One of the most confusing and challenging aspects to any engine swap, Honda swap axles don’t have to be rocket science. Honda VTEC engine swaps are definitely nothing new, and there is a lot of information about swaps and combinations available online.
Honda engine swaps are so popular because engines, suspension components and even brakes have such an incredible range of compatibility. If you are planning a Honda engine swap and don’t know which Honda swap axles you need, this is the right guide for you. Before you pick the right Honda engine swap however, it’s a good idea to learn how to remove your Civic engine.
Of course if you are looking for what Honda engine fits what and what chassis, our comprehensive guide on Honda engine swaps is for you.
John Huh
Owner
Top 10 Best Honda engine swaps
Honda engine swaps are nothing new to the world of import performance. In fact without many of these popular Honda engine swaps, it's hard to imagine what sport compact tuning and small displacement engine performance would be today.
Whether you drive a Civic, Integra, Del Sol, or CRX, our Top 10 Best Honda engine swaps guide will help you identify what Honda engine swaps are most popular. This helps you plan ahead and avoid making any mistakes with your build, that waste precious time and money.
Of course if you are planning to do a Honda engine swap, or need some guidance on wiring, how to fix your VTEC, your engine swap harness or what Honda engine swap mounts you should use, our master primer article named Honda Swap Combinations shows you what fits what. Our guide to the Top 10 Best Honda engine swaps is ranked by cost, ease of build and of course the bang for your buck factor.
Hopefully this Honda engine swaps list will help you make a choice when it comes to swapping a Honda engine into your car. Do you see an error or a Honda engine swap candidate that we left out? Help us by contributing and making our Top 10 Best Honda engine swaps list more accurate.
If you are looking for more tech tips, How To's or DIY articles on Honda engine swaps or engine swaps in general? Make sure to check our links at the bottom of our Top 10 Best Honda engine swaps for more help with your Honda engine swap.
G23 Swap in a Civic
One of the best possible combinations of cost and horsepower, the G23 engine swap in a Honda Civic is not for everyone. Gone are the easy bolt in and swap guides, because most of this engine build will require some serious planning and engine work. This is a frankenstein of Honda engines, made up of several different Honda engine components.
The use of a SOHC 2.3 liter F23 shortblock with a H22 cylinder head can result in an excellent 2.3 liter VTEC Honda engine. People with the proper knowledge and patience and build an awesome G23 that delivers more power and torque than the K series engine, at a fraction of the cost. When installing an upgraded clutch, it's a good idea to step up your clutch master cylinder like this unit. It's designed to deal with the high pressure nature of your pressure plate in the 2.3 liter engine and allows you to shift faster and more crisply.
Where most K series engine swappers are going over 7,000 dollars in parts and components, the right G23 can be built for well under 2,000 dollars.
Why the G23 VTEC swap in a Civic works -
Torque - And lots of it with the 2.3 liter SOHC F series shortblock, and if you are looking for an all-motor solution the G23 VTEC engine swap is one of the very best.
Cost - Cheap and well under the cost of a K series engine swap or J series engine swap, you won't get a better dollar to horsepower ratio out of any other engine swap on our Top 10 Best Honda engine swaps guide.
Why the G23 VTEC swap in a Civic doesn't work -
Not easy - Again, not rocket science but if you just buy the parts and expect it to slap together, you've got another thought coming. The G23 is a great and flexible build, but again it's not for everyone. If you are not comfortable putting an engine together or checking for clearances, it's best to seek a pro who can help you with your project.
The problem selecting the Honda Swap Axles you need is that there’s so many combinations it can be confusing. To the untrained eye, many of these swap axles can look alike. Honda utilizes a color coding system to identify drive axles that are similar in nature. When these colors are removed or washed off after time, it can be near impossible to identify many axles that look alike.
Of course you can always opt for swap axles from aftermarket manufacturers such as HASPORT, Driveshaft shop or AVID Racing. Take a look at our online store for more information on swap axles and how to get yourself the right set.
So here are the possible Honda swap axles and the different combinations you must use. Depending on what engine you are swapping into your Honda. We’ll begin with the 1992-1995 Honda Civic otherwise known as the EG.
OBDI Honda Engine Swap
If you are swapping in a OBDI DOHC B16a, B17a, B18a engine and are retaining a manual hydro transmission you have a few options. Hydraulic transmissions such as the Y21, Y80, S80, or S4C, have several options when you want to use factory Honda swap axles.
Honda swap axles to choose from
You can use the axles from a 1990-2000 DOHC Integra, or a set of 1994-1997 Del Sol axles. You can also run a set of 1999-2000 Honda Civic SI axles as well. If you are using a set of DA axles, you will need to swap the intermediate shaft seal on the driver side of your transmission.
OBDII Honda Engine Swap
If you choose a 1994-2001 DOHC engine from a Integra or 1999-2000 Honda Civic SI, you’ll be using a hydro transmission from a similar year range. If you are not sure what differentiates a OBDI vs a OBDII engine, check our guide here.
The transmissions to choose from are varied, either the USDM or JDM versions of the hydro Y21, Y80, S80, or S4C work great. If you are dead set on using a cable transmission here, keep in mind you’ll need a hydro to cable conversion kit.
Honda swap axles for an OBDII DOHC
Much like the OBDI motor swaps, you can use any number of DOHC axles here. Axle sets from a 1990-2001 Acura Integra work great, same with a 1994-1997 DOHC Del Sol.
If you are swapping an engine into a 1996-2000 Honda Civic, these choices can vary slightly.
OBDI Honda Engine in a 1996-2000 Honda Civic
Of course you will need to reverse a few items to make this work right in your OBDII chassis. As far as Honda Swap Axles go, it depends on what transmission you are using. Hydro transmissions like the Y21, Y80, S80, or S4C are excellent choices.
Again like the 1992-1995 Civic, you can use any of the DOHC axle choices from a 1990-2001 Integra, the 1994-1997 Del Sol and 1999-2000 Civic Si. Remember that the intermediary shaft seal must change if you are going to use a 1990-1994 Integra axle set.
Planning a K series engine swap? Check here for more information. Or perhaps you want a H series Honda swap? This is the link for you!
Have any questions about this Honda swap axles guide? Leave them for us below and let us know!
