Noob here looking to buy a project! Advice wanted

Hey guys, new guy here and I'm looking for some advice onto which project I should pick up!

Ive always loved the quirky wagovans that honda made and want to pick on up. Im looking at some this weekend and I think I have narrowed my decision down to two.

1. A 1985 front wheel drive wagon. This thing has 100,600 miles and is really clean. No rust, near perfect body, unmodified. Interior is a little ratty but thats to be expected. It is a 5 speed (owner says tranny works great, clutch replaced a few months ago), and the original vacuum filled engine. The guy selling it is the second owner and his father was the one who bought it new. The wagon is going for $1600. My plan would be to clean the interior and exterior up, and then try and devac the engine and maybe switch to dpfi or try a weber carb set up. Are there any tutorials on how to devac these engines online (also how easy is it to swap a later d15 engine into these 3rd gens)? I have searched but haven't found any yet.

2. 1988 Civic Wagovan. This one is all original except it has been lowered a tad on adjustable coilovers. The interior is mint except for the drivers seat. 5 speed tranny with original d15 engine. 3 months ago it got a new clutch, distributor, spark plugs, and tune up. Car has 160,000 and the owner is asking $1700 (however, on the phone it sounded like he would take a few hundred less.) Car has a little rust in some spots but overall looks great.

So which one should I go for? I like the 1988 because there are more parts for them and it has a simpler engine to work on and handles a little better, but I also love the very quirky and old look of the 1985 wagon (think how badass it would be to do a turbo build...ultimate sleeper right there). Thanks all! :)

Comments

  • NZ-DB8RNZ-DB8R Moderator
    I would suggest you make sure you are calling a wagovan a wagovan as that is a trim level. There is also a Civic Wagon DX and a Civic Wagon RT4WD. All are Civic Wagons but only one is a wagovan ;)

    I would go for the 88 for ease of modification.
  • wagobamwagobam Band Wagon
    The 88 I think is the wagovan because it has the full bench seats in the back where the seat folds forward.
  • 88 no doubt about it....even at $1,700 it sounds cheap unless it has other stuff not noted. Drop $1,500 and roll with it. Good luck.
  • Hey wagobam, did you buy one of them?
  • wagobamwagobam Band Wagon
    So I ended up not buying either of the cars I mentioned in this thread, got caught up with a different project at the time. However, today I bought a 1991 Civic Wagon. It is the base front wheel drive model. Body is in really good shape, has 228,000 miles but only 50,000 on a replacement d15 from japan. Transmission was apparently rebuilt at the time the new motor was put in. Has a new clutch, new tires, yakima roof rack, and a really clean interior. No rips or tears in any of the seat or carpet. Anyways picked it up for 2,000 and drove it 2 1/2 hours home and it did great.

    I'll post pictures tomorrow.

    Oh, also the suspension kinda sucks though. Currently on cheap coil-overs Anyone know where I can get stock struts/springs at a reasonable price? I can't seem to find ones for the wagons. Thanks guys and lots of pictures to come. :)
  • wagobamwagobam Band Wagon
    81.jpg

    83.jpg

    84.jpg

    Here she is :)
  • Pity it's two wheel drive. But that is a very sharp looking wagon. And are those HX wheels? I'm jealous.
  • Very nice wagon man keep us updated !
  • NZ-DB8RNZ-DB8R Moderator
    This is an intro, not a build thread and it does not need updating.
    Start a build thread to show off your wagon
This discussion has been closed.