VX engine swap
 

I have a chance to buy a '96 Civic 4 door for a very good price. As with many of this model year, it's pretty high miles and the 1.6 engine is of questionable durability as it sits now in this car. I'm looking in terms of difficulty how hard it would be to pull the 1.6 in this '96 and swap in the VX engine out of my '94 VX. The '96 car presently has an auto trans which I'm not opposed to keeping however my VX is obviously the 5 speed.

Anyone here done such a VX swap into a newer albeit heavier 4 door? I know I will loose some efficiency but I know what I have in my VX engine which is predicted durability/reliability for many many miles to come.

Oh I should mention the body on my VX now is pretty rusty and the newer '96 is hardly any rust.

I have not done it. But I have mucked about with my 98 DX a lot, research and under the car. The engine and transmission mounts are the same I think, certainly the transmission is. You'd need the wire harness for the engine and the ECU, which you have. But even the VSS works in exactly the same way. Your existing 96 speedo/VSS would work with the VX transmission easily... simple plug & play.

EDIT: wait... I just noticed you said the 96 has an auto trans... that's obviously more complicated... shifter location and type... gets to be a PITA.

Your engine harness is completely different and by that I mean they will NOT swap over without MAJOR modification. You're going from one design chassis to another.

You're going from OBDiia to OBDi. If you have emissions where they plug inot the car and look at codes / readiness it will never pass.

Your dash harness will NOT plug into your engine harness.

Will it all bolt in?

Yes it will but since your potential car is an auto I would take a hard look at the passenger upper mount. It SHOULD all swap over and bolt in though.

The only one I know for fact is not a bolt in is the CVT to stick shift. The body side upper mount holes are different.

If you're serious about swapping the VX drive train stick with 92-95 civics.

Yes I'm afraid that was gonna be said sooner than later. That's what slownugly did to create his VLX.