Need Smoggable replacement for sisters H23 96 Prelude S - Honda Prelude Forum

filazee · 03-09-2010, 11:56 PM

My older sister overheated her 96' Prelude S with an H23 motor (manual tranny), and drove another 3 or 4 miles. I'm looking for a replacement long block so I can swap the longblock quickly without having to test if her current longblock is reuseable. Is a jdm H23 longblock smoggable, that I can just replace the longblock? I want to use all her wiring, sensors, EGR, tranny, everything. Just want to replace the longblock, at the cheapest price possible. I'm expecting to find a replacement longblock for less than $1000. Also if anyone knows places I can get a direct replacement longblock (H23).

If all this may not be possible. My other option is to split the overheated longblock, drop some ARP headstuds, and replace the headgasket. Put, it back together and hope the engine isn't warped.

The engine has over 100,000 miles. I think she's really bad at maintenance. I warned her at 57,000 miles that she wasn't changing the oil frequently enough.

petern101 · 03-10-2010, 03:31 PM

So was the prelude already swapped with a h23a? or is it a h23a1?

filazee · 03-10-2010, 10:56 PM

It's a stock 1996 H23 USDM motor.

petern101 · 03-11-2010, 12:13 PM

Well then you don't have a Prelude S, you have a prelude Si.

I would just find a h23 short block and not deal with a h23a swap.

TruNinja619 · 03-11-2010, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by filazee

My older sister overheated her 96' Prelude S with an H23 motor (manual tranny), and drove another 3 or 4 miles. I'm looking for a replacement long block so I can swap the longblock quickly without having to test if her current longblock is reuseable. Is a jdm H23 longblock smoggable, that I can just replace the longblock? I want to use all her wiring, sensors, EGR, tranny, everything. Just want to replace the longblock, at the cheapest price possible. I'm expecting to find a replacement longblock for less than $1000. Also if anyone knows places I can get a direct replacement longblock (H23).

If all this may not be possible. My other option is to split the overheated longblock, drop some ARP headstuds, and replace the headgasket. Put, it back together and hope the engine isn't warped.

The engine has over 100,000 miles. I think she's really bad at maintenance. I warned her at 57,000 miles that she wasn't changing the oil frequently enough.

I bought my H23A non-vtec long block from Specializing in JDM-USDM Engines & Parts...hmotorsonline.com. Probably the best place to buy a honda motor from, and they sell those long blocks for less than $1000. I bought mine for $900 picked up.

Another thing I would consider doing is upgrading the radiator to like an aluminum racing one, (like mishimoto, which should be coming out soon) or a Koyo radiator. Sure you pay a little extra, but these H-series motors tend to run on the hot side to begin with.

filazee · 03-11-2010, 11:45 PM

Thanks guys, can I use a JDM H23 longblock in her USDM and still pass smog? Hey, I'm in San Diego also!

filazee · 03-30-2010, 11:50 PM

Blown headgasket. Oil went throughout cooling system, but no antifreeze in oil system. I just got the head back on. Finishing timing belt and tensioner belt. Gotta put on intake manifold, exhaust manifold and flush the system 2 or 3 times to get any oil residue out. Also replacing radiator. Tried to flush the heater core of oil as best I could using some Prestone radiator flush. I'm also replacing waterpump.

Hopefully head and engine isn't warped. Well I did torque down the head bolts with no problems. 29ftlbs, 51ftlbs then 72ftlbs.