Make Chispa Healthy Again...

[twistedwankel]

For $300 I could get an engine that I could drive like it was stolen, because it was,

Frisky you are killing me Good hunting and keep smiling.

[friskyflea]

The official word from Honda is AT ≠ MT: the guy I ended up getting passed to after about 8 minutes gave me the choice of the short or long answer and I opted for the former; anybody wanting the particulars as to why, I can give you the number to call and how many #5s you have to press to get to the end of the options to the "for everything else, please hold" script.

Andrew (Wong), in another conversation offered this comment "yikes, didn't realize honda only sold 27k, 56k, and 79k for your gen, thats a lot less than i expected" forgot to ask him from whence he got this juicy bit of info. That's for the GD3, US model years 07-08 (other markets Jazz/Fit 06-10). 2009 and beyond will not do - the other question I had for Honda but no time to hear the particulars.
Very slim pickings.

[Tim_M]

Soraya: I think you would be fine with the majority of the engines you are locating. I'd prefer ones still in their bodies (as installed), local where you can inspect it and to pop the rocker cover off for oil condition (sludge, etc). I'd expect the Honda Fit engine to be pretty durable and pretty tough to wear out. Son and I just did this with a GMC LS type engine - located in Orlando - fresh pull, removed the valve covers and trucked it home. Admittedly, it had a dash of moisture/rust in two of the cylinders, but it was minor and not of a concern. Locked up it was not.

Actually I'm seeking a Jazz here in Germany for our second car just for that reason of low operating cost/fun to drive. (likely too of watching you dance the cones along with the availability of some B-Spec parts!)

I wonder if the only difference between the auto and manual is the manual has a throwout bearing installed (HP/TQ's numbers are the same between the two). I'd check the Honda forums for more details...these cars may not be as popular (yet) as the previous Honda's, but someone has blown one up with the details on how to fix already.

Here is a data point...oil pans are different between the auto/manual:

https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/1st-gen ... eeded.html

Then again - I came across this:

https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cultur ... gine-swap/

And since I'm fresh from a engine swap project, would highly recommend dominating FAST with a 2.4 'big block'!

[friskyflea]

Tim,
I check that forum often.

Regarding the first thread that you grabbed, notice that it dead ends. More typically, projects like these end up with a post that says SUCCESS and some even document, to a lesser or greater extent, the build. Bragging rights and a sense of accomplishment that you want to share - I totally get it. A perfect example, your own documentation of your project. When I don't see it, in a forum where people (OK, mostly guys) want to share their exploits, I am suspect.

Your second thread, I'll tell you what I tell everyone that tells me "just K swap it" - You pay for it, I will be happy to drive it and wipe everyone's nose with it. The guys at LHT Performance had a gleam in their eyes when I first pulled in to discuss a tune and that was one of their first words after I explained what I was trying to do (after all, they were the ones that created the K-Sight...). Andrew Wong brings it up every so often, it's become a private joke between us. I don't have the pockets for creating a racing project, as much fun as it would be. I have greater financial priorities that take precedence. And if I had money to throw at a car like that, I'd already be driving something else, likely a Miata since they are so well supported and I haven't owned one in my lifetime and that appears to be a requirement before kicking the bucket. For now, Chispa will have to do, and remember her main duty is being my daily, not an AX monster.

All the "checks" that you suggest be done when pulling a local engine I can't do myself. So that would mean having to try to find someone to come with me AND finding a day to do it. I am self-employed and work 5-6 days a week; that includes 2-3 Saturdays/month. If I don't do that I can't autocross, and as it is I autocross on a shoe string budget. I have to get to the barn at least once a week to make sure my horses are OK (one of my financial priorities); true "free" days are rare. As it is, today I was supposed to be in Maitland and all my appointments cancelled, so quite a chunk of income lost. So back to scheduling, Loren has already given me the breakdown of coming weekends and I haven't yet figured out how to make any of them work due to my work schedule.

Part of my dilemma is finding as trouble free a replacement as I can. What you guys appreciate as "minor concerns" would not be for me in that I would have to deal with them later. You gentlemen would pop up the hood and have at it. I cannot; besides the aforementioned time constraints, limited tools/knowledge/hand strength, even if I had the chops I can 't do much at home because of the HOA vigilantes (I already get the stink eye from just swapping tires). About 2-3 years ago they changed the rules to "no fluids" so can't even do oil changes or bleed brakes (things I actually can do). Which brings me to another prioritized expense - trying to find a place to move to where animals and cars can coexist happily. A bit harder to do when you are single and already have 1 mortgage.

