Need Suggestions, The Wagon May Have Died!

[Rich's_Alice]

I think the wagon could be dead. Had the timing gear / water pump service done about three weeks ago at the local Honda dealer. Driving home yesterday hear an unpleasant noise of some sort of friction, next came the burning smell and she quit before I could get off the road. Had her towed back to the dealer and am awaiting the bad news.

I am really between a rock and a hard place because I'm totally at the mercy of the dealer's honest/morality (when was the last time you heard all those words in one sentence???) if they did something during the repair to cause this.

So, hedging the bet that I am about to get some really bad news like a bearing is spun or seized, what are my options when it comes to short/long block or a rebuild? I thought I read somewhere several years ago that you didn't rebuild these engines and that blocks had to be replaced.

I would appreciate any thoughts on how to proceed if the motor is dead. I am not ready to give up on the car because of the gas mileage and the utility of the little wagon. However, because of cost, I will probably have to do the swap myself if that is what is necessary.

Thanks for the help,

Rich

[ALTEC(HSX)]

ok call me the most retarded stupid klutz nooby idiot guy and tell me now...when u say a wagon u mean a hatch?

[Rich's_Alice]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ALTEC(HSX) @ Nov 16 2005, 10:59 AM) [snapback]96187[/snapback]</div>

ok call me the most retarded stupid klutz nooby idiot guy and tell me now...when u say a wagon u mean a hatch?
[/b]

I wouldn't do that. It is a 91 Civic Wagon, like a hatch, but taller.

Civic Wagon

[steronz]

there's nothing about the engines that make them un-re-build-able, it's just that they're so cheap there's no point (unless you can do everything yourself). you'd spend $1000 having a shop rebuild the d16a6 back to stock specs, but you'd spend $150 or less for a used d-series in good shape. if you want to be sure to get something with low miles, you can get a JDM ZC for $300-$500 (depending on which ZC) and it would have roughly 50,000 miles on it.

you're limited in what you can drop in if you want to keep the AWD system, but any d-series motor built between 1988 and 2000 will work, although with newer engines you'll need to do some wiring changes.

[Rich's_Alice]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(steronz @ Nov 16 2005, 11:48 AM) [snapback]96194[/snapback]</div>

there's nothing about the engines that make them un-re-build-able, it's just that they're so cheap there's no point (unless you can do everything yourself). you'd spend $1000 having a shop rebuild the d16a6 back to stock specs, but you'd spend $150 or less for a used d-series in good shape. if you want to be sure to get something with low miles, you can get a JDM ZC for $300-$500 (depending on which ZC) and it would have roughly 50,000 miles on it.

you're limited in what you can drop in if you want to keep the AWD system, but any d-series motor built between 1988 and 2000 will work, although with newer engines you'll need to do some wiring changes.
[/b]

Mine is only two wheel drive and I don't really care to much about more horsepower. For $500+ incidentals, it is definitely worth it to keep this car. While I was waiting for the tow truck I stared at the engine thinking about the swap and it just didn't seem too bad using original equipment. However, you've kind of got me going on a newer engine. How extensive are the wiring mods? Any issues with emissions on a newer d-series?

I really appreciate the help and suggestions. I have some reading points now I can search on and get familiar with.