Is It Really This Easy?

[ezeedee]

http://myspace-102.vo.llnwd.net/00833/20/16/833196102_l.jpg

i got an issue of honda tuning a while ago and this article was in it. is it really that easy to swap a b20 into a 3g? it says all you need is the B20 and a tranny mount and its a bolt in affair. is it really that easy? im thinking of getting a 3g accord if i can easily do a swap. theyre pretty cheap, dont see many around, and easy on insurance.

i checked a couple threads and started to get a little confused so i just thought id make a post.

Thanks Guys!

[MessyHonda]

:welcome: to the site... im glad your search...so im not going to flame you

the JDM b20a is one of the hardest engines to find. everyone would have em if they were easy to find. you have to import them. if you want a a motor swap invest you money and get a b18 from the integra...they fit with custom mounts.

[ezeedee]

but if you can find the right motor its really that easy?

i guess a B18a wouldnt be too bad either.

[ghettogeddy]

no its only a jdm b20a not the lude motor (b20a5)
only the jdm accord b20 will fiot and good luck on find a full one

[A18A]

dont forget the ecu and wiring :)

[A20A1]

Yup finding the engine and trans may be difficult.

[A18A]

you can find alot in NZ, but most are auto, contact wohdog if you want one, he has heaps i think. not sure about europe, but they got some, i think the only difference between EDM and JDM ones are the cams or something, not 100% sure as always

[TWOLOUDNPROUD]

that my B20a Now
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/11/web/359000-359999/359877_152_full.jpg

[Hash_man_Se_i]

Yes, it is a pretty straight forward swap if you find the right motor. Like others said, be careful that you get the b20a from the accord and not the b20a5 from the prelude as they are different motors.

The b20 came in 2.0si accords in europe/japan so it is easy to swap in, no custom mounts are needed... but some wiring stuff will need to be done.

Hope that helps clarify things a bit, I don't know as much about the b20 swap as many other members on this board, so hopefully some of them will chime in.

[Cheeseburger]

that my B20a Now http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/11/web/359000-359999/359877_152_full.jpg


show off :p

[rjudgey]

Ah men to that article that was a cool little read!!! Great thing is isn't that hard to get 200bhp out of B20A either!!!

[2oodoor]

OH man.. how did I miss this one
I have seen DOHC motors in 88-89 accords in JY a couple of times but at the time was looking for something else:barf: , you mean to tell me those were are the infamous B20 rare engines. ssshiiiiiitttttt

[MessyHonda]

OH man.. how did I miss this one
I have seen DOHC motors in 88-89 accords in JY a couple of times but at the time was looking for something else:barf: , you mean to tell me those were are the infamous B20 rare engines. ssshiiiiiitttttt

are you sure about that?....maybe you were looking at the acura tegs cuz they got a DOHC motor

[2oodoor]

are you sure about that?....maybe you were looking at the acura tegs cuz they got a DOHC motor
Yea, one of them for sure was a sedan
I have been to five local yards two months ago now,so I am not completley sure on another one, it may have been prelude, if im right up on the cars parked close the lude looks like a coupe sometimes

[snoopyloopy]

