Need some help

[DerpTheGod]

Hello everyone. So I'm new to the forum and I'm looking for some advice. While driving I spotted a civic vx. I stopped and talked to the owner. The car itself has 400k, the motor has been swapped for a jdm d15b. The valve cover says vtec e and it has the vtec solenoid. The body is pretty clean with no dents it does have a little bit of surface rust on one rear quarter panel. My question is how much is this car worth? Does having a swap decrease the value? What is the difference between the original motor and the one swapped for. Is this just the jdm version of a d15z1. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[Fat Charlie]

JDM, yo! It may raise the value for ricers. On here it looks like a homemade SI that left the factory as a VX.

[DerpTheGod]

Well isn't the d15b vtec-e same as a d15z1?

[Fat Charlie]

I'm not up on engine model numbers, but when I see a car with an economy trim level and "engine swap" and "JDM" in the description then I flee. If it's an efficiency upgrade then it'd be my loss, but a year and a half ago I was shopping for used Civics and I would have skipped right over that listing.

[basjoos]

The d15b vtec-e is the 3 stage vtec engine that was only sold in the Japanese market. It can run in lean burn below 3000 rpm, but can put out 130hp at higher rpms.

The d15z1 is the 90hp lean burn capable vtec engine that was sold in North American and European markets.

No idea about parts availability for the d15b engine in North America.

[Sven7]

D15B 1.5l SOHC VTEC

If you can confirm that that is the right engine, take a closer look at rust spots. Check the rockers behind the plastic covering. Knock on the metal around the quarter panels to check for bondo.

If it's got more rust or bondo, I'd say $1000 or less. Otherwise, I still wouldn't go over $1500k for even a nice 400k mile unrestored, engine swapped Civic.

Coming from a guy who spent three years with an unknown-mile, rusty, bondo'd, engine swapped, unrestored Civic.