Sup guys, I have been wondering about this issue with my car for a long time and would really like to know what it causes and maybe what to do.

I bought a 1992 civic hatchback with a swap. Fun car but after a while i noticed that there was something funny with the front end of the car.

All in all this car has been through many hands, so the previous owner did not know much about the car.

Basically the caster is off by over 2 degrees on the right side of the car but the reason its something with the frame is because the gap on the left and right sides of the tire to the wheel well are the same distance on both sides so the frame is bent with the axle and the other components. also there is a big gap between the headlight and the bumper on passenger side. the front side fender looks a little bent as well, etc.

The car pulls to the left, its all fine and dandy for normal driving but when i punch it the control is not all there, starts pulling strong, So if i want to do track this shell is not gonna do the way it is and the options are fix it or get a new shell, looking at this it seems like both would be around the same price.

Also some people say that once the geometry of the car is mest up it can be the cause of a lot of other problems that are going on. Also many say that it can never go back to how it was originally.

Is it true that the bent frame can affect and cause a lot of problems?

So basically the dilemma is to try and find another cx shell in good shape, that would be luck. Or to wait and fix it. The other issues with the body is that the roof is dented so needs to be fixed and repainted and i have all new weatherstripping for the doors and the windshield since that needs changing too. So if i plan on changing the shell i should wait but if i dont fix the problem when it rains down here in south florida, which is a lot sometimes, the car gets water build up on the driver side floor.

As for my super heating shifter, I have a GSR tranny. Just changed the fluid to see if it would get less hot on the shifter, it didnt but it helped with slightly smoother sfits. Short shifters are not very smooth. I have an edelbrock short shifter even though im thinking of taking it out. Depending on how i run the car, of i go for a drive after 30 to 40 minutes or a lot less depending how im driving it, the heat is just umbearable. Is it suppose to get so hot or something wrong there as well.

Well hope someone can help, sorry for all the writing i have other problems but for another time. Thanks again and sorry for the length.

 

Check collision repair places, nowadays they can pull the car back to pretty close to where it should be, since the new equipment is more sophisticated than it used to be. It will never be factory perfect, but it will be pretty darn close. If the frame is damaged, maybe it's time to do a RHD swap? haha. Or just cut the front end off another car and weld that on.

The shifter, I think it's because the fulcrum is sitting closer to or touching the exhaust system. Only solution I can think of is going back to stock or tweaking the exhaust system. Unless there's enough room and you could add a heat shield?

 

i would find a new shell if the frame is bent

 

Yeah, check craigslist for a shell like yours then swap it all over. Bent frame is no good. Even if it were restored to like original state, It will never ever be as strong as it was. Don't mess with safety.

 

i had a friend die cause he got a mustang that was wrecked before for cheap. the car was made of 2 different cars fron was one and the back was another. the car was super clean when he got it but when he crashed the car broke apart.

 

the shifter is getting how bvecause its directly above the exhaust. alot of eg's do that with swaps

either lower the exhaust or get a different shifter that has more clearence, mine does the same but its cold up here so only in the summer it did it. anyways ill bet your shifter is nearly touching ur exhaust and probaly melted the shift inserts and rubbers

 

Well i have decided to look for a new shell, same trim CX or VX. I have a post on the marketplace but yea its true that it will never be the same and i just would feel better with a shell that is not screwed up frame wise. bumpers and paint can be fixed. Also planning on going to stock gsr shifter and hopefully that will help with the heat issue.

most likely, what if i go back to a stock gsr dual bend. Do you think that would have more clearance. I recently got the circuit hero extender, it helps with the heat. Your right, it was beautiful day down here and like in the 60s with some wind, went for a drive....long one at that and just got warm.