Ok, I'm new to this whole scene and here's my question. Should I start with a shell and build a car around that or just wait for the good CRX to hit the market? My budget is around $4000 and I need a daily driver. I would like to go for the sleeper look with something fairly quick. I have a very limited knowledge of mechanics, so I would have to have a shop in the L.A. area do all the work, but I am very interested and am trying to learn as quick as I can so I can do some if not most of the repairs and mods myself over time. I don't want to do any Turbo or anything like that, just a fairly simple B16 or something like that because from what I have read it seems to be fairly reliable. My worry is that of buying a CRX that could have been abused vs the expense of having a shop install everything for me....any thoughts or suggestions are greatly appreciated and I'll continue to read posts from this site as I am learning quite a bit. Thanks everyone, Peace!

 

for 4000 you can get a very clean crx that was done right.

if you spend the 4000 at the shop all you will probably get is a swap haha

 

shops are gonna charge quite abit for a swap and installation,so find one already done thats done right..Just shop around

 

do it ur self. why have someone else do the work i would rather do the work so u know down to the detail what has been done. plus u'll have more respect for ur car if something happens to it u'll want to fix right every time.

 

I would wait for a clean stock crx to hit the market and be a DIYer as time goes by, or just wait for a clean crx that had some GOOD work done to it the right way.

Theres more then enough knowledge and resources on honda-tech and on the internet to be able to complete almost anything you want.

I used to not know nothing about cars. One day my bro talked me into getting a honda, and I bought a 1990 civic hb si. I went in for inspection and failed for a huge list of things that went all the way down the paper.
I let it sit over winter, I had another car to drive, and then one day my car took a major crap (dsm 3000gt :/), and I bought a service/shop manual, stole my dads tools, and searched on the internet and did everything. Next thing ya know I did my first motor swap by myself. Since then I've built a few motors, helped and did a few more swaps, and learned more then I thought I would ever know about cars.

I know from working on my own car, and my brothers cars, just knowing I did the work myself, invested my own time into it, my own money etc. just brought my respect up for my cars so much. Its also a good feeling.

Just build up some more confidence and find some motivation and make sure you have honda-tech bookmarked and you will be set.

 

yeah i would rather get a shell and build it from the ground up. it depends how quick u plan to do urs but if it will be a slow progress then u can follw my project thread. but im a slow broke a$$ so it will take me a while.

 

Cool, thanks for all the replys....I think I'm going to look for the stock CRX or one that was done right. I search Ebay and Craigslist constantly.....you guys know of any other good places to look? Also if you guys happen to come across any nice CRXs, especially in Southern California, I would be very grateful to have it passed on to me. Thanks again!

 

IMO if you start from scratch it will mean more to you in the end, but like i said thats just my opinion

 

i would also want to start from scratch but seeing as you admit you have very limited knowledge of mechanics you should find one already done so you dont end up screwing things up and not having enough money to finish what you started.But like everyone said starting from scratch is the best way but not for some who may not know what they are getting into.

 

Yes, I agree....I think I'm going to find a well done one, but I also want to start one from scratch. Its just that I need something to drive fairly soon. I think I'll just get a shell later and build on it slowly as I learn. Any favorite places where you guys like to get parts on the internet or do you mostly buy from local shops?

 

the only decent shop that i know of around here charges 1100 for a bseries swap into a crx just for labor.. fuuck that

you can find a niice one already swapped for that price.. you can also find a really nice shell and get a b18c , do it yourself.. that wuld be sick

 

very limited mechanical skill and a shell to start wid ... bad combo....

4000 and shop labor... bad combo

your best bet is save that 4k and wait out a great crx deal...

or you can actually pick up a decent crx for 1-2k and you can pick up a helms service manual and learn to DIY mechanic... its not really that hard... lots of trial and error...