Timing belt broke early. New engine time? Frankenstein engine building party?
CamoCivic
New Wagonist
Howdy wagon lovers,
It's been years, actually, since I've posted since, well, I have my little CamoCivic and it never fails me. Until Monday. I had just pulled out of my little town to head up for a few days of chainsaw and slash burning fire work up at my sisters, and the timing belt broke. It was just under 70k, so it wasn't on my to-do list, nor should it have been. Still unsure why it broke, but once you have had a car do it, you'll instantly know that moment. I was going 55mph, but was only 2 miles out of town, so I called a buddy and he pulled me back. In the time I had waiting for him, I pulled the valve cover and timing belt cover and confirmed the broken belt. I had work all week, but another friend took a few minutes and said all the pulleys and tensioner looked fine so doesn't seem like something seized--still not sure why it broke.
Anyway, so I'm thinking I have about a 5% chance that most/enough of the valves are OK, to just slap on a new belt and keep rolling, but not likely. So I've been thinking and poking around, and found this D16a6 not far from my house.
https://denver.craigslist.org/cto/d/si-engine-for-sale/6312995920.html
For those who can't/don't wanna follow the craigslist ad, the guy says "hi selling my civic si d16a6 engine full swap comes with axles, shift linkage, transmission, motor mounts, and a 4 into 1 ceramic coated header. no ecu or wiring harness included in this swap. the bad the bottom end has a rod knock now hence why i am selling for so cheap. i did not run it long after i heard in knock as soon as it knocked i shut it off and towed it home. the bottom end can be rebuilt or just swapped out for a newer bottom end. the plus is the head has been rebuilt with new valve stem seals and new valves. also has had a mild port and polish done to it which was very noticeable! also the motor has a brand new timing belt water pump all new seals front main, cam seal rear main seal, brand new distributor, plugs and wires, new thermostat, and the clutch was replaced. it is a fresh swap just needs a good bottom end. i am firm on the price because you are getting a lot of brand new parts with this swap.i'm asking 200$ obo for everything listed no trades cash only."
Do I have a match made in heaven, or am I missing something here? Before my belt broke, my engine was good. Should my bottom end still be good? I'm sure I have some belt valve stems, but sounds like he's done a cherry job on the top end. Can I just Frankstein-meld his top to my bottom. Both are d16a6. Mine is a 4wd 1990. But the engine is the engine. I don't need any of his tranny bits, so if I get them in this deal, I can post them here for somebody else who needs them.
Can I do this? Do I have to lift the engine. I have access to a hoist in my brother-in-laws garage. Lots of tools and time, but I've never done this. Anyone out there done this? What am I in for? Do I just scrap this Honda? I love the 4wd, now that I'm back in the mountains. *sigh)
I have to admit, I have felt sick all week, thinking about this engine, UNTIL I saw this ad. Hope springs eternal. I don't want to give up my little Cochecita, but I've already had to replace the engine once (this engine is the one I had put in 70k miles ago, but I had them put on a new belt, new water pump/pully & tensioner blah blah blah. It had 40k on it when I put it in--now that I write that, I wonder if those *uckers didn't actually replace the belt and so it really had 110k on it. damn it. The shop that swapped it for me--I was on tour in CA-- was terrible--I left hating them, and having to fix a million things they screwed up.)
Anybody meld a top&bottom off different engines? Since I'll be keeping my bottom does it matter what kind of tranny the new top had (fwd vs 4wd--that difference is in the bottom&mounts, right?).
Do I just go get it? $200. Why would his engine develop a bad knock? What's wrong with that engine? And did it screw up anything with the top end?
I love this car, but I'm thinking about letting it go. It has 246k.
Thoughts? Suggestions? Tips?
Anything to sway me toward fixing it, or selling it as is?
Many, Many thanks, community,
Sharon from WY
p.s. I sorta wanna get a few more winters out of it. But I only use it a few months out of the year. With the new heater core, it's toasty warm, is the 4wd I've ever driven, and still gets 30mpg. Until another car is made that is better on all fronts, it's hard to replace it.
