Head swap? - Honda Prelude Forum

MOBSTER · 11-02-2002, 09:09 AM

I've been thinking about swaping a H22 head onto my H23. I done a search and haven't found anyone recommending this, but no one was giving reasons as to why they didn't like it. I know this is not a simple bolt on, but if the the head was machined properly to fit one the 2.3 block I can't see why this wouldn't work well. If anyone knows from experience what the problems will occur from this let me know (not just I heard, or someone told me).

Thanks

[SUB[EX] · 11-02-2002, 12:10 PM

I know this is a little off topic, but can you put a Vtec head on a F series Block. F22. The blocks look very similar and the bore is the same. Would this be possible. I know that would have the same problems as a H23(Oil Squirters). What about the knock sensor? is that really important? I know the F series block still has the space molded on the block for it, just may take a little fabrication. I forget what the other plug is on the back of the block but there switched on the f series motor.

Forbidden · 11-02-2002, 12:20 PM

F22 doesn't have the same bore, bore is 85mm in the F-series (except F20C in the S2K) and H22/H23 has 87mm bore

MidNKight-lude · 11-02-2002, 12:20 PM

it can be done. There are a few H23 vtec running out of ther. I would PM slp mode. he has it done and i have seen it. He currently has problem with the setup. He is burning too much gas. and i do mean too much gas. I am also lookin at doin this setup, and doin an auto h23 vtec till i got the money for a mt swap. THer was also another member that got a JDM h22 and then he put a h23 crank into the engine, and end up removing the oil squirter

SikRedRX-8 · 11-02-2002, 02:44 PM

I am starting my head swap here soon. Selling my turbo and **** so it should be done right.

slp mode · 11-02-2002, 07:39 PM

Gee wiz MidNkight You make it sound like such a problem

It's just a tuning issue it's not a big deal. Like I pmed you mob make sure and get the p13 ecu and you will be fine. When you get the head have it gone over very well,(rebiult) You will be better off to be safe than sorry. Make sure you remove the oil plug from the H23 block. Don't listen to anybody tell you about right and wrong ways to do this. Half of them don't have any experience with this swap, it's all there opinions. I don't have the oil squirters in my set up, that's one of the things you will hear "you have to install them" well I don't and I drive my lude very hard, and I am not having any problems. Fact or not these are just my experiences with the swap. If you do install everything correctly you will be just as fast if not a little faster than a standard h22. I have race a accord with a jdm h22 and I beat him. So I am not just guessing. Hope this helps.

slp mode · 11-02-2002, 08:51 PM

Oh yeah, by the way I just had my lude dyno tuned. With the head swap,h,cai,vafc I put down 185 wheel horse power. You be the judge bro.

SikRedRX-8 · 11-02-2002, 11:29 PM

What pistons did you use? What tranny are you using? Are you throwing any codes? Does it sound ruff while you are idling/driving? What are you shifting at? Did you add anything else? I have done a lot of research and have only really been able to talk to 1 person who has done the swap and made it work. Any hints or problems you ran into?

slp mode · 11-03-2002, 08:19 PM

I think that was me 96 that you talked to, I have all stock internals, I listed my mods above and it runs smooth, I shift around 8000. pm mjshelgosh I took him for a ride today! We were working on my NOS

SikRedRX-8 · 11-03-2002, 09:22 PM

So you are using the h23 pistons, rods and crank?

Satan_SRV · 11-03-2002, 10:04 PM

The main issue with the swap is that you're using H23 parts that are made to run up to about 6500rpms redline.

Slap a VTEC head on there and suddenly your peak power is at 6800 rpms. And add to that revving to 8000rpms, you're suddenly way beyond what the H23 was meant to handle. You're lucky if revving to 8000 all the time on stock H23 parts and haven't spun a bearing....give it time.

There are lots of other issues but yeah that's the main 'issue'. You're trying to do something with budget parts.

