2010
02.27

Pressured by the soaring prices of gasoline, the world finds itself in a state of emergency, and this brings to attention the significance and need for hybrid vehicles. The demand for the phenomenal cost-saving idea is born from consumers who are, in these harsh times, trying to find ways to eliminate, or at least reduce expenses on transportation, and it all adds up to gasoline efficiency and such so is the search for cost-efficient vehicles. Car buyers were quick to show positive interest when Honda released a range of hybrid cars and this raised the demands magnificently for these types of vehicles.


At the moment, the Honda Civic Hybrid is the lead hybrid vehicle manufactured by Honda Motor Company Limited – a giant Japanese car company. Nevertheless this car is a next-generation development, and thus not the first of its kind in the hybrid vehicle domain. Preceding the Honda Civic Hybrid, Honda initially revealed the Honda Insight, a fuel-efficient two-seater. Naturally, sedan being the most popular among people’s car choices, Honda quickly designed and created a vehicle combing both economy and efficiency with the sleek outcome of a sedan car. The Honda Civic Hybrid was the eventual outcome.


Vehicles that use hydrogen fuel cells as a source of power like the Honda Civic Hybrid are expected to be the cars of the future, and belief is that these cars will soon consume the car industry given the fact that consumers hungrily await the era in which these vehicles become the market norm. For the moment, hybrids remain, even so to be visibly potential. The idea of combining the functionality and power of electrically-driven motors with diesel and gasoline based motors is the eventual and successful result contained in the Honda Civic Hybrid along with other vehicles that induce hybrid-technology.


With the physical form of a straightforward four-door, the Honda Civic Hybrid demonstrates and achieves the complete functionality and uses just like any other sedan. Most owners and interest-driven people admit that the Honda Civic Hybrid provides a practical experience and quality functionality, mirroring the original Civic range, that being the base-model that the hybrid vehicles are modeled on. In a nutshell, the Honda Civic Hybrid is just a recreation of the widely prevailing Honda Civic, but with hybrid technology.


The Honda Civic Hybrid vehicle has a seductive interior and exterior design which attracts a lot of buyers. Compared to the Honda Insight, this car is larger in aspects of length and width, and is even lowered slightly. By this the car maintains a maximum result of economy-efficiency and better performance. Considering the design of the Toyota Prius and the Honda Insight, both of which are hybrid vehicles, the designs implement significant physical methods to prevent the wind tunnel system from negating the enhanced features proposed by these cars, and so Honda assures that the Honda Civic Hybrid is modeled around this factor.

Popularity: 5% [?]

2010
02.25

Men have an almost obsession like love for the cars they possess, especially if theyâ??ve saved for a long time to buy it. Youâ??ll find people washing their cars on weekends, rubbing them with car-wax for hours on till the car is shining like it has just been delivered from the showroom, but looking like new isnâ??t enough, when you can keep the car working like new. The key to good performance is regular servicing, good quality Honda fuel filter and Honda alternator.

The fuel filter is a vital component that regulates the fuel flow and fuel quality that reaches the engine. The Honda fuel filter keeps out the muck and impurities from reaching the engine and prevents the engine from accumulating garbage that causes it to falter. If the fuel filter is dirty you canâ??t expect the car to perform well, in fact over time a dirty fuel filter will fail to stop engine damage and your car will be affected.

Thatâ??s why you need to change your carâ??s fuel filter regularly. Luckily itâ??s not an expensive component and changing it is recommended at least once every year. If you treat your car like a race-car, then you can do that twice a year too. You can take your car to a service-shop to get the Honda fuel filter changed, or if youâ??re mechanically inclined, you can even do it yourselves if youâ??ve got a few tools. If youâ??ve got experience, you can even change the Honda alternator.

If your car falters while starting up or gives uneven performance, the Honda fuel filter is the first place you should look for trouble. If it doesnâ??t start-up at all, you should check the Honda alternator.

The alternator is another vital component, and while it has nothing to do with drive-quality, it servers a very vital feature: that of keeping your carâ??s battery charged up. If your Honda alternator ceases to function properly, your battery will not get charged and some fine day youâ??ll find the car just wonâ??t start up. Thatâ??s why the alternator too must be checked periodically along with the fuel filter, though it doesnâ??t need to be replaced that often.

Honda cars are one of the most modern and feature rich vehicles and with and if youâ??ve read your carâ??s user manual youâ??ll know that thereâ??s a light on your console that gets lit if the Honda alternator isnâ??t working and your carâ??s battery isnâ??t charged. If this happens, get your car checked up immediately. The battery could run out before you know and you could be stranded. Thatâ??s worse than having a bad fuel-filter that gives you plenty of warning before the engine fails.

The alternator needs to be changed less frequently than a Honda fuel-filter, and itâ??s a more complex component, thatâ??s why the Honda alternator is more expensive too. These days you can buy a compatible alternator or a refurbished one if you want to save money. But the OEM parts are best-suited for a car, and thatâ??s what you should get if you can afford it.

Honda fuel filter and Honda alternator are not user-serviceable parts, thatâ??s why theyâ??re not usually repaired by service mechanics. If your mechanic is asking you to get a replacement, get one in the interest of your car.

For more resources regarding Honda Fuel Filter or even about Honda alternator, please review this page http://www.pdmautoparts.com

Popularity: 5% [?]

2010
02.23

Popularity: 5% [?]

2010
02.21

Honda snowblowers are powerful workers, as are all other products from Honda. Honda is one of the biggest names in the automobile and electrical manufacturing industry. The company is a top provider of automobiles, motorcycles, and outdoor power equipment. The company currently has a wide array of generators, lawnmowers, pumps, tillers, trimmers, snow blowers, and accessories for these same products.

