JGRAFF's 1989 WAGON BUILD - the road to AutoX

JGRAFFJGRAFF Band Wagon
in Rides & Builds- Civic wagons
Hey everyone! I'd like to share my build progress with ya. I hope you enjoy!!

My plans for this beautiful SW are to have a dual purpose car - Daily Driver and a Weekend Racer. So that’s why I named the thread "the road to autoX"

I just bought the car from a really cool 17 year old high-schooler. I was totally surprised to see this car so clean. (When I was 17, I trashed just about everything I touched! HAHA)

So, this will be a somewhat slow budget build, but hopefully, I can have it do well on the track come next season.

here we go......
Base: 1989 Honda Civic Wagon 2wd 177000 miles - totally stock (besides the stereo system)

Comments

  • pelon921pelon921 New Wagonist
    Nice wagon man!
    Are those roof rails stock?
    And the black painted wheels make it looks smaller for some reason
    but its different never seen those particular steelies painted black! Looks pretty cool!
  • JGRAFFJGRAFF Band Wagon
    Thanks man! I don’t think that roof rack is stock, only because the screws holding it on are shiny and relatively new. I think I’m going to take it off anyway. I have no need for a roof rack. I want to go for a really slick/clean look.

    Got some parts ordered this week. EBay headers, cool air intake, and a short throw shifter kit. I got the short throw kit because of the excessive slop in the gear shift. Will this help with side to side slop? If not I will probably try to replace all the bushings in the linkage. Will that solve my problem?

    Next task is to clean and paint the trim pieces and bumpers, and mount the front plate properly. Then when my ordered stuff comes in I will be doing exhaust work.
  • mr horsepowermr horsepower New Wagonist
    most likely going to have to replace the bushings in the linkage. I did on my 87 integra and it cleaned up alot of slop. dont know for sure if installing a short shifter would do anything for side to side slop. I would think that it wouldnt.
  • pelon921pelon921 New Wagonist
    Let me know how that short throw works cuz i have some "slop" too. Its good when im lazy but when im really reving it up its kinda gets annoying to not have a stiff feel.
    The last owner armor alled all the trim and they are nice and black but make sure u wipe it off cuz it seems to get oily and collect dust.
    Wonder if anyone has another fix to make em black, i prefer not to paint em them.
  • JGRAFFJGRAFF Band Wagon
    pelon921 wrote:
    Wonder if anyone has another fix to make em black, i prefer not to paint em them.

    I’ve heard that if you rub black shoe polish into the plastic it will work. I’ve never done this but I can't imagine that it would last very long.
  • wagodizzlewagodizzle Council Member and EDM expert
    i used shoe polish on an '89 hatch i had, and it lasted a couple months.. lol.
  • almostnickleealmostnicklee Wagonist
    I put a B&M short throw in mine and did the energy bushings as well. It made a huge difference. Side to side is less and the transmission feels new again. Make sure to go the extra mile and do the bushings :)
  • JGRAFFJGRAFF Band Wagon
    almostnicklee wrote:
    I put a B&M short throw in mine and did the energy bushings as well. It made a huge difference. Side to side is less and the transmission feels new again. Make sure to go the extra mile and do the bushings :)

    Is this a difficult job to do? Do you have any pics or advice from when you replaced these bushings?
  • JGRAFFJGRAFF Band Wagon
    Update....

    Well I got the exhaust about 90% done. I’m having some trouble getting the muffler to hang level. AHHHHH!!! But nothing a good cut-off wheel and a welder can't fix. And got the intake installed. Worked on it all day Sat. That's rare when you have a 9 month old at home. :roll: I'll post some pics when it's done.
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