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k24a4 stand alone help

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39K views 24 replies 5 participants last post by  crash02  
#1 ·
New here, but not to forums. I'm swapping a ebay motor (k24a4 03 accord) into my sand rail and wanted to know which engine harness to get for simplicity? donor vehicles? I will modify the harness as needed to run the motor to/from the engine and ecm. I purchased a ecm from canada out of a 03 m/t 2.4l accord(part# 37820RAAA21) , I know I have the immobilizer to figure out but don't washy to spend the cash on a stand alone ecm(yet). Trying to keep this project as low cost as I can for now.
Ive read that the rsx type s is perfered but why not the stock accord engine harness?
The engine will be paired with a old school vw bus trans (absolutely no sensors or electronics).here is a pick of the Buggy and trans, the motor should be here in about a week.
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Here is my motor,I am in th process of removing all that is unnecessary for my application. It will be completely visible once in the Buggy so I would like it to look simple and clean.
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Could I effectively run this engine with the stock m/t ecu(immobilizer bypassed) and the stock engine harness?
Eventually I will get a hondata or aem standalone ecu. All help appreciated, thank you in advanced
 
#2 ·
How about this,any reason why I can't just use the stock accord engine harness with the k24a4 ecu(raa-a21) from a manual accord? Nothing will be hooked up to any tranny sensors.I understand I will get codes but just don't want a limp mode. I'll get a aem stand alone ecu or hondata k-pro when I get the extra cash.
not looking for anything but stock power out of a k24a4 for now.
 
#3 ·
I have never tried to do anything like this but I am worried that you will be in limp mode b/c of the Vehicle Speed Sensor will not be communicating stuff from the trans to the ECU. You will be pretty limited in the mixing and matching department when you try to use the stock ECU.

Maybe make it mid engine and you can run a K-series transmission?
 
#5 ·
Yeah that's a good article. I get that magazine every month :up:

You need a universal conversion harness and it's not too complicated if you keep it organized. But you need a 02-04 RSX K20A2 (Type S 6-speed) or K20A3 (5-speed Base model) Engine Harness and a few of the K24 sensors and/or plugs spliced into the harness.

The ECU you have may be a good candidate for a Kpro install. You can go to hondata.com and cross reference the 3 letter code to check.

You will need to address the possibility of using that VW trans. You can try to contact Hondata and check. But I think you might be chasin a hassle. I say you Integrate a K series trans......plus shifting and axles.
 
#6 ·
The factory ECUs have immobilizers on them, so if you use them, you will need a bypass, or the key/ign from the car that the engine/ecu came from.

The pin-outs for the engine harness are different on the ECU side, so you want to get an engine harness that matches the ECU. No one uses the K24A4 ecu because it can not be modified. That is why everyone uses the K20A2 engine harnesses.

You need K-pro or AEM EMS to disable some of the sensors you will not be using.

Looks like a fun project. If I lived in SoCal or Vegas I would be all over one of these builds :)
 
#8 ·
I was just going to look on hondata to see if the ecu was programmable.thank you for saving me time. Yes they are tons of fun,I just sold my old school Buggy with a carbureted 1835 vw motor,too fund this new build. The k24a4 motor is on its way and I can't wait to get the whole thing up and running. I will be referring back here for motor upgrades in the near future,I just need to get everything squared away first.thank you guys
 
#7 ·
I came I'm contact with s guy who does these, he said to use a 02-04 rsx-s harness and ecu.he gave me a price of 530 for the harness and ecu(before it is sent to hondata for the Offroad tune). I was hopping to keep it on the cheap with stock parts and then when I had enough cash I would send in the ecu to hondata.
 
#9 ·
Ok so I just bought 03 rsx ecu(pnd-a07) and an engine harness off an 03 rsx type s 6 speed for 305 total on ebay. I will send this off to hondata for the k-pro when I get the extra cash.
one more thing,I know this is a wiring/electrical thread but...will k20 header work on a k24a4 head?
 
#13 ·
I know you can get rid of the IACV and Evap Purge System. But I know you need that TPS (the one removed on the TB in the picture). There may be a few other sensors that can be deleted but I think you need them all.

Are you still trying to use that Bug trans?
 
#14 ·
I have a new tps coming, the original broke before I got the motor.I'm got rid of the iacv then pulled the hard lines and plugged them on the tb,I bought the egr plate but them decided to build my own water neck/egr piece with outlet coolant line only.similar to the k tuned one.I will eventual pull all hard lines/nipples and put an fittings in there place.lots to do on the list just a matter of getting time. I will be using the vw bus trans still, and am in contact with a somewhat local guy who runs k series motors in his buggies and built the adapter kit for this motor to trans combo.he also told me he has an Offroad tune they use, but I will trailer it to a dyno/tuner for the best results.
 
#18 ·
Check out some threads on different intake manifolds. You can get a RBC (06-10 Civic Si) for around $200 shipped and gain some top end ponies....and it will react better to any mods you add later. There are other options but the RBC is good bang for the buck. I got one on my type R swap.....it almost a minimum standard for k series guys now days.
 
#24 ·
Just an update...
I followed hondata's wiring and eliminated the o2 sensor/heater relays and moved altL(blue/white) from connector b (iirc) to a indicator bulb directly. I kept the 03 rsx-s harness intact with the exception of the ckp connector,freeing up the ect connector to reach the ect sensor, and ridding all the plastic extras. Fuel system is in place and will hopefully finish up my switches/dash tomorrow and start it for the first time.