By barry (165.228.128.11) on Monday, March 12, 2001 - 07:00 pm:

Does anyone know if the EB1 was originally designed as a rear wheel drive engine since the distributor is on the side, not on the end?
If so, what car was it used in?
I'm looking for a cheap OHC engine to put into a Datsun 1200. Has anyone seen an EB1, or other Honda engine, converted to RWD? Barry

By Adrian (Civicguru) (203.42.97.227) on Monday, March 12, 2001 - 07:34 pm:

The EB engine was designed specifically for the FWD EB Civic. It will not work easily (probably not at all) in a Datsun 1200 mainly because it spins the correct way (anticlockwise), whereas the Datsun engines spin the wrong way (clockwise) . The Civic was designed as a right hand drive car, so they put the engine on the left side to help the weight balance. So as not to use three shafts in the gearbox, they designed an engine that spins anticlockwise. I have no idea why they put the dizzy on the back of the head and not the end.
To get an anticlockwise engine to work in a rwd environment you need to find a gearbox that turns the right way or flip the diff over or else have it in a mid-engine configuration.
The best engine (IMO) to use in a Datto would be a Datto engine or a newer Nissan (SR20 or similar) engine.

By ray (203.97.2.242) on Monday, March 12, 2001 - 07:34 pm:

why don't you put a toyota 4age twin cam 1600
in it? use twin side draught carbs and the toyota 5speed its an easy swap and will make quite a good weapon out of your datsun.
(i know i know.... its not a honda but oh well)
R

By Charles (137.219.117.127) on Monday, March 12, 2001 - 10:24 pm:

There are a few decent S2000 motors floating around now. They spin in the right direction and would give a good boost. And cheap, they are only around $7500US complete.

By Anonymous (209.148.232.132) on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 10:08 am:

Go with a rotary 13b..with a street port..it can be done, my buddy has the same combo in a '71 510 and the damn thing runs mid 13's in the quater!!

By barry (165.228.128.11) on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 07:23 pm:

I must have had brain fade when I asked the question. I should have remembered the engine runs in the opposite direction because I replaced the timing belt in my daughter's Civic. Still it might be interesting to have a car with one forward gear and four reverse gears!
I have been looking at the usual conversions (CA18, SR20 etc) but lack of money is a problem.

By Charles (137.219.117.127) on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 07:46 pm:

Whack an L20B in it. These give good power and torque increases, are easy to drop in and cheap.

By ROotUS (203.20.149.5) on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 09:37 pm:

has anyone thought about a mid mounted rwd civic 1200?
i know i have ...

By barry (165.228.128.11) on Wednesday, March 14, 2001 - 06:58 pm:

Before I get off the topic of Datsun's, I just thought I would share an extreme conversion with you. Supercharged Chev 350 in a Datsun 1200. Barry

By ROotUS (203.34.130.121) on Thursday, March 15, 2001 - 05:10 pm:

well thats a bit silly isn't it :/

By Becks (203.96.111.201) on Tuesday, April 10, 2001 - 05:44 am:

geeze all i can say is ouch to the front suspension in that poor wee car. i think a 300lb guy sittin on the front would put less stress on it. but 10/10 for the pink support bars. im spose the motor its self would draw the attention away from em when u pop the bonnet down the street to show the boys tho. thats with what would be left of the bonnet.

By Becks (203.96.111.201) on Tuesday, April 10, 2001 - 05:44 am:

geeze all i can say is ouch to the front suspension in that poor wee car. i think a 300lb guy sittin on the front would put less stress on it. but 10/10 for the pink support bars. im spose the motor its self would draw the attention away from em when u pop the bonnet down the street to show the boys tho. thats with what would be left of the bonnet.

By tedshred (63.224.195.169) on Tuesday, April 10, 2001 - 08:04 am:

That's what you call an engine with wheels. Poor little honda reminds me of the guy in high school who was only 4' 11" and started lifting weights to get all pumped up. He looked like a freak afterwards.

By ROotUS (203.34.130.130) on Wednesday, April 11, 2001 - 06:14 am:

lets be clear now... that wasn't a honda - but a an equivelent datsun.