91 Civic Si Track Build - B18C-R|EF9 SIR Converted
05-17-2013, 06:40 AM
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91 Civic Si Track Build - B18C-R|EF9 SIR Converted
After racing the (BuyBrakes.com CRX Time Attack Car), I fell in love with the classic EF chassis and wanted one for myself. I was going to find a shell and build up from scratch, but i came along a deal I couldnt pass up that had all the same parts I intended to purchase and MORE, for about half the cost as building from scratch. Sure, not as fun, but financially, it made way more sense to pick up this one. It will need a little work and some personal touches, but it has a ton of great parts in it already.
I flew from FL to IL to buy the car this past weekend, drove the car 9 hours straight from Chicago to Knoxville, TN the first day. Unfortunately on the second day of my trip I decided to go through "The Dragon" and spun a rod bearing.
I was able to limp it to Atlanta with a very mild rod knock, while one of my good friends made the 6 hour trip to pick me up and trailer the car home the rest of the way. I will be pulling the oil pan and rod caps to see how bad the carnage is this Friday. Hoping its not completely trashed. 
(5-11-13)
Fly to IL. Drive car to deals gap.
Spin rod bearing, trailer car the final 6 hours home
(5-23-13)
Start tear down. Remove rod caps, find bad rod bearings. Post #15
Leisurely Drive Through Deals Gap aka Tail of The Dragon (Minutes Before Spinning A Rod Bearing)
A few shots of the car from my trip back home.
I flew from FL to IL to buy the car this past weekend, drove the car 9 hours straight from Chicago to Knoxville, TN the first day. Unfortunately on the second day of my trip I decided to go through "The Dragon" and spun a rod bearing.
I was able to limp it to Atlanta with a very mild rod knock, while one of my good friends made the 6 hour trip to pick me up and trailer the car home the rest of the way. I will be pulling the oil pan and rod caps to see how bad the carnage is this Friday. Hoping its not completely trashed. (5-11-13)
Fly to IL. Drive car to deals gap.
Spin rod bearing, trailer car the final 6 hours home
(5-23-13)
Start tear down. Remove rod caps, find bad rod bearings. Post #15
Leisurely Drive Through Deals Gap aka Tail of The Dragon (Minutes Before Spinning A Rod Bearing)
A few shots of the car from my trip back home.
Last edited by Presidential_Detail; 05-23-2013 at 10:07 AM.
05-17-2013, 01:01 PM
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Re: 91 Civic Si Weekend Driver/Circuit Build - *EF9 SIR Content Inside*
Awesome, thanks for following!
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05-18-2013, 09:56 AM
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Re: 91 Civic Si Weekend Driver/Circuit Build - *EF9 SIR Content Inside*
They sure are! I cant wait to get the car running again.
05-20-2013, 05:18 AM
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Re: 91 Civic Si Weekend Driver/Circuit Build - *EF9 SIR Content Inside*
Thanks! Exhaust is custom 3" pieced together from the Vibrant DIY kits. The video doesnt do it justice, it sounds amazing in person. Very smooth and decently quiet if your just cruising, and once you hit the vtec cross over it gets pretty wild. The aluminum gives it a different sound.
05-22-2013, 05:59 PM
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Re: 91 Civic Si Weekend Driver/Circuit Build - *EF9 SIR Content Inside*
Due to the design of the primaries on this header, we were unable to get anything around the bolt head besides a open end wrench, which couldnt grasp well enough to turn. It would just either bend, fall off or strip the bolt head. I fought with it for a couple days, trying all sorts of trickery with no luck. I only had two more options, cut a slot into the bolt and use a impact driver or cut the bolt head completely off...
With luck, while using the dremel to make a slot in the bolt head, I managed to cut a slit into the washer which broke it. I had a "light bulb" moment and then I began to pry it out from underneath the bolt head to ease up tension on the bolt. The bolt practically came out using my fingers once the washer was removed.
If you have a "RMF" style replica header, DO NOT USE WASHERS or crappy hardware for the bolts going into the head. Once you tighten the bolts, it presses the washer into the weld, causing it to bend and apply a tremendous amount of pressure on the bolt, making it nearly impossible to remove.
With luck, while using the dremel to make a slot in the bolt head, I managed to cut a slit into the washer which broke it. I had a "light bulb" moment and then I began to pry it out from underneath the bolt head to ease up tension on the bolt. The bolt practically came out using my fingers once the washer was removed.
If you have a "RMF" style replica header, DO NOT USE WASHERS or crappy hardware for the bolts going into the head. Once you tighten the bolts, it presses the washer into the weld, causing it to bend and apply a tremendous amount of pressure on the bolt, making it nearly impossible to remove.
05-22-2013, 06:06 PM
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Re: 91 Civic Si Weekend Driver/Circuit Build - *EF9 SIR Content Inside*
Finally, with the header out of the way, I was able to start taking apart the bottom end to see what damage had been done. This is what I found. All journals seem to be in great shape still with very slight wear on the #4 journal which had the spun rod bearing. I still need to remove the engine from the car to pull the crank for further inspection.
Cylinder #1
Cylinder #2
Cylinder #3
And finally, the dreaded #4.
All next to each other.
Cylinder #1
I also removed the girdle and the main bearings that come with it.
From left to right..
Cylinder #1
Cylinder #2
Cylinder #3
And finally, the dreaded #4.
All next to each other.
Cylinder #1
I also removed the girdle and the main bearings that come with it.
From left to right..
05-23-2013, 06:15 PM
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Re: 91 Civic Si Weekend Driver/Circuit Build - *EF9 SIR Content Inside*
05-24-2013, 05:22 PM
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Re: 91 Civic Si Weekend Driver/Circuit Build - *EF9 SIR Content Inside*
Beautiful hatch, good luck, im down in the fort myers area, a fewof my friends go to bradenton track and also immokalee aswell.
05-25-2013, 06:43 AM
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Re: 91 Civic Si Weekend Driver/Circuit Build - *EF9 SIR Content Inside*
Ahhh, Red's old car. I've been begging him for years to sell it to me. Glad it made it into hands that will continue building it.
05-25-2013, 02:35 PM
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05-26-2013, 05:45 PM
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Re: 91 Civic Si Weekend Driver/Circuit Build - *EF9 SIR Content Inside*
I was going to find a shell and build up from scratch, but i came along a deal I couldnt pass up that had all the same parts I intended to purchase and MORE, for about half the cost as building from scratch. Sure, not as fun, but financially, it made way more sense to pick up this one.
Smart choice.
That hatch is nice.
