bvans

Hey guys, new here..

Had my build thread posted on ClubRSX, moving it all over here so I can get the help and comments from people that own the same/similar car.

1991 Honda Civic LX 4 Door (D15B2)

For about 8 months now I've been piecing together my turbo kit for my RSX. The pieces are almost all together, and my mentality of the build changed. I wanted to do the whole turbo build in a week, because the RSX is my daily driver... Damn near impossible. So I searched Craigslist and found a '91 Civic LX 4 door with a blown head gasket for $800. I later learned the car not only has a blown head gasket, but no keys or a title. I got the car for $300 and the seller paid for the 30 mile tow.
The car needs a new head gasket, and supporting new parts (water pump, timing components, head studs)

I'm in the middle of finishing this build so I can have something to drive around in while I build my turbo DC5. This civic aint pretty, but should be reliable.

Reliably Ugly


March 29, 2013
-Honda fortunately had the key code in their system still, got a new key cut for ignition/doors
-New middle tail light, debadged and red-out

April 6, 2013
-THEN the car arrived











-Battery was completely dead upon arrival, wouldn't even charge.
-First parts run, just got essentials and a new battery



-Put in the battery and tried to start her for ***** and giggles.
The car hadn't been started in over a year and has a blown head gasket, but STILL started right up :D



After a few WTFs and LOLs disassembly began








April 8, 2013
-My buddy Eric came over and helped me remove the exhaust and intake mani



Look at that sludge!







April 9, 2013
Parts run







-egay coil sleeves got delivered


Eric swooped by again and we removed the cruise control and a few things in the way of the timing belt. Stopped due to a seized bolt on the motor mount. Couldn't use an impact, it was 1:30 AM haha

bvans

April 10, 2013
-Bought a Fel Pro head gasket, and my gasket set & head studs arrived in the mail
-Painted valve cover
-Pulled head from the block











April 11, 2013
-Got the head hot tanked and resurfaced, it was warped
-Prepared block for head installation (cleaned off old gasket)
-Cleaned and painted header and intake manifold
-Completed red-out on all three tail lights













April 13, 2013
-Stripped middle tail light to re-do redout
-Started seal replacement on head

April 14, 2013
-Put in new valve seals, cam seal, cleaned all valves, replaced those spark plug tunnel seal or w/e
-Head is complete!
















April 15, 2013
-Eric came by again, replaced the water pump, thermostat, and timing belt tensioner. Thermostat bolt broke into the block, struggled with that.. crank pulley bolt broke two tools.
-Put in bose door speakers. (the oem speakers from my rsx)





April 16, 2013
-Eric came by again, head is back on with new felpro head gasket and head bolts, new timing belt on, new alternator belt on, autozone gave me the wrong AC belt, intake mani back on with new gasket

-







April 17, 2013
-Picked up oem Integra LS Mesh wheels!



April 18, 2013
-Motor mount back on, new ac belt (got the correct size), pulled oil pan to clean it out, new oil pan gasket, sprayed the exhaust tip with high heat flat black paint cuz i got bored, radiator back in

bvans

Reserved

FactoryTeamGair

Love it, nice thread.

FactoryTeamGair

Doing pretty much the same thing on a 89 4 door after the timing belt broke.

Megaton22

Nice find, I like the EF 4 doors.

90 Civic

QUESTION??? What does EF stand for or mean??? I love our 90 Civic LX 4 dr.

bvans

ouch, bent valves n **** huh?



just a chassis code.




thread updated! just did the water pump, thermostat, and timing belt tensioner

bvans

heads on, intake mani on, new wheels! updated with pics

estewar03

Looking good so far man, I am in the market for a fairly clean 4 door myself. I've got so many parts left over from two previous ef builds that I feel obligated to get another one for the simple fact of how many parts I still have. Keep up the good work.

90boostedcrx

Keep up the good work ,not many ef sedans in my area anymore nice to see more ppl bringing them back!!

bvans

thanks bud!

updated! gonna be starting her up tomorrow

bvans

Shes runnin!
CEL is code 4, crank position. Gotta adjust the timing belt

bbarbulo

very very cool, props on both cars. question though - how are you going to make it reliable with duralast parts? lol j/k

hondrta

iTrader: (1)

I was wondering the same thing haha.
But in all reality it looks like hes just trying to get it decently running as a DD so I guess no big deal on the parts choice.

Nice car though man, looks like shes been neglected for awhile. Nice to see someone give her some love!

DCRB

looks good, although i'd reccomend going to honda and buying an oem thermostat for it

bvans

everyone hatin on vatozone parts! haha i got autozone stuff cuz most of its a lifetime warranty and my buddy works there so I get friendly discounts

a new problem as of last night,
upon start the engine will surge for maybe 2 seconds then the CEL will turn on and i get code four, crank angle, then the surge stops

if we rev the engine, once the rpms drop the the engine stalls instead of returning to normal idle temps

dizzy bad?

magic carpet

check wiring, old wire insulation likes to crack at the distributor.

bvans

Now i just started it and got the surge then the cel again

Now its code 8, tdc

DCRB

nah not hating i rock a bunch of autozone parts on both of my cars, can't argue w that life time warrenty! but the thermostats are just junk across the board. i mean they work... for a little while... then they start sticking or failing. some don't bleed right... i've had bad experiences with way too many of them in too many motors haha

hondrta

iTrader: (1)

Same here about the thermostat... Went through two autozone thermostats and then got an OEM one from the dealership and havn't had a problem since.

Sailboat

Check that you aren't off a tooth on your timing if it's stalling while giving it gas.

bvans

timing appears to be perfect, i dont know what the problem is

pulled the suspension yesterday to put on the coil sleeves, all struts are blown

still not running

DCRB

when i did the belt on my d15 back in the day, i would use either a flat head or a butter knife to help line up the notches with the edge of the head, since actually getting strait on eye level is hard when the motor is bolted in. that way i knew the cam was at tdc, instead of thinking it is and being off

bvans

thats a really good idea, i might just use a feeler gauge or something and quadruple check timing... i'm trying to get a timing light just so i have peace of mind that the timing is indeed correct

cars a painnn i didn't have this much trouble doing my B18C1

bad picture, only lowered about two inches..