A Closer Look at Honda Snowblowers

Honda snowblowers are impressively loaded with a wide array of breakthrough features that can deliver superior snow clearing performance whatever snow conditions you may be faced with. Honda currently offers four series of snow blowers, ranging from lightweight basic models to heavy and powerful snow workers. These snow blowers can tackle anywhere from light snow to even the heaviest snow level. The important thing is to find the best model for your snow profile. If your snow clearing needs are quite basic, single-stage Honda snowblowers will do the trick. Honda single-stage models are lightweight, easy to operate, easy to store, and can handle mild to moderate snow coverage with no problem at all. If you have bigger snow clearing needs, the two-stage snow blowers may be what you need. These heavy-duty snow blowers are still flexible and adjustable but are designed to plow through the heaviest snow coverage thanks to the common serrated augers featured in all the two-stage models. Honda now offers ten different models under these series, with all models meeting CARB and EPA emission requirements.

Honda HS520A and HS520AS: Size Does Not Matter

The HS520A is a basic single-stage snow thrower from Honda. It comes in a lightweight and compact design that’s easy to store and to maneuver. It has a 20-inch clearing with and can throw snow up to 26 feet away. It comes with a powerful 4-stroke Honda OHC engine that can start easily and tackle the job at hand with ease. The HS520AS is the electric start version of the same model with an additional 120-Volt AC electric starter. Both units come with semi-self-propelled auger drive systems and have the capacity to clear up to 50 tons of snow in an hour.

Honda Two-Stage Snow Blowers: Get the Heavy Work Done

Honda two-stage snow blowers are around to help you get heavy snow out of the way. One of their models is the HS724WA, a self-propelled snow machine with an infinitely variable hydrostatic drive. It is equipped with an easy-start Honda OHV commercial-grade engine. The machine can clear up to 46.3 tons of snow per hour with its 24″ inch clearing width and 20″ clearing height per pass. Another model is the HS724TA, which has the same features but adds a special Track drive that provides better traction and an additional pedal-adjustable auger height. It can clear up to 50.7 tons of snow per hour. If you want something with a higher capacity, check out the HS928WA, which has a 28″ clearing width, a 20″ clearing height, and can clear up to 55 tons of snow per hour. This model also comes with a 120-volt AC electric starter. This model is similar to the HS928TA, but the latter does not have an electric starter.

For heavier work, you may want to check out the HS1132TA, which has the same range of features but comes with a work light standard, can clear 32-inch wide paths and 20-inch high snow depths, and can throw up to 71 tons of snow per hour. This model also comes in a variant that has the similar features but with an added electric starter.

Pros: Powerful and reliable Honda engines, electric starters, excellent snow-clearing capacity.

Cons: Some models are quite expensive, and the models are fairly simple and do not has as many features as other models from other brands.

The Verdict

Honda snowblowers are powerful workers that give consumers and prosumers single-stage and two-stage options for snow clearing needs. Whatever type you go for, a Honda would offer you quality.

You can find more about <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=”http://www.snow-blower-guide.com/honda-snowblowers.html”>Honda Snowblowers</a> on our <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=”http://www.snow-blower-guide.com/”>Best Snow blower Reviews</a> website.</p>

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Popularity: 5% [?]

2010
02.19

Soichiro Honda is an exemplary leader. He was a simple man and people followed him as he inspired them. He was a person with vision and passion. Honda created the vision – a view of the future that excited people and directed them toward the goal: ‘With a clear vision that is communicated to the company, a strategy and purpose becomes clear and a concerted effort towards reaching logical goals becomes possible. Along with that vision comes the ability to carefully assess the importance of the technology being developed and a balanced picture of its impact upon the market to which it is addressed. That careful assessment might result in the abandonment of a product or company structure early on, and prevent the loss of precious time and money, or it may just as well focus the efforts of the forming company and play a key role in its growth’. (Collins & Lazier 1993, pp. 61-75)

Soichiro Honda’s management style differed from Japanese business traditions by emphasizing individual achievement rather than company’s harmony. He hired creative people and promoted research that resulted in technological innovation. Soichiro Honda worked alongside his employees with an enthusiasm that inspired them to perform better. His unique leadership has allowed the Honda Motor Company to become a world power in the automotive industry. Now, it is necessary to analyze components of effective leadership – team work and team building, organizational culture, and motivation in connection with Honda’s leadership style.

Soichiro Honda was a true leader who had the ability to create a healthy working atmosphere within the team. In reality, team work success does not happen without hard work of a manager – leader. Honda focused efforts and activities of a team for achieving the desired goal – effective and successful team work. He set clear goals and everyone accepted them. Soichiro Honda demanded practical results, and he knew how to achieve these results. He learned to see failures as necessary steps toward success. He instilled in his employees the drive to learn without fear of failure, having built the road to success.

Popularity: 5% [?]

2010
02.15

It is necessary to analyze the way Honda created it within his corporation. Soichiro Honda had the clear aim and created a trustworthy atmosphere in the company. His employees soon came to understand that poor performance would not be tolerated. People recognized his total determination to succeed and to establish an engineering business. Honda was a true leader with vision and passion. He was sufficiently aware of his own managerial shortcomings.

The employees called Honda ‘Mr. Thunder’ for his bursts of anger in answer to their mistakes. His employees loved him but they were afraid of his anger. Honda was not a perfect man. He admitted his mistakes: ‘When I look back at my work I understand I have made mistakes – many blunders, serious omissions. However, I am proud of my achievements. Although I made one mistake after the other, these mistakes and failures did not happen in connection with one and the same thing.’ (Peters & Waterman 1982) As a transformational leader Honda tended to see the big picture, but not the details.

Motivation is one of the major concepts of the human resource management. The research of motivation and its necessity for organization is closely connected with the Behavioral Management that arouse at the end of the Scientific Management era. Human resource management views an employee not as a machine but as a personality with its own goals and aspirations. The objective of managers is to build relationships in which workers would see themselves working with the manager, rather than working for a manager. Motivation can be defined as the process of arousing, directing, and maintaining behavior toward a goal. He points out that people are motivated to fulfill their needs. Companies view workers as being interdependent, meaning, managers cannot do their job without workers, and workers depend on their managers. Consequently, instead of management treating employees like machines, organizations should take a genuine interest in the employee and help them reach their goals. Human resource management supposes that if employees are happier at work the production would increase.

