Or do you wire the OBD-I dist to the OBD-II ECU?

 

Other than the lx not being vtec i've read that they are the same but can I change ecu with out changing engine harness?

 

Now I'm getting confused......you started with a 97 EX and a 95 EX engine. Now it looks like you have a 97 EX and a 97 LX engine. Me the EX to EX would have been the easy one.

I'll have to see if I can find the pinouts for the ecu on the ex to lx and see if it is just a matter of changing the ECU or if wires have to be moved.....a good place for things like this: pgmfi.org • Index page

 

I don't know whether the 97 LX was the same engine (VTEC) as the 97 EX. If it's not, then I'd do EX to EX. But you'll have to be concerned about OBD1 vs. OBD2.

 

Sorry for the confusion. I have the opportunity to buy a 95 ex parts car, I have a 97 lx parts car already thats wrecked. I hear of people adding vtec (especially on civics) but not usually the other way around. That's why I thought buying the 95 ex would be a better way to go. I don't care about the hp or performance difference between vtec or non vtec I just need a car that gets me where I need to go.

 

So I take it the 97 LX is non-VTEC? That was my confusion. In later years the LX was VTEC, so I figured if your 97 LX was VTEC then it would have been a direct swap.

SO...
Now it's between 95 EX or 97 LX as the donor. I would've thought the simplest way is to use the 97 LX but you should use the 97 LX ECM to match the engine.

If you want to keep VTEC, then use the 95 EX but swap over all the engine sensors from your 97 EX. That way you don't have to change your car's wiring harness over to OBD-1.

 

Yes, the lx is non vtec. Can I keep the original harness in my car and just leave the plug for vtec unhooked? I know I would need to change ECM from the lx but was concerned the harness wouldn't work. Thanks for the replies.

 

Yes, I'm pretty sure you can do that. In fact, you might be able to sell the engine harness from the EX engine to someone who wants to swap a VTEC into their LX.