EK Build Up and Engine Swap - '78 Civic

[redr2]

After meeting up with John (2ndGenGuy) last weekend, I thought I would share a little bit of what I have been up to over the last few months. I blew a head gasket last September in my EL motor so I figured I would upgrade the whole thing:

I went with a rebuilt ‘81 EK bored 40 over.

I sent my ‘81 EL head down to Maloof Racing in Duluth, Georgia and let Bryan Maloof work his magic. The work consisted of: new bronze guides, custom oversized stainless steel intake and exhaust valves, new Crower springs, Ferrea titanium retainers and Mitusbishi valve locks. The valves were made to use Mitsubishi locks and retainers to get rid of the old style "tractor" locks the early Hondas used.

The quench side of the head was welded to gain some HP and much needed swirl to get complete combustion. Basically, it was welded into a heart shape and it had the added benefit of boosting compression w/o having to shave too much off the head. With the head shave and planing of the block the final compression is about 10.6:1 For the time being, I am running a Colt cam with a mild street grind (it’s a profile that I hate). Through the winter I hope to have a hard face welded cam done up once I figure out a better profile.

I upgraded to a custom adjustable cam gear and with the larger displacement and better flow I increased the size of the venturis in my Dellortos to 32mm from the 30 mm ones I was using with the EL. The engine was bolted up to my 82-83 GK 5 speed transmission with a lightened fly wheel (approx 11 pounds).

By July I finally had the engine mounted in my ‘78 Civic. The engine pulls really hard up top and will basically pull until it blows. I really do hate the cam though, and will likely swap back to a stock cam until I figure out a better profile. For now, I am just waiting on some air filters, and am considering having the distributor re-curved through the winter.

Here are some pics:

[redr2]

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Remaining Pics:

[Hazwan]

Holy shit! That car is going to fly!

We need videos!!

[79cord]

Valve sizes compared to 82/3 valves ?
& were the special valves required for the alternative retainers?
Looks stunning (& expensive), very impressive head reworking.
Good to be reminded what can be done with the old engines & how much more potential they can have. (a shame they weigh so much)

[redr2]

Yes, the valves are larger but I do not know how much....these are the largest that will fit in there....and yes they are custom to work....

I will likely have to wait until next summer for a dyno run and time slip...hopefully by then I can have the new header, cam and re-curved distributor installed.

Here is the intake valve:

[MessyHonda]

oh wow that motor looks sweet

[2ndGenGuy]

Yeah! I know I've commented in your other threads already but I'll say it again... your car pulls like mad! I love it. Can't wait to see some dyno times. I think with all that work, you should try some 40's on that engine too. Especially being nearly 1800CC now as well. Thanks again for the ride!

[redr2]

Yeah! I know I've commented in your other threads already but I'll say it again... your car pulls like mad! I love it. Can't wait to see some dyno times. I think with all that work, you should try some 40's on that engine too. Especially being nearly 1800CC now as well. Thanks again for the ride!

Thanks The carbs are DHLA 40's but I have them choked down to 32mm. I guess, I should try some larger ones some day but it gets really expensive matching the jets with the larger venturis each time. Dellorto parts are not easy to get around here so I have been ordering the parts out of a contact of mine in Italy

[haridev]

that is a really sick machine!!! a pocket rocket if i might add. in addition to the dyno, it would be awesome to view her performance on youtube! i bet the engine costs $$$$ well, i guess its all worth it...heh

[redr2]

I do have a video of it while running the EL motor and my dual Dellorto carbs. Have not done a new one yet though.

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/7...d-in_36495.htm

It was expensive but fortunately for me I have a lot of contacts and no one was in it to make money off me so I squeaked by pretty easy.

[81vintyminty]

thats just awesome.. great work.

[redr2]

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/7...d-in_36495.htm

[eduardo i.]

you can see more of his car in his site( signature) also 1stgencivic( im a member there too)

[redr2]

no more swaps planned for now. One day I will swap in a D16 but still having fun with this one!

[eduardo i.]

Will do the same here, until parts get too hard to find.D series parts are everywhere for cheap

[1GCustomAccord]

Amazing! I am waiting to have some time to complete my new engine and this thread is full of good ideas. I didnt know that head job was even possible. Really amazing, but i wonder if that heart-shaped chamber makes any difference at all or is just the compression boost? Maybe i can do a similar job on my head but i dont want to boost compression too much, for easy compression boost, i will use flat pistons, i dont know how much compression i will have if i add material to the chamber. What do you think Redr2?

[EM1 ADCT]

Thumbs up!

[redr2]

Amazing! I am waiting to have some time to complete my new engine and this thread is full of good ideas. I didnt know that head job was even possible. Really amazing, but i wonder if that heart-shaped chamber makes any difference at all or is just the compression boost? Maybe i can do a similar job on my head but i dont want to boost compression too much, for easy compression boost, i will use flat pistons, i dont know how much compression i will have if i add material to the chamber. What do you think Redr2?

Mine runs at about 10.6:1 as a result of the heart shaped chambers and minor head shave. Careful with flat pistons as the compression may get pretty high.....they used dished pistons as the motor was stroked by Honda to gain the extra displacement. The pistons nearly crown the block as it is.

As for the heart shaped chamber I cannot speak specifically on it but the head was done by Bryan Maloof at Maloof Racing who is a very experienced engine builder and just happens to be into these early Honda's as a hobby. I figure he would not have went this route if it was not for a true purpose. Something about fuel atomization and better burn.

One thing I can say is to go with side drafts. The addition of the dual carbs over Weber down draft produced for more of a performance increase then the engine work and cam grind.

[2ndGenGuy]

Hey if you do that D-series swap, I'll take that EK off your hands.

[1GCustomAccord]

Cool! So the heart shape enhances mix and burn. I will use flat pistons because my motor is 1.6 litres, (for 1751 they used dished) so i think the chamber mod will increase comp way too much.
About the sidedrafts, they (and the intake manifold) are very hard to find right?

[redr2]

Cool! So the heart shape enhances mix and burn. I will use flat pistons because my motor is 1.6 litres, (for 1751 they used dished) so i think the chamber mod will increase comp way too much.
About the sidedrafts, they (and the intake manifold) are very hard to find right?

Ahh, an EL.....ya they use flat ones. I had a 1600 in my car before blowing the head gasket and sourcing a 1751 motor. The 1600's have a shorter stroke than the EK so the flat pistons worked....I recall the compression ratios were about the same btw the EK and EL motos.

The intake is tough to find. I have came across a few over the years for the 79-81 motors.... in dual and single side draft set ups. The only side draft ones for the 82-83 motors I have seen were custom. As for the carbs, those are pretty easy.

[Ichiban]

I've got an EL/5 speed sitting in my yard if anyone's interested. I've upgraded and won't be needing it

[redr2]

I've got an EL/5 speed sitting in my yard if anyone's interested. I've upgraded and won't be needing it

Too bad your so far away. Always nice to have a spare

[SZfiftyfour]

I've got an EL/5 speed sitting in my yard if anyone's interested. I've upgraded and won't be needing it

I'm intrested. What year is it
edit: n/m, out of your hatch duh, i'll pm you.