Your son will have tremendous fun in a 2nd gen Fit; unfortunately for me, B-spec parts are for 2009 and older models. I had a (now humorous, then infuriating) experience 3-4 years ago at Sebring with the HPD contingent/servants that travel with their NSX. I've had to make up stuff for my car or find someone who already has come up with a workaround; from shitty little details like no dead pedal, to more annoying things like proper suspension parts. This is where the Fit Freaks forum has come in very handy because there is a lot of information to be had so I do not have to reinvent the wheel.

This is probably more information than you all need but I want to make it clear that I have read every comment carefully, and given it consideration, and even fantasized about a windfall that would have me show up unexpectedly at an event in a K-Fit. My reality is different - this is why this is taking so much time to finalize. It has to feel completely right before I commit. Once that is done I won't look back, but I am still not sure what the best answer is (notice I say best, not right). I am decimating my modest wine stock, but it's cheaper than psychotherapy.

[twistedwankel]

Angela C with Honda R is a semi famous lady (you know) who really knows her way around a bone yard and Hondae addict. She has written a few articles about her experiences there - not all good. Having kept an old CRX FWDSM going for years via yards she could certainly be of help as she drove to all events in that old rag. I think she lives on the East Coast too.



**Winn Dixie has the best BOGO wine + -10% off when you buy 4 at once. There is a generic label Spanish Red 3/$10 sometimes that wife says is good. Not much into wine. Get hangover with only one bottle. Drink glass of water 3 days later get drunk again. But that was years ago.

[friskyflea]

Angela C with Honda R ...

You're about 5 days late - I already pumped her for information. Gave me some leads, but the businesses she recommended don't have Fit engines... they have Odyssey engines lying around, which just plain adds insult to injury

**Winn Dixie has the best BOGO wine + -10% off when you buy 4 at once. There is a generic label Spanish Red 3/$10 sometimes that wife says is good. Not much into wine. Get hangover with only one bottle. Drink glass of water 3 days later get drunk again. But that was years ago.

I'm into the cheap wine now. I should say, inexpensive, because I stopped drinking junk after college. There are some decent inexpensive types, or less well know labels, and Sam's Club has a varied offering of magnum sized bottles and those are a good buy

[Jamie]

...the businesses she recommended don't have Fit engines... they have Odyssey engines lying around, which just plain adds insult to injury

Hmm...when I owned an Ody, I was always impressed with the engine...whatever it's limitations for being a minivan, when you put your foot down, it got up and went. (Stopped pretty well, too, but that's a different story.) Adapted to a manual gearbox, one of those engines would make a fun project.

[Loren]

Adapted to a manual gearbox, one of those engines would make a fun project.

Off-topic: https://jalopnik.com/this-is-the-honda- ... 1823234138

[friskyflea]

Getting close folks... maybe this weekend if I can line up all the necessary planets and Loren gives his nod to the proposed delivery timeline.

[Loren]

I'd say "Mi casa es su casa", but I know you'd come back with a lot of rapid-fire syllables that I'd never understand.

Let's do this!

My schedule is clear Friday and Saturday. I think I have some driving lessons Sunday afternoon, but that doesn't mean y'all can't work in the groj.

[Native]

^^^ What he said (more or less).

[Carracer]

I'm free Friday if you guys are starting then.

[friskyflea]

Here's where everything's at..
I am going to see if I can get a friend to follow me to drop of the car tomorrow (Wednesday). He said he was going to start taking off stuff. Will deliver with diagrams and specs from the maintenance manual - printed.

Engine is supposed to get to Tampa Thursday - I will pick up from Advance Performance (who kindly became the shipping address) and take to Loren's after work. Will drop as many parts/supplies as have arrived
and, of course, here's the fly in the ointment...

ordered main seal, oil pan gasket, thermostat, water pump and all new hoses last week, with the reasonable expectation they'd make it by the 15th (this is before I even decided on the engine). I hear nothing so I called today: some parts they had to order from the west coast (ordered from Bernardi, which is purported to be the largest east coast supplier of parts). Sooo, they held off shipping b/c they don't split orders (would cost more shipping, according to them)... No notification, no updates - I had to call to find out. So I told them to ship whatever they had (apparently only some hoses are missing) - that means they "created" the label today, presumably UPS picks up tomorrow... in a snow storm. No way they will be here in time. So... today I called/scoured local sources and found the main seal, bought at a highly inflated price but I've no choice. Could not find the oil pan gasket so ordered from elsewhere in FL and hopefully will get here by Friday. I figured the thermostat, water pump and hoses can be done later, and possibly by me since they are bitty parts

