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OK, So I guess I'll put this tread in here as it's main purpose will be racing. Iv'e been building cars off and on now for about 10 years and Iv'e always wanted to try autocross/solo and road course racing but never got around to it. But now that i have my own house and garage it will make it a lot easier. I live in South Jersey so I am close to NJMP and Philly/South Jersey Autocross events.
I picked this car because hondas are so easy to work, very popular and easy to get parts for. Cheap to get parts for. And they seem to do really well in Motorsports.
The car is a 1991 Civic DX. D15 engine, 5 speed trans. No power steering, no air conditioning and no right side mirror, very basic model. It has 96,000 miles on it and i got it for $1600. Just about everything on here down to the radiator and gas cap looks original. Except the wheels and the front rotors.
I don't have a lot of money to throw at this car so it will be raced close to stock. I am going to try it at autocross in the stock class and if i get hooked then i'll have about $1000 to throw at it. And that will probably go into Shocks/springs and maybe a rear sway bar. The car runs great otherwise. Needs a good freshening up. Tune up/ timing belt/hoses. But i do all my own work plus I'm a manager at an Autoparts store so thats a plus.
Best thing you can do with that $1000 for autocross, is get a good set of tires! Also some good brake pads that won't fade much.
After that I'd look at springs and shocks, and strut tower braces to stiffen things up. But see how it feels in stock form first definitely. Especially before you go throwing sway bars or anything on it that will drastically change the handling characteristics of the car.
Wow, that looks super clean for the price! The ones I usually see for sale are basically destroyed.
Congratulations and good luck with the project!
Thanks! I found it on craigslist and i text the guy like... " DO NOT SELL THE CAR!" lol . I knew i better hop on it asap if this is the kind of car i want because like you said, they are either all modified already or they are a pile of junk. This thing has barely any rust on it too.
I've been racing a '91 Civic hatch for about 11 years; some decent shocks/springs and a rear sway bar will do wonders. Mine has a full cage and a motor swap, but I haven't gone wild on the suspension. It had some Tokicos when I got it, but I put on the Koni SPSS/Ground control combo and those have been great in conjunction with the rear bar. They were about $1400 all in, I think, so a bit over your $1k budget, but you might be able to find a set used. For springs, I went as stiff as possible in the back (1000lb springs) and I think 430lb up front, and it doesn't understeer much, especially at higher speed.
Yours looks very clean, and I think it was well bought at that price.
Some tracks will allow you to use a motorcycle helmet. I would confirm with the track you plan on racing at. When buying my helmet, I made sure to go with an SA rated one so there is never a question of it being allowed.
Such a clean platform to start on. I'm so jealous lol
Looks like a great car to start with, maybe look into the mpfi swap in the future. Many moons ago I had an ef with PIC coilovers all the bushings and susp done and wheels with r comps..such fun cars!
I've been racing a '91 Civic hatch for about 11 years; some decent shocks/springs and a rear sway bar will do wonders. Mine has a full cage and a motor swap, but I haven't gone wild on the suspension. It had some Tokicos when I got it, but I put on the Koni SPSS/Ground control combo and those have been great in conjunction with the rear bar. They were about $1400 all in, I think, so a bit over your $1k budget, but you might be able to find a set used. For springs, I went as stiff as possible in the back (1000lb springs) and I think 430lb up front, and it doesn't understeer much, especially at higher speed.
Yours looks very clean, and I think it was well bought at that price.
thanks! Can't wait to give this car a go. I've been poking around online for people who have built these cars for autocross/solo. And I came across this Red Shift motorsports website. https://www.redshiftmotorsports.com/...ech%20Page.htm and he says the first thing to do with $1000 is to do shocks and springs and rear sway bar. Then after that, wheels and tires. Then piece together other parts after that.
Looks like a great car to start with, maybe look into the mpfi swap in the future. Many moons ago I had an ef with PIC coilovers all the bushings and susp done and wheels with r comps..such fun cars!
Sounds great but doing a motor swap would put me in a class where I wouldn't have a chase of competing.
Best thing you can do with that $1000 for autocross, is get a good set of tires! Also some good brake pads that won't fade much.
After that I'd look at springs and shocks, and strut tower braces to stiffen things up. But see how it feels in stock form first definitely. Especially before you go throwing sway bars or anything on it that will drastically change the handling characteristics of the car.
I wouldn't buy suspension yet if your tyres and pads won't last.
Well I don't think I want to put a great set of tires on these factory 14" wheels. These tires have plenty of meat on them and I'd rather burn through them while learning this car. Although they are just regular all season tires. And the brakes are fine for right now. And besides, pads are cheap.
Don't quote me but id think any auto racing lid would suffice for autox as long as its serviceable
Id check with the Stewards at the SCCA though.
But for competition wheel to wheel track racing. its out of date.
So I guess this would be my first official upgrade. Besides removing the spare tire and tools from the trunk and pulling off the mud flaps. I had a 5 point harness from when I used to drag race a few years ago. I put th lap belt in to keep me planted while I'm tossing this car around. I drove the car in an empty lot today. Really the first time I drove it hard and it was a blast! I see why these cars are so popular. Even with 26 year old stock suspension it drives and corners really good.
I know it sounds a bit silly, but think about finding a seat that keeps you in place when turning. You will use so much energy just keeping yourself in place, you might even find bruises on your legs after some solid racing! EF problems... :D
I know it sounds a bit silly, but think about finding a seat that keeps you in place when turning. You will use so much energy just keeping yourself in place, you might even find bruises on your legs after some solid racing! EF problems... :D
That doesnt sound silly at all. It sounds necessary. Just putting in the lap belt from my race harness i realized how much more i could concentrate on driving instead of trying to fight and keep my self planted in the seat.
07-28-2017, 06:43 AM
My 1991 Civic DX build/progress
