H22/H23 4th Gen Engine Components.. Interchangeable?

[4th Gen Doug]

Guys..
I'm about to embark on the adventure that is replacing my own borked head gasket!
Now, this got me to thinking (dangerous I know! ) while I'm at it, why not get a little adventurous and splash out on a couple of performance parts (valves, cams etc)..
Trouble is, I have a 2.3i (H23A2 I think - getting to be a bit of a rare beast!) and most parts seem to be for the 2.2 vtec..
Question is, are there any engine gurus here that could tell me what parts would be interchangeable?
Would a 2.2 head work on the 2.3i?
What about the valves?
Cam shafts?
Seals, springs, cylinders, rods, crank, intake mani, exhaust mani etc...?
Any advice on this would be really useful, thanks guys.
I will of course post up a full photo rich walkthrough when I get on it!
Cheers
Doug


Oh yes, and what would be good parts to replace while I have my engine all over my garage floor?!
Cheers
Doug

[4thgenphil]

I'm going to sound like a c0ck on 2 counts for which I am sorry.

Why bother messing about with a h23 when h22s are so cheap now?

If you need to ask what bits are interchangeable I would say you really need to have a bit of a read up before you even consider it!

A quick and undetailed response

Crank and rods are different
H23 doesn't have oil squirters
The heads are Completely different and as such are the cams
Water pumps are different
Exhaust and intake manis are different
Thermostat housings are different
Bottom puppy is different
Cam belt tensioner is different, although the 23 can be used and can be better

The blocks are pretty much the same, you can use a h23 bottom end and 22 head and cams but you need to balance the bottom end, change this pistons to h22 ones (i think) and fit oil squirters as well as remove the vtec feed plug from the h23.

You can see some pretty good results from what I have seen but they can be temperamental if not built well. Also you have to keep and eye on comp ratios and valve to piston clearance.

Typed on my phone so sorry if it doesn't make sense!

[4th Gen Doug]

Why bother messing about with a h23 when h22s are so cheap now?

I know, I know - most people think I'm mad holding on to the H23, but I like it!
I'm looking at it as a sort of a project. I have bought myself a daily to get me to and from work, so the pressure is off on getting the lude back on the road. I'll be taking my sweet time over this, so I though why not tinker with it while I'm at it!

If you need to ask what bits are interchangeable I would say you really need to have a bit of a read up before you even consider it!

Oh I agree wholeheartedly! I'll no doubt be asking loads of noob idiotic questions in the coming months - but I hope by the end of it I'll at least know the difference!

Thanks for your sage advice @4thgenphil, I guess my engine is staying stock!!

Cheers buddy!
Doug

[wurlycorner]

I like your style Doug.

My first lude was a 2.3 and I thought it was a great engine. As you say, not the most common out there now, either so it's good if someone's gonna keep flying the 2.3 flag!

[4th Gen Doug]

@wurlycorner Cheers bud!
I don't even know what tools I need yet!!
I'll have a gander through the workshop manual and compile a Christmas present list for them though!

[BlackShadow]

I'm planning to do an h23 vtec on my 4th gen, which is what im assuming youre planning to do since youre asking about the 2.2 head (unless you want to go sohc with an f22). From what I've read it is better to approach it with the 2.2 block and head with 2.2 pistons, but use the 2.3 rods and crank. This way you don't have to go about adding or modifying anything. The only thing you will really have to do is modify the rods to accept floating wrist pins for the 2.2 pistons.

It is possible to use the h23 block for this, but you have to add ou squirters and stuff and then swap out other odds and ends to bring it in line with the vtec 2.2. So it's six of one, half a dozen of the other.

Keep in mind the h23 vtec makes about the same hp as the h22, but has a slight advantage in torque.

[h10ndr]

Rod stroke ratio is worse than the H22 too so piston speeds are much higher puting higher strain on rods and crank. Hence why these do not last very long when rev'd to vtec limits if not built correctly with uprated stronger parts.