Finish the H22A swap?

[rick_spiff]

So, I have a bit of a dilemma here. I've got too many cars clogging up my (rather small) driveway, and something has to go. Since I've been barred from working on it for SIX YEARS, I've decided to part with my H22A project car.

The swap is not complete, so I am debating on whether to finish the basic mechanicals, or just hack it up and sell it for parts.

Anyone interested in finishing this project? Just looking for input. Thanks.

[stat1K]

where you located? i know it says in tha desert but that could be in a lot of places... depending on prices i'm sure some of us would be interested... got any pics?

[rick_spiff]

I'm in Southeastern Washington, Tri Cities area.

I'll do a full writeup later (probably Sunday). The poor thing was picked over for parts over the last six years to keep our SEi running strong, so it needs lots of work to make a complete running vehicle. Details later. Pix below:

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/3580/imgp7968k.jpg
http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/2893/imgp7969.jpg

[2ndGenGuy]

So other than the visible missing parts, what exactly needs to be done on it?

[frantik]

think i could fit a h22a in ur 2gee? :kekeke:

[Nafs Asdf]

The 2g is going B20 isn't it, so h22 for the 1g? :D

[rick_spiff]

The "list:"

Stuff that's broken 3g parts you'll need to replace:
1. 3 of the front ball joints (broken).
2. Rebuild front calipers and get new rotors (all LXi parts). The calipers worked when i put them on this car, but they've been sitting for half a decade...
3. One tie rod end (I will probably replace it myself at no cost if someone wants the whole car).
4. Fuel lines (all). This was a carbed car, but I have installed an LXi tank. The donor car's fuel lines were wrecked, so you will either need to custom install something or find another FI donor car and strip the fuel lines from it.
5. The rear ball joints are overdue for replacement. They have 215k miles on them.
6. Who knows what shape the steering system is in...
7. All four tires are shot. The rims are 16", rubber is 205/45ZR16.

Stuff that needs to be reinstalled:
1. Interior. I have both the original grey (slightly worn) and a virtually mint burgandy interior, including all plastic pieces and an extra matching dash.
2. Heater & A/C unit (I will probably do this one before selling it 'cause I took it out).
3. I have all parts to rebuild the rear drums, but haven't touched them.

Stuff needed to finish the swap:
1. Exhaust (have almost all of the 'lude pieces including a good cat).
2. Fuel (see above).
3. Axles (have several but not a pair that will fit).
4. Clutch (haven't sourced the hydraulic bits yet)
5. Intake (have most of the Prelude stuff, you'll need to make a CAI)
6. Cooling system (see below)
7. Shifter

I have the prelude radiator and A/C system, also a pile of fans but I don't think any fit. The hoses are in pretty good shape. I have the whole A/C system from both cars, and was planning to have running A/C.

The engine is a JDM H22A from a 1993 Prelude with 60k.

The chasis is a '88 LX (4dr, metallic gray), with 215k.

I replaced the clutch with an ACT unit, and the engine has a new water pump, new timing belt, remote oil filter kit, new valve cover gasket, new thermostat. I pulled the oil pan and checked all the main caps and rods BUT DID NOT TORQUE THE BOLTS TO SPEC. YOU WILL NEED TO PULL THE OIL PAN AND LOOSEN AND RE-TORQUE THE WHOLE BOTTOM END BEFORE STARTING THIS MOTOR. The transmission was drained of fluid but not opened.

The engine mounts are in, but I would like to re-do them and build a useable front crossmember... I wanted to do this before selling the car, but I don't know what the next owner may want to do with it.

The body has a minor dent in the front passenger door and front pass. fender. I have a new white fender to replace it. I have all of the misc. exterior trim, bumpers, etc.

The wiring is more or less complete. I pulled the cruise control system to fix the worthless SEi's system and never went back into this car and hooked up the thing. I have a collection of JDM/USDM info, PDF shop manuals, some Chiltons (I'm keeping my Haynes for the other car). It's a lot of work (that I'm obviously not going to do), but the parts are solid. No rust, no bent frame, no interior left open to rain, no rubber completely rotted out, the glass is solid. The car and parts are good.

Hilariously, part of the reason why this never got finished was because I built (and now drive) a '78 Volkswagon bus with a JDM WRX motor that makes 260hp. I really wish I would have gotten this Accord done, but enough regrets.

So... I'd be willing to sell the H22A with the transmission, but the wiring would be a mess since it's already spliced into the 3g wiring harness. Selling the whole car along with its associated bits and pieces is ok. I'm really just trying to gauge interest level before I put an engine up for sale that nobody can use or something stupid and rude like that. :)

Post whatever for questions. I'll be at a VW show in town for part of this weekend, but I'll be checking up here fairly regularly. Hopefully I'll get this stuff cleaned up, photographed and put up for sale around next weekend. Thanks in advance for you guy's (and gal's) advice.

[frantik]

Hilariously, part of the reason why this never got finished was because I built (and now drive) a '78 Volkswagon bus with a JDM WRX motor that makes 260hp.

fuck the 3gee lets see pics of ur bus!!! :bow::bow::bow: i miss my bus.. it was hella fun though totally unreliable

[2ndGenGuy]

Not for the 2gee or the 1gee. How much would you want for this project?

[Ichiban]

Those buses are crazy!

