just bought a shitty civic...........what to do
01-11-2006, 08:19 AM
#1
3.0 BAR
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,044
just bought a shitty civic...........what to do
I just bought a 89 std civic 4 speed. its got 197k andstill runs and starts very good. Its got hedman headers, full dual exhaust (which i know is not necesary for a stock 15.), altezza style tailights, and jdm style headlights, strut bars, not yet installed coilovers, and a pioneer deck. The rockers are shot and proboloy not worth fixing. WHat should i do?? It also needs new axles because they click like a motha fuka, Should i just tear this beast up then strip the parts and get a nicer civic hatch? Or shall i fix her?? Oh yea she also gots a 5 inch ugly *** tackometer with shift light. i Paid 720 for this beast which i know is a lil high. But this is really a learning expierence for me since im new with cars. If i really like her ill buy a nicer civic. Am i thinking this the wrong way>> What should i do??
01-11-2006, 08:25 AM
#3
0.0 BAR
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 0
Re: just bought a shitty civic...........what to do
a dual exhaust is not necessary for ANY four cylinder, unless of course they TT'd it like Matt (Whitey) or Jeff (AbaZ).. Swap out the altezzas for some OEM's, sell those on eGay... replace the axles if you like... and sell the 5" ricer tach too. $720 is a bit much for the way it sounds, I would've paid around $500 but to each his own... I think you should strip it out and work on the engine 
01-11-2006, 08:49 AM
#4
3.0 BAR
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,703
Re: just bought a shitty civic...........what to do
It's all a matter of your goals. I would sell the head and tail lights or swap them to someone for stockers.
After that it's up to you. As a reliable daily driver, you can live it alone, and it will last you another 200,000 miles with proper care.
If you want some power, you can swap any civic and integra engine made, well almost every, and go for it.
Cheap way to get more power is to swap the DPFI system to the better MPFI system, and get a 5spd tranny. Then turbo the bitch HMT style.
Or you can try to find a complete B18 swap, you can get those now for around $600-800, sometimes less, and drop it in. I got my JDM B16A for $300.....so it depends where you look.
after the swap you can turbo the bitch, and you will be happy. hang around read a little and learn a lot.
One of the best races ever at the track, that I've gone to, was a 90 4dr civic, running a newer corvette, the last generation. Everyone was laughing at the civic, stock looking outside, actually pretty beat up. Until it ran a low 11 pass and spank the ---- out the vette.
They are fun cars if you do them right.
Hope this helps a bit.
After that it's up to you. As a reliable daily driver, you can live it alone, and it will last you another 200,000 miles with proper care.
If you want some power, you can swap any civic and integra engine made, well almost every, and go for it.
Cheap way to get more power is to swap the DPFI system to the better MPFI system, and get a 5spd tranny. Then turbo the bitch HMT style.
Or you can try to find a complete B18 swap, you can get those now for around $600-800, sometimes less, and drop it in. I got my JDM B16A for $300.....so it depends where you look.
after the swap you can turbo the bitch, and you will be happy. hang around read a little and learn a lot.
One of the best races ever at the track, that I've gone to, was a 90 4dr civic, running a newer corvette, the last generation. Everyone was laughing at the civic, stock looking outside, actually pretty beat up. Until it ran a low 11 pass and spank the ---- out the vette.
They are fun cars if you do them right.
Hope this helps a bit.
01-11-2006, 08:56 AM
#6
3.0 BAR
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,044
Re: just bought a shitty civic...........what to do
dav you are an inspiration for a young mcds worker as myself. I think i am just going to get the filler and a bumper inforc. from a salvage yard, prime and flat black the bumper, give her a good cleaning and drive her. I already did a tune up consisting of plugs, wires, oil, oil filter, air filter. Ill just keep her clean and tuned up until she croaks. When she does that i will take the exhaust and ---- off and put in on a nicer civic hatch 88-91. By then i will have spoke with all you civic tuners more and have a lot of knowledge on these cars. I really love the body style.
01-11-2006, 09:05 AM
#8
3.0 BAR
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,703
Re: just bought a shitty civic...........what to do
That's cool.
Even on a Mcdonalds salary you can piece up your turbo kit.
With the high mileage you have Honestly I would wait and swap the engine. A lot of people will say go B-series or nothing. I don't agree D-series engine, SOHC engines, are capable of a lot of fun power, especially on a hatch.
You can probably find a SOHC Vtec engine for around $250-$300, and it will drop right in. A little wiring is needed, but if you are just a little mechanically inclined you should be able to do it fast. A 5speed tranny for your car can cost as low as $50, I paid that for my Si, or no more than $150 if you look in the right place.
So that's around $400, even if it takes you a couple of months to get the money, it's not too bad. Then a decent HMT style turbo kit will run you around $1000-$1500. Some people have done it for way less. It depends on how you want it to look, or if you just want it to perform.
Axles with lifetime warranty are only $60 each. But having the 4spd I think you need to change the front tire hubs to be able to fit the 5spd axles.
Ask in the Hybrid section for more specific help.
Suggestion:
Look around the net, think about you performance goals, then act. But please get rid of the altezza tail lights, they are horrible. The headlights might be 'aight...but the tails are just gross
Oh yeah post pictures....
Even on a Mcdonalds salary you can piece up your turbo kit.
With the high mileage you have Honestly I would wait and swap the engine. A lot of people will say go B-series or nothing. I don't agree D-series engine, SOHC engines, are capable of a lot of fun power, especially on a hatch.
You can probably find a SOHC Vtec engine for around $250-$300, and it will drop right in. A little wiring is needed, but if you are just a little mechanically inclined you should be able to do it fast. A 5speed tranny for your car can cost as low as $50, I paid that for my Si, or no more than $150 if you look in the right place.
So that's around $400, even if it takes you a couple of months to get the money, it's not too bad. Then a decent HMT style turbo kit will run you around $1000-$1500. Some people have done it for way less. It depends on how you want it to look, or if you just want it to perform.
Axles with lifetime warranty are only $60 each. But having the 4spd I think you need to change the front tire hubs to be able to fit the 5spd axles.
Ask in the Hybrid section for more specific help.
Suggestion:
Look around the net, think about you performance goals, then act. But please get rid of the altezza tail lights, they are horrible. The headlights might be 'aight...but the tails are just gross
Oh yeah post pictures....