Soichiro Honda placed human initiative and attention to all workers on the first place. He tried to create a better environment for his employees, attract specialists and motivate them to do their work in the best possible way. Honda paid much attention to experimental work and did not accept attempts to control him or his corporation via the traditional caste system. He was the innovator and was against the hierarchy management structure: ‘On the whole, people work better if they are not forced and controlled.’ (Peters & Waterman 1982) This thought is proven by psychologists and new styles of management are very effective and should be used by others.

Honda understood that encouraging his worker’s personal development, their wish for self-actualization will bring him success in business. He was a passionate person. Honda did not admit defeat and could risk everything he had achieved for the sake of his beliefs and ideas. He is the embodiment of persistence. Soichiro Honda was a man with modern mentality and readiness to risk in order to invent something new. He is the example of persistence, modesty, and the ability to see his own mistakes as the most valuable achievements.

Popularity: 5% [?]

2010
02.13

Are you worried about how high gas prices are affecting your budget? Is caring for the environment important to you? Do you want a reasonably priced car that looks great and is fun to drive? The 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid is the car for you.

This hybrid vehicle uses both a gas powered engine and an electric motor. This combination gives its owner better gas mileage. It also helps with air pollution since emissions are lower. The 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid is a 4 door, 5 passenger sedan that achieves 40 mpg in the city and 45 mpg on the highway. You don’t have to sacrifice looks to get the great gas mileage.

The interior and exterior features mirror the Honda Civic. This car comes with Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™* with voice recognition, and a 160 watt cd audio system. The exterior is described as futuristic and sleek. Long windshields and a rear deck spoiler add to the modern look. You will be saving money and commuting in style.

Safety is an important factor when purchasing a vehicle. The 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid has side curtain airbags, dual stage airbags in the front, side impact beams, anti lock braking, the latch system for child safety seats and a tire pressure monitoring system. You will never have to plug this car in to recharge its battery, it doesn’t need special gas and it comes with same warranties as a regular Honda. Prices range from 22,600 to 24,350.

You can find out more information about Hybrid Cars at www.prohybrid.com along with video news, reviews, and tools such as price quotes and an automotive loan calculator.

Popularity: 4% [?]

2010
02.10

What and Why
The V6 Accord is nice. Your mom appreciates it for its torque and creamy-smooth 240 hp, but some of us still believe Honda’s heart beats four cylinders at a time. For those like us, the best Accord, the JDM one with H22 power, was right under our noses. Honda built them in Marysville, Ohio, and shipped them home so fast, we never even noticed. From ‘94 to ‘97, U.S. VTEC Accords came with an F22B1 with 145 hp and 147 lb-ft of torque, and non-VTEC cars made due with 130 hp (F22B2). A VTEC Prelude of the same vintage came with the stellar H22 at 190 hp and 158 lb-ft of torque.

Lucky for us, Hasport invites both to the party to create a no-brainer engine swap. A 30-percent increase in horsepower and an 8-percent increase in torque is peachy, especially considering that’s with a stock H22. The tuning potential of the H22 makes the idea even more enticing–now we have a sleeper. Brian Gillespie and his team at Hasport used their encyclopedic knowledge of all things Honda to iron out the details of the swap and make us believers.

Swapping an H22 into an earlier chassis
It’s actually easier. An OBD I H22 can be swapped into a ‘90-to-’93 chassis using all the stock engine mounts. The exhaust system is a direct bolt up (aside from being painfully small) with the Prelude’s downpipe and cat. Your original fuel rail will work on the H22, and you also won’t need to swap the 6 and 11 pin on the ECU. If your oldie has an automatic, you’ll need P/N 60831-SM4-300ZZ to mount the manual transmission. On the plus side, the earlier chassis is about 100 pounds lighter, and if you’re picky, you can still get four-wheel discs.

On the minus side…we’re stumped.

Picking the chassis
Accords are easy to find and relatively cheap; they also don’t enjoy the same inflated resale value of Civics. There are enough around to be picky. Just in case your mom actually gives you her slushbox Accord, you’re still in luck. Honda sells the right-side engine mount bracket you’ll need to install the manual transmission.

To narrow the playing field, steer clear of the V6 bodies, which have a longer nose and larger engine bay with different engine mount locations. Interestingly, these bodies are used in touring car racing where the transmission is configured so the axles pass in front of the engine, making a mid-engine car. Hopefully, somebody will try this out and let us know how it worked.

The Accord EX came with rear disc brakes and bigger front discs, as well as bigger anti-roll bars. Bigger brakes are good. The ABS system is totally separate from the ECU or any part of the wiring we’re interested in, so if you start with an ABS car, you’ll end up with an ABS car.

The mods to the wiring are substantial enough that finding a VTEC Accord is not going to make things much easier. Suitable model years are ‘90 to ‘97 (see sidebar). From ‘94 to ‘95, OBD I ruled both the Accord and Prelude. They both changed to OBD II in ‘96. Substantial changes in electronics accompanied the changeover, including the ECU design and wiring. What does this mean for us? If you have a ‘94-to-’95 Accord (4G), find a ‘94 to ‘95 Prelude for a donor. Likewise, a ‘96-to-’97(5G) Accord should get a ‘96-to-’97 Prelude engine and ECU.

What you need from a Prelude
· Engine/trans and all engine mounts
·ECU
· Engine wiring harness
· Half shafts
·All engine accessory drive brackets, P/S pump, alternator
·Catalytic converter, down pipe and header
·Fuel rail from ‘97 or newer Prelude
·Radiator hoses, heater hoses
·Throttle cables (for non-cruise control applications)

Picking the engine
Speaking of Preludes, we’re looking for VTEC Preludes, 1994 to 1997. There was also the H23A1, a DOHC non-VTEC engine available in the Prelude Si. In the U.S. market, no limited slip was available for any H22, and the gear ratios remained the same for all the engine/trans combinations we’re interested in.

The only H22 to avoid is from the Type SH Prelude. The brilliant torque distribution system (an electronically controlled box of clutches bolted to the block that Honda calls ATTS) replaces the intermediate shaft and its mounting bracket. The engine and transmission code to avoid is H22A4 and M2U4, respectively. Again, when someone actually swaps this in functionally, let us know.

