bnbader

Hi, im Ben im 16 and im pretty new to this forum and to cars in general. I kinda got into hondas and after a bunch on research i decided that if i get the money ill be going with this build and i wanted to ask what you think of it... I have been having trouble finding full swaps on Craigslist but i hope that i will find a Clean EG hatch shell...

Ok:

Clean EG Hatch Shell hoping 500-700 MAX

LS motor- I have not had luck finding them on craigslist. But i have seen the full swap with tranny for 2000 on hmotorsonline.com. Is there a better place to buy them?

AEM short air intake- 100

Flowmaster catback Force II- 225 for full system

Viper 5001 alarm + install- 275

Escort X50- 280 if i have the money

Short shifter and ****- 100

Stereo + speakers 200-250

Paying people to do swap and paint- 300-350


Ill probably have 3.5K-5K MAX Hopefully 5K

Is this a good solid build? Do i need to buy a new ECU because of the bolt ons? Can anyone tell me good places to buy these things for cheap?

Thank you i really appreciate this...

Ben

The unnessesary things might not even be bought if i don't have enough money.

tsdenny

i dont think you have it though out.
you are not going to find a clean shell for that much, unless you just want the shell and nothing else.
the swap may be $2000, but you will still need to change the belts, fluids, etc and those add up quickly

bnbader

All i need is a shell with no motor. It can even have a crappy paint job just no major dings... I might even go to an auction...

FearTheH

iTrader: (5)

there's also no way you'd pay someone to do a swap and also paint the car for 300... You're going to need A LOT more money than you think you are.

sayyoooon

Are you doing it this way just because you want to build a car? Because you could buy all that in a car for cheaper.

bnbader

i already have a guy from H-t doing the swap for 200. And i have a friend prepping the car for 100-150 and im doing the 50$ paint job...

bnbader

Yeah but all the ones i have seen so far are pretty crappy. If i find a clean one for 4k ill buy it...

shawn_crx

Good luck on finding a great deal...
the last deal i had for a hatch was 2 year ago.
Car was 750 with front damage
oil,tranny, etc change 40
timing belt,water pump, tensioner 120
new tires 300
battery 75
00 front conversion 250
shocks 300
and axles 120 autozone.
and a paint job 500

Just the tuneups cost over 1k.

jtmartin96civic

Dont do the $50 paint job. You can NOT lay automotive paint over it without stripping all the rustoleum off first. If you're going to do it... thats it. Leave it at the rustoluem stage. If you ever think you're going to get a nice paint job, dont do it, Just wait.

Vindicator9000

EGs can be found for that money, but they're usually somewhat rough. My brother in law got his *running* 94 CX for $800, but it's got some rust, some hail damage, some crimps, and a few big dents. I think you're grossly underestimating how much bodywork / paint costs to do right.

$50 paintjobs can look great, provided that you do a ton of prepwork, do everything right, and never plan on repainting it. Otherwise, it'll look like a $50 paintjob. And, either way, if you repaint it, automotive paint will not stick to rustoleum, will make it run, and will make the whole thing look like utter trash. If you're dead set on going this route, I would plan out at least 2-3 months just for the paint and bodywork.

hmotorsonline is one of the only sites that I'd trust buying a motor from. Keep watching craigslist though. I just picked up a B20z from there for $450. Also watch hondamarketplace. I got my complete gsr swap there for $2000, although I had to drive to Chicago to pick it up.

If you have friends who'll swap a motor for $350, good job, but you'd better hope they know what they're doing.

pixelated

for a great deal, you may want to look where few people do, local newpapers, talk to family friends, i got my '95 coupe for $500, my bro-in-law worked with a guy who was selling it and didnt know much about cars so i grabbed it, looked almost brand new inside, and outside two new fenders, a little body work, corner light and rear bumber and it looked new... also find someone who drives one around town, who isnt into the 'scene', i met a local lady selling her '93 DX hatch, mint condition, with service paperwork since she bought it new, and only wanted $1200 (thought no one would pay more then that for a 15 year old car)

deals can be had, just need to find them... besides, buying a running car allows you to work on the suspension etc, while saveing up for that monster motor thats just out of grasp, and gives you exp with its upkeep and when the time comes, you get the added benefit of learning by just pulling out the old motor...

bnbader

Ok thank you everyone. I am trying to find all the deals there are. I have been doing a lot of research. To be honust i wouldn't mind a Stock EG with just the LS motor without anything for the time being. That should be around 3k and wait and see how much money i have while doing the body work. With the 50$ paint job to me it seems that all you need to o is take of all of the stock paint am i correct?