OH man.. how did I miss this one
I have seen DOHC motors in 88-89 accords in JY a couple of times but at the time was looking for something else:barf: , you mean to tell me those were are the infamous B20 rare engines. ssshiiiiiitttttt
unless they were carbed. then those were b18a motors.
but to the op: yes, it is that easy. it is practically a bolt-in affiar. the hardest part is locating the right motor. because although the american 3g lude only had the b20a5, the jdm ones also had an engine coded just plain "b20a." so when have an importer look for a motor for you, make sure you specify it's the b20a from the 1984-1987 prelude or 1986-1989 accord. and look at the thread on locating a b20a if you want to go the engine importer route and go over it carefully with them to ensure you'll be getting the right motor. but they'll probably charge you for it being such a rare and hard engine to find.
or, contact carotman. he says he has access to several b20a motors and it would only cost about $400 to be had. however, he also said they're all auto and you'd also have to arrange getting it shipped from canada.
you can also contact wohdog. he lives in new zealand which got the jdm accord, so some did have the b20a. and since he's a member of the board and drives a b20a accord himself, he knows the correct engine to get along with the correct 5-speed transmission. the 5-speed ones are rare, though, and are only becoming rarer. but if you want a 5-speed, he's practically the only way to get one. and he also is pretty reasonable on the pricing. the big part will probably be the shipping.
another alternative is sourcing one from europe. however, the b20a4, which is the version of our b20a in europe, only made 144 hp as opposed to the 160 hp of the jdm version. differences to cause this have been found to be slightly different cam profiles, different ecu maps, and a few other subtle things like that. but from what i can gather, b20a accords are still pretty plentiful over there in europe and can be had for pretty cheap. and there looks like there's quite a few 5-speed ones still floating around as well. you could possibly ask a european member of the board to source you one as well. but again, shipping biggest expense will probably be shipping.
however, even if you spend $1500 on getting the motor, you'll be receiving a motor that bolts straight in and that has as much power as a b16 + torque to boot. any other vtec b-series motor costs about $1000 and up just for the engine. then you'll have to have custom mounts and wiring done which will easily surpass the cost and complexity of a b20a swap. the only issue with the b20a is that if something breaks, you have to either cross-reference it and match it with another honda/acura part or order it straight from japan, which could be kinda pricey.
anyway, hope that helps. i currently have a b20a on order from wohdog. depending on where you live, if you want to order one from him, we could possibly combine the two into one shipment and save on shipping. and if anyone else wants to get one as well (cough messy cough), it would make shipping even cheaper.

[MessyHonda]

lol...i would not mind driving to LA to get an engine...lol

[snoopyloopy]

lol...i would not mind driving to LA to get an engine...lol
well hey, pony up the cash to wohdog. he really doesn't charge much at all. it's cheaper even than buying a zc.

[2oodoor]

Very informative post Snoopy
I live in an army base town so finding a car imported from overseas is not really that uncommon. The car I saw I only glanced at briefley, I didnt know they were all that rare,:ugh2: .do now do now

Also not meaning to sound arguementative, there are a lot more Honda 3geez in the world than are on this board. Its a large, yet small world.

[BITESIZE]

So you guys that have b20's what do you do when you throw a gear through your 5 speed tranny?

[2oodoor]

So you guys that have b20's what do you do when you throw a gear through your 5 speed tranny?
....and for a moment all the world seemed to stand still
.... and there was an eerie silence as the cold chill ran up our backs we could only hope that there was indeed a light on the other side

[BITESIZE]

^^^lol, thats what i thought

[Tomisimo]

you can find alot in NZ, but most are auto, contact wohdog if you want one, he has heaps i think. not sure about europe, but they got some, i think the only difference between EDM and JDM ones are the cams or something, not 100% sure as always

Yes it is Cam's, in JDM models they have 160BHP or so but in EDM they have only 136BHP it is cams.
Corect me if i wrong, you can change cam's with B20A5 thet comes in Prelude, they have same top if i not mistake. coz lude engine have same amount HP like JDM B20.

[Tomisimo]

OH man.. how did I miss this one
I have seen DOHC motors in 88-89 accords in JY a couple of times but at the time was looking for something else:barf: , you mean to tell me those were are the infamous B20 rare engines. ssshiiiiiitttttt

Man i know thet feeling, in last spring right before year tax it overflow of cars to the yard, so i seing B20 DOCH in one of Accords like mine, i toad to swap but i prowed diferikold to do at the time, coz i wasent here. Now i se how stupid i was...

At the time i have to find one, last one i sein on the nett was with out trany so i dumpt thet one. There is many fish in oceans.

[MessyHonda]

So you guys that have b20's what do you do when you throw a gear through your 5 speed tranny?

some jb weld can help it.

[2oodoor]

some jb weld can help it.
I invented JB weld, and then several years later I invented the internet, then I invented diet coffee. I also invented , nevermind...was going to say duct tape but I think I may have stolen that idea.

