...to build the car that Honda should have built.

I was talking to some people at work today and tonight and, while some where intelligent, nearly all were non-car enthusiasts. No one appreciated the idea like I think I did.

I got to thinking about my Civic. You know, that car has really grown on me, even after it sat for a year and a half in a field until I put a motor in it. Driving it home after I had a beer at the local bar, I realized I really like my car.

Originally, I planned on taking the car completely off the road and making an dedicated SCCA/autocross car. But I got to thinking about another option.

So... here's the plan. It may be a little far out there, but see me through. I want to build the car that Honda would have built, if they would have had a.) some of the later car technology, b.) used forced induction, and c.) built a purpose-built car.

Purpose-built car? What? I mean cars like the STi, the Z06, the CRX Si, the SRT-4. A car built for all-out performance not in a straight line like some of the other muscle cars put out back then (your Fox body 'Stangs, IROCs) but cars meant for all around performance on the road courses, but were sold to the public anyway. Chevrolet put some cars out that couldn't even be sold to the public unless you had an SCCA or similar license.

I don't want a car with a JDM front end or wings or spoilers or any of that ****... I want a car that has the USDM look and feel. I want a car that has front and rear sway bars, rear discs and large fronts and forced induction. Like it could have been.

This is going o be a lengthy project; I plan on making a lot of stuff work. Every little rusty piece under my hood will be replaced (probably from many junkyard visits... I love those) and restored to what I think they could have looked like. I want to have all the amenities my car originally came with, like A/C, power windows, power locks and the like. I will still be converting the car to manual Si steering, of course.

I want the car to have boost. No turbo timers, boost controllers or the like... just low boost as it would have had from the factory. Maybe 5-7 lbs. Stout internals in my ZC and maybe a small 16G or T-28. Just a good fixed boost and no blow-off valve. Nothing silly like that. Hell, I'll even keep my 2.25" exhaust. I want the DOHC ZC in there. No SOHC D16A6 in THIS little monster. I would have to get a ZC tranny with LSD tho to make it what I really want (has an Si tranny in it now).

This means going to a tasteful Honda 15" wheel... getting rid of my 16" Velox VX-8Rs. I'm thinking of a 195/50 ZR-15 tire would look pretty good on that. A full-size spare with matching tire in the trunk.

The pieces will be aftermarket, of course... pieces like the sway bars and what not. I'll still maintain pieces like my SAFC, shift light and AEM fuel rail, but that will be minor stuff (in my mind, anyway). I don't want to go all-out drag or dedicated autocross. But I do want to relocate the battery to the trunk, but keep it somewhat factory looking (if there's a way I can even do that).

I want to get the body rust fixed and the car painted in the factory color (Saxony Blue) with black body moldings but painted mirrors. No chrome around the windows like they came from factory; just black. A small, body-color wing on the back would complete the look. Wings West made a nice one back in the day.

I would even go as far as to remove the CD player from the car and go to a tape deck with 6 disc changer controls on the face for as factory a look as possible. My car never came with rear speakers (even as an EX with everything else) and I won't put them in.

The car already has poly bushings throughout... I think that that will not really hurt my vision. It's all about the factory look and feel. I'll probably keep the car lowered, but a camber kit with control arms will be replacing the other kit I have.

And I know what I want I want to call the car (please don't laugh)... the Civic SiR-T.

Now, be honest... is this too far-fetched? Have I just had one too many beers while I've been writing this? Or is this a thing that I can aspire to?

Sorry about the length.


Modified by ex voto at 8:30 AM 5/8/2005

 

go for it
Good Luck!

::Subcribes to thread::

 

When you are putting stuff together.. just remember reliability... What Would Honda Do? WWHD. Sounds like a cool project. I think 5psi would be perfect.

 

Reach for the stars man. Little bit of time and a little bit of money (or a shitload of both) and you'll be right where u wanna be

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ex voto &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">No turbo timers, boost controllers or the like... just low boost as it would have had from the factory. Maybe 5-7 lbs. Stout internals in my ZC and maybe a small 16G or T-28. Just a good fixed boost and no blow-off valve. Nothing silly like that. Hell, I'll even keep my 2.25" exhaust.[/i]</TD></TR></TABLE>

those things do serve a purpose you know...

i wouldnt suggest going without a bov. thats kinda asking for trouble

btw, bad *** lil car with stock look = sleeper

 

I don't know if I would call it an SiR-T. I mean first you don't have an Si or SiR motor, let alone car. I would go with something a little more "funny" to go with the sleeper look.

 

I think your product is great, but 205/50/15 tires would be more appropriate.

 

i was thinking to myself the other day.

If i went into Honda and ordered EVERY SINGLE nut and bolt and piece of metal from honda....How much would it be? So this week i am going to go and get a partslist and see how much to rebuild a completely 100% OEM CRX HF would cost me. hehehehe...prolly up in the 40-60K range.....how crazy would that be.

 

LOL, the people in the parts department will kick your ***. The body sections and tubs are really not as much as you might think, though. It's the little stuff that will nickel and dime you to death.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ex voto &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">...and no blow-off valve. Nothing silly like that...


...I'll still maintain pieces like my SAFC... </TD></TR></TABLE>

I don't think eliminating compressor surge and improving the life of the turbo would be something Honda would consider silly and have left out from the factoy using current technology.

Also, Honda would not be using an AFC to tune the car, that would all be taken care of with in the ECU.

Good luck with the project, keep us updated!

 

You're CRAZYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!

