Anyone? Are timing chain and gears changed with a vtec swap?

 

If we're still discussing your 1996 vintage car, then there was no timing chain back then, the engine used a timing belt.

 

Um, I'm aware of that thanks! Question was about the timing belt and timing gear. Is vtec belt and gear the same as non vtec?

 

Why go through the trouble of swapping cylinder heads, where you can get an ECU for the vtec and wire up the vtec and maybe change a few wires?

 

I think I will go the vtec route in this case. Where can I find the details for what exactly I need to complete this project? Just ecu and harness and wire up solenoid?? Thanks!! Also when I get the vtec ecu does it have to be from a manual transmission? That's what I have... or will an automatic ecu be the same?

 

You will need an ECU that matches the trans, unless you want to get in further and modify an auto ECU to a manual ECU.

Yes, you will then need to run new wires to the ECU or get a harness.

To me, didn't re-read the whole thread......do we know if just the head was swapped or the whole engine? I ask because on the non-vtec blocks, on the head deck there is an oil control "plug" that has to be removed when you install a vtec head, it allows oil to flow into the head and "actuate" the vtec parts/pieces.

 

I will get a manual ECU for the VTech and keep it manual I am still trying to figure out how much of the engine has been changed the valve cover has VTEC on the valve cover. And with Vtec solenoid that is of course unplugged the next number below it shows only H22. The next below that number says F22B only.. the solenoid has a bolt where this pressure switch goes and was told this kind of model engine was a JDM and the unit with a pressure switch is USMD

 

Again, my bad for jumping into a thread that I have not really been following,,,,,,PA and others have it handled. My bad for joining the party late.

The 96-97 do not use the pressure switch on the solenoid like the 94-95....hence your "cyl head" switch does not have that pressure switch but the solenoid still has the wire.

Again, in my tiny head the biggest question is the block......was it just a head swap that was done or did they do a complete engine swap? If it was just the head, 99% sure they would have left the "plug" in the block deck

If it was the whole engine, then a new ECU and a few wires and you are good to go.

If you have an oil pressure tester, or can get a loaner from a parts store. You could go through the testing and see if you are getting oil pressure to the vtec solenoid....if you are then the oil "plug" is removed and you are good to go. If not, then the plug is still there and to get vtec working the head has to come off and that "plug" removed.

 

And just to add, the F22 block is shared between the vtec and the non-vtec engines. Only the head and it's assorted parts were changed, including distributor (2 different models depending on the engine used). I know, as I'm running into this crap on my 97 Accord with a F22B2 engine (vtec is a F22B1 engine). Don't get me started on what the parts houses are using to define stuff either, as I don't think they have a clue either.

As for the timing belts (yes there's 2 of them, as 1 is a balance shaft belt), they used the same belts for either engine. It's just which timing mark you use that defines the timing of the cam (found this info in the FSM). The F22b2 uses the front marks, while the F22B1 (vtec) uses the rear marks on the cam gear.
I hope this helps.

 

When the heads are swapped do all the parts that the belt runs on changed too? Example- water pump, tensioner (if it has one), coil (mine is external mounted off to the side of the engine), or that little round gear thing with teeth all arou d it that is mounted on right side of head? Opposite side of dizzy.. Sorry don't know what's it's called... but I appreciate your help.