[rick_spiff]

Well, I had thought about selling it after it was complete (back when I looked at parts for turboing the SEi), and figured about ~$5000 for complete running H22 3g... for this bucket of parts? Maybe 2500-3000? That's where I've got questions.

Here's "Dilly" (show pics from last year - there's a build thread on the mcvw.org forums for closet VW junkies)

http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/1056/00027.jpg
http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/8099/00028z.jpg

[2ndGenGuy]

Wow that turbo shit is sweet! I'm guessing by all the wires that you are not blowing through a big set of Webers? Megasquirt kit?

[Rendon LX-i]

damn SO SO SO CLOSE from me...like 45 minutes LOL....FUCK dude thats alot of work and i wish i had more room...One boosted and one H series fuck i would be the MAN of mans LOL....or like that one guy that pedro is in....LUCKY LOL....thats just to much shit for me..i did it once and i would hate to do it again.....5k sounds good if it was complete...

[rick_spiff]

Also, I keep forgetting she also has new spark plugs, plug wires, dist. cap, rotor, and coil.

Supposedly work on the other cars will be delayed while parts are shipped here. I'll make myself start cleaning up this mess of a car. Maybe it will be more complete before it's posted for sale.

[Rendon LX-i]

sounds good man...let us know

[hammer3rd]

You live a little far for me to buy it from you(I wish)but if buy any chance you decide to part it out,I would love the mounts and any thing else to make the swap easy. Or if you made your own mounts would pay for patterns. But don't sell the damn thing I mean really and H22 in a 3G awsome. Do all the stuff everyone is doing to the B20As cams ignition upgrades etc,ets and no na B20 would touch the thing.

[rick_spiff]

I was going to make an extra set anyway. Might sell some off if I get this down to a science... MAD SCIENCE!

I'm not sure it would be 100 bolt-in, but maybe... And I would like to sell it as a complete H22A powered 3g when I let her go. To a good a home.

[rick_spiff]

Getting the dash HVAC controls done. I was going to pull the A/C and heater cores and get everything cleaned up, but when I opened the passenger door...

http://img387.imageshack.us/img387/135/imgp8920.jpg

So... looks like I'll be playing exterminator for a bit before I can clean the A/C.

[hammer3rd]

Cant wait ro see her finished or for the xtra set of mounts lol. keep up the good work man. Mabey when you ger her finished you wont be able to let her go and just keep her.

[rfiks]

what mounts did you use?

[Vanilla Sky]

He made his own, I believe.

[Sh4d0w]

Since I've been barred from working on it for SIX YEARS, I've decided to part with my H22A project car.


Ok, I'm curious... why where you barred from working on your car for 6 years?

[Nate87]

Where do you live and how much do you want for it?

[rick_spiff]

Why six years?

Mostly the wife and kids... and the bus. Almost three years spent on the bus instead of my baby. Now I've got a '65 Nova and a '93 Grand Prix torn apart in my driveway. Grr....

Where?

I live in the tri-cities and I'm fairly negotiable on the price. I'm figuring a running car is worth around $5000, so $3000 as it sits? I don't think I could take less; I've invested the better part of 5k in it already, not counting the cost of the chasis.

[Sh4d0w]

Hope you find a good home for this sweep swap. Best of luck!

[rick_spiff]

Little FYI: The bad weather has finally hit, and pretty much shut this project down until February, when I can weld without my fingers falling off.

Not really looking forward to summer either, as our other 3G is going to need a rebuild or an engine transplant. :(

[rick_spiff]

Quick update here:

Warm weather! It's still finger-numb cold after dark, but at least I can get some work done during the day. One of the project cars is out of the driveway, and project car number two is nearing 'move it' status. That means I can work on my H22A car, right? Wrong! The '89 SEi that's been a faithful steed to our family for seven years has ticked over 218k and is in dire need of a rebuild. A compression check gave me numbers consistently in the 127-131 psi range. Ouch! Unfortunately, I simply do not have the budget for a rebuild. To say nothing of the transmission's slow death...

On the other hand, I feel I've really gotten my money out of the car. And it has a sunroof. And those nice disc brakes (with mostly new hardware I just purchased last year), and the front suspension doesn't need replacement. And it's already fuel injected. Hm... :D

Well, I should have project #2 out of the driveway by the end of the month, so around April Fool's day, I'll make an appraisal of the two hondas and get out my welding machine and camera.

[Vector]

know what, i'd finish it, drive it. then decide if you want to keep it. it IS a 4dr and they are pretty convenient. i vote you finish it.

[w261w261]

Love the WRX bus! I had a '71 Camperbus that I picked up in Brussels after grad school. Spent the next 5 months driving around Europe, then shipped it back to US, and kept it in CT for probably another 6 months. Didn't really use it for recreation here, as I moved to a woodsy area anyway. Then someone almost hit me head-on in a low speed collision, and the next day I happened to see what happened to those buses in a front-ender (steering wheel goes right to the seatback). I freaked out and sold it.

I had the "big" engine (all of 70hp). I remember struggling to stay at 100kph on a slight uphill on the Autobahn, while the Porsches etc went by me in the left lane at 200-250kph. But the Porsches couldn't pull over, pop the top, put on the coffee, and have a nice sleep!

[mkymonkey]

more pix of the bus!!!