OneBornOfLight

kk here's the skinny - I had the most random bit of car trouble in the world the other day - I had an alternator plug work itself loose and fry my alternator and 2 fusible links (a 50 and a 100), and at the EXACT same time I had a rod start knocking... so I'm having to replace the F22B1 that's currently in the car (I didn't put it there, I bought it with said engine installed) so I've got some questions...
I'm looking at going ahead and doing an H22 DOHC swap, I've read that it'll bolt into the engine compartment with no problems, and I found a decent engine swap kit from Japan Star Motor - $1100 for the complete engine, starter, and AC, no ECU or Transmission, or I can get the engine, transmission, and ECU for $1699.99 shipped to my front door.
Here's the link - the $1100 quote was on the phone...
Japanese Star Motor - JSM Montreal - JDM Engines and Parts
So my next question is, which would be the better buy? What I"m thinking is working out something with my mechanic to keep the engine and transmission (a less than 6 month old automatic he installed in February) for labor and get the package with everything...
Also, am I gonna be able to plug and drive on the current ECU and computer, seeing as how it's had the F22B SOHC VTEC swap, or am I going to need to snag an ECU.
I'm not thinking power right now - though the H22 will be a significant power increase, I'm just thinking what will get my car back on the road, and at the same time eliminate the little nagging problems I've had from having a non-factory motor in the car - i.e. the constant check engine code from the lack of a knock sensor.
Also, how reliable is Japan Star Motor? I don't really know much about the company but from other forums I've read some positive feedback... anyone here got anything to add?
Thanks in advance, I'm rather upset that I'm having to buyt a new motor, but at the same time I'm rather excited at finally getting to put the motor I WANT in my car... so...
walk me through this lol, I've never dealt with an engine swap in any incarnation before.

G_Loc

Wow that's a damned good price, I wonder if they are legit.

Spring for the complete swap (tranny, ecu, etc.)

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OneBornOfLight

kk well the just the engine package comes with the ecu and etc, so right now due to financial constraints - being that I don't have the extra cash to get the clutch, shifter, cables, etc. that would be required with the transmission I'm gonna get just the engine, though I"m debating springing for the H23 Blue-Top DOHC, which is 200 bucks more...
anyway, the good news is, they're legit - my mechanic has dealt with them before, moreso when he lived and worked in NY, and they check out with the BBB - no pending complaints, so... it's legit, 1100 bucks plus the labor and I'll be cruising with my H22... next stop - headers and an intake before I drop a 5 speed in it:-)

G_Loc

IMHO, you'll be better off doing the complete swap now. What's the redline on the F22B1? 6,300 or so? If so, its going to suck as the TCM is going to shift early and, not to mention, at the wrong points for the H22's power curve. Plus do you really want to have to pull the transmission and do another big install at a later date? But I guess if you have no choice, you can go that route...

Can you get the transmission code off the bell housing?

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OneBornOfLight

OH believe me I'd LOVE to do the full swap right now but I can't afford the extra 400 bucks for the transmission plus having to buy all the parts to put the transmission in, since it doesn't come with the hydraulic lines, shifter assembly, petals, or (from what I'm told) the different axles I'll have to have for the manual trans (which I didn't actually know, call me stupid or whatever)... given the mechanic would knock about 300 off of the labor and parts for this, but... right now it's not cost-effective.
Again, believe you me, I'd be psyched if I could get both, especially since the cost of engine, ECU, and transmission would only be 1500, but the engine, INSTALLED, is only gonna be 1550, and I don't know exactly how much everything I don't have on the trans would cost me lol...
however I know where to get a transmission now, and with free shipping... so when I can get the parts I need...

Of course the automatic that's in it is less than 6 months old... and I will try to grab the transmission code when it gets dropped... but no promises since I'm not doing the work myself... to be honest I'm SO glad the F22 won't be in the car anymore, most of all since I'm tired of hitting a rev stall at 5400 rpm since the VTEC wasn't working... I'm gonna have the new ECU with the H22, plus the guy who's installing it is gonna go ahead and tune the motor - it's got an APEXi VTEC AFC on it, so he's gonna go ahead and set the fuel management and VTEC engage points, etc. *sighs* Wish I could get the 5 speed though...

OneBornOfLight

Great, having trouble finding an ECU to go with the motor - motor shipped and arrived last week, got it Wednesday, anyone know where I can find a decent ECU?
ECU is a P13 evidently, though I've been reading about flashing the P28 or something...
trans code is mp1a evidently.

G_Loc

ebay is your best bet: 92-95 JDM HONDA PRELUDE OBD1 P13 ECU VTEC MANUAL H22A:eBay Motors (item 270439383499 end time Sep-05-09 18:55:19 PDT)

Avoid anything that says it has any kind of mugen or spoon chip.

As for your transmission, you're going to need a new TCU so the shift points are correct. Maybe someone who has done something similar can chime in

EDIT: Whoops, had posted link to USDM ECU

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bouckarooo

i have an obd1 h22 ecu that is just lying aorund, its is form a jdm engine though.