The Ultimate Honda Engine Swap Guide

Humankind has made a habit of one-upping the creator when it can benefit in some material sense. We figured out early on that playing match-maker to an ass and a horse produced a creature with the strength and stamina of a horse, but the nimble sure-footedness of an ass. (That would be a donkey for those of you not up on your cross-breeding techniques.) Given that as enthusiasts, we all want our cars to run like a thoroughbred and handle like, well... an ass, the notion of installing a larger engine in a lighter chassis is appealing. The same rules that apply in nature pertain to the automotive world as well: The more closely related the parent forms, the more likely they are to produce a viable hybrid. Dropping a B16A from a Japanese domestic market Civic Type R into a US-spec Civic will be a whole lot easier, cheaper and more successful than dropping an NSX engine into the same car—though this has not stopped people from trying.

Unlike many manufacturers who often use a small number of different engines for their entire vehicle line, and do so for decades (ala Chevy and the 350), Honda has produced just a few four-banger engine series, but a dizzying number of variants. Combine Japanese domestic market engine choices with the same engine designation but higher output, as well as European market Hondas, and owners have a smorgasboard of engine variants to choose from. Some engines, of course, are scarcer and more desired than others, leading to an unfortunate amount of Honda theft, though there are always engines with papers available (the only kind you want). Cars are not given the option of signing a donor card; should a Lincoln Navigator decide to back-half an Integra Type R, enthusiasts will arrive on the scene to strip the carcass of the engine faster than "1-800-SUE-4-YOU" lawyers can find whiplash victims.

Encouraged by the number of serious, performance-minded enthusiasts that comprise the Honda hybrid community, we are beginning a quest to comprehensively catalog every one of the reasonably feasible engine swaps. This quest begins in this issue, as we show the relatively easy swap of a B18B1 into a fifth-generation Civic hatchback (starting on page 136). Our engine swapping madness will not be confined to Hondas, either, as there are some very successful and well-tested hybrids with something other than H on the valve cover.

The following tables are our first stab at untangling the complex web of engines, chassis, parts and kits that comprise the brave new hybrid world. The chart above will help you decide which swap to attempt, while the table on the next page will help you find the donor engine. Look forward to more parts guides and other technical info for engine swaps in upcoming issues. The charts published in this issue can help render you a more educated buyer when selecting a engine, chassis, or transmission for your project (look for an upcoming Honda tranny guide to help better negotiate that particular quagmire)

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The new Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class

The second generation of one of the most exciting and successful sports cars on the market is ready to hit the streets: Mercedes-Benz presents the new SLK-Class. Even more alluring, more powerful and sportier than ever, the beguiling two-seater is due to celebrate its European market premiere in March 2004. Three different engine variants are available for the new car, developing from 120 kW/ 163 hp to 265 kW/360 hp. The range includes – for the first time in this vehicle class – an eight-cylinder power unit from Mercedes-AMG. The V6 engine in the SLK 350, meanwhile, develops 200 kW/272 hp and delivers impressively dynamic driving pleasure.

The second generation of the Mercedes compact two-seater also boasts an exquisite overall design, several details of which take their cue from Formula 1. The SLK thus remains true to its reputation as a trendsetter and technological leader in this category of sports cars. The further developed vario-roof, which transforms the roadster into a coupé in just 22 seconds, is joined on the list of standard equipment by head/thorax sidebags, adaptive front air-bags and two-stage belt force limiters. The car’s chassis, steering and manual transmission have been given an even sportier edge.

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