harmonator84

I picked this car up acouple months ago for the price of $500. The car actually ran pretty well but did have a blown headgasket.
I have known this car for years, its been owned by a friend of mine for most of its life. She did pretty much nothing to it so its all stock.
Its a 96 auto ex.
My first plan of the car was to do the manuel swap and replace the headgasket. That all went down the drain when I got the motor out. Since the car had 200,000 miles I decieded to go ahead and replace the rings and bearings while I had it out.

Here is a list of everything I have bought so far.

Ex transmission- $200
Shift linkage- $20
Manual ECU- $20
Manual Y8 Intake Manifold- $50
Manual tranny bracket with random bolts- $10
Pedals- $20
Clutch lines and cylinder- $30
Resurfaced Flywheel- $80
Clutch- $115
Manual starter- $10

ARP head studs- $100
Poly motor mount inserts- $40

OEM Rings- $110
ACL Bearings- $110
OEM Timing belt- $40
Water pump- $55
Front main oil seal- $30
Rear main oil seal- $FREE Already had
Have block honed and Crank polished- $70
Oil pump fix- $80
Assembly fee- $130

There might be acouple extra parts but I cannot think as of now. I will keep the list updated as I buy more parts.
I am basically using this thread for myself just to keep up with all the things I have done to the car.
I am doing most the work myself other then installing the bearings and doing the oil pump fix. Thats what the Assembly fee is from...Putting the new rings on, installing the pistons, bearings and crank. Also fixing the problem of y8s running with low oil PSI.

My plans are to basically build the motor back stock. Then possiable install a junkyard turbo and some suspension mods.

Here is a picture of what I currently have. The only mods I have done to the extra is throw the Si wheels on.


The front of the car is taller due to the motor being out.

Open to any comments or recommendations.

harmonator84

Just cleaned up the shift linkage abit. Added some new grease and installed the skunk2 dual bend shifter.
Also made a patch piece to cover up the hole in the floorboard where the auto shifter cable came through.

Going to try to clean the bay up some today or tomorrow before the motor gets back from the shop.

hondacurious

theres a lot you can do but be more specific, you want a daily driver with awesome mpg or you looking for cheap power?

harmonator84

It will be a daily driver but with alittle kick. My power goals are between 200-250. I have located a turbo already so after acouple weeks of driving it with the fresh rebuild I will be boosting it. I know there is no such thing as a fast, cheap, reliable car.

DVDr

iTrader: (2)

looks good, you definitely got your hands dirty putting it together.

Sometimes I find its cheaper to just drop in a d15 swap from a jpsec dealer.

But if you have the time to do the rebuild, then its definitely much better knowing exactly whats in the motor.

harmonator84

Yea, thats the way I feel. I wanted something that I knew would last me. Where I picked the car up for so cheap I didnt mind putting alittle extra in the motor for the reliable factor.

I have some more pictures I need to upload of the motor out and such. I will try to upload some tonight.

phelpsj2

well if u plan on turboing it and u want a dd with a lil kick (200-250) then call it wasting ur time right now putting in new rings and bearings...you should have upgraded to forged pistons and rods since u plan on boosting it. if u turbo it on the stock rods u dont wanna push too much hp like 200 is the cut off id say to be super safe.

DVDr

iTrader: (2)

nah thats a myth the 200 hp cut off.

You can run 250 reliably with a good tune and good supporting mods.

That makes the car quite peppy.

ChokolAwt

iTrader: (1)

hell, 160 torque in a little civic is alot of fun haha.


good luck with the build! what suspension are you planning on going with? and are you going to keep the si's on there?

phelpsj2

ya there has been some stock ones makin that but for the most part its not too safe and since its ur dd i would not push it to be on the safe side.u dont wanna be throwin rods out the block then sayin ****..since you have around 120hp now and like 105 tq even if u boost to be around 180-200 to be safe u will feel a noticable difference and even be able to beat some b series swaps.

harmonator84

Forgot to mention this wasnt my DD. I have acouple other cars I drive, this one has been sitting at my place for acouple months now. I just would like to make this car my DD...but if it blows a rod I guess I am just back to square one again.