As another option, the Accord manual transmission will bolt up and has the same internals, apart from slightly taller gearing. Taller gears may be good if you plan on forced induction. Naturally aspirated, though, assume Honda did its homework matching the H22’s power output to the transmission gearing and stick with a Prelude transmission.

As this automotive generation gets left in Japan’s junkyards, H22s are becoming more common and cheap through engine importers. If you’re able to use one, you can enjoy an extra 5 hp with the JDM ECU (find some good gas) and a limited slip. Not all H22s came with limited slips in Japan, so look through the output splines and search for a tranny you can see all the way through. If there’s a cross pin in the way, you’ll only spin one tire at a time. H22s that come from Japan may be from Accords or Preludes. It doesn’t matter much to us, but note the automatic transmission cars had only 180 hp, so beware if someone tries to give you an engine/ECU without its original transmission.

Engine removal
As preached in previous Hybrid How-To’s, arm yourself with a factory service manual. You’ll spend less on it than all the parts you’ll probably break if you don’t use it. The F22 can be removed from either the top or the bottom, but dropping it from the bottom is easier if you have a lift and engine dolly handy.

The trick is to keep the A/C system intact and in the car (including the compressor) during the swap to avoid having to refill it. With the compressor removed from the engine, string it to the lower radiator support to keep it out of harm’s way.

Keep in mind that a lot of pieces are being reused, so time is well spent making sure you have everything unhooked before you move the engine. Removing the radiator will make the engine compartment less cramped, especially if you’re working through the top of the engine compartment. Honda radiators have plastic end tanks that won’t hold up to a swinging engine. One tap and they’re toast.

Our swap victim was a very sleepy-looking ‘94 LX with a five-speed. Our H22 came complete from HAP Recycling, and it was from a ‘94 Prelude–perfect. With the two engines sitting side by side, you’ll be able to quickly piece together all the right bits.

Engine Mounts
Getting the H22 bolted in will require cutting, tweaking and general rearrangement of the stock left-side mount, or the purchase of Hasport’s part for this swap. The Hasport part is solid aluminum and comes with a polyurethane bushing, which reduces engine movement, but increases vibration compared to stock rubber. The other three mounts are based on original parts. It’s a good time to consider the original mounts you’re re-installing (hint, buy new mounts). A few decent launches will finish off any old and cracked mounts and it’s too easy of a job to pass up while the engine is out. You’ll have to use the softer Accord front mount because the stiffer Prelude mount is the wrong height–bummer. Either the Accord or the Prelude rear bracket and mount set (no mixing and matching between them) can be used, but the Prelude parts are stiffer and a wiser choice. If your car started as an automatic, you’ll need to weld in a manual transmission bracket (Honda P/N 60831-SV4-970ZZ) to the right side frame rail in place of the automatic part. Or just put the project on hold until January 2004, when Hasport produces a mount that will adapt the auto’s frame rail bracket to a manual transmission.

Wiring
To prep the wiring harness, there’s enough soldering to kill half your brain cells and plenty of work to stress out the survivors. Hasport also makes one that’s plug-and-drive. If you go the easy way, you’ll get a modified Accord harness and a separate subharness, which connects the unique VTEC guts to the H22 ECU. To tackle it yourself, get the two engines side by side, add a tasty beverage and get familiar with these mods.

·The oil pressure sender wire, while still using the Accord plug, gets extended 5 inches to reach the H22’s sender.
·The electronic air control valve is located near the middle of the fuel rail on the H22 rather than near the throttle position sensor on the F22. To accommodate, the EACV plug and its yellow/black and blue/yellow wires get moved to the center of the injector harness.
·The vehicle speed sensor plug gets moved from the front to the back on the engine, near the O2 sensor plug. Same wires, different location to fit around the H22.
·Because the distributor is closer to the coil on the Accord vs. the H22, the coil, EGR, and fan switch circuits need lengthening. While on the EGR wires, change the connector from the Accord’s 3 pin square connector to the Prelude’s round one. You can keep the same pins, but swap out the plastic connector.
·The intake air temperature sender is located at the end of the intake manifold on the H22 vs. the middle of it on the F22. Extend its red/yellow and green/white wires to fit.
· If your car didn’t come with VTEC, you’ll need to add the wiring for the air intake bypass (AIB), knock sensor, VTEC oil pressure sensor and VTEC solenoid. If your car was an EX, you will only need to add the wiring for the IAB and the knock sensor.
·The knock sensor circuit (red/blue), which isn’t there on the stock F22, is added at the same break out as the oil pressure sending wire by using the pigtail from the Prelude harness. This wire connects to the subharness and then to ECU pin D3.
·The H22’s AIB circuit that opens the short, high-rpm runners in the intake manifold also gets added by tapping the black/yellow wire from the H22’s plug to the same color wire that goes to the distributor in the Accord’s harness. This simply supplies power to the AIB solenoid. The pink signal wire goes from the AIB solenoid back to the subharness/ECU at pin A17.
·The VTEC oil pressure switch wiring will already exist on Accord EXs, but the rest of us need to add the circuit. The plug from the H22 and its light blue wire gets routed to pin D6 on the ECU. The black/red wire from the switch goes to ground.
·To hook up the VTEC solenoid, connect its green/yellow to pin A4 on the ECU.
·In a futile attempt to throw us off, Honda switched the EGR solenoid valve wire and the O2 sensor heater wire on the ECU’s A connector (pins 6 and 11) on the Prelude as compared to the Accord. Swap these two pins in the under-dash connector and thank the engineers for their effort.

Engine accessories
Getting the engine dressed with the right combination of parts will be easy if you have everything in front of you outside of the car. So resist the temptation to install the engine before you have a game plan of which parts to use. For engine accessories, it’s all H22 except for the Accord A/C compressor and compressor bracket. Mixing Prelude and Accord accessories makes either accessory drive belt unusable, but NAPA part number 25-060425 is slightly smaller (42.5 inches, six rib) and works great.

