Alright, i've been here for a while now and i've never had the need for a build thread. Well, i recently picked up two EF sedans for $900 total!

First one is an 88 LX, 214k miles, all stock, im now the third owner. I have dealership paperwork, maintenance history all the way back to the 90's, and the original sale slip from the dealer. This thing cost 10k back in 88 by the way, $300 for the tape deck, and $150 for the pinstriping!

Its got some front end damage, but nothing too serious, im pretty sure i can fix this myself.





The second is a 91 EX, it has the original a6 block, with 315k on it. Thats the main reason this car will be stripped down and not daily driven. It also has a y8 head, using the stock EX ecu for now, and i need to wire up the vtec. There is also an SI tranny in there. The interior is pretty rough, no carpet, and dash is jacked up. The driverside window also comes off its track so that will have to be fixed.





The repairs will start this weekend after i hit up the junk yard for a new headlight housing. I havent found out for sure whether or not its just bolted on, or welded somewhere.

Plans for the 88 are simple, fix front end, turn into DD...

As for the 91, well i plan on stripping out the interior completely, dry-icing the sound mat and giving the interior a complete overhaul. Probably going to run this gutted, and not be a DD what so ever.

The tranny needs either a throwout or input shaft bearing, thats the main reason the motor will be stripped. While i have it out, i'll be either replacing the piston rings on the block, or try to find another a6 block, possibly a zc block.

This will probably be a slow process, i have a lot more goin on than just working on my cars.

 

hey what wheels are on your 91 ex are the oem honda wheels

 

Yes, i was told they were DA wheels, but im not certain.

 

daaaaaaamn no fair i want an ex sedan! lol front core support is welded on on our cars. easy to replace though, just buy a spot weld removal tool and cut off the front end of annother sedan. once you start drilling spot welds you'll see what to do. i have to do it to my hatch, looks easy, just time consuming.

 

i need a cordless grinder, because at the junk yard i cant take anything corded obviously. Also cant take any open flame cutting tool.

So what tool are you talking about?

 

a saws off! lol..

Get that thing fixed (both) so we can all go to eibach in sedans

 

haha i'll show up in my 88 and stick out like a sore thumb. Those people wont know what to do with an all stock civic sedan.

All i need to do to really drive the EX is to put the window on the track, fix the rad fan, and get the dash installed.

 

^ wish my fix was that easy so are you going to swap it out or keep a single cam beast in there ?

PSSST..
I'm taking my auto LX sedan.lol

 

Im keeping the SOHC in there, probably wont go B series unless it was an integra or EG.

After i got the EX, i drove it like 20 miles are so back to my house, cruising at 80mph the whole way. It rides very smooth, no vibration at idle, idle is about 700rpm by the way. The gas pedal is a little "sticky" though, the previous owner said he had an EG throttle cable in there for some reason.

 

slap a jdm ef2 front end on that 88

 

I would, but i dont see the intrigue in paying over a grand just to have 1 piece head lights, a chrome trimmed filler piece, and a hood that is basically the reverse of a usdm hood.

Im just going to leave it stock.

 

wow $1000+...your looking in the wrong places...craigslist FTW

 

yea, i've only priced places that sell the entire front end, never some dude just selling one.

I think a lot of my attention is gonna go towards my jetta, i need to find some old school 4x100 rims.

 

You got hooked up on both those cars. Your doing it the right way too having a DD and a project car but come on let be serious we all know your gunna drive the DD and either want more power or better suspension every DD I ever had always turned into something one way or another. Props on the come up.

 

I got a 97 Jetta that i use for work. I drive 45 miles each way to work, all highway for the most part.

Once the 88 is running, i'll be using that for work. The jetta will then go to my girlfriend and our kids since it has AC.

Believe me, i've had couple powerful cars, just never had a powerful SOHC.

 

anything done to these yet?

 

naa, im gone for work from 6am-6pm mon-fri. So i wont be able to do anything until this weekend.

 

Unfortunately, I dont have any visual updates but I have done a couple things.

Took off the front end of the 88, almost bent the headlight housing back to shape. I dont think its in need of replacement. Also was able to fire it up and drive it around the block, its amazing for only $100.

As for the 91, all i did was put the driverside window back on the track. I think something is messed up still, when i put the window up, the rear side of the window slides out of its track so it has to be held back.

Thats it, i'll take pics tonight.

 

sounds dope sohc ftw

 

did you buy that white one from a HT member here? something about it needed some work and the dash was busted?

 

Off craigs list, guys name is Chris. He said hes seen my old sedan here on HT, and that he comes here every now and then.

But yea, dash ripped, ISB needs replacing, thats about it though.

 

I really wish i knew his screen name....you're like the 4th person to say you've either seen that car, or ask if the owner was a member.

Im curious if i bought something that has had a lot of problems.

 

subscribe for when you get started.

 

I dont know him. I saw pics of the car on HT and on CL. He said it needed some work but didnt ak how much.

Is it not running right? did you get it for the 900 he was asking for?

 

Its running perfect, it idles at a solid 700rpm with no vibration or fluctuation. It has great acceleration, all gears are smooth to shift into, no pop outs, brakes are really good, alignment is pretty good also.

The only bad things i've found

-warped driverside rotor (vibration while braking)
-hissing noise while in gear, clutch engaged (pedal up)
-leaks some oil (6"x6" circle comin from dizzy side after driving)

Thats about it, IMO, well worth the $800, he even let me low ball haha.