M!KE K!NG's 1991 EE project in NORTH TEXAS
M!KE K!NG
Band Wagon
I have been reading on civicwagon.com since i first got my wagon, last October. My wagon needed a lot of love to get it to a decent drivable shape, and civicwagon.com has helped me a great deal. I recently read Knotty's build thread and it guilted me into giving a little back to the community, so i have decided to start a build thread of my own. I will do my best to post lots of photos and add details about modifications. I know it's a bit of a long story to catch up to today on this car..so i apologize in advance for the long read.
So, here is where i began... I bought a DX civic wagon in gray last October, here is the photo taken from the craigslist ad:
I have always loved the look of the civic wagons. So i scooped this one up for $1000.
After buying the car, i found out that an amatuer mechanic had broken several bolts off, and left several important bolts out. Them main alternator bolt was just gone, there was only 2 lugs on one of the wheels... so i spent a few months hunting down oil leaks and diagnosing little problems here and there. the car smoked a bit at start-up. but ran strong otherwise. I originally hoped i would get about a year to save up to upgrade to a better engine...but then disaster struck. I noticed a few months back that I had oil in the radiator and overflow bottle.
So,while i shopped for an engine, i did some basic stuff. Replaced all the cracked turn signals and corner marker lights. Added a generic "polyurethane front lip" from ebay, and bought a set of Rota Zero 15x7 with +35 offset, wrapped in Falken Ziex 912 195/50/15 tires. Also added some cheap audi-style LED strip to my headlights, wired in off my corner marker lights. I think this photo shows all that pretty good:
To get an engine, I ended up buying a wrecked '91 CRX for 650, and parting it out heavily over the last month or so.
So, here is where i began... I bought a DX civic wagon in gray last October, here is the photo taken from the craigslist ad:
I have always loved the look of the civic wagons. So i scooped this one up for $1000.
After buying the car, i found out that an amatuer mechanic had broken several bolts off, and left several important bolts out. Them main alternator bolt was just gone, there was only 2 lugs on one of the wheels... so i spent a few months hunting down oil leaks and diagnosing little problems here and there. the car smoked a bit at start-up. but ran strong otherwise. I originally hoped i would get about a year to save up to upgrade to a better engine...but then disaster struck. I noticed a few months back that I had oil in the radiator and overflow bottle.
So,while i shopped for an engine, i did some basic stuff. Replaced all the cracked turn signals and corner marker lights. Added a generic "polyurethane front lip" from ebay, and bought a set of Rota Zero 15x7 with +35 offset, wrapped in Falken Ziex 912 195/50/15 tires. Also added some cheap audi-style LED strip to my headlights, wired in off my corner marker lights. I think this photo shows all that pretty good:
To get an engine, I ended up buying a wrecked '91 CRX for 650, and parting it out heavily over the last month or so.
Comments
I got everything disconnected on the parts car today, and i plan on having the motor on an engine stand by the end of the day tomorrow. Hopefully I'll be able to take a few good pictures to show my progress over the next few day (it's a 4 day weekend for me).
Here is a visual list of bulbs i bought off ebay:
I bought 2 of the SMD panels for the dome light that had 48 of the 5050 SMD's each(I made sure that the sizes would fit in the housing to the wagon dome light)
Once i received the dome panels in the mail, I drilled a hole in a piece of clear plastic, ran the panel's wires through the hole, then taped the panels down and trimmed around the edge of the panels to create the look of 1 big panel with 96 SMD's. I had to wire both panels to one bulb adapter as shown in the photos below. Overall i am very happy with the way my interior lighting looks now. The large panel just rests snugly in the dome light lens. There was no need to tape it in place within the housing.
Back side of double panel:
Front side of double panel:
Panel behind the dome light lense:
This image doesn't really do the brightness justice:
Stage 2 clutch kit with 8 Lb. Flywheel
Oil pan gasket/rear main seal
New distributor
Ebay Intake
Ebay Headers
Si Badges to go with my Si engine and tranny
Gates timing belt + timing belt & water pump kit
mishimoto silicone radiator hose kit
New Radiator
New SUPER LOUD Horns
3 Point Strut Tower Bar
BRAND NEW MOTOR MOUNTS WITH PROTHANE INSERTS!!!
Also bought a right mirror
And installed it:
Then painted my H emblems and took the amber lenses out of my front turn signals (the ones in the front of the bumper)
Before:
And After:
The bulbs i have light up bright amber, so no need for the amber lens. Now if only i had a set of clear corners....
So, i cleaned up the motor i'm about to drop in my wagon for a few hours today while the weather was nice and cool. Here are a few pics of what it looks like at the moment. Got most of 204,000 miles worth of grime off of the engine and tranny.
I have Falken ZIEX ZE 912, 195/50/15 on my 15x7 Rota Zero wheels (+35 offset)
These tires actually come with a decent warranty, and are priced comparably to kumho ecstas.
Initially, i was concerned about the lack of symmetry looking funny... but i forgot all about that once i got to driving on these.
I am pleased to report that I am incredibly happy with both dry and wet handling. These tires made me realize just how weak the brakes are in my wagon.
I have a hard time getting these tires to break loose, even under heavy braking in the rain.
I can't say enough good things about these, thanks Falken (you owe me a sponsorship)
And here's a bonus shot of my car with my SV650:
And here is where i do all my automotive work. outdoors in the texas summer, under a carport. We have the lighting situation done well, but it's a real pain in the hatch to have to put up every one of my tools every night before i an call the work finished.
As I got her. Drove about 50 miles @ 80mph to get it home. Motor and tranny still pulled just fine.
Once i got the door off and got to work:
Wrapped in trash bags:
Here's the motor I took from it:
And here are a few photos i took this weekend, pretty much just a bent up shell:
Rolling on casters, nearly ready for the scrap yard:
I finally got the last of the parts and tools in to get the wagon build moving along... so there should be some good updates soon... stay tuned...
Looks like I'll have to clean up and repaint the area under the battery tray. Damn corrosion and rust!
Here is it's original motor. I'm glad to be rid of it's weakness.
I was intending for something much different to happen...but i still really like what i ended up with. I plan to stencil my name on the front in the blue area.
Also notice my brand new Gates timing belt, and my fancy new oil cap!
MPFI, Here i come!
NO MORE RUST UNDER THE BATTERY AREA FOR ME
http://www.ebay.com/itm/88-89-90-91-Honda-Civic-EF-5DR-5D-Wagon-CS-Front-Bumper-PU-Lip-URETHANE-Body-Kit-/261178097879?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3ACivic&hash=item3ccf6d80d7&vxp=mtr
It belongs to my friend Jacob. He is "heystack" on civicwagon.com. He has had that car for about 10 years, and i have never seen it run. I FINALLY talked him into parting it out and getting a different project car that wasn't ridiculously expensive. He just recently bought a canadian 90 Civic hatchback and is parting out the starion to get money for the civic. If you you know anyone with a starion that needs parts, let me know.