I have an H23 VTEC, currently my crank is completely ****ed after 7000 miles. This was a fully built motor too. Without cam tuning I had 203whp and 160tq. Quite possibly the crank/rods I got just weren't that good. Who knows....but I'll be back with a vengeance in the spring. The other H23 VTEC built at the same time is putting out 237whp now....all motor baby. I will be there shortly hehe

By the way guys I'm selling my fully tuned ecu for my H23VTEC right now in the classifieds. If you want to clear up your fuel issues and have a 96 it's a sweet deal, you don't even need an OBDI swap!

SLICK96 · 11-04-2002, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sik96prelude
I am starting my head swap here soon. Selling my turbo and **** so it should be done right.

Sik, why are you selling your turbo???? You were my main 4th Gen motivation to go turbo...

J

SikRedRX-8 · 11-04-2002, 04:25 PM

Sorry to much money for repairs, plus I hit a cat and it knocked my IC off andit is bent to ****. So next week I have a buyer. No more boost =( enjoying though while it last.

SLICK96 · 11-04-2002, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sik96prelude
Sorry to much money for repairs, plus I hit a cat and it knocked my IC off andit is bent to ****. So next week I have a buyer. No more boost =( enjoying though while it last.

What crazy thing are you going to do next, to keep you happy w/ your 4th Gen? I have thought about selling my turbo, and all that I have to go w/ it, as well, b/c it seems like everybody here has nothing but problems w/ their turbos.

J

jpprelude · 11-04-2002, 05:38 PM

Talk to 93si4Ws. He did the opposite of what you are planning, and he loves it.

I agree with Satan

SLICK96 · 11-04-2002, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jpprelude
Talk to 93si4Ws. He did the opposite of what you are planning, and he loves it.

I agree with Satan

Are you talking about slapping on an H23 head onto a VTEC block? How would this help?

J

jpprelude · 11-04-2002, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SLICK96

Are you talking about slapping on an H23 head onto a VTEC block? How would this help?

J

I'm sorry. I meant he took the crank and rods from an H23 and slapped them in his H22, giving him 2.3l w/ VTEC

SikRedRX-8 · 11-04-2002, 06:30 PM

Ihave a few things up my sleeve. Wait until spring and it will be done and then I will post new dyno charts and time slips. It is going to be wierd without boost, but in the long run it is so worth it. I have spent ungodly amount of money on my lude and even considered selling it for a 5ht gen and staying stock, but I love my 4th, and can't part with it.

slp mode · 11-04-2002, 06:36 PM

Well I'm at about 4000 miles right now and I guess we will just see! If you are talking about high performance with reliability issues. HMm maybe I will talk to sik about going turbo no wait, he has alot of realiability issues as well, that scratches turbo charging, hmm lets go s/c no wait they seem to have some problems as well.

Hey look guys, all you keep telling me about how bad this swap is,that's cool. But even though I may not have the technical motor knowledge that satansrv does, what I do know is this, from being a member on this board and just what I have experienced on my own vehicles, I find it rare that when you want alot of power out of an engine that wasn't ment to have alot of power you are gonna have reliabilty issues, I mean come on, some of you guys think that turbo's,s/c last forever. When you want high performance, things are gonna break,then you go bigger and badder, this just happens to be what I am starting with. If and when I spin a bearing or whatever that just gives me an excuse to go bigger. I sure did never say that this was the only way to go. Also I'm not flaming anyone, I'm am just trying to have some good communication, by no means am I ragging on anyone. The thing is that people have budgets and this was the only way to go vtec in my budget, and right now I'm kicking alot of other cars a$$e$ so it works for me! This is all just my opinion. PEACE!

SikRedRX-8 · 11-04-2002, 06:49 PM

tell em slp mode. I can't wait for the head swap. You have givin me a lot of new info and have made want to ditch the turbo even faster than originally planned. You having 4000 miles goes to say all the haters were wrong. And I am sure that the people that did have problems either did not do it right and got all crazy with it, or they had a bad head/block to start with. I am going to strip the block and head rebuild everything myself so I know it gets done right. You are one of the pioneers of this hybrid and you should be pround that you made all the haters look stupid. Later cuz.