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Dijinnie's jdm k20a em2 build

25972 Views 125 Replies 9 Participants Last post by  Dijinnie
Okay so i finally started getting parts for my swap. I still have about 1200 dollars worth of parts to get before i start work however, Here is what i've amassed so far.

Here's the motor before they shipped it to me



Mount kit just came in today 2/27/2013



Engine and Charge Harness i bought off TravisRSX, thanks again buddy!





Shifter Cables



Okay now this next part is where im going to show some of the wiring i've done already, I've decided i dont feel like paying 300 dollars for the hybrid conversion harness, and i've been wiring stuff since i was like 12 years old so i have a good understanding of how that works. Plus the diagrams that xproductions made is super super easy to understand.

C101 connector, i already switched the plugs around according to the diy





Thats it for now i will post pics of parts as i get them.
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So i got a few more pictures

First is my subframe, 100% free part (long story)



And today i was putting the harness i got which is from a base model rsx i got from TravisRSX on here.

The motor i have is a JDM k20a should be k20a3 from rsx equivalent from what i understand.

Im finding a few differences in the harness though, on both the Engine and Charge Harness.



You can see where they cut the JDM one out



Here's the one i got from Travis. I circled the differences in the JDM one.

Everything i circled is 100% different from what Travis gave me. Wondering if anyone knows or can tell me what it is.



So what i have circled in green is the male connector to what is circled green above. There is no connector here on this one because i pulled it off and put it on here... (also i labeled it k20a charge harness, its actually the engine harness was too tired when i edited the pictures.)



Here's a picture of the starter and the knock sensor, wondering if anyone thinks i should replace that sensor.



Now here is where one of the different parts this is the JDM k20a charge harness...



The wire with the metal connector there plugs into here....



Anyone know what that is or why that wire is there?

Very last thing is i have an extra plug on the Engine harness that isn't there on the JDM engine harness. Here's what im talking about.



Thats the base model engine harness with 2 clips, i BELIEVE that both clips are for the vtec solenoid not sure though.

here is the JDM clip, it has the same color wires going into it as the same labeled one above.



That is all for now if anyone could address my questions i would greatly appreciate it.
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I've been looking through USDM service manuals and i think i have found my answer, It looks like the starter that i have looks more like a k20a2 starter. the a3 starter has a plug in a different place.

Also the 2 clips on the back i believe are both for the vtec solenoid but again im not 100% positive yet. still doing research.
Welcome:up:

Where are you located? I'm curious why you bought a "JDM" base RSX motor rather than a USDM k-series motor?
I live in texas and i bought JDM because its what i found for the best deal to be honest. Kinda regretting it a tiny bit but i dont feel like the differences arent ones that cant be overcome.

I HOPE im correct.

I've found out by searching so far that the starters are completely different from JDM k20a to USDM k20a3.

the USDM k20a3 has a wire that connects directly from engine wire harness to the S terminal on the starter. the JDM one has this extra clip goes to the same place ultimately. (they call it S terminal in the service manual)

the JDM starter is closer to the USDM k20a2 or k20z1 starter BUT the S terminal is on the back instead of the front.

I figured out the vtec plugs, wondering if i have to change solenoids to get it to work right with the USDM PND-A06 ECU.

Working on figuring out why the USDM connector from engine harness to Charge harness has 8 pins where the JDM one has 5 pins.

the USDM has a 3rd connector near the Altenator i cant figure out just yet. Thats where the extra 3 wires on the USDM one go.

I just REALLY need to figure out what that extra connector is for.
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So here's what im looking at in the USDM Service manuals.





So the letter marked B is one of the wires i was confused about on the charge harness its the black wire with the white stripe.

My starter looks more like the k20a2 one here's another pic.





As you can see what i have circled in red is where the wire labled B plugs into.

So i've pretty much answered all of my own questions so far but i STILL cant find any information on this last plug...

If ANYONE knows what this last plug is for Please Please let me know! I have it circled in green here

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hey dude, i have no idea on that plug. i bought a wire worx engine harness, and built my own charge harness. can't say i've came accross that plug before.
I was looking through the service manuals and found out what it is. Looks like the TPS sensor on the type-s but its on the left side of the intake manifold and they have a different name for it.

Pretty sure though that my motor doesnt have this sensor. Hoping i can just leave it there and not have to get a new manifold. But if i have to get a new manifold i wont use that composite pos anymore.

its called "IMT (IMRC) valve position sensor" i believe

cant post pics at work but i will when i get home
Just get a $200 USDM engine harness and be done with this...???

