Hello all, This is my first time posting on the dark side. My daily driver / track car / everything is a cammed/sprayed 95 Z28, so as you can guess the Hondas are all new to me.

Heres the story. I have a 93 Katana 600 that is taking up space and never riden. In its current shape it is worth $1500-$2k. A friend here locally is wanting to trade me his car for it.

Car is a 89 CRX (don't know the specific model) with a ZC motor in it. Also has some sort of upgraded clutch, never heard of the name before. Body is rough with dents, missing trim, missing interior etc. He has started to smooth it out with bondo/primer but it has a long ways to go.

My goal is to have two projects to hopefully keep at least one running at any given time. And the cammed 350 is not gas or pocket friendly.

-Would you make the trade assuming the motorcycle has NO personal value. Has not been ridden in 6+ months.
-Know nothing about this motor, can anyone give me some basic specs?
-Can this motor handle boost. If I were to go with an import, a junkyard turbo would be a must. I know I won't get the feeling of 550lbs of TQ like in the Camaro, but would hope the CRX could be quicker than 18's without a ton of money.

Thanks everyone.

 

the ZC is 128ish hp 111tq, It's a decent platform to boost, and the junkyard route is cost effective. the car should currently run between a 15-17 second 1/4 depending on teh tranny & driver. The CRX is a cult classic, so I'd say do it!

 

I had a 93 katana.... I would take the crx.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DJ_SaNdOz &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">the ZC is 128ish hp 111tq, It's a decent platform to boost, and the junkyard route is cost effective. the car should currently run between a 15-17 second 1/4 depending on teh tranny & driver. The CRX is a cult classic, so I'd say do it! </TD></TR></TABLE>

Do it. If the bike isn't ridden and is just taking up space why not just get rid of it for something you are likely to use and work on.

The ZC is a nice motor and can handle boost well with a good tune. With some boost, good tuning, and slicks you should be able to have a 13 sec crx. Build the motor and up the boost and 11's are definitely possible. Good Luck

 

Thanks for the good replies. I get a test drive on Thursday I think.

I will try to get some picture of it up tonight also.

Everything I have looked at so far though seems to be relatively affordable. I mean I have seen ZC engines on Ebay for what a set of STOCK heads cost for the Camaro.

Any major issues I should watch for when I look at it again?

I know about searching, have quite a bit already. "ZC" is too short for a search though

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Gabbiani &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thanks for the good replies. I get a test drive on Thursday I think.

I will try to get some picture of it up tonight also.

Everything I have looked at so far though seems to be relatively affordable. I mean I have seen ZC engines on Ebay for what a set of STOCK heads cost for the Camaro.

Any major issues I should watch for when I look at it again?

I know about searching, have quite a bit already. "ZC" is too short for a search though </TD></TR></TABLE>

Rust....this is the #1 problem with the 88-91 civic/crx platform. However you are in OK so I don't know how much rust will be a factor. Also make sure the engine is strong, no smoke etc., no Check Engine Lights, etc. Take it for a test drive and make sure everything is in working order. Braking system, climate control, exterior lighting, wipers, etc.

 

take the rex

 

take it for sure...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Gabbiani &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> I have a 93 Katana 600 that is taking up space and never riden. In its current shape it is worth $1500-$2k. A friend here locally is wanting to trade me his car for it. </TD></TR></TABLE>


I forgot,is the 93 can-o-tuna water cooled or was it still air cooled? If air cooled,chunk it (trade) while you got such an offer.

 

Tuna cat is air cooled.

Got to drive the rex tonight. Needs some work on the outside, but with some sanding, new molding, and a really cheap paint job it may not look too bad. Hood is a little rough from being backed into. Fixable.

Has a ZC DOHC, forged internals, with the top end off of an Integra. 16 angl port job I am told. Going to contact the mechanic that did the swap, still not 100% guarantee, but reasuring at least.

-Unknown headers, not stock manifolds
-Exhaust is tolerable. Not too loud, not to high pitch for a v8 guy.
-No air conditioning
-No power steering
-Front pass fender has been replaced. Very little bit of rust here. Rest seemed clean of rust.
-All lights work except the front right blinker, missing the wiring. Easy fix.
-Interior is stripped from the seats back.
-Driver side seat bracket broke. Should be easy to fix/replace.
-Tokico shocks,, good??
-shocks neuspeed traction bar in back
-NOPI Gravity series competition clutch,, don't know anything about them but it grabs like an sob.

