ngarover

OK, going to introduce you to the biggest pile of crap ever sold to me... This 93 Civic DX.

So, I was really stupid and bought a bubble off eBay, from a dealer

Here is their quote from the ad...

"Here is beautiful 1993 Honda Civic DX Hatchback for sale. This has a CLEAN Carfax with NO accidents! It has been VERY well maintained by its previous
owner and shows. It has a 1.5L 4 Cylinder Engine and Automatic Transmission that makes this a great fuel efficent vehicle! It has 18" wheels and upgraded seats. Body is in good condition as well as the interior. Perfect for a project car!"

Car did have a clean Carfax...

and they shipped it to me... well, long story short, I got hosed. Surprise surprise.

I bought the car with the intention of making it a daily drive on a rather long work commute I have and I'm still working on it.

The car came to be with 3 flat tires, 3 18" bent spray painted on the car rims, 2 of them cracked. Inner and outer tie rods completely shot, pass axel broken, both front wheel bearings shot, and the cheapest coil overs and springs all around that a person could imagine, set all the way to the lowest setting (well not so much set as just so loose they at worked there way do to it) The tires on the car where all different, and have been destroyed from rubbing the inner wells.

Car has a fart pipe, on a rather new looking muffler, the windshield trim needs to be replaced, the drivers pillar trim is missing, there is body damage and Bondo falling off the rear drivers quarter. Oh and the heater core hoses are missing and it's been bypassed, so I'm assuming it was leaking as well.

So far I have taken care of are replaced the suspension, hubs axel, got the brake functioning again (oh ya I forgot, it had no brakes) Found an original set of 13" rims and bought some new tires. it's hunting overdrive. Not sure about that yet... A/C actually works! Oh, Blown head gasket, belt has worn through the timing cover it goes on. Replaced the Heater core.

Anyways on to some pictures..

This is how the car was suppose to be from the ad...



How it really looks...



Like I said, blown head gasket...



Believe it or not the car actually ran at this point...

So, I got the new head gasket installed. Replaced all the seals, including oil pan and valve stems, replaced the spark plugs.. went to start her and no joy...

Now, I marked the distributor and I think it's on correct. I had the engine at top dead center and I'm pretty sure I have the belt on the same as it was... I never took the ground wires off the thermostat as I had replaced it earlier.

So, I'm kind of lost now. Only thing I can think of is to just take it all apart and make sure the timing belts on correct. Looks like I have to remove the crank pulley to do that, I don't have a air gun that can take that 17" bolt off.

Question 1. is the bolt standard? meaning I loosen it lefty?

Question 2. Can I use the starter bump trick to break it free?

Already have the power steering and the A/c back off. Ran out of time today to work on it. I only have a couple hours after I get home from work before I have to hit the sack and get ready for the next day.

Maybe it was a bad idea trying to make this engine go again... I'm getting the feeling it would have been easier to just do the swap Smile

ngarover

Oh, I have bought a 98 Civic EX has a D16Y8 Vtec. and a 5 Speed. Runs good, drove it home. 160k interior shot, drivers door stuck shut, hood damage, but I bought it to use it's engine and trans in the bubble. I would like to get the original engine running and be able to take my time cleaning up the replacement.

92ehatch

Bolt is standard thread, bump trick will tighten, not loosen. Don't do that.

You do need to check the timing, also you should take that crank pulley off and inspect everything, no sense in half assing it.

Sorry you got hosed.

ginsu2k

Dude, is the head on backward? It sure looks like it on that last pic, how is that even possible?

slowDB7

Cant tell if your joking or being serious?

But either way its a d15b7 which is non vtec and has tbe spark plug spots on the intake side of the engine instead of like the d16z6 where its on the exhaust side

mr_K_eg

Damn, some messed up people.. Hope you get it fixed up and going..

ngarover

Ya, going to try to get the bolt off and check the timing belt after work. Not holding out to much hope for this engine. Doing the head gasket etc was more of a practice run just to get familiar with doing it in prep for the new engine.

There must have been some anti freeze still in the block, as I'm seeing some in the valves again. If I can get it started it should burn off. Not the correct way but, again, not to concerned about the engine.

Need to run down and pickup my engine lift from a friend, will try this weekend to grab it and get the Vtec out of the 98.

Need to also figure out how to open the drivers door on the 98, it obviously has the broken door latch issue. Real pita having to crawl in the pass side to do anything in the car.

