Swap info

[xboxgod]

Hello everyone! Sorry for my first post here to be asking for help, but I am out of ideas.

I have a 2 1990 Civic HB's (Standard models). Both have a 1.5L with a 4-speed transmission. I bought 2, one for me and one for my girlfriend. Unfortunately, she is having a hard time learning to drive a stick, so I want to put an automatic in one of the cars and then sell the other. I kinda want to upgrade the engine too as it only has 70-ish HP, but I don't want to end up getting way less gas mileage as that eliminates the point of buying these cars. I have researched enough to know that you can swap out Honda engines very easily. The problem I am having is I don't know what parts I need from what car to make this swap work. For example, if I buy a 1999 Civic motor and auto transmission, I'm sure I will need the 1999 computer and harness, but will the gauges still work or will I have to get wiring schematics and cut up the 1990 harness? Any help on pointing me in the right direction would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Mr.Baker]

she is having a hard time learning to drive a stick.

Short answer, suck it up and have her actually learn.
You'll be farther ahead, time wise and cost wise.

 

[coricivic]

There is nothing you'll find searching anywhere about an automatic swap so I figured I'd post. I'm paralyzed so I'm stuck driving automatics which probably makes me the only dude who cares enough to know stuff about automatics.

The first thing you need to figure out is if your staying dpfi (2 injectors) or mpfi (4 injectors). Obviously doing
the dpfi to mpfi swap will have more power. If you stay dpfi you'll need to reuse your intake manifold and wiring harness along with replace your existing ecu (engine control unit) with an automatic pm5 (ecu code). If you decide to go with the mpfi swap you'll have to look up the wiring your are going to need to do. ex: dpfi to mpfi write-up 1 or dpfi to mpfi write-up 2. On those write-ups it says you need a pm6 (88-91 Civic/Crx Si), pr4 (90-91 Integra), or pm7 (88-91 JDM DOHC ZC) ecu. Those are all manual ecu's. Since your going automatic you'll need a ps9 (90-91 Civic Ex) ecu.

No matter what engine setup you decide to run your obviously going to need the shifter, shift cable, automatic transmission (w/ starter,torque converter, and flex plate) , automatic transmission cooler, automatic transmission mounts, automatic gauge cluster (optional), and you the automatic interlock control unit which controls the car only starting in park or neutral. The wiring for the transmission is very minimal, 5 wires. Also the wiring to get the gauge cluster to show what gear your in is really easy to. If your serious about doing this let me know and I'll put up the wiring that needs done. I don't feel like typing it out if your not going to do it. For the motor mounts, if you look at the following diagram you'll need 10, 5, 4, and 8.

The part #'s can be found here: hondaautomotiveparts.com.

Under the diagram if you click "Choose another System\Component for : CIVIC " it'll take you to a page where you can change your vehicle and component your looking at. There are diagrams and part #'s for everything you'll need to do this.

My Advice
If your up for doing all this buy a parts car or go to the junkyard.

 

[Mr.Baker]

There is nothing you'll find searching anywhere about an automatic swap so I figured I'd post. I'm paralyzed so I'm stuck driving automatics which probably makes me the only dude who cares enough to know stuff about automatics.

True, there is not much out there since it's a swap that is basically unheard of, but I do recall reading a few years back in Honda tuning about a guy who did this to his EM1 Civic because he also was not physically able to drive a manual.


The swap can be done, but I would say if you are physically able to drive it, learn it, once you get it, it's one of those things you won't forget.

 

[coricivic]

I was bored so I threw this together today. I've been meaning to do it. Hope it helps.

D Series: Manual to Automatic Swap