D15Z1 - What to do?

D15, D16, D17 and Mini-Me swaps
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D15Z1 - What to do?

By Feenyx
- Tue Jul 29, 2008 10:40 pm #63802 As I understand, it came in what was labeled the VX in the USA, and it's the VTEC-E engine. Do a search if you don't know what that is yet.

While this engine is great for fuel economy, it's not the quickest of what's available, and the VX tranny isn't exactly geared for agility either, so I'm looking to get just a little bit more umph out of it.

So I'm wondering if anyone else is running this engine (D15Z1), and if so, what are your experiences?
Is it worth chucking money at this lump, or should I just try to find another engine from the start?
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By MI_excoupe
- Tue Jul 29, 2008 11:08 pm #63804 If you want to stay with a D series motor, the JDM D15B is a very good motor. But from what I have heard, it just isnt worth dumping money into a Vtec-E motor at all. But to each his own. Good luck either way.
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By Greasedmonkey
- Wed Jul 30, 2008 12:27 am #63814 save your money for another motor.
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By suspendedHatch
- Wed Jul 30, 2008 1:32 am #63829 That motor/tranny/ECU combination has started to come into demand within certain circles. So be sure not to toss it out when you swap your engine. You can fetch a good price at gassavers.org.

That engine and ecu calibration are tuned to the ragged edge for maximum fuel economy and as a result, the engine does not respond well to modification.
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By biretsu89
- Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:43 am #63910 I have a d15z1... with the sluggish tranny.... I hate it.... slowwww..... Right when I hit the smallest hill.... my civic gets 10 times slower.... I am working on a d16z6 for an upgrade with the si tranny also... Some people say to get the d15b... but that shit wont pass smog in cali... and I am not doing it illegally.... so I got the z6..... dont even spend money ore time in the z1 motor... very very slow...
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By suspendedHatch
- Thu Jul 31, 2008 6:13 am #64086 Why wouldn't a D15B pass smog in CA? I had an OBD1 SOHC ZC in my DX and I passed smog 3 or 4 times in CA.

D15B is recognized as a replacement engine. While technically you're required to get it ref'd, most smog shops will never even notice that it's a swap and will run it as if it was your stock motor. Just make sure to put a vacuum T in your fpr reference hose for your charcoal canister controller.
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By Feenyx
- Mon Aug 04, 2008 9:20 pm #64647 Okay, I get the general idea, the engine is as bad a candidate for a power hike as they come ^^

I have a friend breaking an LX, and he offered me his old D15B2 engine off of it, along with the tranny. It's the same power, but it gets delivered a fair bit quicker, so I suppose I'll go with that (seeing as it's nearly free).
Any advice for a first-time engine-swapper?
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By Greasedmonkey
- Tue Aug 05, 2008 12:12 am #64678 hold off on getting the other motor. Wait til you can get a Z6 or a B series.

By thirdson
- Tue Aug 05, 2008 12:19 am #64682 wait for a b series engine..not worth the money doing up the one you have now..
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By biretsu89
- Tue Aug 05, 2008 9:40 am #64734 I had a del sol with a sohc zc motor..... I know you can technically make it pass smog and not have a ref notice anything.... but technically a japanese motor that wasnt brought to the U.S can not be smog legal... I had the del sol smogged and the only thing that past was the evap.... everything else failed....

Smog refs now test the evap now since last december...... I dont know if they do that in other states.. but they do in Cali.... lame :thumbdown:
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By suspendedHatch
- Wed Aug 06, 2008 5:16 am #64854 Actually it's not too bad. 90% of all charcoal canisters are bad after a couple years and they affect your mpg significantly. They're only $30 brand new from the dealer. That means that they pay for themselves pretty quickly. No one ever checked them before because they don't cause any drivability problems.

Japanese motors are in fact smog legal because they are designated acceptable replacement engines.

"Japanese Replacement Engines
Used engines imported from Japan can be used as replacement engines as long as the engine being used has been identified as functionally identical to the original engine. Please refer to the engine importers catalogue to determine if a replacement engine is legal for installation in your vehicle."

http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/replace.htm
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