I am happy with 200 honestly. Its just never bad to dream big.

harmonator84

Cleaned the engine bay today with some simple green and alot of scrubbing.

Then started with my shift linkage. Took everything apart, cleaned, and applyed new grease where needed. Also bolted down the new dual bend shifter.

Then proceeded to the pedals....now I really did things the hard way here by taking the whole pedal assembly out thinking I had to have all new pedals when switching from auto to manual. Come to find out that isnt true at all. The clutch pedal is on its own bracket and the brake pedal can easily be diconnected from its bracket with just a bolt and a screw. So after noticing this at the junk yard I spent atleast an hour rebolting up my brackets.

Some of my parts came in today I will take some pictures tomorrow. Hoping to be able to pick the motor up on friday.

I had to return the energy suspension poly motor mounts because they would not work with stock mounts. I ordered them from summit...anyone else have the same problem? I guess I am just going to order some aftermarket mounts from ebay. $100 bucks for the set.

Oh well heres some pictures of todays progress.

Picture of the motor before I started...really wish I would have taken a better picture. There was some major oil/grease caked on.


After some time scrubbing...

I took most of the brackets off to have them repainted. I will upload some pictures of everything when they are done.

No pedals!


Parts ready to be installed


Ok that is all for the night....back at it tomorrow.

90civichb

I am jealous. This is the second thread in a row that I have seen where someone picked up a civic for under $1k..

Around here you are lucky to find a rusted out pile of garbage for $500.

Nice pickup. Good luck with the build.

harmonator84

Haha your just not looking in the righ place. I live in ky too.

Dymond

Subscribed. Nice project. Keep updating with photos.

harmonator84

Will do. Didnt touch the car today but almost all my parts has came in. I am still waiting to get my motor back though.
I have been looking at the headlights from ebay....some of the sets do not look bad. Anyone have any luck with them?

harmonator84

Some of my parts waiting for my motor to get back.

Dymond

What clutch is that?

harmonator84

Its the F1 Stage 3 clutch. I am still up in the air about it but I am going to give it a try. Anyone have any experiance with these?

harmonator84

Crank is back from machine shop.

harmonator84

Bringing back to life! I have finally got my motor back and all my parts gathered up. Now that it has became alittle warmer out I have decided to continue the job I started.

Here is what the motor looked like after getting her home. I wish I would have took some pictures of it before shipping it off but I am sure you guys know what a 160k mile motor looks like.

upside down but you get the point.



Starting to assemble motor...ARP headstuds installed, headgasket ready.


Head tightened down.


Oil pan painted and installed


Test fitting the timing belt


Y8 manual intake


Now I was kinda up in the air on what to do with my flywheel. I had thought about going with a lightweight flywheel but after some reading I think I am going to stick with stock. Local shops were charging 35 bucks to resurface so I decided to try doing it myself with alittle sand paper.

Before

Half way done

All finished


All I have for today. Going to be doing alot of work tomorrow. I am just taking my time to make sure everything is done right. Any advice or tips would be helpful.

harmonator84

Getting started kinda early on her today. Going to pick up a new flywheel bearing. Then it's time to mate the engine with the tranny.

Perkasize

GL with the swap! Mine is exactly like that just without the wing. Im hoping to swap it to manual also here in the near future.

harmonator84

Thanks! It doesnt seem to be that big of a problem so far. Just locating all the parts at a decent price.

harmonator84

Well seems like finding a flywheel bearing is going to be harder than I thought. Best deal locally for me is 15 bux and have to wait a day for shipping.

Found it through advance. If anyone else has this problem the part number is 102cc. Thats for autozone and advance. When I just took the part into their store everyone said they couldnt get it. So after alittle research through their online website I found the part within 2 or 3 mins. :-/

Its called the clutch pilot bearing.