Integra ZC Engine Swap Into Honda CRX - Second Wind

With the engine on the ground, unhook the hoist. Raise the car high enough to clear the engine. Make sure that the car is secure! Have a friend help you carefully slide the engine out from underneath the car.

Engine Installation
You'll want to use the Integra's engine wiring harness. If you are installing a ZC-spec engine, you might need to use the CRX harness.

Transfer the driver-side engine mount from the original CRX engine to the Integra engine. Because of the slight design differences, you'll need to notch the plastic timing cover to allow the mount to fit properly.

Give a final inspection to the Integra engine. Make sure nothing is broken or missing. While the driver-side mount is from the CRX, you'll want to use the Integra's original mounts for the other two.

If you are going to install an aftermarket header, now is the time to do it. Make sure to pull off the oxygen sensor from the CRX exhaust manifold and install it onto the new header. Tighten all the nuts to factory specs.

For installation, Raceline moved the Integra engine underneath the CRX and then hooked it up to the hoist. You can also drop the engine in. Bolt the engine mounts to the chassis. For the driver-side mount, remember that the outer bolt needs to be located with the threads on top and the head underneath. When the engine is secure, unhook the hoist.

Install the Integra driveshafts. Make sure to match up the driveshafts to their corresponding sides (the passenger-side driveshaft will have shorter splines). Bolt the header to the catalytic converter.

Because of the Integra driveshafts, you'll need to use Integra spindles. Installing them to the struts can be a bit difficult, but they will fit. Make sure that you line them up properly on the strut (the bolt won't fit if you don't). Reinstall the CRX rotors and calipers. Install and tighten the ball-joint, hub, and tie-rod nuts.

Inside the car, remove the CRX ECU and replace it with the Integra ECU. Connect the wiring harness for the engine. Hook up the throttle and speedometer cables, the emissions box, vacuum lines, the fuel system, the coolant hoses, and the air intake system. You might encounter some problems with the length of some of the hoses or cables.

Double-check that everything is now properly installed (like the engine oil, for instance). Fill up the radiator and transmission. Check that the mechanical timing is correct. When you are sure that everything is correct, fire it up!