The first part of this section will cover swapping different K series into CRV/Element Chassis
K series Engine List That will Fit into CRV/Element but I will not be covering EVERY k series engine just the ones that are potentials for swapping. K20C does not apply.
K20A series engines:
K20A JDM - RSX/Integra Type R, - High performance version
K20A JDM - Integra/RSX base Sucks ass version
K20A1 - JDM same as base version
K20A2 - USDM RSX type S - High performance version
K20A3 - USDM RSX base and 02-05 Civic SI
Now there are other engines including:
K20A4
K20A5
K20A6
K20A7
K20A9
But they are all basically shit and and the same as the K20A3 USDM base engines.
The point is that you do not want to replace a k24 engine with a K20 in a heavy vehicle like the CRV or Element even if you plan to go turbo.. just do not.
K20Z Engines:
K20Z1 - USDM RSX Type S and Integra S in some countries
K20Z2 - Another shit base engine
K20Z3 - USDM 06-11 Civic SI - High performance
K20Z4 - JDM Civic type R - High performance version 06-10 EDM
K20Z5 - Mixed bag engine depending on country, Some places its just like the SI and other places it is a base engine like the K20A3
All the K20Z engines use a drive by wire throttle body. Now you can use these engines but you will not be able to use the ECU and wiring harness stuff from them and you will have to change throttle bodies to a manual style cable throttle body.
K23 Engines:
K23A1 - 07-12 Acura RDX - This is a factory turbo engine that makes 240 HP. Fun fact is that you cannot bolt the block in or the transmission BUT it is possible to take the head off and use it on almost any other K series block if you are looking for more power that is reliable. Its new territory but is possible as see here: Making our own 2.0T: Budget Turbo K23 K20 Hybrid Swap
K24 Engines:
K24A1 - 02-06 Honda CRV - Base engine bleh....
k24A2 - Acura TSX - High performance engine good.
k24A3 - EDM version of the K24A2
K24A4 - Honda Element engine bleh.
K24A8 - Odyssey/accord/Element base engine that is basically the drive by wire version of the k24A4/A1
K24Z3 is basically like the other K24 engines except it has one single exhaust port
The K24A2 or just K24 no letters for JDM/EDM is the engine you want. It is the 2.4 equivalent of the Type R/Type S engine but with more torque. The downside is that the head does not flow as well as the K20 performance heads and the VTC gear does not have as much adjustment but its still SO much better then the base engines that only has vtec lobes on 1 cam vs the A2's two cam Ivtec.
You can also just swap the head from an A2/Z1 K20 onto the stock CRV/Element block and have more power BUT all the base k24s have lower compression and a weaker oil pump. So if you are going turbo this will work for you but you are going to want to have a modified k20 or s2000 oil pump to swap over for reliability. Now people have run stock oil pumps and been just fine but personally I like to protect my investments.
Every engine on this list (except for the k23) will bolt in and bolt up to your Element/CRV transmission be it automatic or manual. You will have to make some changes and potentially have a different post mount for the passenger side but you can make ALL of them work.
You can find a full list with all the technical stuffy stuff and what specific vehicles Here:
Now for the bad news:
If you have an 05.5+ to 2011 CRV or 03-04 automatic Honda Element you are basically screwed.
If you have an Automatic CRV you are pretty much shit out of luck in general.
Why? the answer is simple and complicated at the same time.
05-06 Hondas that are drive by wire are basically shit out of luck when it comes to tuning. You CAN get a modified Kpro but its complicated. and if its automatic your totally fucked unless you go standalone and that gets complicated and expensive real fast.
If you have an 06+automatic you MIGHT be able to get a stock TSX ECU to run it properly BUT strangely Acura and Honda Immobilizers use different coding so you cannot get it reprogrammed or try to use an immobilizer bypass but then you lose some security that you car cant be stolen.
However if you have an 02-05.5 Manual CRV.. you can enjoy EVERYTHING the aftermarket world has to offer without complications.
Yay you. the rest of you. Sorry I will help you all I can but its gonna be uphill, complicated and expensive.
This is why my CRV is an 03 and I put an 05-06 front end on my CRV. So I get the look without the mess.
As an experiment we have been running a TSX head with a CRV VTC on a K24a1 CRV Automatic with with a stock ECU and have not had any issues. There is more power but its not a huge difference. I will follow up on this in 2024.
ELEMENT:
For swapping and tuning the Honda Element things are a little different.
The Honda Element ECU and electronics are different than CRV/RSX/Civic. You have to have a specially modified K pro in a Kpro compatible ECU List HERE and an adapter harness, or you can go with K tuner INTO the element ECU. For 2006+ you can also get a Ktuner that re-flashes your factory ECU giving you more options.
IF YOU HAVE AN 03-04 AUTOMATIC ELEMENT YOU ARE BASICALLY SHIT OUT OF LUCK.
Ktuner is not my choice of tuning platforms but it does work and we have used it for customer cars many times. Famspec is not currently a Ktuner dealer but we can get them for you and tune them. This may change in the future.
Ktuner Options for 03-06 Here
Ktuner Options for 07-08 Here