D16Z6 HappyJack 1978 Civic 1200 engine swap

Layspeed · Post by **Layspeed** » July 7th, 2011, 4:21 pm

2nd gen ZC, so a DOHC engine? If so the axles won't work with your Z6 as the DOHC engines have an intermediate shaft and two "equal length" axles. Good score though, too bad it had no floor!

HappyJack · Post by **HappyJack** » July 7th, 2011, 5:09 pm

Layspeed wrote:2nd gen ZC, so a DOHC engine? If so the axles won't work with your Z6 as the DOHC engines have an intermediate shaft and two "equal length" axles. Good score though, too bad it had no floor!

Yeah it is a DOHC engine. The transmission code comes up as a JDM DOHC ZC transmission, but it has two different length axles. No intermediate shaft.

You had me worried, I had to crawl under the car to check.

So I'm assuming who ever did the conversion, ditched the intermediate shaft.

Bill · Post by **Bill** » July 8th, 2011, 12:50 am

Would the shafts on the CRX SI , JDM version with the DOHC, be shorter than the integra, or would there be a long and short such as the US CRX SI ?
This might just save a lot of work...
Thanks in advance, and thank you for recycling.

Layspeed · Post by **Layspeed** » July 9th, 2011, 12:49 am

Bill, you may be right. I have no experience with Civic ZC's only the Integra versions. If the axles will work for you, that's a huge bonus! Just place the engine in the bay so the axles WILL work without modifying them.

+1 on the recycling, hauling the scrap away properly. :D

HappyJack · Post by **HappyJack** » September 13th, 2011, 9:48 pm

Time for another non-update.
The last parts car has been stripped and sent away.

: .

I mentioned before I gave one of my parts car to a cousin. Well he has started a build thread here. Check it out.

: .

I have a lot on the go right now, so my build is still on hold. But I did go to an automotive flea market and snagged a few things.

A grille emblem

: .

Plus some advertising for my 78 Civic 1200

: .

According to the specs in the booklet, the 78 1200 sedan, was available only in Sophia Red, or Pack White. The hatchback was available in more colours. And because it was a 4 speed, it wasn't available with the hounds tooth fabric. Only black interior.
Also lists the curb weight of the 1200 with a manual transmission as 1663 lbs (745 kg). The lightest of all the Civics.

I also grabbed this advertising

It isn't really for my car. Since it is for a CVCC, but I had to get it just for the 70's mustache on the driver.

Thats all for now. Promise next time to have a real update.

Layspeed · Post by **Layspeed** » September 14th, 2011, 12:32 am

This was quite worthy of an update. Cool finds. 8)

winterfox13 · Post by **winterfox13** » September 14th, 2011, 4:29 am

first and formost: lovin the ad with the stash! i'd get it for the same reason xD
really excited to follow up on your project and see how it will all come together ^^ looking great so far!

HappyJack · Post by **HappyJack** » January 2nd, 2012, 12:36 pm

Ok, winter has returned time to retire to the garage. I now have time again for the project.

Over the summer, I just mostly acquired parts. Today I bolted up the transmission I'll be using (from a 88 CRX) to my engine, (d16z6), and attempted a test fit. Over all, it looks good.

Only catch so far is a little piece of metal on the transmission that is catching, I marked it with an X

I figured I could just hack it off. It didn't look important. But after I lowered the engine again and looked closer at it, I'm not so sure.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Do I cut it, or leave it and cut into the frame?

HappyJack · Post by **HappyJack** » January 2nd, 2012, 9:54 pm

Ok, decided I'm notching the frame. Was hoping to avoid it, but I think it is the best way. I've marked out where in the picture.

But that is a job for tomorrow.

Tonight I also ran into a small problem.
I was swapping out the steering column for one that was in better condition, and more complete. But I wanted to keep the original ignition switch.
Anyone who has done this knows the heads of the bolts that hold the ignition are sheered off at the factory as a theft deterrent.
I was ready to hack saw off the bracket, but Thor saved me by filling me in on how to remove the bolts.
I used a punch to make a divot in the top of the bolt, then tapped it at an angle, spinning the bolt out. Worked great!

Then Hondahead suggested cutting slots in the heads so I can re-install then with a flat screw driver.

Thanks guys. Ignition switch swapped.

Layspeed · Post by **Layspeed** » January 3rd, 2012, 2:41 am

HappyJack, I ran into the same issue with the last swap I just finished on a '78 Wagon. I chose to *massage* the frame rail into submission. I really didn't want to notch out the frame rail and fill it back in. But in hindsight, notching it would've probably been easier on my arms

Good to see you're back on this.