When I managed to destroy another engine, through a rather embarrassing water compression experiment that failed, I needed another one. The shop that I had used for years for swaps was starting to have quality control issues and as it turned out, customer support after the sale was poor. After searching for a supplier, one name stood out above all others.
H-Motors Online
Pricing and shipping costs were on par with other shops. My concern was the quality of the engine. B-series engines are getting older as time goes on and trusting claims of low mileage and high quality tends to diminish. Banking on the good word of many sources, I ordered a replacement for my Civic. A B18C (JDM GSR) long block.
One of the bold claims that H-Motors online makes is that the engine will arrive with all sensors intact. Anyone that has ordered a used engine knows that the throttle position sensor is always destroyed. Considering my experiences, I was skeptical.
A short time after the order was placed, the engine arrived. Regrettably, I was so excited by what I saw that I completely forgot to take a picture of the engine before I peeled away the wrap. What I saw, looked like a giant white cocoon attached to a pallet. The engine was wrapped in an amazing amount of Styrofoam padding! My urgency to unwrap had to do with confirming the claim of “all sensors intact”. I found more than I ever would have anticipated.
Before I move on to what I found under the packaging, I put a call into H-motors and asked if they would send me a picture of a packed and ready to ship engine. I spoke with Steve and he was more than happy to provide.
The fine folks at H-motors delievered on their claim and did so by removing the intake air temp sensor (IAT) and throttle position sensor (TPS). They were attached to their respective connectors on the harness and tucked safely aside.
Having noted that they honoring their word on the sensors, I noticed that the engine was immaculate! There were minimal signs of use especially for an engine that was fifteen years old (at the time when I ordered it). The way it was attached to the pallet also protected the oil pan from being damaged. Topping it all off (pardon the pun) was a valve cover that had been refinished.
Appearances aside, once I completed the maintenance and installed the engine, it started immediately and ran well.
There are many sources for used Japanese spec engines as well as many opportunities to run into a bad sale. H-Motors online is a reputable shop that lives up their word and can be trusted to deliver. Whenever I’m asked for engine sources, I always recommend them.
