Civic EG

Does anyone know where i can get a D16Z6 in the Sacramento area?

i know there are several places in Rancho Cordova that i may be able to find one, but i would like to go somewhere that my fellow EG-ers recommend.

also, i have been doing a lot of research here on Civic-EG.com, so i understand that the D16Z6 will be a strait bolt in replacement for my slugish D15B8. i have read that my '92 model is already wired up for Vtec. but i have also read that you need to cut wires and plug into certain ports on the harness. does that apply for my '92 model as well? or since mine is already wired up for Vtec, am i able to just plug and go?

thanks for the help. im getting sick of this overheating problem i am having with my D15B8. so i figured i can probably get a D16Z6 for less than what i am spending on fixing this boring 70hp motor

You'll need a P28 ECU (be sure the donor car has the same tranny as yours, auto or manual)

The Mini-Me thread has all of the details on running the wiring for vtec from the shock tower to the sensors on the engine. all 92 hatches are pre-wired for vtec up to the passenger shock tower.

http://www.civic-eg.com/viewtopic.php?t=10

not to thread jack but are all the 95's wired for vtec also? i am planning to do the same thing.

Thanks Teal_DX

do you know what transmission i should go with that will be good for long freeway drives? i drive about 1000 miles a week.

Aldo91, i may be wrong (i'm new to hondas), but from what i have read i think the '92 model was the only non-vtec model that was still wired up for vtec. but like i said, i may be wrong. haha. i'm still learning.

Hey SLOW92CX, if you end up finding one, shoot me a PM and i will send you a few pictures of where specifically they go into the shock tower (took me awhile to find and verify from pictures online)
stick to Manual transmissions for better highway mileage. If you go with the transmission that comes with the d16z6, you will have shorter gear ratios (as far as i know), therefore you will end up having higher RPM's while crusing on highway. If you feel like keeping them low, I would stick with your current tranny.
unless there is something about the d15b8 tranny i dont know...?

if you want redicoulus highway gas mileage (as in good gas mileage) get a d15z1 (vx model) tranny
super crappy for acceleration but great for highway use low rpm cruising and great gas mileage
as for d16z6 i would say your local junkyard should be fine just make sure it comes with a 60 day warranty or close to it
most junkyards have a warranty just for simple things like knocking or excess smoking
i have returned one head to a junkyard for valve stem seals and they were fine
i just saw your post on the d-series thread
if you already have the head off it would be easier to just do a head swap
either go vtec
or get a d15b7
or a d16a6 head
i would personally go for a d16a6 head if you can find one
that approach would be much cheaper then a new motor
just some things to think about

AcereiEG,
i didnt know that i could still use my D15B8 tranny with a D16Z6. thanks for the info, that will help me keep the cost down if i dont have to get a transmission with the engine

Eg84dr,
there are many places around here where i can get engines, i was just hoping to get some recomendations from other Civic-EG members in sacramento. lol, but im not getting any responces from anyone in sacramento so i guess i will just have to go on the search.

SLOW92CX wrote:AcereiEG,
i didnt know that i could still use my D15B8 tranny with a D16Z6. thanks for the info, that will help me keep the cost down if i dont have to get a transmission with the engine

Eg84dr,
there are many places around here where i can get engines, i was just hoping to get some recomendations from other Civic-EG members in sacramento. lol, but im not getting any responces from anyone in sacramento so i guess i will just have to go on the search.

chek this out.. car-parts.com it's a listing of car parts including engines and transmissions depending on state. just choose your state..

Aldo91 wrote:not to thread jack but are all the 95's wired for vtec also? i am planning to do the same thing.

nope, 1992 hatches only

i vote for a head swap
cheaper and less time consuming

awesome, thanks EG6b20r


eg84dr, im looking for the power increase of the D16Z6 (125hp) over the D15B8 (70hp). will the head swap give me the same results?

pretty close
more if you ad some performance gooddies
simple bolt ons like exhaust and intake combined with a vtec head should be around 130 to 140 horse depending on your setup
any head swap will gain you power over your current setup
even switching to a d15b7 head that will gain you at minimum 20 hp

if i was you heres what id do
buy a d16z6 head of craigslist or ebay rebuild it with all new seals
shave the head .020
get an intake and a dcent header ebay ones work decent if your tight on cash
then a nice open exhaust system 2.25 piping would be perfect
adjustable cam gear ( not necassary but nice to have)
get a p28 ecu and have it tuned for your car not just a chip but an actual tune
street tune would be fine
and that will be under id say 1000 bucks and you will have a very peppy fun motor

hmmmmm.... something to think about.
i will have to do more research on this. thanks for all the help.

SLOW92CX wrote:hmmmmm.... something to think about.
i will have to do more research on this. thanks for all the help.

I was in the exact position as you. "To engine swap or to head swap"
my answer came in the form of a spark plug. The head's housing for 3rd spark plug crapped out, so the head had to come off, as well as I had a suspicion that my head gasket was about to die.
I pulled the head (following teal's DIY), so I was learning as i went along.
accidentally stumbled onto a D16Y8 head, and the swap was right on over.
Used a Y8 headgasket (which is thinner than the Z6 gasket), and cleaned the head/pistons, anything i could get my hands on real nice.
after putting it together, it feels like a whole different car.
My block seemed to be in fairly damn good condition (low km's) so the head swap worked really well for me.

I think you just need to see how events are unfolding around you, and a path will open.
Head or engine.