Converting Cali Civic VX to Fed (lean burn) VX

[TroyVX]

Originally Posted by TroyVX

Well I got the "L00" ECU and installed it and the car runs great. It was a plug and play deal which made it nice. I'm going to get it smogged in the next few weeks. So I'm happy for now, I'll let you know if it does or doesn't pass the Ca smog test.

Well after all of the work on this car it PASSED Ca. smog test and the tech told me that the car runs cleaner than 85% of the cars in it's classification. WooHoo the car is now in my name!!!!!

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by TroyVX

Well after all of the work on this car it PASSED Ca. smog test and the tech told me that the car runs cleaner than 85% of the cars in it's classification. WooHoo the car is now in my name!!!!!

That's a great result. Congratulations!

[AZVX]

Originally Posted by steffen707

What "shudder" feeling are you talking about? The shudder when the car goes out of lean burn and into regular mode?

..exactly...I seem to notice it going into and out of LB....at least in the Insight...which has a meter that confirms LB mode...

[aarunt1]

Does anyone know if I can harvest these connectors from a complete civic 92-95 engine harness? I've seen harnesses on eBay and figured I could just buy one of those to get the 4 needed connectors but I don't know for sure. Thanks!

[backsidesnap]

You can harvest them, but avoid eBay if there is a junkyard in your area. I bought all of the terminals/ connectors I needed for around 5 bucks and spent a couple hours splicing it all together. Finding a legit vx harness is hard. But using the connectors from other crashed hondas( not just civics btw) is doable. Finding the ecu in the junkyard was the only part I couldn't find. Good luck

[aarunt1]

Thanks! I'll do that then. I guess there is a scrap yard close to my parents and by my house. I should be able to find the 4 connectors out of those 2 places I'd think. I just bought a federal ECU and an 02 sensor so once I can make the cable I'll be good to go!

[DOFZO]

I just purchased a 94 Civic VX California version. I will be driving it to Colorado where I live.

I was looking to do the Federal conversion and I have read through your thread as well as a few others on the net.

I have two questions about the conversion.

1.) If I find a 5 wire O2 sensor, wire harness and Federal ECU will it all be "plug and play" on my VX without having to make/create a custom wire harness?

2.) I have read about needing a Federal version intake manifold and EGR control box to make this conversion complete. Are those two things necessary?




ZO.

[AZVX]

You'll need the wiring harness, 5wire sensor and the computer, that's it.

I made my own wiring harness, using Honda connectors, and it's all plug and play.

I'm going to sell my red 93 cali VX, since I found a white Federal (with shift light). The white one is going to be my back up daily driver, and I don't need anything fancy. That said, I don't think I'll be adding a lot of value telling someone it's a federal version. I can always keep the new 5 wire sensor as backup.

[NachtRitter]

Yep, AZVX has it right.

[kaiba]

No need to source a Fed Vx engine harness. Just follow the DIY, it's very easy. And the shift up light. Forget about it, use the MPGuino. Best tool for driving fuel efficiently.