The Accord’s high-pressure power steering line will need to be cobbled to fit the H22’s pump. Replace a few inches of the Accord’s line with a piece you cut from the Prelude’s. Remember, this is the high-pressure side of the pump, which can run at about 400 times the pressure of the engine oiling system, so it’s not a connection to be made with hose clamps. Brazing or welding required.

Drivetrain
As mentioned previously, the transmissions are similar, so the Accord clutch slave connection and shifter cables fit without modification. Don’t you love how Honda makes this easy?

The Prelude half shafts are stronger and should be considered a necessity if you plan to use the extra power. The Accord’s inner CV joint has a splined shaft that engages an internally splined section of the half shaft. The Prelude’s assembly has a male spline on the half shaft that engages the beefy CV joint casing, a stronger design. Apart from this difference, the sets are dimensionally the same and you’ll have no trouble using the Prelude parts in the Accord knuckles and hubs.

Exhaust
The exhaust system is another example of the great planning (or maybe just laziness) of Honda engineers. How many engine swaps are out there where you can use all OEM parts? The Prelude already comes with a nicely made 4-2-1 header. Using the Prelude downpipe and cat, the rest of the exhaust system from a ‘90 to ‘93 Accord will bolt up.

Another option for the exhaust system is to use the Prelude SH header, which comes with an adaptor that allows you to use the original (‘94 to ‘97) exhaust system. With either approach, plenty of shops can supply a freer flowing system so the H22’s high end isn’t snuffed out.

Intake
The Accord throttle body is smaller than the Prelude part, so all that work you just did will be gasping for air right about when the VTEC switches. The Accord’s throttle body works fine for regular sedan driving. The H22 will breathe deeper, especially at high revs where the Accord engine never ventured. If you don’t need cruise control, you can use the Prelude throttle body and Prelude cables.

Unlike the Accord throttle body’s integrated MAP sensor, the Prelude’s sensor is mounted on the firewall in a mystery box. Use a MAP from a ‘90 to ‘93 Civic DX mounted to the firewall in place of the Prelude mystery box (which has other emissions control functions we don’t need). You’ll need to extend the MAP connector lead from the engine harness and come up with a piece of vacuum hose to make it all work.

To keep the cruise control, stay with an Accord-like throttle body and cables. No engine swap can be emotionally complete without a hacksaw, drill and file–here’s your chance. You’ll need a bracket to bolt the Accord’s cable support to the H22’s intake manifold. Look at the photo to see our masterpiece. A bored-out throttle body will actually be put to good use here, so send the Accord piece off to meet the machinist. To finish it off, you’ll probably want something bigger and shinier for the intake tube. If it will fit the Accord, it will fit this hybrid.

If you marked the vacuum system out well before you plucked the F22, you’ll know how to connect it to the H22. Use the vacuum system on the H22 as is, but connect the appropriate tubes to the existing ports in the engine bay.

Fuel system
When you try to hook up the fuel line, you’ll notice the Accord’s rubber line bolts onto the opposite side of the fuel rail as the Prelude. Fortunately, a ‘97 or newer Prelude fuel rail will marry the fuel systems. The part number from the dealer is 16610-PT3-A00.

Cooling
Heater hoses from a ‘96 Prelude are slightly longer than earlier Prelude or Accord pieces and will fit better. Similarly, Prelude radiator hoses are required to match up the H22. The radiator that came with the Accord will be big enough for the H22 in stock form. The H22A Accord radiator, used in JDM applications, is slightly thicker than the North American five-speed Accord radiator. The thicker radiator was also used in North American automatic transmission cars if you’re going for authenticity.

Bury that tach
The H22 wakes up the Accord in the same way a set of secondaries did to your father’s Oldsmobile. There are no annoying vibrations or driveability problems (none were expected, but this is still a full engine/trans swap). The party starts quickly at 5200 rpm (the H22’s VTEC engagement rpm) and 45 extra hp transform the Accord into something much more entertaining then the dealer ever sold. With a rev range to 8200 rpm, you can completely bury the tach (which redlines at 6200 on our ‘94) and watch your back seat drivers duck for cover. Isn’t this what engine swaps are all about?

Swap Basics

·Chassis
Sure, it used to be your mom’s car, but Mom didn’t know what she had. Double wishbones up front, lots of links in back and enough room to haul all your friends away from the scene of the crime. All it really needs is a screaming VTEC soul. It wasn’t a Go-kart from the factory, but the foundation is there. Endless chassis upgrades available for the Accord will help keep the horsepower pulling in the right direction. As one of the best-selling cars in North America since it debuted, you won’t have to look far for a project car.

·Engine
The H22 is the dream of every B16 owner wheezing through the small end of the tach. OK, the H22 still isn’t a torque monster, but with all that displacement, it can’t help but make some. The magic is at the big end, where VTEC flow and big displacement combine for a 45-hp bump more than what your mom had. Of course, being a Honda engine, there are more performance parts than you could fit in an Accord’s trunk, and just the suggestion of boost is enough to make an H22 shred tires.

·Concerns
·If you need a CARB-legal swap, find a Prelude donor car of the same generation as your Accord.
·With comparatively fewer VTEC Preludes made, and fewer wrecked, you might have to let your fingers do some walking.
·The H22, at 385 pounds for the engine, trans and axles, will add between 45 and 65 pounds to the nose of the car, depending on what your Accord had to begin with. Unless understeer is your game, you’ll want to put the nose on a diet or pick from one of the many suspension options that grace these pages to support the added weight.

Popularity: 13% [?]

2010
02.09

Honda

* 2009 Honda Civic LX-S check drive and review
* 2009 Honda Civic LX-S photo gallery

CIVIC: (photo) The front fascia has been redesigned and the taillights now have clear turn-signal lenses with amber bulbs. A new DX-VP model (sedan only) adds air conditioning and a CD player to the base-model DX for an extra $750. The LX-S adds alloy wheels, “sport-trimmed” seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, trunk spoiler and a chrome exhaust-pipe tip for an extra $600 over the mid-line LX. New standard equipment for various Civic models includes a three-spoke steering wheel (all models), electronic stability control (EX-L, Hybrid), USB audio jack (EX, EX-L, Si, Hybrid), fog lights (Si), and new alloy wheels (EX, EX-L, Si). The optional navigation process now includes Bluetooth phone connectivity, and Hybrid models can be had with an optional ($1,200) leather package similar to the seven introduced on the 2008 Civic EX-L.