I was surprised with how much torque you could feel down low. I spun the tires pretty good the first time I took off in it because I wasn't expecting the clutch grab or the power.

Tranny grinds a bit going into 3rd. Claims it has done that for years and not gotten any worse. Probably a bad synchro, should this be enough to walk away from the deal?

Very loud on the inside. Didn't sound like a wheel bearing or anything. Perhaps just all the bare metal in the back and stuff viberating.

Steering felt ok, did not pull bad or anything.

As of tonight he has the title in the mail on its way to him. I said "probably most likely yes" He road the bike and loved it. I feel good about it, any one want to talk me out of it?

Heres some crappy pics from a phone.

 

might as well do it. Get another trans to asap, it might not get any worse but it will rub your last nerve eventually. If your going a junkyard turbo setup, and want to save money, id say jusnk that idea totally and just spray it. My first zc i sprayed 100 shot wet for about 8 months before any bottom end rattles and then it was just a matter of rod and crank bearings to fix that up. I was doind 13 flats consistently with nasty wheel hop and 2.1 60fts, with traction i dont see why you cant hit a high 12 with a 500 dollar investment (the car is pretty much free right? your just trading a glorified huffy for it anyways). No talking out here, dive on it on that deal

 

not a bad deal, since a 15 year old car is gonna need some work or it was greatly taken care of. (my opinion) if that was my car i would get rid of that spoiler asap, just doesnt blend with a crx

 

burn the wing and ur good.


Is that a yellow steering wheel?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CRXDrew &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">burn the wing and ur good.</TD></TR></TABLE>

First priority.
As far as wings and CRX's go, if it isn't stock ditch it.

 

i hope that lawnmower handle is just placed on the rear of the car as a sick joke for our amusement :-|

seriously tho, take the car its cheap to get parts and go decently fast (by decently fast i mean 14's)

anythings possible with turbo, although its worth noting theres a LOT more aftermarket support for the b-series platform.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mr-mister &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">might as well do it. Get another trans to asap, it might not get any worse but it will rub your last nerve eventually. If your going a junkyard turbo setup, and want to save money, id say jusnk that idea totally and just spray it. My first zc i sprayed 100 shot wet for about 8 months before any bottom end rattles and then it was just a matter of rod and crank bearings to fix that up. I was doind 13 flats consistently with nasty wheel hop and 2.1 60fts, with traction i dont see why you cant hit a high 12 with a 500 dollar investment (the car is pretty much free right? your just trading a glorified huffy for it anyways). No talking out here, dive on it on that deal</TD></TR></TABLE>

I see what you are saying about spray. But boost has been a dream for a long time, even if just to hear the bov at 11:1 compression on the Camaro its just not going to happen.

The wing makes the hatch horribly heavy, so it will probably have to go.

Yes, yellow steering wheel. I have no idea where it came from.

 

yea the wing is nothing but a joke, rip that off asap... i cant believe there is no rear quater pannel rust at the wheel well... definitly grab that little ****!!!...check out homemadeturbo.com for some inspiration and ideas.... i had a 3rd gear grind in my b series y1 transmission and i put GM Syncromesh fluid in it, no more grind... anyway keep us up to date on her welcome to the dark side!

 

welcome to the darkside.

 

Its a good deal. Go for it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Gabbiani &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Has a ZC DOHC, forged internals, with the top end off of an Integra. 16 angl port job I am told. Going to contact the mechanic that did the swap, still not 100% guarantee, but reasuring at least.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

something just doesn't sound right here. hmmmm

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DJ_SaNdOz &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> The CRX is a cult classic, so I'd say do it! </TD></TR></TABLE>

Do It!!

 

Learning as much as I can as fast as I can. Seems the zc came in some of the Integras, so an integra topend would make sense.

I could be way off base here, I am newb + about 3 days of reading.

Guy was bragging about how fast it was, I must say I was impressed. More than I expected. But its no monster.

 

The 86-89 integras had a similar engine to the ZC, not quite sure the engine code, I think D16A1. It doesn't sound like a bad idea so grab that thing up while you can, just lose the wing.

 

katana

crx

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CRXDrew &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">burn the wing and ur good.


Is that a yellow steering wheel? </TD></TR></TABLE>

2nd that burn Both