---
title: "This Shop Is Dropping a Civic Type R Crate Engine Into a 1996 Honda Accord Wagon"
description: "Mom's old grocery-getter is about to be a demon at the stoplight."
date: "2021-03-23"
modified: "2021-03-25"
authors:
  - name: "Chris Tsui"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/chris-tsui"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/39891/this-shop-is-dropping-a-civic-type-r-crate-engine-into-a-1996-accord-wagon"
categories:
  - "Builds"
  - "Culture"
  - "Honda News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
tags:
  - "Civic"
  - "compact"
  - "Hatchback"
  - "honda"
  - "sports car"
---

# This Shop Is Dropping a Civic Type R Crate Engine Into a 1996 Honda Accord Wagon

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2021/03/Accord-1.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Earlier this year, Honda Performance Development announced that it would [offer up the awesome Civic Type R's 2.0-liter turbo-four as a crate engine](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/39169/you-can-finally-buy-a-honda-civic-type-r-crate-engine-complete-with-an-ecu-and-wiring-harness>), not just to certified race teams but to the general public. To drum up hype and show people what could be done with these off-the-shelf motors, HPD handed three of them to tuners for a trio of special builds. One of these happened to be California wheelmaker Fifteen52, a company that's celebrating its 25th anniversary. And because these guys clearly have great taste, they decided to plop Honda's hot hatch engine into a 1996 Accord Wagon. (Because 1996 was 25 years ago, get it?)

Of course, Fifteen52 didn't choose this particular car because it happened to be the only 25-year-old Honda lying around. Instead, the team chose this generation of Accord because it was a bit of a legend in Japanese Touring Car Championship racing, taking home titles in both 1996 and 1997.

![message-editor%2F1616438368859-014-stock-stripped-accord-wagon-project.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1616438368859-014-stock-stripped-accord-wagon-project.jpg>)
**Fifteen52**

The Civic Type R makes 306 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, which is quite a bit more than the [130 horses](<https://www.edmunds.com/honda/accord/1996/wagon/features-specs/>) and 139 pound-feet this wagon made from the factory.

Mountune USA, an official dealer of the Type R crate engine, will be taking care of most of the actual engineering and engine integration. According to [*MotorTrend*](<https://www.motortrend.com/news/honda-civic-type-r-crate-engine-powered-1996-accord-wagon/>), the Type R motor is being held in place by Hasport engine mounts and the car will feature a full roll cage. Of course, wheels are being supplied by Fifteen52 itself—Rally White Podiums wearing Toyo Proxes RR radials, to be specific. Hiding not-so-subtly behind said wheels are bigger-disced, red-calipered Brembo brakes.

![message-editor%2F1616505040728-ch2a9609.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1616505040728-ch2a9609.jpg>)
*Fifteen52*

![message-editor%2F1616505047269-ch2a9625.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1616505047269-ch2a9625.jpg>)
*Fifteen52*

![message-editor%2F1616505263005-ch2a9626.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1616505263005-ch2a9626.jpg>)
*Fifteen52*

![message-editor%2F1616504879104-bettyupdate2\_p1.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1616504879104-bettyupdate2_p1.jpg>)
*Fifteen52*

![message-editor%2F1616504888378-bettyupdate2\_p4.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1616504888378-bettyupdate2_p4.jpg>)
*Fifteen52*

![message-editor%2F1616504896702-bettyupdate2\_p2.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1616504896702-bettyupdate2_p2.jpg>)
*Fifteen52*

As for the other two commissioned builds, one of the motors Honda handed out will be installed in a CRX while the final is going in an S2000. CRX, S2000, '96 Accord Wagon—a supremely solid Honda fanboy's garage if we ever saw one.

*Got a tip or question for the author? You can reach them here: chris.tsui@thedrive.com*

## Author
Chris Tsui is *The Drive*'s former Reviews Editor and current freelance automotive journalist. He's based in Toronto.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/cltsuii/>)