Build Colin's 1978 1200 Honda Civic D16Z6 Engine Swap

[farenheight101]

Hey guys,
well after a couple years of building up my 81 Toyota 4x4, I got T-boned by a red runner and ICBC wrote her off : . So with the cash I got, I had a decision to make, Buy a cheap beater and save for something a little nicer, or... Put a D16Z6 in my old motor less 78 civic! Already have some of the old mods already done (4x100 conversion, 4 wheel disc swap, etc) so why not!

I'm a month into the swap so far. Thanks once again to Justin for all the awesome help during this!

Here's what I have done so far:

the heart, stock engine bay

Electric Speedometer swap, fits pretty nice!
These are all the pix I have so far...
right now I'm "Beefing" up the frame rails that I trimmed back. I cut a little too much away from the cross member mount so I'm rebuilding those with 17mm bolts instead of the 14mm. A lot of welding! More to come!

[Layspeed]

Sorry to hear about your truck man but that's cool you're getting to work on your Civic now :D I should be up in Richmond by the 18-19th with any luck so let me know if you need a hand. I'll probably have some time on my hands And props to Justin also because really if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have even tackled my first 1stgencivic swap either! 8) Good luck with the project!

edit:
What is that speedometer from? Are you going to replace the tachometer as well?

[Justin@work :)]

Lookin good Colin!! I should have the axle inboards this week or next! I'll let u know...
btw Lay.. your not gonna make it for kelowna this weekend? We will be back on Monday...

[farenheight101]

more pix!
I kinda skipped taking pictures through a lot of the work, just kept grinding through it, but here is where I am now...

If I keep up the momentum, it should be done in 2-3weeks.

[jonathan_ed3]

Looking good!

I have my battery in the exact same location as you do, using the exact same box!

What size fuse are you using right there near your battery?

[farenheight101]

well, I want to use a 200A, but I have a 150A on there right now.

I'd rather use a circuit breaker but they're pricey and my funds are getting low.

The only time the fuse would blow is durring cranking, so hopefully the current draw from the normal vehicle operation with the additional current draw of cranking will be less than 150A.

Eventually, I'll get a circuit breaker forsure...I'll also need a battery cut off switch for track purposes.

[farenheight101]

More pix!
Pretty much finished, just waiting one last part...

[farenheight101]

I still have to install the swaybar, just waiting on the drivers inboard axle to install first.

runs soo nice! and the electric fan I used sounds cool when it starts up every cycle.

I took your idea about the return in the fuel tank drain plug. I'm kinda weary about it being soo low and vulnerable, a friend suggested I could run a Y-fitting on the filler bypass vent hose. should be ok underneath though...

[farenheight101]

Welding with a Miller 135 MIG.

Axles are stock, other than the drivers side inboard end, it has to have its original spline swapped out with 88-91 civic drivers inboard spline.

[farenheight101]

I have the original pickup tube as the pump pickup, and the drain plug as the return, seems to work fine... No problem switching if needed.