[88LXi68]

I would say finding the engine isnt too hard...its finding the 5spd trans that goes with it or a flywheel.

[MessyHonda]

I invented JB weld, and then several years later I invented the internet, then I invented diet coffee. I also invented , nevermind...was going to say duct tape but I think I may have stolen that idea.

if you invented all that...why are you driving a 3gee? :bandance:

[BITESIZE]

I would say finding the engine isnt too hard...its finding the 5spd trans that goes with it or a flywheel.


That's why I don't understand why everyone is gung ho about spending thousands on a swap when they are just screwing themself by what happens when that tranny dies.:violin:

[MessyHonda]

That's why I don't understand why everyone is gung ho about spending thousands on a swap when they are just screwing themself by what happens when that tranny dies.:violin:

you rebuild it... or get another one...some one one day will have the big bucks to make an adpter plate for a newer b-series trans

[BITESIZE]

I remember some one was making an adapter plate, but haven't seen that thread in years.

[MessyHonda]

I remember some one was making an adapter plate, but haven't seen that thread in years.

yeah...just get wohdog to get you one...they have craploads in the NZ jy

[ZackieDarko]

yes adapter plate ftw please

[MessyHonda]

yes adapter plate ftw please

huh....no one else is going do it for you...but yeah...we can dream...just like b series mounts.

[snoopyloopy]

huh....no one else is going do it for you...but yeah...we can dream...just like b series mounts.
sq is the squad is currently on to making one. i'm betting it's not potentially hard to do. and if you plead and cajole enough, you may get him to make and sell you one.

and if you throw a gear in the b20a tranny, you're pretty much s.o.l. unless you go pony up the cash to get one shipped from japan or else find a usdm counterpart. but as long as you have the housing in good condition, you could probably get all the internals replicated at a machine shop.

[MessyHonda]

sq is the squad is currently on to making one. i'm betting it's not potentially hard to do. and if you plead and cajole enough, you may get him to make and sell you one.

and if you throw a gear in the b20a tranny, you're pretty much s.o.l. unless you go pony up the cash to get one shipped from japan or else find a usdm counterpart. but as long as you have the housing in good condition, you could probably get all the internals replicated at a machine shop.

yeah...im not going to be running that much power that i will be poping trannies left and right. im just going with all bolt ons

[2oodoor]

if you invented all that...why are you driving a 3gee? :bandance:
I drive a three gee, I have newer cars to drive, it is up to me
I am so free, Im flying like a bee, cause I quotes sir messy
on his four thousand sevan sevanty three
a post whore is he, and he throws a bandance at me?
a rap by roodoo2:deal:

anyone can make an adapter plate with a piece of billet plate big enough to cut out. That stuff is pricey, and it takes some skills. I cant think of the name of the company I can look it up on the www just like anybody else can, they make adapter plates for jeeps, and other vehicles for trans, and motor swaps. I guess it would take a mass buy to get them to produce one though. If you search hard enough there are articles out there that tells you how to make plates.

[MessyHonda]

I drive a three gee, I have newer cars to drive, it is up to me
I am so free, Im flying like a bee, cause I quotes sir messy
on his four thousand sevan sevanty three
a post whore is he, and he throws a bandance at me?
a rap by roodoo2:deal:


when is your cd coming out?

[Ichiban]

anyone can make an adapter plate with a piece of billet plate big enough to cut out. That stuff is pricey, and it takes some skills. I cant think of the name of the company I can look it up on the www just like anybody else can, they make adapter plates for jeeps, and other vehicles for trans, and motor swaps. I guess it would take a mass buy to get them to produce one though. If you search hard enough there are articles out there that tells you how to make plates.


I go to school everyday in a shop with 12 lathes, 5 milling machines (3 vertical and 2 horizontal) a forge, and like 60 different welding machines. If I manage to get a B20A off of Carotman, I might be making an adapter plate.

[2oodoor]

when is your cd coming out?
well I did not, however, invent the compact disc so .....:lol: im glad you likey

Im going back to the junk yards next week and see if I can find that car, even with an automatic, it will be ok with me, I can sell it or whatever.