09chaplak

haha for like a split second I was like is it?!

ngarover

OMG.... ok, first rule, when your tired, and frustrated is not he time to work on your car... repeat that to myself over and over...

So I went over to it after work to trouble shoot it, thought, maybe I had the Disto 180 out? na.. Then I thought, hmm, before I goto all this trouble of trying to break that crank bolt, I'll just move the belt 1 tooth each way... simple... So I move it one tooth one way and try car... nope, but seems like it should go the other way to I goto do that take the belt off and goto get a bigger wrench to move the cam.. come back sitting in the car and for some dumb reason think ok, that should be better and hit the key...

Of course, ripped the belt all to shreds... Well new belt is ordered and on the way, I'll have to stop an buy a new breaker bar cause I broke my old on trying to replace the wheel bearings.

I swear, I could have had the engine out and the other one in with less hassle than this.

TomCat39

I also didn't see the ground strap that goes from the front of the car to the right front bolt of the valve cover in that last picture.



Groud strap can be seen clearly in this d15b7 picture.

ngarover

Mine goes from the the same place in the front to the top of the power steering pump. Looked at more pictures of them and it seems a Lot do goto the bolt on the Valve cover... Picked up new breaker bar today, belt scheduled to arrive on Monday. So I'll have everything apart and ready for it when it gets here.

94 accord typeR

if the car is from florida then someone else got hosed and posted on here. civic hatch good pic bad condition etc

Bradshaw

i would NEVER buy a vehicle sight unseen. thats just a HUGE no no. good luck with getting all that fixed..

ngarover

Yup car came from FLA. I've had it for about 8 months now. I think I posted on it when I first got it, but the issues with it have piled on. Slowly working them all out.

riverie

good luck with reviving the bubble! at least it's on the much better hand now.

ngarover

It's Alive!!!

slowDB7

Good job man

furious94ls

I hope you left negative feedback and reported the dealer.

ngarover

I contacted the FLA attorney general, The BBB, etc. have pretty much exhausted options shy of driving to FLA and taking them to court.

Focus now is to just rebuild the car and lick my wounds.

ngarover

Today I fixed the headlights (was missing the fuse for the pass side front) Found a pair of LED tail lights in the rear... will leave them for now as long as they work. Took the car for a drive, still needs an alinement. Monday I'm finally going to title license and insure it for the first time since I've owned it and plan on driving it for a bit while I work on getting the other engine/trans out and ready.

erollman

Way to go bro. I'm in a similar boat. Got my head gasket changed, it starts, but I seem to only be able to get it to rev to 5k with a slight "backfire" or "pop" through the exhaust. I'm thinking I'm a tooth out. Glad yours is up and at'em though.

Tyler Dirden

iTrader: (3)

Not going to tell you what you know now.
Good luck on the rebuild and current success.

Except for the obvious blown head gasket, this is pretty much run of the mill hatch for sale.

thrty8street

iTrader: (7)

those damn dealers, bring this hatch back to life

ngarover

Drove the car for real for the first time today. Took it down and got it registered, insured, and alined. (I was really really close) tracks perfect now, feels like a new car with the all new suspension.

Ran it over to a body shop I use and he's going to fix the body/ repaint the car. Thinking of doing that as soon as I get my Tax return back.

Still have bugs to work out...

The passenger side dim headlight is blowing the fuse. (bright still works). Since that's where the replacement fender is I'm guessing there is some wire damage up there causing a short.

The front wipers don't work, but rear does and the windshield washer does. Have not troubleshot this at all. But have found a testing diagram for the stalk and the wiper motor and will tackle it in the morning after work (on a 9pm to 6am shift right now)

The exhaust system... it works but way to loud for me. Looks like it was a new system all the way up to where the cat would have started. Going to drop the one off the 98 EX this weekend and alter it to fit.

The engine is running great, Not being to familiar with the car or how it should drive, I'm wondering if the exhaust system might be too open, and causing some power loss. Had this happen on an S-10 once.

The Si seats are surprisingly comfortable. Not sure what they came out of but not bad at all. Heater is working great, which is good cause it hit 24 tonight on my way into work.

Need to get a B-pillar trim for the doors, the trim sides for the windshield and the doors... will add after the paint job.

All in all happy to finally have the car on the road. Considering I bought it back in May of 2014 it been a long journey to get to this point.

erollman

Awesome! Way to stick with it. Now you're a Civic hatch guru