I got an amazing deal on a 99 civic dx I paid 500 bucks bc it needed a new fuel pump but the person thought it was the engine. The car needs body work and a new paint job. But ive been driving it for a couple months and no major problems. Now im planning on putting a b18 in it and painting It black. The car has a body kit and rims and everything just needs a new paint job. What would you do first performance or paint

 

It's really up to you, but I would worry about making it reliable first before making it fast or nice. Once it's reliable and you can beat up on it for a while, then I would work on the body work. Once that is done, I would work on the engine. Hope that helps.

 

The car is reliable. Ive been driving it for 6 months and no weird sounds or breakdowns. Only normal maintence. Tires, breaks, etc has been donr. The car runs great. Like i said it needs a new paint job and i just wanna make it faster. Right now it has a d16. I want a b18

 

Get rid of the body kit first!!
Edit: But post some pics so we can help you decide

 

i'd go with nice first. if you decide to get rid of it eventually, you would get a better return on a good shell.. not so much with a bad one.


post pictures

 

Ill be able to post pics later but the car is all primer. and why would i get rid of the body kit

 

Because bodykits are, for the most part, all ugly and bulky. Lip kits are much more subtle and give the car a better overall appearance.

 

i thought you realized that bodykits arent The style anymore,since 1999 unless you want to look like a clown ,just plain and simple clean does the trick.

get stock bumpers with a little lip around,lower it on a good suspension,get some nice wheels i.e Work Equips or replicas drag dr20,(No chrome at alll ,No 18's,Daytons,no spoilers except if original)and please,no "R" racing seat cover.


GL with your build

 

http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/r...5692/car15.jpg this is what it looks like from the side. For $500 it came with that a jet performance ecu, headrrs, and an exhaust. It has adjustable coilovers, and high performance shocks

 

Based off that picture...........make it look nice first.

 

As much as i am dying to clown on the car i will be nice.Sale it to a eleventeen year old and start fresh.I bet the person who put the bodykit on half assed it big time.And if not you got lucky.I bet the engine bay is just as ugly as the outside?I would make it look nice first.No matter how fast it is the outside will always look gay.Go back to the stock look and start from there.Im sure you can sale the bodykit and get some xtra found's.

 

I wanna keep the body kit on there. I think painted it will look really nice

 

If you wanna keep the kit then keep it. Dont be a follower

And if its reliable, id get the body dont first. If you do most of the work yourself on it, it shouldnt cost alot. Then save for the b18

 

put widebody panels on it first.

 

This is all that matters.
Last time I checked, all this "JDM" **** people rock looks like 1999 as well, just wasn't that big here in the states to all the fanboys. If you had a body kit on an S2000 people would say your car is the ****. Being that it's a Civic it's gotta be rice. Aero is aero, whether it works or not, and his is a Wings West, if not a replica. It is what it is. I'd just work on the body and find a set of wheels to compliment it and then build a motor to put in it.

 

If you think so then go for it.Your car what ever makes you happy in it is all that matter's.I would take the wing of if you are going to keep the kit.No need for rear down force on a fwd car.

 

Body kits aren't really that big of a deal. It just so happens that the people who are still putting half primer body kits and painting their drum brakes are morons who know nothing about cars in general.

 

omg im tired of tard threads like this on H-T.... do what you want.

 

I say make the civic fast then nice.

Work on the motor and eventually when the exterior falls apart, you can swap the motor to a healthier shell. This is assuming you know what the hell you are doing.

 

Keep the body kit. After a year of being laughed at you'll realize you made a mistake, and go for the "clean" look (I hope).

As of now, no amount of paint and body work would make that car look nice. Ever heard the term 'Ricer'? Body kits and neon lights are a first class ticket to being put in that category. Just sayin'...

edit: like they said above, get the shell looking good. A well painted shell with oem parts (and not aftermarket fiberglass bumpers) will bring it a lot more money than a primer shell with a B18 thats been beat on more than a hillbillies wife.

 

Keep the bodykit and rev at every mother f*cker that pulls up next to you.

 

haha, doesn't every civic with body kits do that? lol

 

What kind o f question is that? rice is the ultimate sleeper, shoot for tens and surprise the **** out of everyone! that clean as hell stock civic with a new paint job, well, no one is surprised when that car has a swap. but primer+body kit+ altezza=sneaking up on some bitches!

 

Hmmm... either way you will be getting attention from people who think you're cool, people who think you're lame, cops, more cops.

Obviously you have the patience and time to mess with a car in this condition or else you wouldn't have bought it... unless of course you were just planning on getting it running and flipping it for a small profit.

 

Prettymuch what i was doing was gonna fix it up thansell it but money got tight. Already got a few offers for 3000-4000 but i need it to drive. And cops dont mess with me. Considering im in the academy to be one. I know for a fact if i fix that up i can get atleast 5 grand for it.