I bought this car a little over a year ago. Was a bad move, 2 days after I bought, car overheated, head gasket. Took me 6 weeks to get it back together. At that point I was looking at motors for this car. Everyone was very unsure, couldn't give me anything definitive about the F23A1 vtec working in place of the F23A5 non-vetc due to being daily driver, has to pass emissions. Car has 170K miles, and now we're looking at oil pan gasket and rear main seal. I'm over this.
So, it's either a new motor or a different Accord.
I have opinions from two JDM sellers that the the A1 motors will work in the DX, but Vtec will just not engage. One suggested using the intake and exhaust manifolds from the A5 and otherwise would be plug and play. This just doesn't sound right to me, but then I don't know at what RPM Vtec actually engages on this car. If it's something like 5k, then maybe I'll never know.
Others have said that I'll need the correct harness and ECU flashing, pinouts to wire up the vtec. I really don't want to get into all that because there is ZERO info that i've for that stuff on this car/motor. Unless something has changed or new info is avail since last 12/13.
I can get a good clean JDM F23A1 from the LX/EX and tranny for $950. Good price for me. But I don't want to jump into a mess. I need this swapped out in a long weekend and back on the road. If I can't do this, I need to sell this car and get a different one until that motor craps out. Then, it will be easy.
Appreciate your thoughts.
So, it's either a new motor or a different Accord.
I have opinions from two JDM sellers that the the A1 motors will work in the DX, but Vtec will just not engage. One suggested using the intake and exhaust manifolds from the A5 and otherwise would be plug and play. This just doesn't sound right to me, but then I don't know at what RPM Vtec actually engages on this car. If it's something like 5k, then maybe I'll never know.
Others have said that I'll need the correct harness and ECU flashing, pinouts to wire up the vtec. I really don't want to get into all that because there is ZERO info that i've for that stuff on this car/motor. Unless something has changed or new info is avail since last 12/13.
I can get a good clean JDM F23A1 from the LX/EX and tranny for $950. Good price for me. But I don't want to jump into a mess. I need this swapped out in a long weekend and back on the road. If I can't do this, I need to sell this car and get a different one until that motor craps out. Then, it will be easy.
Appreciate your thoughts.