new to the forum and the scene

ekswapdude

whats up HCW... im almost finished with my ekj project and there is a rt4wd wago here in my town... its cheap but it doesnt run... im still searching very much all over this site and my first few main concerns are:

engine swap and suspension
cruise control
audio...

just my main interests before i get into a project...

my wife doesnt hate the idea of another project cause it is a 4 door and it will get better than 18 mpg highway (vw touareg v8 awd for sale also) and it will keep me busy...

MexiChriS

Welcome to HCW!! Where you even located at and what are you willing to spend on a wagon? Should lay that out if wanting some input/advice, if anyone other than me is willing to give it to you... Also, do you even have any experience in engine swapping to the other little minor things you listed as being your 'concerns' ???

If anything, I say buy the RT4WD if its cheap and in good condition; pretty hard to come by, at least if its with little to no rust or major body damage to interior repairs needed.... Doesn't cost much to buy a healthy low mileage engine + with a standard tuneup before drop in, to going about afterwards installing/repairing cruise control, suspension, to an audio system. Plus you could part ways with the engine if it has one that isn't running, get some cash flow back...

Anyways, your wife will love the wagon, its pretty spacious and perfect for shopping for food to taking out fam/friends. I'm beyond happy about that with my 1990 Civic Wagon as my friends have space and no more need to beaner packing my small ass CRX haha

P.S. post some pics of that 'ekj project' here, curious to see what you can/did do

ekswapdude

im in jax florida now... there is one here on my craigslist... rt 4wd for 500... the ad tells me that its not running currently but he has everything to get it working... he just doesnt know how to put it all together...

im willing to spend a decent amount if i do end up selling my ekj project after i drive it a while maybe up to 2500 depending on condition and all that...

my ekj is still very much a work in progress... to give you a quick rundown..

i completely stripped it all down not to paint but to make sure everything is in proper order before the engine goes in (another story)...

ive swapped in a eg/dc front subframe with strut bar and rack and pinion... swappped in the pinion gear and installed factory dc2 brake lines... got the dc2 fornt sway bar in also

99-00 front end conversion (mine is a 98)... 99-00 dash conversion. i swapped in a whole new dash with heater/ac electric controls with the harness and swapped to a 99-00 dash harness also... i am going to install a push button start after the swap is complete and running correctly...

confetti del sol seats
oem ctr steering column cover
gold plated plastic dipped oem integra hood prop
4040 prop valve
eg si rear disc brake conversion
acura el center console
oem itr springs

as for the swap.. its a j32a2 block and crankshaft with j32a3 pistons and rods (gotta love full free floating)... j32a2 heads mated to an 06 accord 6 speed with matching shifter box and cables and hardware... the floor is now being cut and measured to install the shifter box (with the new 2010 acura tl 6 speed shift knob)
hasport mounts and axles
oem spec clutch and dual mass flywheel with brand new bolts and hardware to match
i will be running an odyssey ecu with immobilizer delete
oem 01 acura mdx intake manifold spacer
ported and polished intake manifold and runners
gsr sunflower on new tires
still deciding on speakers...
working on recovering my sunroof panel and headliner... thinking maybe a confetti style material to match my seats but not sure yet...
integra map lights
1 itr master cyl/ brake booster


currently trying to sell my ep3 steering wheel or trade it for an ap1 steering wheel... ive already done the airbag mod on my ep3 just want a smaller steering wheel just because!

will work on getting some pics together after i put my interior back in...

ekswapdude

also really interested to get into the interchangability of these sexy lil cars... im assuming efs would the the only car to match parts up with but that why im asking all these questions...

JDMWago666

Everything you are concerned about has been covered, many times. You just have to search for those answers.
Welcome and x2 on the pics of the ek project.

ekswapdude

i will get some pics up here soon... i dont even have any on my other forums but im so excited to get me a wagon and start another project... i promised myself that my next project would have to be either rwd or awd.. rt4wd was just the answer

ekswapdude

im very certain that everything i wanna do is covered so i tend not to ask alot of actual questions... or make new threads about something im sure has already been covered so my post count usually isnt that high when in consideration of actual standard mechanical questions... i havent seen alot of info about the dohc zc swaps but i have just started to really dig deep and search so bare with me if my noobish stands out a lil strong lol... immediately like this forum as from what ive already seen the people here are very helpful and informative with minimal flaming as of yet... thanks again guys and wish me luck finding a nice rt 4wd...

ekswapdude

http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/pts/2533897512.html

there is the link of the one im trying to make happen.. wish me luck.. anything in particular i should be looking for before i hand over the cash when i can make it available for me to purchase this radical little beast to be?

MexiChriS

Well I hope to see pics soon and if you need some info on ZC DOHC let me know. I believe I have a lot of pics & sites saved as images for references still on my hard drive. As I was planning a ZC DOHC swap in my Rex till plans changed... Plus a lot of info has been lost on the web as most would google search for 'ZC DOHC swap' and just went off of FourthGenHatch.com which sadly has now lost full site/ownership over its web domain... So let me know if ya need any info of help. Shoot me a direct message for that if needed!

ekswapdude

as i read and read i see that there are only the radical ideas are left to cover... so i would assume that other than "noises" and mechanical failure issues there is really nothing left to cover... i would assume that new threads would be few and far between when dealing with an factual aspect of the wagon itself... i guess that's a plus to owning/wanting to own such an old car...

ekswapdude

i just found out that the guy selling the broken rt4wd still has it.. not too surprising in this town and i have set up a time to meet him this upcoming weekend... can someone point me in a good direction to keep an eye out of what to look for so i dont buy a compost heap and waste my time and money... he is asking 500 and right now says that the only thing wrong is that the head is off of the motor but he he has the head and a spare motor... the interior is in good shape so he says but i need to know any major problem areas before i jump head first into this thing... thanks again HCW wish me luck

ekswapdude

not to be a pest but why cant i access the marketplace yet? did i miss something in the rules?

d33kenwagon

Read the rules, need a min of 20 posts or I believe 25. Once you've achieved that, wait a few hours until you're allowed in.

ekswapdude

d33kenwagon wrote:

Read the rules, need a min of 20 posts or I believe 25. Once you've achieved that, wait a few hours until you're allowed in.

i read the rules... it was a malfunction in the system but its fixed now... and just to put it out there... its 20 not 25 as per the rules... good lookin out

alston3ptswish

i have 26 posts and i still CANT access it... : /

btbammer

Welcome man! 500 is a good price
Things to look for are RUST. Thats the biggest. Depending on how much you time/money/energy you wantthe to invest its up to you.

I got mine for free and it was a mess. Not running. Body damage etc. But I put about $800 and a straight month of diligence into it and its running/looking great!

Remember its a project. So any work you do is to make it better. I say unless its rusted out or the glass is wasted get it. Check for extensive body damage and bondo as well.

You seem to know a thing r two so make a good judgement.

As for questions: ASK AWAY! there is an abundance of help here. Just make sure to use the search bar and quicklinks beforehand.

G'luck!


I

ekswapdude

yes... ultimately i want to go the dohc zc route... i havent seen very much about it yet but im still searching... it would be a boost build (dreamin as of now) but it will sit for a while even after i buy it until i finish my ekj project... might even sell it but i doubt it

ekswapdude

well now im a proud owner of a 1991 rt4wd!!! traded a guy my single cab hardbody 5spd for it plus 400... hardly no rust at all... the dash isnt cracked and the door panels are in good shape... pics will be up soon....