Last summer, I developed a case of what I call "automotive anorexia." I removed the spare tire and rear interior of my CRX just for kicks and immediately noticed a substantial improvement in handling. Since then, I've kept my eyes peeled for ways to drop weight without riding around in a shell (the car is my daily driver). I had plans this summer to remove the A/C and sunroof, but I got to thinking: why tear apart a perfectly good '91 Si when I can save myself the effort by finding an HF? It comes without all the parts that I want to remove anyway (A/C, rear windshield wiper, sunroof, etc.), and it's nearly 200 lbs lighter than the Si.

Unfortunately, while I'd lose the weight, I'd also lose rear disk brakes and the rear sway-bar. Are two-tenths of a second worth the switch from disks to drums? Are there any other substantial differences between the Si and the HF? What would you do in my position?

Keep in mind that I plan to swap the engine and trans no matter what, so power doesn't figure into the equation.

 

Why not to worry: lowering the car a bit will pull stopping load off the rearend, those same custom springs you get from eibach/switft/etc can be ordered with stiffer rear rates to compensate for no rear sway (*highly* recommend spending $200 for a sus. tech. bar & any EF/EG/DC rear arms w/holes). In all honesty, I can clamp my *** cheeks harder than the rear discs on civics. They aren't worth it unless you do a big front upgrade like itr/accord calipers & 10.2 rotors.

All in all, you can do more with the HF will less time involved.

 

That's what I figured. Thanks for the info.

 

solution: swap the disks to the HF

 

keep the si if you want all the upgrades or go with the hf for a basic light weight body of the rex, if you are going for speed and light weight go with the hf body and place the si engine inside i believe the hf only has around 80 hp lol so keep the si engine no matter what unless you upgrade

 

I think he wants to swap the A6 into the Hf.

The hf comes stock with 62 hp.

 

yea i knew it was something rediculous lol

 

Keep the Si as a daily, it's fun to have AC and a sunroof, and get a clean non modded HF and do that one up. Don't bother losing a CRX.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ludesrv &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Keep the Si as a daily, it's fun to have AC and a sunroof, and get a clean non modded HF and do that one up. Don't bother losing a CRX.</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

my HF had AC, so you will still probably have to remove it. doesnt take long

 

I was told the A/C was removed out of my 91 hf when i bought it.

 

My civic never had AC so...ya!

 

Believe me, I'd keep two CRX's if I could. At this point, however, I simply can't afford it. Allow me to clarify: I plan on swapping engines no matter what, i.e. no d15b3 or d16a6, probably a boosted z6 or a y8. And in order to afford the HF, I'd have to either sell or trade the Si. Instead of stripping the Si, I figured I'd get an HF to lose the extra weight, and then swap. I'm only wary because it took me two years to find my Si (black '91 with 87k miles) and I don't want to get rid of her unless I know I can get a good deal in return. Make sense?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Thepeug &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Believe me, I'd keep two CRX's if I could. At this point, however, I simply can't afford it. Allow me to clarify: I plan on swapping engines no matter what, i.e. no d15b3 or d16a6, probably a boosted z6 or a y8. And in order to afford the HF, I'd have to either sell or trade the Si. Instead of stripping the Si, I figured I'd get an HF to lose the extra weight, and then swap. I'm only wary because it took me two years to find my Si (black '91 with 87k miles) and I don't want to get rid of her unless I know I can get a good deal in return. Make sense? </TD></TR></TABLE>

That statement in bold says it all. Our cars are old and getting scarer by the minute. Unless you live on the west/mountain area of the country...finding a rust free roller to work on is a major undertaking. My advice is keep what you have...and lighten her up a bit and just enjoy it.

 

Didn't you say it had an automatic tranny?
If an auto si makes you happy then just put in a 5spd, forget strippin the interior, and let the good times roll
I've seen auto w/heavy mods vs 5spd stock it was an all day spanking spree

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by HiProfile &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> In all honesty, I can clamp my *** cheeks harder than the rear discs on civics.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

LOL wow man...isnt that hte truth...congrats..you've made it into my sig

 

audioroach,

I thought about it last night, and I see what you mean. Unless I'm doing some serious racing (which I'm not), two tenths of a second isn't a big deal. I'll keep what I have and see what happens. Thanks for the help everyone.

In response to someone else's question: it's a 5-speed.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by HiProfile &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Why not to worry: lowering the car a bit will pull stopping load off the rearend, those same custom springs you get from eibach/switft/etc can be ordered with stiffer rear rates to compensate for no rear sway (*highly* recommend spending $200 for a sus. tech. bar & any EF/EG/DC rear arms w/holes). In all honesty, I can clamp my *** cheeks harder than the rear discs on civics. They aren't worth it unless you do a big front upgrade like itr/accord calipers & 10.2 rotors.

All in all, you can do more with the HF will less time involved.</TD></TR></TABLE>

i am gonna have to disagree with you here. any front brake upgrade should be followed by a rear brake upgrade so as to not upset brake balance.

 

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

i am gonna have to disagree with you here. any front brake upgrade should be followed by a rear brake upgrade so as to not upset brake balance.</TD></TR></TABLE>

But I wanna do an endo! Ya...prelude front brakes here I come (for those who don't know, I own a Prelude, and I have a spare front end almost, and since Prelude VTEC is ITR brakes but using the EX rotors for the 4x100, blamo, cheap big brakes)

 

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

But I wanna do an endo! Ya...prelude front brakes here I come (for those who don't know, I own a Prelude, and I have a spare front end almost, and since Prelude VTEC is ITR brakes but using the EX rotors for the 4x100, blamo, cheap big brakes)</TD></TR></TABLE>

lol that would be a funny sight

 

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

lol that would be a funny sight </TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm doing it now. It's getting done. Gonna strip the *** and do the big brakes in the front. Endo like wow.

 

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

I'm doing it now. It's getting done. Gonna strip the *** and do the big brakes in the front. Endo like wow.</TD></TR></TABLE>

do it, and make sure you put HF rear drums on the car

 

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

do it, and make sure you put HF rear drums on the car </TD></TR></TABLE>

CX FTW!

Edit Bandit: And VX rims with ultra light tires...ya...this is gonna be sweet...I think I better upgrade my suspension so it's stiff and won't flex alot.

 

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

CX FTW!</TD></TR></TABLE>

w00t. 12" front brakes?!

 

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

w00t. 12" front brakes?! </TD></TR></TABLE>

Haha, I edit bandited you.