CR-V: two new paint colors have been added.

CR-Z: Honda has confirmed that a sporty hybrid automobile is in the pipeline, though no production timeline has been announced. The new automobile will be patterned after the CR-Z concept shown at the 2007 Tokyo Auto Show.

FCX CLARITY: Leasing for the hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered FCX Clarity started in summer 2008; actress Jamie Lee Curtis took delivery of the second customer automobile.

ELEMENT: The boxy crossover will get updated styling for 2009.

FIT: (photo) Just two years after introducing the Fit to the US market, Honda has a new version for 2009. Though the elderly Fit’s trick rear seats and center-mounted fuel tank remain, the new Fit gets radically improved styling, an updated engine, and an obtainable GPS-linked navigation method.

* 2009 Honda Fit check drive and review
* 2009 Honda Fit photo gallery

ODYSSEY: No significant changes.

INSIGHT (2010): Honda’s new small hybrid now has a name, and it’s a familiar one. The new Insight is a five-passenger, five-door hatchback that looks (in concept form, at least) like a cross between a Civic and a Toyota Prius. Honda will show the Insight Concept at the 2008 Paris Auto Show, and the production automobile will go on sale in the spring of 2009. Honda says the Insight will be “the most affordable hybrid vehicle to date.” (The rumor mill says pricing will start around $18,500, about 5 grand below a 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid.) Honda designs to sell around 200,000 Insights, half of those in North the united states.

* 2009 Honda Pilot check drive
* 2009 Honda Pilot photo gallery

PILOT: Honda’s large crossover gets a complete redesign for 2009, with Element-inspired exterior styling, improved accommodations for 8 and a roomier interior.

S2000: No changes.

RIDGELINE: Honda’s pickup gets updated front, rear and interior styling, slightly more power for its 3.5 liter engine, revised transmission gear ratios, and a host of new features including optional Bluetooth phone compatibility and a backup camera.

i-DTEC DIESEL: Honda’s new 2.2 liter tidy diesel engine — which reportedly will meet 50-state emissions requirements without the want for BLUETEC-style urea injection — is expected to debut in a Honda vehicle for 2009 or 2010, though which automobile that will be remains a mystery. Best guess: the Accord or the CR-V.

RUMORED:

Popularity: 3% [?]

2010
02.07

The 2006 Honda Civic sedan is said to be one the most advanced piece of automotive machinery today. If you’ve been reading all the car reviews and magazines, with all the praises the new 2006 Honda Civics have been getting would lead you to think that it is indeed some kind of engineering break through. The 2006 Honda may not be the most advanced car, but it is the most practical and reliable car for the amount you are paying.

I’ve been driving a Honda Civic for years now, and I have been faithfully loyal to Honda’s lineup. My 1992 Honda Civic has over 200K miles on it, and it has only two problems that required more than a thousand dollars in maintenance. It’s also been in a serious accident, but now it shows signs of its age or experience today. Other than these, this Honda Civic has no other major serious problems. Hondas are generally known for its reliability and robustness. Also, you may be interested in getting one of those cool GPS satellite navigation systems that comes along with the new 2006 Honda Civics.

What else is new with the 2006 Honda Civic that is winning it so much praise? The first thing you will notice is that they gave the car another makeover. Sort of like the makeover they gave the ‘92 model, going from the previous box look to the sleeker model, the ‘06 model is another leap forward towards a sleeker, futuristic, and dynamic design. The 2006 Honda Civic sedan is much more attractive than the 1992 model.

The 2006 Honda Civics has all gotten a boost to their performance as well. The 2006 Honda sedan now has a 140 horsepower 1.8 liter i-VTEC engine with a Drive-by-Wire Throttle System, giving it more zip than ever. It is also even more fuel efficient than any of the previous Honda, getting an incredible 40 MPG on highways, and 30 MPG in cities. The fuel efficiency alone is a good reason to look into buying a 2006 Honda Civic, but they are also low emission vehicles.

If you have been driving the new 2006 Honda Civic, you will probably be driving this Honda for some time to come. They’ve proven to be extremely reliable, efficient, and fun little cars, and are actually extremely affordable as well. If you are looking for the environmental friendly Honda, you will be happy to check out the Honda Civic Hybrid, an Advanced Technology Partial Zero-Emission Vehicle (AT-PZEV) rating, so you can save on gas while enjoying amenities like the new multi-tiered instrument panel, a sophisticated audio system, and available navigation system.

Joshua Poyoh is the creator of http://www.automotive.resources-to.com where you can find out more independent information on Why A Japanese Vehicle

Popularity: 3% [?]

2010
02.05

Compact Recreational Vehicle. This is the name which has given the acronym CR-V to one of Honda’s most popular releases. And it is, indeed, both compact and fun to drive. For the past decade, the Honda CR-V has proved to be a reliable family car: affordable, spacious, without appearing too large, and, best of all, safe. The new, 2007 model, however, is taking these features to new lengths.


The CR-V 2007 is slightly wider and lower than its predecessor, which gives it an extra touch of stability in turns, and also shorter, mainly because the spare wheel is no longer attached to the back, as in the previous two generations.


The standard safety equipment included in the car is amazing: Advanced Compatibility Engineering body structure on the front end, a total of six airbags (dual-stage, dual-threshold front airbags, front side airbags with passenger-side occupant position detection system, side curtain airbags with rollover sensor), active front-seat head restraints, stability control system, ABS, break assist, Tire Pressure Monitoring System. This model has received a 5-star frontal and side impact rating from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.


This functionality-oriented crossover SUV has four doors and five seats, including a fold-and-tumble rear seat which can easily be adjusted to hold two child seats, for that ever-expending family. All the seats are equipped with three-point seatbelts.