It's been years, actually, since I've posted since, well, I have my little CamoCivic and it never fails me. Until Monday. I had just pulled out of my little town to head up for a few days of chainsaw and slash burning fire work up at my sisters, and the timing belt broke. It was just under 70k, so it wasn't on my to-do list, nor should it have been. Still unsure why it broke, but once you have had a car do it, you'll instantly know that moment. I was going 55mph, but was only 2 miles out of town, so I called a buddy and he pulled me back. In the time I had waiting for him, I pulled the valve cover and timing belt cover and confirmed the broken belt. I had work all week, but another friend took a few minutes and said all the pulleys and tensioner looked fine so doesn't seem like something seized--still not sure why it broke.
Anyway, so I'm thinking I have about a 5% chance that most/enough of the valves are OK, to just slap on a new belt and keep rolling, but not likely. So I've been thinking and poking around, and found this D16a6 not far from my house.
https://denver.craigslist.org/cto/d/si-engine-for-sale/6312995920.html
For those who can't/don't wanna follow the craigslist ad, the guy says "hi selling my civic si d16a6 engine full swap comes with axles, shift linkage, transmission, motor mounts, and a 4 into 1 ceramic coated header. no ecu or wiring harness included in this swap. the bad the bottom end has a rod knock now hence why i am selling for so cheap. i did not run it long after i heard in knock as soon as it knocked i shut it off and towed it home. the bottom end can be rebuilt or just swapped out for a newer bottom end. the plus is the head has been rebuilt with new valve stem seals and new valves. also has had a mild port and polish done to it which was very noticeable! also the motor has a brand new timing belt water pump all new seals front main, cam seal rear main seal, brand new distributor, plugs and wires, new thermostat, and the clutch was replaced. it is a fresh swap just needs a good bottom end. i am firm on the price because you are getting a lot of brand new parts with this swap.i'm asking 200$ obo for everything listed no trades cash only."
Do I have a match made in heaven, or am I missing something here? Before my belt broke, my engine was good. Should my bottom end still be good? I'm sure I have some belt valve stems, but sounds like he's done a cherry job on the top end. Can I just Frankstein-meld his top to my bottom. Both are d16a6. Mine is a 4wd 1990. But the engine is the engine. I don't need any of his tranny bits, so if I get them in this deal, I can post them here for somebody else who needs them.
Can I do this? Do I have to lift the engine. I have access to a hoist in my brother-in-laws garage. Lots of tools and time, but I've never done this. Anyone out there done this? What am I in for? Do I just scrap this Honda? I love the 4wd, now that I'm back in the mountains. *sigh)
I have to admit, I have felt sick all week, thinking about this engine, UNTIL I saw this ad. Hope springs eternal. I don't want to give up my little Cochecita, but I've already had to replace the engine once (this engine is the one I had put in 70k miles ago, but I had them put on a new belt, new water pump/pully & tensioner blah blah blah. It had 40k on it when I put it in--now that I write that, I wonder if those *uckers didn't actually replace the belt and so it really had 110k on it. damn it. The shop that swapped it for me--I was on tour in CA-- was terrible--I left hating them, and having to fix a million things they screwed up.)
Anybody meld a top&bottom off different engines? Since I'll be keeping my bottom does it matter what kind of tranny the new top had (fwd vs 4wd--that difference is in the bottom&mounts, right?).
Do I just go get it? $200. Why would his engine develop a bad knock? What's wrong with that engine? And did it screw up anything with the top end?
I love this car, but I'm thinking about letting it go. It has 246k.
Thoughts? Suggestions? Tips?
Anything to sway me toward fixing it, or selling it as is?
Many, Many thanks, community,
Sharon from WY
p.s. I sorta wanna get a few more winters out of it. But I only use it a few months out of the year. With the new heater core, it's toasty warm, is the 4wd I've ever driven, and still gets 30mpg. Until another car is made that is better on all fronts, it's hard to replace it.
Comments
Throw a timing belt on your existing engine and try it, or run a compression test if you have access to the tools. You'd be surprised how many times it turns out ok.
Thanks Bam-Bam. Another few years of winter fun may be in this car yet. She and I have had a lot of good miles and adventures!
And Camo said the engine has 246k, Bam