I still don't understand how you got a JDM engine cheaper than a USDM engine. USDM K20a3 motors can be had for under $500.
Just get a $200 USDM engine harness and be done with this...???

I still don't understand how you got a JDM engine cheaper than a USDM engine. USDM K20a3 motors can be had for under $500.
I have the USDM engine harness and charge harness.

I got the motor with 54k miles on it, had a 5 speed transmission already on it as well all for $1895 shipped to my house, which my grandma paid for lol.

Rest of the parts comes out of my pocket.

When you say they can be had for 500 dollars are you talking about just the long block or the whole entire unit like i got? I got everything except for the harness downpipe ecu shift cables, basically they just cut all the lines and wires and the down pipe.
I have the USDM engine harness and charge harness.

I got the motor with 54k miles on it, had a 5 speed transmission already on it as well all for $1895 shipped to my house, which my grandma paid for lol.

Rest of the parts comes out of my pocket.

When you say they can be had for 500 dollars are you talking about just the long block or the whole entire unit like i got? I got everything except for the harness downpipe ecu shift cables, basically they just cut all the lines and wires and the down pipe.
The exhaust manifold, downpipe and ECU are basically worthless if you plan to mod the engine....so I wouldn't consider that a bonus. Honestly, I think you might have overpaid for that motor...and it will likely end up costing you more over time as you upgrade it.

Salvage yards and forum classifieds are a great place to find used motors at a great price. You would have had no problem finding something relatively local to you in TX.
The exhaust manifold, downpipe and ECU are basically worthless if you plan to mod the engine....so I wouldn't consider that a bonus. Honestly, I think you might have overpaid for that motor...and it will likely end up costing you more over time as you upgrade it.

Salvage yards and forum classifieds are a great place to find used motors at a great price. You would have had no problem finding something relatively local to you in TX.

Well i guess the good thing is that it was a birthday present from the grandparents :)
Well i guess the good thing is that it was a birthday present from the grandparents :)
I wish I could help you with your wiring dilemma, but the electrical stuff is something that I haven't gotten serious about learning:(
I wish I could help you with your wiring dilemma, but the electrical stuff is something that I haven't gotten serious about learning:(
Im workin my way through it slowly. I will find the answer and post it up for future people who plan to do the work as well.

Here's what i've found so far...



That shows the plug i was talking about, its number 11 in the picture.



Says here its for the IMT (IMRC) valve position sensor

which made me search further and i found this....



I believe this is where my mystery plug goes, however i dont know if my motor has it or not, im unfortunate enough to live about 40 miles away from where everything is stored and the work will be done.

After reading a bit more though i found this which makes me concerned a bit, looks like 2 different things but my motor for SURE has this plug.



but again that looks to me to be on a completely different place then the sensor itself.
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I've been reading a lot about o2 sensor wiring for a while and today i was bored so i started reading xproductionz guide again and was having trouble keeping it straight in my head.

I made this to help me....i THINK i have it correct....



feel free to comment if you see anything wrong with it.
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Found this from when i bought the motor.

Got intake and radiator coming in today, so i been going over my parts list and making sure i have everything covered before i start my work. I think i've got it all figured out but just going over fuel lines and heater hoses today and just looking for some input.

Heater hoses first. Looks like i can use the civic outlet hose but the inlet hose for the civic is much longer. Probably just going to buy the rsx one to make it easier but i'd like to know what you guys have done.

Now for the fuel lines. The xproductionz guide says to bend the pipes at the firewall to face like the RSX ones which is fine, worries me a bit to do this because of the possibility of kinking the pipe but shouldnt be a problem.

After bending the pipes what do you guys usually do? Do you keep and reuse the Civic fuel lines or buy the RSX ones? Im thinking im probably gonna buy the RSX ones but if you guys have successfully reused the civic ones that'd be nice to know, save about 75 bucks or so.
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So This happened......



thats not the board that maimed me thankfully :D build wont be able to happen for at least 3 to 6 months :cry:
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Finally ordered the last of the parts/tools i need to start the swap, good thing too the D17 now has 222400 miles and is pouring oil out of the valve cover gasket and the transmission is super loud feels like its going to die any day. Work should start beginning of march lots of pics coming soon.
What gives the k20a 20 more HP than the k20a2? Is it in the cams or the ecu?
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