The 166-hp, 2.4-liter, 16-valve DOHC i-VTEC 4 cilinder engine (10 hp more than the 2006 model), five speed automatic transmission, the MacPherson strut front suspension handles, the traction-enhancing Real Time 4-wheel drive, the Drive-by-wire throttle system, are all features which add up to ensure an increased sense of stability, while offering, at the same time, an amazing driving experience.


As Honda has already accustomed us to, the CR-V 2007 allows for reduced emissions, fuel economy and noise reduction, thanks to its trademark variable valve timing and lift electronic control, i-VTEC, and to its aerodynamic design.


Customers can choose from three models: the LX, the EX and the EX-L. For those in search of a more stylish look, the EX-L is the best choice, thanks to its leather trimmed seats and its optional navigation system equipped with a rear view video camera. The model comes in 10 colors, from the Taffeta White to the Nighthawk Black Pearl, to suite any driver’s preferences and personality.


Although its competition, such as the Toyota RAV4, the Mazda CX-7 or the Hyundai Tucson, may offer either more space, a better driving experience or lower prices, Honda CR-V, especially the 2007 model, remains a top choice of the customers in search of all these features and extra safety guarantees.

Popularity: 3% [?]

2010
02.03

Once again, Honda’s Accord and Fit (2010 models) have taken their place alongside models from automakers like Porsche, BMW, Cadillac, and Audi on “Car and Driver” magazine’s annual “Ten Best” list. This marks Accord’s 24th (and 13th consecutive) appearance in the 28 years since first appearing on the list in 1983, and marks Fit’s 4th appearance on the list since first appearing in 2007. To add perspective to these accomplishments, no other car even comes close to Accord when it comes to number of appearances on the list, and Fit has appeared on the list every single year it has existed here in the United States.

In the words of others:

Car and Driver on the Accord: “In 28 years of 10Best competition, Honda’s Accord has made the list 24 times. Somewhere in Japan, there are about 200 engineers wringing their hands and asking each other, “Where’d we go wrong in those four losing years?” Maybe that’s why the car is so good.”

Car and Driver on the Fit:  “It’s all the car anyone needs—big fun, and as cheap to own and operate as a hamster. Despite the Fit’s microbial footprint, it takes truly Sasquatchian dimensions to be discomforted inside, and all that space is surrounded by quality materials and thoughtful design unmatched in many vehicles costing much more….Everything about this Honda feels like a more expensive, more upmarket vehicle. It is the marriage of a number of seemingly paradoxical concepts, but its greatest accomplishment is the association this little runabout dissolves: The Fit proves more decisively than any other vehicle that affordable and cheap are mutually exclusive concepts.”

American Honda Executive Voice President John Mendel on the selections: “The Car and Driver ‘10Best’ awards recognize Honda’s ongoing emphasis on performance, quality and safety. Honda is honored to have its vehicles regarded so highly over the years with one of the most coveted awards in the industry.”

Honda’s appearances within the 10Best rankings:

Accord    24 times (1983-’91, ‘94-’95, 1998-2010)

Civic        5 times   (1988-’91, 1996)

CRX        2 times   (1985, 1988)

Fit            4 times   (2007-2010)

Prelude   10 times  (1984-’86, 1992-98)

S2000      3 times   (2000-2004)

If you would like to get your hands on the Fit, Accord, or any other Honda, then there is no better place to start than Miami’s Brickell Honda. Brickell Honda is a full-service Honda center that works in new and Certified used Honda Sales, Honda financing, and is also an official Honda parts and service center. Brickell is located in beautiful downtown Miami, and can also be found on the web at BrickellHonda.com. Brickell is well-known for its website BrickellHondadirect.com, where you can get a quote on a Honda in 7 minutes or less.

Popularity: 3% [?]

2010
02.02

HM-ITB

Lots of you have been asking me to do a write up for the homemade individual throttle body setup. Well, I finally took some pics and got the thing installed on my car.. so here we go!

Starting off with a set of 2001 Suzuki GSX-R Throttle bodies. I picked up this set on ebay for very cheap! 50 bucks. The spacing looked about right, I think it was about 80mm, perfect for alignment on the B-series head.

Measureing at 42mm @ the butterflys and tapers to a 45mm (which also had secondary butterflys that were taken out).

The stock manifold was chopped off slightly after the fuel rail mounts, I then had 1 1/2 inch long aluminum runners welded on (1.75od) After the welded I had the manifold surfaced on both sides, and threw a chanfer on the lips of each runner. (75 dollars weld/machine work)
Here are the cheap ass velocity stacks I got on ebay, they were 35 bucks. used some small machine screws to fasten them down. Looks kinda cheezy, but they do the job.
These are the silicone couplers that attach the Throttle bodies to the intake manifold. Sounds kinda half ass huh? well the factory Suzuki ITB’s are this way, and most other bikes too! And after attaching them they were very sturdy. I used Napa bulk Silicone hose, with some hose clamps. (20 bucks from Napa)
The Cover shield that hides the linkage and other stuff, just cosmetic.
The factory ITB Fuel injector bungs were JB welded shut, except for the last one which has my brake booster port coming out. You can also see the map sensor signal lines, each port all T’s into one and goes to the map sensor.
Thought it looked long? so did I, but after measureing up with the stock manifold, I felt a bit better, I thought for sure the stacks would be touching the firewall, but its actually just a bit shorter than the stock manifold.
The TPS situation, well the Suzuki tps had a way differant range than the stock honda one, I tried to make it work, but it just wasnt happening, So the stock honda one had to be modified to fit somehow.

First I made a baseplate with a hole saw and some scrap aluminum. This is on the backside of the shaft (driverside)

The Brass fitting, was bored out to be a custom bushing for the shaft.

