This thread will be a little different from what many are used to. It's mpg and restoration is what i'm after.

Yes, it's time to sink money into my civic that I have sitting around. My goals have changed. I want to keep the D15Z1 and sip on gas. I commute about 30min highway everyday to work, so it makes more sense to keep the car the way it is since it's amazing on gas for highway commuting.

However, it's got nearly 300,000 kms on the engine and trans. But from what I can tell, the car has been driven friendly. Yet, I'd really like to re-freshen it up. I would like to overhaul everything without having to do a rebuild. Here's what I have on mind...

-timing belt
-tensioner
-waterpump
-alternator belt
-radiator (i need a new one)
-plugs, wires, dizzy cap, and rotor
-ignition coil

is there anything that i'm missing?

basically, i want to make it run like new without having to dig into the internals. is that possible?

throw some suggestions out.

thanks

 

Great to see another VX in Onterrible. I picked one up last summer .. I'm looking forward to swapping its motor into my CX hatch.

Have you been changing your fluids lately? Brake fluid, clutch fluid (mine's filthy), MTF. Do a full coolant flush when you change your rad, but use OEM Honda coolant.

....

 

bumpppp

 

Onterrible. HA! So true.

it's been parked ever since i bought it (last year). i was originally gonna do the whole "supe it up and turbo it" thing. but since my hatch so happens to be a vx model, the thought of getting 50 mpg is very appealing- especially since i commute a lot.

yes, coolant flush is a definite. it's a normal thing to do if i'm replacing the rad. brake fluid and clutch fluid is definitely a good idea. i'm even thinking about replacing the clutch too just for peace of mind.

the car drives fine though (from what i know of). however, i'm just **** about used cars that i don't have previous history about. getting all the maintenance stuff out of the way will just make me feel easier.

i might need to have my fuel lines done... or maybe even a fuel tank. how much do you think that'll cost? everything else i can do myself. i just don't know how to do lines...

 

From what you listed up top, you're not doing an overhaul so to speak but more like a major service (or 60k service...I don't know, but you get what I mean). Having said that, if there's nothing wrong with the motor then you should be fine with everything you have listed plus new fluids all around. I was like you about 2 years ago, my car being a CX/8valve model. The difference with mine was that it was consuming oil and shooting it out the tailpipe. Instead of swapping I wanted to keep the original motor and the decent MPG. I ended up doing a complete overhaul which added on top of what you're doing a new set of oversized pistons (cylinderwalls were no longer round so machine work was necessary), new bearings, new rings, all new gaskets and seals, literally everything needed for a complete rebuild. I actually lost a couple of MPGs with the end product but there are absolutely no leaks of any kind and no more oil loss. I think with what you have listed you'll be in good shape (that is of course if everything internally is in good shape).

 

yea, the engine and trans are fine. i bought the car off a middle-aged man. i'm sure it wasn't beat on. it just has high mileage. it doesn't spew out oil or anything and has no leakes so it seems pretty healthy. the 1.5 hour drive home when i bought it tested out fine. i'm gonna sink a good $1k in parts re-freshening it. A+ for tax returns lol.