the wiring?
  • eldonciv777eldonciv777 Wagonist
    If the other ECU is obd0, then it should plug n play. Here in the US all 88-91 ecus are obd0, all 92-95 are obd1, and 96 and up is obd2 (couple different versions of that too). So, if you got one out the the same year range then I would think it would be plug n play as long as the car and ecu are nonvtec and mpfi.

    The Dohc ecus just run things a little richer (I had one running my d16a6), so you could just as easily get a Adjustable fuel pressure regulator and up the pressure a wee bit and it would be fine. You could also get your factory ecu chipped and use turboedit to load the stock fuel/ignition maps for the motor you are putting in it.

    Just to be sure, is the d16z5 a DOHC motor? I'm sure the d16a9 is. If the d16z5 is a vtec motor things will be a little more complicated.
  • eldonciv777eldonciv777 Wagonist
    Ok, I just searched a bit and afaik everything should be pretty much plug n play. It seems that you will need the dohc intake manifold, as the sohc manifold is totally different bolt and port wise. The exhaust manifold can be made to fit but you will need to open up the ports a bit on one side. Just hold up the exhaust manifold gasket and mark it before you try to open things up. The ecu and all the sensors (including the dohc intake manifold) should be plug n play, as well as the transmission. I'm trying to help here and this is the info I found online, but be aware that there is a small chance that this may not be totally right.

    It sounds like a fairly easy and straightforward swap, especially if you keep the dohc exhaust manifold, because it should then drop right in without any hastle or modifications.
  • GoeletteGoelette Wagonist
    Hey, you're the greatest! :D Do you have a link to where you found all this? I haven't found any info this good yet...

    D16z5 is exactly the same as d16a9, the only difference is the ...?.... Don't know the word in english... "katalysator": the thing in your exhaust that is good for the environment... :) D16A9 has 130 hp, end the D16Z5 has only 125, due to this cathalist-thingie.....
  • davensdavens familEE
    Goelette wrote:
    Hey, you're the greatest! :D Do you have a link to where you found all this? I haven't found any info this good yet...

    D16z5 is exactly the same as d16a9, the only difference is the ...?.... Don't know the word in english... "katalysator": the thing in your exhaust that is good for the environment... :) D16A9 has 130 hp, end the D16Z5 has only 125, due to this cathalist-thingie.....

    "Catalytic Convertor: in English
    The D16a9 (and z5) are euro variants of the JDM dohc ZC.

    Check out:
    The ZC Resource....http://thezcr.com/
    D-series.org...http://d-series.org/[/url]
  • eldonciv777eldonciv777 Wagonist
    I pretty much just googled d16z5 along with whatever specifics I was looking for (ie intake manifold). The links he gave you also should provide you with plenty of info. Good luck :)

    EDIT: I had read that there is an adapter you can buy to use the sohc manifold if you currently do not have the dohc intake manifold.
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