Wed and Thurs I work in Tampa and get done by 4pm, which let's me run around in the afternoon. Friday and Sat I am in Lakeland, - Friday I don't make it home before 6pm so no point in then driving out to Palm Harbor. Saturday I'm supposed to be done by 1pm, but that's never guaranteed. 1 hr to get home, give the dogs a brief bathroom break, change then high tail out to the party. I picked this weekend because it was devoid of FAST events, but that means that I am working 2 of the 3 days

PS - the good news, it comes with timing cover and intake & exhaust manifolds, we'l need to grab the oil pan from the current engine. Thankfully, or I'd be hunting for a sh*tload more gaskets...

[Loren]

I am going to see if I can get a friend to follow me to drop of the car tomorrow (Wednesday). He said he was going to start taking off stuff.

Whoa. Time out.

You've asked "us" to help you get this engine out and in.

We don't know your random friend. I'm not sure I want to be picking up where he left off. I'd rather not have him start taking the car apart. No offense. Maybe your friend is a great mechanic. But, "too many hands" and all that.

Somebody needs to be in charge of this project. And if it's not going to be you... since it's happening in my garage, I'd prefer that it be me. I don't know Hondas well enough to be putting something together that I didn't take apart! Give me the car as it sits. Running. Fully assembled. That way "we" take it apart, and "we" are going to be much more likely to have this thing back up and running Sunday.

Let's not turn this into a cluster. Unless your friend is going to be there every step of the way from start to finish... keep his fingers out of it. But, if you're asking "us FAST guys" to help you with this... let us do it!

Engine is supposed to get to Tampa Thursday - I will pick up from Advance Performance (who kindly became the shipping address) and take to Loren's after work. Will drop as many parts/supplies as have arrived

and, of course, here's the fly in the ointment...

Why are you replacing the oil pan gasket? Are they prone to leaking? Or did you just want to look inside and peek at the bearings?

Probably the only thing you can't do with the engine in the car is the rear main seal, and clutch-related stuff.

PS - the good news, it comes with timing cover and intake & exhaust manifolds, we'l need to grab the oil pan from the current engine. Thankfully, or I'd be hunting for a sh*tload more gaskets...

Ooooh, so the new engine needs an oil pan.

[Loren]

Okay, started an "event" thread: viewtopic.php?f=21&t=3486

Anybody who's got time to help this weekend (looking at you, Dassatti... and Brentnall... and Petrie... and Wheaton... and Rice... and Estep... and ...), make your plans known. We always welcome new people. We don't NEED a ton of people, but if you want to lend a hand, or learn about what we're doing... feel free to join in.

[blacksheep-1]

As Loren said a few pages ago, a running engine is worth more to you than one that sits, I went to build a "sitting" 454 chevy once...every head bolt hole on the side that the engine was laying on needed to be heli coiled..ended up tossing the block and starting over. That being said, rebuilding an old engine and improving on it's performance...even if it's only 10% is really kind of cool. Taking the time to clean the flashing off the block, mild porting and polishing, little stuff like that is labor intense, but dirt cheap...which is the whole nature of hot rodding that we are losing in this country. I was having a hard time finding a complete gasket kit for a 302 Ford..really? it's because no one builds stuff anymore.
So have fun, if you have kids get them dirty too, they'll thank you later.

[friskyflea]

I am going to see if I can get a friend to follow me to drop of the car tomorrow (Wednesday). He said he was going to start taking off stuff.

Whoa. Time out.

This was just a sentence out of order...


My friend that was going to follow me would have been a female barn friend, for me to have a ride back. All my non-autocross friends put together don't know as much as I do (now) about cars... I don't even know if I'd let them drive Chispa - they're all automatic transmission drivers and they'd strip my gears to nubs!

The "He" meant you, Loren, who had told me you'd start taking things out...

Between the car, my insurance company and stray dogs I've been juggling flaming machetes with one hand tied behind my back...

Sorry about the poor composition and lack of proofreading.

[Loren]

I am going to see if I can get a friend to follow me to drop of the car tomorrow (Wednesday). He said he was going to start taking off stuff.

Whoa. Time out.

This was just a sentence out of order...

Much ado about nothing.

[friskyflea]

Yeah, I'm pretty much putting this in your hands - I let the resident chefs call the shots in the kitchen, especially when it's not my own.

[Loren]

I wish you had more time to be involved in the process, just because I know you'd like to be. But, we'll get it done. Looks like the weather is even going to be nice for it.