 

they probably wouldnt have used the 4dr either

 

gst gsx 16 psi factory

 

that's exactly what i'm trying to do, to save up and get. my car's not going to be lowered, and if it is, it'll be no more than an inch.

i was thinking of the VW term " Driver's Edition "

and i can see what you mean about the BOV, but maybe try what a lot of european companies do. they call it a "diverter valve" instead, where it just routes the air in a loop to the intake side of the turbo, its silent (which i love) and you could argue that it keeps the turbo spinning slightly longer.

good luck.

 

The only reason they use the bypass valve is because european compaines (who have their head up their ***) use mass air flow meters. Once air passes the air flow meter, it is all accounted for by the computer and must stay in the engine. If any air escapes, the computer has no way of knowing and has already decided to provide fuel for that air. Research the cars that have the bypass valve and the cars that have a blow off valve and you'll see this. And not all bypass valves are quiet, I knew someone with a Saab who put a different bypass valve on and it was quite noticeable.

 

you cant put the crx Si in the same sentance as a z06.

thats just retarded.

your idea however? go for it. make under ther hood look 100% oem. Buy a whole shitload of stock intake tubes to make all the piping with. have a field day, but to say the pinnacle of all the chevy small blocks that runs 11's off the showroom floor once broken in with the right driver is similar to the the crx si.... bc it was a purpose-built car?

all cars are purpose-built. ours was to get good gas milage.

the crx is a fun little car, and a cool idea (hell i still drive one, obviously) but we just happen to make them much faster then they were supposed to be. reliaility and perhaps handling were amoungst the major concerns with the cars design. the sti was made to bring the rally car feel to the street, and its pretty successful.

long story short, great idea, horrid comparison.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bagpipe goatee &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

and i can see what you mean about the BOV, but maybe try what a lot of european companies do. they call it a "diverter valve" instead, where it just routes the air in a loop to the intake side of the turbo, its silent (which i love) and you could argue that it keeps the turbo spinning slightly longer.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

EXACTLY.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

they probably wouldnt have used the 4dr either

</TD></TR></TABLE>

Subaru did. So did Dodge.


Yeah, the comparison sucked. Read the last few lines and you may be able to figure out why. Heh. My whole point was while those cars are COMPLETELY different, they were still built as the sportiest it got.

Or something.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ex voto &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
This means going to a tasteful Honda 15" wheel... getting rid of my 16" Velox VX-8Rs. I'm thinking of a 195/50 ZR-15 tire would look pretty good on that. A full-size spare with matching tire in the trunk.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

Good luck fitting a full size spare, it's not going to happen unless you cut the spare tub.
I had that same idea, quite a while ago. I am running at 7psi intercooled, PM6 ECU with turboedit. Just a stock looking boost gauge. 13" rims as they originally came in my HF,
single cam non VTEC, went to 1.6 liters (D16Y7) I fitted a small FMIC that required no cutting at all of my front bumper, no stickers, 1" drop.
Full interior although I did get rid of the AC.
Body kits, spoilers are for kids/grown ups who want attention. I rather don't tip the authorities that my car has over twice the HP it came from the factory.

 

you can upgrade everything other than speakers and a cd player? the car isnt gonna be stock, so theres no point in being a stock **** when it comes to the comfort of the interior.

 

try it out.. good luck

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by drdisco69 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The only reason they use the bypass valve is because european compaines (who have their head up their ***) use mass air flow meters. Once air passes the air flow meter, it is all accounted for by the computer and must stay in the engine. If any air escapes, the computer has no way of knowing and has already decided to provide fuel for that air. Research the cars that have the bypass valve and the cars that have a blow off valve and you'll see this. And not all bypass valves are quiet, I knew someone with a Saab who put a different bypass valve on and it was quite noticeable.</TD></TR></TABLE>

i agree, and MAF sensors do suck, but they are quieter than blow off valves. granted, some aftermarket ones are louder, but still. i have a passat 1.8t, the 1.8t ones tend to leak, and then people replace them with the ones off an audi tt because its stronger and bolts right in.

ok, you probalby don't get my point. but i guess i mean that its a quiet solution to the surges of running without one.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .DOHCebag. &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you can upgrade everything other than speakers and a cd player? the car isnt gonna be stock, so theres no point in being a stock **** when it comes to the comfort of the interior.</TD></TR></TABLE>

STFU nOOb. Read the post before you say stupid ****. ... next time I see some douche use the hammer when things make total sense...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CRXDrew &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

STFU nOOb. Read the post before you say stupid ****. ... next time I see some douche use the hammer when things make total sense... </TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EX Veto &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">So... here's the plan. It may be a little far out there, but see me through. I want to build the car that Honda would have built, if they would have had a.) some of the later car technology, b.) used forced induction, and c.) built a purpose-built car.

I would even go as far as to remove the CD player from the car and go to a tape deck with 6 disc changer controls on the face for as factory a look as possible. My car never came with rear speakers (even as an EX with everything else) and I won't put them in.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

thanks for your wonderful explanation of the usage, but sadly, you're a ******* **** gulper. hows that for making total sense?

 

Dude go for it. everything starts with a dream. even after a few beers. If no one acted on their dreams life would be pretty boring. I hope everything goes great for you. let us in on the process and details.

 

Not big on the radio stuff anyway. I don't feel like cutting holes in the rear deck, so therefore I won't. I kinda like the fact that while my car was the absolute top of the line Civic, it didn't have rear speakers. But I'll still have a Honda changer, tho.