Thank you everyone for your advice.

Vindicator9000

no, you don't take off all the stock paint, but you do need to rough it some. Do a search for the $50 paint thread and READ it. It's full of people talking about what works, what doesn't, and what gets good results. Learn from others' mistakes.

Also, I've seen a lot of $50 paintjobs. I can almost guarantee that, at best, your car will perpetually be a 50 footer. Meaning it'll look fantastic at 50 feet, but at anything less than that it'll look like trash. In general, these jobs are full of fisheye and orange peel. It's *possible* for them to look fantastic, but unusual, and has a lot to do with the skill of the person doing it.

Edit: Here's the oooh/aaah thread https://honda-tech.com/forums/showth...llar+paint+job

Here's why it's a bad idea: https://honda-tech.com/forums/showth...lar+paint+jobp

Here is a very good writeup of exactly everything you have to do to get a decent result.. and I don't really think his result is that decent. It looks good from some angles, but at others it's very dull:
https://honda-tech.com/forums/showth...llar+paint+job

Here's another one:
https://honda-tech.com/forums/showth...llar+paint+job

bnbader

Thank you very much that was very helpful.

johnjohn316

buy a car that runs then swap. and dont get a short ram they're a piece of crap. go cold air only you'll feel such a difference in power and performance. and if you have bout 5k just get a eg with a nice swap already. or just down that on a rsx. serious the rsx is got it all performance and power. if you're going to spend on building it mind as well get something that has it all already.

DC2-ProdUcTiOnS

iTrader: (2)

**** for 5 grand just buy a whole car, enjoy it, and make upgrades as you go.....

i got my EJ6 with just over 100K on the clock, Champ White paint,Si Interior, with a semi-built B16 in it for a hair over 5. And i LOVED it and drove it for 2 1/2 years (actually way less cause only summers) and absolutely loved it. Look around. You will certainly find something that will fir your budget....

cali-boi_eg6

Hes right just because a mechanic tells you the labor for a swap is a certain price that doesnt include the parts and lubes you'll need also..for example (axles, b series motor mounts and all the, and maybe anything that needs to be replaced with the motor it self) it is used after all..when i bought my b16 i had to replace the alternator and radiator on the spot, then the fuel injectors and man that **** added up so fast

DC2-ProdUcTiOnS

iTrader: (2)

So all of that totaled equals just shy of $3,000. Get a turbo setup from someone here on HT, for around $600-$700, and have it tuned. Once you do all that, you COULD have a Turbo-D in a EG Hatch putting out over 200whp for around $4000.


Dont forget things like labor (unless you plan on getting your hands dirty) but the are HUNDREDS of different ways you could go, do some research and grab a calculator if needed, and put some things together.

bnbader

That is what i have been doing but i don't want a stock D series. I kinda wanted something stronger at stock and good for a cheap boost system later on... The B18B has many things you can do to it such as Boost to 8 psi easy 200. Go LS/VTEC ect...

DC2-ProdUcTiOnS

iTrader: (2)

Boosted D > Stock LS

ALL DAY LONG.....

if your put a radar in as one of your list of things you need to get, your wqorried about getting tickets or speeding....so why let yourself get into that trouble by having a little bit bigger motor to start with....****, get the D and rock it for a bit. is it slow stock? yea...hell yea....but you wont get tickets at slower speeds!!!!!! save up until the time is right, and but the turbo and slap it on and watch your smile grow from ear to ear...

bnbader

Id rather not but if i don't have money in the end i will...

alphalanos

If I were you Id try to find a cheap hatch thats in rough shape but has a stock motor. It will be easier and much cheaper. It costs ALOT to build a car from pieces. There are always things you overlook and need to buy. Save the major rebuilding for when you have the money to burn. Its cheaper to just do things(like a motor or turbo) piece by piece that way youre not rushing.

bnbader

Ok we will see. For now i dont know what my money situation will be but i should know in about 2-3 weeks exactly and i can plan from there.

pawz1200

I would recommend finding something already together. You will not get out that cheap. I have built three civics ZC, motor, B16a and a h22a and each one ran more than expected. Just save your money and do it right. It will be much less aggrevation

bnbader

Ok well see whats going on later. I will always try to have 1K ready if necessary...