PHX:AZ:: New Owner of a 91 AWD 6-speed Wagovan
StylEmon
Wagonist
Hey all, great forum you have here.
I've been researching civic wagons for a few months with the intent on buying one as a DD. My other car is a 87 RX-7 T2 with about 400 rwhp.
www.87rx7.blogspot.com
i can't get it to pass emissions and I am tired of cheating it. It's too much work. So I got a DD and put the beast on collector insurance...
With that being said, I love the wagovans... I think they are ugly but I still love em. What else can you ask for in DD. Seats 4 comfortably, gets +30 mpg and has a little extra room in the back. In my research, I found the 91 to look the best, and I knew I wanted the AWD model. I was hoping for a 6 speed, but I really just got lucky with that. I know this combo is pretty rare, and I want to keep it mostly stock; really concentrate on making it as close to perfect as I can. Then maybe add some classy touches. Tint, roofrack, rims, maybe some RS seats and a front lip. Nothing to flashy.
Here is what I know about the car, it.s a 91 AWD 6-speed with a ZC block. It's got a SOHC but I am not sure if it's a 1.6, 1.8 or something else? There are 160k on the clock and I have to do some minor gasket repairs to the engine. No ticking, no knocking, just leaking some oil pretty badly. It looks like someone replaced the valve cover gasket and possibly head gasket, but did it incorrectly.
The AWD components look great, especially for the age. There are no leaky linkage or anything covered in grease. No rust, a couple minor dents in the body, but overall, it's in good shape.
Any tips ya'll can give me on this little car would be great.
Links to a service manual, DIY repairs and upgrades, or any other resources are VERY welcome.
Here she is!
I've been researching civic wagons for a few months with the intent on buying one as a DD. My other car is a 87 RX-7 T2 with about 400 rwhp.
www.87rx7.blogspot.com
i can't get it to pass emissions and I am tired of cheating it. It's too much work. So I got a DD and put the beast on collector insurance...
With that being said, I love the wagovans... I think they are ugly but I still love em. What else can you ask for in DD. Seats 4 comfortably, gets +30 mpg and has a little extra room in the back. In my research, I found the 91 to look the best, and I knew I wanted the AWD model. I was hoping for a 6 speed, but I really just got lucky with that. I know this combo is pretty rare, and I want to keep it mostly stock; really concentrate on making it as close to perfect as I can. Then maybe add some classy touches. Tint, roofrack, rims, maybe some RS seats and a front lip. Nothing to flashy.
Here is what I know about the car, it.s a 91 AWD 6-speed with a ZC block. It's got a SOHC but I am not sure if it's a 1.6, 1.8 or something else? There are 160k on the clock and I have to do some minor gasket repairs to the engine. No ticking, no knocking, just leaking some oil pretty badly. It looks like someone replaced the valve cover gasket and possibly head gasket, but did it incorrectly.
The AWD components look great, especially for the age. There are no leaky linkage or anything covered in grease. No rust, a couple minor dents in the body, but overall, it's in good shape.
Any tips ya'll can give me on this little car would be great.
Links to a service manual, DIY repairs and upgrades, or any other resources are VERY welcome.
Here she is!
Comments
About the oil leak: check the distributor o-ring, a common leak and right there with the VC.
Welcome to THE forum.
To be honest, if I would've known it was an engine swap, I would not have bought it. Dealing with someones else's shotty mechanic work is not something I want to dig into with a daily driver.
Is there no chance this is the motor that came with the car? I know the car was once in CO, maybe it originally was imported to Canada...? I don't know, I'm just here to learn.
Now that I have it, I'll clean it up and check the distributor o-ring along with the rest of the gaskets in that area. The main issue I am having is (besides losing oil), it loses a lot of water, and over-heats on short trips. I suspect the head gasket, hopefully nothing worse.
I am starting to suspect the last owner swapped the motor, but didn't really know what they were doing.... I mean, how hard is it to seal a valve cover...?
Welcome and you would be surprised at just how hard this can be for some people
I am hoping to pull a Turbo RX7 motor saturday. I used to have a super beetle that was going to have an RX7 motor mounted but had to move jobs and couldn't take it with me. That project will happen one day.
Have fun here and before you know it you will have forgotten all about that RX7
Good luck with the leak...
haha WEAK!! Don't you just love cleanin up after other people's laziness...
I hate having to clean up some one else's mess too. In this case, I think most of the problem is basic maintaince... Hopefully!
Where do yall get your OEM parts from?
and what's the consensus on Checker / BAP / NAPA parts?
and all that...
congratz...
try a little tenderness
Could be worse lol, i got my wagon with a lot of rust, no oil in either the motor or tranny and two broken axles. Turned out that just putting proper amounts of oil in the motor and trans, and changing the axles made a world of difference... you will probably find the same...
These D series motors, stock, aren't really powerful enough to do much harm to themselves... that gives them a nice buffer to go through when someone neglects it...
The previous owner of my Wagon said "I haven't touched it in 2 years" lol...
Ya, this really is no big deal. I've replaced just about every single bolt on my 7. It's taken 4 years and it has been expensive, and painstaking...
I am SO relived to have a car that is cheap and easy to maintain.
I love hearing all the stories! Now I have to check the POTM to get some ideas on making her look pretty!
Where do you get the trim with the red stripe through it?
Can you get those with the "Real Time 4WD" graphic?
So here is a shopping list I have set out for tomorrow:
water pump
timing belt
valve cover gasket
thermostat
head gasket (just in case)
plugs / wires
oil / air filter
Anything I am forgetting?
Where is the best place for OEM parts?
How quality is Checker, BAP, NAPA?
Here are a few of my RX-7 to hold ya over.
There are a TON more on my blog www.87rx7.blogspot.com
wagon.................................4ever.......................
This motor is all new. Then we ported, balanced coated and studded it.
I've owned 8 FCs and an SA [my first car!], I can't believe I've been out of the loop for so long.
Do you miss the old rotary headache... I mean, game?