noahrexion's 88RT4WD Workhorse

I've been perusing the site for a long time and have been a member for a while. Always browsing this section and checking other peoples out I guess maybe others would want to see mine as well. Here is a little tidbit about my wagon:

No long story here. This car is badass, I replaced my CR-V with this and couldn't be more satisfied with my decision. Paid $750 for this car as it was not running and needed a clutch. Well the RT got an exedy clutch kit, resurfaced flywheel, OEM rear main and an adjusted cable. Pulled it out of the garage and took this 10/06/2008 139.jpg

Random shots, or at least most of the ones that I put up on photobucket for some reason.
I painted the stock 13's and installed a $20 junkyard exploder roof rack.
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13" civic steelies with snows.
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My seats, in their overworked torn-up glory, had to go. Put in a set of seats pulled from a 92' Integra.
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Tow ball and rack
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DA front lip and broken corner light
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Stock
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to DA knuckles/brakes, EF Si RLCAs w/DC Neuspeed Sports with Tokico HP, EF Si rear sway bar and poly swap bushings, DA GS-R wheels
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My doggies ready for some action (can see my DA map light installed up front)
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Had a few nice days and decided to take off the snows:
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then of course the Spring snows come...
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Though it scoops up a bit more snow in the grill now that its lowered with a lip, it still shreds through the deepness, even with A/S tires. Thats my RT in a jiffy so far. Its already had a whole going through since I decided to keep it: t belt, water pump, Fr and Rear main seals, cam seal, FF, valve adjust, plugs/wires... bla bla I put in a DC teg center console, DA teg map lights, power inverter, and k/n filter, I think thats all the mods its got.

I love how it runs now and my only near future work plans for this are:
- make a custom 2.25" catback and maybe Ebay (or OEM replacement, whichever is cheaper) header
- finish rehabbing my suspension bushings (only have few left to go)
- stereo stuff (some sort of rear speaker pod setup; car even came with Alpine deck and Inifnity reference fronts!)
- replace my corner light
- repaint (this is the biggy to do this Spring), I was thinking same color... I love it
- new weatherstrips all around, new decals after paint
- aftermarket seat heaters
- trace down more squeaks/rattles and ELIMINATE!
- new speedometer cable
- new floormats

I think thats about it. This is my workhorse. I tow/haul, drive into/outof the mountains, to/from work, enjoy peace of mind in all-weather conditions and generally enjoy driving older Hondas. I'm very glad I decided to keep this, I am really developing a bond with it (no name as of yet).

Comments

  • nnn ice
    :mrgreen:
  • How are those DA front brakes treating you? I know its a dumb question seeing how bigger is better on brakes (to an extent), does it give a better feel while braking?
  • BillBoardBillBoard council member
    verryyy nice...
  • evol911 wrote:
    How are those DA front brakes treating you? I know its a dumb question seeing how bigger is better on brakes (to an extent), does it give a better feel while braking?

    I honestly do not know yet. My satisfaction relies within the common knowledge that bigger is better (in this case). The brakes do feel much better: though I suspect thats from fresh pads/rotors, bleed and new fluid rather than them being 1" bigger (though the calipers/rotors are much more "meaty"). The car is stopping much better than it did although I haven't had an opportunity to see how quickly they fade when towing/decelerating (I also have OEM teg' pads, no Hawks or anything).
  • Thats kind of what I was wondering along the lines of brake fade and such. If you get a chance to get out and do some spirited driving give me a little update on how they perform if you would. I would think that the weight is close bewteen the wagon and the Integra and brake fade would be uniform between the two using the DA setup. I guess what I'm getting at is, money well spent on the DA setup?? or new OEM discs and good set of pads do the same with a little less hassle?? There is a DA(actually DB) in my local parts yard and bigger brakes would be cool... A little compare and contrast and since you have it done already you're kinda guinea piggin it for me and the other members interested.
  • bam-bambam-bam Council Member
    I like. :D
  • Thanks fellas, I look forward to the next stages with the civic this Spring.

    Evol: My wagon, even the RT's, weighted up with my wife and my dogs weighs what a DA does. The wagons are considerably lighter, by todays standards this brake match makes a bit more sense. I cannot imagine anyone would "notice" such a drastic improvement going from stock civic to stock integra; its just that they are larger and will resist fade better.
    I paid $80 for everything, so yes, it was very much worth it for me. If they were $200, I'd have bought new pads/rotors ;)
  • Time to go haggle with the parts yard and get me a DA front setup then.
  • skinnyskinny Senior Wagonist
    I vote stock paint. I have always loved that color of blue.
  • Long story short: wife was caught in worst hail storm in heartland history (in 2010) and the RT took a MAJOR punishing. She got back from Nebraska and the car was totalled. Sold it to a friend in Nederland, CO who drove it until the odometer read about 230k miles and then he sold it too.

    the end.
  • hey, where did you get the hitch? i have an 87 and all hitch manufacturers state their hitch won't work on 4x4 models. i don't get why... but i want to install one.
  • Keep it up bro, looking really good
  • tpar1220 wrote: »
    hey, where did you get the hitch? i have an 87 and all hitch manufacturers state their hitch won't work on 4x4 models. i don't get why... but i want to install one.


    Not sure what you intend to pull but mine was a simple drawbar (not body/frame mounted hitch) seen here:

    http://www.autopartsasap.com/1991-Honda-Civic-CURT-Fixed-Draw-Bar-Class-1-Hitch-11592-Wagon-Van-2-and-4WD.html

    I paid $90 off Ebay for it - it works on any model wagon. I don't know about 84-87 models, BUT I do know I've seen some floating around for em.

    There are also a few older threads of some DIY type frame mounted hitches in which some fairly impressive results have been achieved.
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