Hey guys I duno if I'm posting in the right forum but I want to get a porject car for so I can learn more and get first hand experience wokring with cars. Right now I have a 2003 civic ex auto which I don't really want to mod (k20 swap=too expensive+i got an auto, boost=not best for auto, and bolt-ons don't do anything in a d17). I want to get a manual cause it's just more fun (but I'll still use the auto for daily driving here in NYC).
So what car do you guys recommend that has cheap upgrade parts that I can work on (I plan on installing turbo kit on it). On the car itself I don't want to initially spend more than $2000-$2500 initially.
(I have an older integra possibly in mind which is why I'm hesititating posting it here, but there are a lot more honda tuners from what I see).

 

Get a 90' to 2000' honda anything.

*and an Acura is a honda if thats what you meant.

 

but is there anything you recommend in particlular (year/model). One to which performance parts aren't too expensive.

 

I gotta go with my personal experience...
A 2nd gen CRX.....
Or a 92-95 civic hatch

Either can be had for under $2k. And parts are reletively cheap and easy to find.

 

if you dont have much money. grab a cheap hatch (92-95) and buy yourself a nice b series and put it in.

if you dont know how to do any of that. Just gran an integra. Might be a bit more...but it already has a b series motor in...and you can just go from there if you want.

cheap...? just get boost crazy with a home made kit on a D series??? haha

 

Get something with a DOHC (**Si**), this way you'll save some money on the engine swap.

 

get a gsr or si !!
or just get a crappy 92-95 hb or 96-98 and swap some moter and u would be fine!

 

Cheap project car...get a 2nd gen CRX. They are really cheap, and can be done up really easily. My good friend has a Stock B16A (just A), with only an intake in his CRX. He ran 14.6 with it, but i think hes run faster.

 

Why limit yourself to Hondas? I mean they are economy cars to start with.

Check out http://www.grannysspeedshop.com

They sell kits for Rx7's to adapt V8's into. My friends picked up an 88 RX7 with a blown motor for like 300 bux. It has 4 wheel disc brakes, near 50/50 weight dist, low slung, aluminum suspension parts, Independant rear suspension to start with! They can be had for cheap. First gens are even cheaper but second gen cars are a bit better IMO.

Then get a cheap Ford or Chevy V8 and rebuild it. Cost depends on what you want. All in all you could have an 11 sec car for less than 5k dollars. And since you already have a car you can work on this on the side.

Here are some examples:

"I put a 302 with AFR heads in a 85 rx7. Much to my delight it went 11.81 @118mph last night,,, stock rx7 rear with radial tires,, not nittos or drag radials,, but generic performance tires. Im so happy i could ****!!! LOL It weighs 2550 with me in it. It pulled a 1.74 60 foot just easing it off the line, no nitrous or blower, all motor, this car is gonna be a blast!!!! "

"I recently did a swap with your kit, on a 90 turbo rx7. Turbo 350 trans, and Chevy 350 crate motor (330 hp). The conversion went well, and I love the car. At the track, however, i'm running out of gear.

My car ran 12.56@106mph with no NOS. That was great. But add 150hp NOS kit, and WOW, it ran 11.33@112mph. Thats impressive, considering that I shut the NOS down at the 990" mark because it was bouncing off the rev limiter (set at 6800 rpm). "


I mean honestly, a civic with a turbo would cost just as much if not more but its not going to run 11's.

just my .02 cents.

 

keep looking in the classifieds your bound to find a hatch with a swap already bone for you for the price your willing to spend

 

thnaks for the suggestions so far guys.

 

get the 92-95 Hatch or Coupe
because they are cheap and are plenty around for sell
has the world support in performance and parts!!

 

Yea if you want a really fast project car. Thas also cheap...get a DSM! boo! i hate em though!

 

I'll tka e alook intoa 95 coupe since i personally don't mind the look, but I'm leaning towards an integra. are all 90-96 integra's pretty much the same? (besides exterior differences)