The Shaft is actually a honda throttle body shaft cut down about 1/4
Now for mounting, I used a piece of PVC pipe to space out the tps, so it could mount solid.
Hoggered out the holes on the base plate a bit, so I could get a good amount of adjustment.
Used some extra long machine screws to mount it down
All mounted down, Its very secure and pretty easy to adjust.
Now setting the TPS up in the correct range. Stock TPS setting @ closed .4 – .5v
Stock setting WOT about 4.5v
Best I could get the ITB TPS was .6 @ closed
and 4.4 @ WOT
The throttle linkage was alot easier than I thought! I used an extra throttle bracket from a D16a6 intake manifold, and it fit right off the backside perfect!
This kinda pissed me off, I mounted the TPS upside down, it was hitting the master cylinder. So I had to rotate it, and re-adjust it.
Overall, for a couple hundred bucks it was well worth it, it took a little bit to get running, the idle was pretty easy, a nice 1100-1200rpms. It sounds pretty interesting too, especially when vtec kicks in. I’ll try to post some sound/video clips soon.

Jeff

Source: http://www.homemadeturbo.com

Popularity: 21% [?]

2010
02.01

THE CAR

THE MOTOR

THE GARBAGE
B18C1 Swap Guide
Are you looking for more power from your SOHC but hit a dead end? Let’s swap that SOHC for a hefty B18C1 from an Integra GSR. The swap is faily straight forward and is a direct bolt in for all 1992-2000 civics.*Disclaimer – The information provided here is strictly for informational purposes only. We will not be held responsible for any faulty installations or mishaps related to an installation by following these instructions. You undertake the task at your own risk.
Step 1:
After jacking the car up and placing it on approved jack stands, take off the front wheels and your first order of business will be to work on the underside of the car. Get the hard part taken care of first, and that is removing the axles. Using a punch, make sure you straighten the tab on the 32mm nut before trying to remove it.
Step 2:
Remove the lower fork. There’s a 17mm bolt on the bottom and a 14mm on the back.
Step 3:
Pull off off the lower fork and set it aside. You’ll need to get under the hub and remove the cotter pin on the ball joint and then remove the bolt.
Step 4:
Sometimes it can be difficult to remove the ball joint, so grab a mallot and hit it on the lower control arm where the ball seats. Don’t hit the stud, you will mushroom it.
Step 5:
If worst comes to worst, grab a ball join splitter if you have one. Luckily we did. Once its off you can pull the hub assembly off of the outter axle. Help it out if you need to by gently hitting the axle with a hammer.
Step 6:
The inner half shaft is sometime more difficult to remove from the transmission. A crow bar of some kind can be used to help pry it out.
Step 7:
Now you can detach the cat from the header and hanger. And while your down there, remove the shift linkage and stabalizer bar. You’ll need to swap it out for the GSR counterpart.
Step 8:
To remove the shifter linkage, pull off the snap ring that covers the lock pin with a pair of pliers or a screwdriver, then with the correctly sized punch, hammer out the lock pin from underneath. Don’t lose it!
Step 9:
Remove the shift linkage from the chasis. There are 2 12mm bolts. It may be hard to maneuver around the exhaust. A universal joint may come in handy.
Step 10:
Last thing to do under the car. Remove the lower engine mounts on both sides.
Step 11:
Remove the lower engine mount bracket from the block.
Step 12:
Loosen the upper engine mount bolts, but DO NOT remove them.
Step 13:
Remove the clutch slave cylinder. Be careful not the damage the lines. Disconnecting the wiring harnesses.
Step 14:
Make sure you pull the connectors off their posts before trying the disconnect them, otherwise they will not come apart. Then remove the fuel return line from the fuel pressure regulator.
Step15:
Pull off the vacuum lines from the manifold.
Step 16:
Remove the throttle cable and the ground wires from the starter.
Step 17:
Don’t forget the vehicle speed sensor behind the starter. Also remove the coolant lines on the backside.
Step 18:
Remove the line to the oil catch can and your set to pull the motor out. Make sure you have the engine hoist securely fastened to the motor before completely removing the upper engine mounts.
Step 19:
Secure the engine hoist to your new B18C1 motor. Then carefully maneuver it into position inside the engine bay.
Step 20:
Line up the engine with the mounts and bolt them up. Make sure they are loose enough so that you can adjust the position of the motor. Do not remove the engine from the hoist just yet.
Step 21:
Line up the lower engine mount brackets with their respective locations under the car and bolt up the brackets securely. Once this is done, securely fasten down the upper mounts and you can safetly remove the engine hoist at this point.
Step 22:
Reattach the clutch slave cylinder. Careful of those lines!
Step 23:
Reattach the ground wires to the starter and block.
Step 23:
Loosen the steer pump adjustment bolts so you can tension the belt, then tighten down securely. Make sure the bolts are tight.
Step 24:
Bolt the cruise control unit back in its place. And reattach the throttle cable.
Step 25:
Reattach the fuel line to the fuel filter an the vacuum lines to their proper locations on the manifold. Charcoil canister on top and brake booster on the back.
Step 26:
Reattach the upper radiator hose using a new worm clamp as the civic radiator inlet is smaller than the GSR hose. With that completed, here’s the fun part of adding the VTEC wire.
Step 27:
Reconnect all the harness and remember to replace the fuse in the fuse box if you’ve previously removed it.
Step 28:
Swap the GSR shifter linkage onto your stock civic shifter. Then replace the new unit back under the car. Then reconnect the cat to the hanger and header.
Step 29:
Notice the markings on the ECU; they read xxx-p72-xxx, which is the appropriate ECU for a B18c swap. Since the civic already had vtec, the only wires that needed to be added were at D3 for the knock sensor and A17 for IAB. The pinout for the IAB can be switched from A20.
Step 30:
If your car does not have vtec, 2 more wires must be added. A yellow wire with a green stripe for the vtec solenoid can be found on the engine harness and must be pinned in at A4. The vtec oil pressure sensor can be found as a blue wire in the harness and must go to D6.
Step 31:
Now that most of the work is done, make sure you replace the all the parts the you removed, including the axles, hub and lower fork. Double check all your wiring harness and that all the bolts are tight. Make sure all the coolant lines you removed are now reconnected and secure. Make sure you have oil and water topped off as well as transmission fluid. Reattach the negative terminal to the battery and you’re ready to turn the key. Wasn’t that hard was it?

Source: http://www.c-speedracing.com

Popularity: 32% [?]