And I need a little help, seeing as I'm a new member and all.

So I found an 89 Civic si, with stainless steel headers/head pipe, cold air intake. coil overs. and 160K miles on it for 1000 bucks, and I just wanted to know realistically, what I can do with it.

It doesnt have an exhaust so I'll need to trailer it until I buy a cat-back, but besides that, what would you guys recommend I do just to ensure it can serve as my daily driver for a while?
Replacing the battery, plugs and wires, dizzy, brake pads, and what else?
I just know its a 20 year old car so I am wondering what things I need to replace to ensure it'll drive and all the electrical stuff operates.

And then the second part of my question is that, after buying the car, I'll have about 1g left. I'm not very mechanical, I can basically change oil and replace tires and pads, but I want to eventually do a swap.

I guess a B16 is probably the only thing in my price range,although I'd had my heart set on a B18c1, but considering I'll have to have it swapped by a mechanic, how much am I looking at for cost? And would I need to get the engine/tranny combo, or just the engine? I feel like I read that my car will only have a 4 speed manual, not exactly my first choice

Thanks in advance guys, and I appreciate your help.

And dont worry, I've been scouring the engine swap forums, and while its all very technical, I'm learning loads, so I guess the most pressing part of my question is the first part.

Should I drive down 2 hours to check this car out?

 

I wouldnt replace the entire dizzy. Get new plugs, plug wires, cap and rotor, and ignitor. The b16a or B18a1 would be your cheapest options B18a1 being cheapest. You will need a bseries tranny if you go with a bseries motor. If it is an si it will come with a five speed not a four speed. I would go take a look at it if i didnt already have a swapped hatch. I would do the swap myself if i were you. Its not that technical to swap in a b18a1 you basically just need b to d series mounts for ef from hasport or innovative or a similar company.

 

Im working on a b18a1 swap right now go look at my build thread. its in the last 6 pages or so

 

I just got mine running a few months ago. Just starting to get parts to build it now. But im also working on piecing together a a jdm front end for a 92-93 integra to go on my hatch so it could be awhile before i start building up my motor.

 

That is a nice sedan you have. I want to build a sedan next but i want it to be RHD.

 

thanks I cant wait to get it running. I might be buying an integra for like $400 soon. It was wrecked so Im gonna take the engine out and use the intake and exhaust manifold on my engine, grab the trailing arms and full exhaust and sell the engine and all the other stuff

besides the alternator and intake starter and stuff of the teg I just need to resurface my flywheel and get a clutch kit and throttle cable and wiring

 

No need to replace dizzy if it works just do a tune-up but I would do a timing belt and water pump unless you can get proof that they were done fairly recently.

As far as a swap goes the easiest swap you can do and the cheapest with to my mind the best bang for your bucks would be the DOHC ZC.You can use your tranny and it is a bolt in swap with only a couple of wires to change,no mounts to buy or axels or shift linkage,you wont come accross any weight issues or anything.
You should be able to find a good ZC and have money over with the $1000 you will have after you buy the car.

 

no need to trailer it, you can drive it with no exhaust.

 

The zc sohc engine is non vtec?

Yeah I really just want something that's quick and sporty, not trying to take down the world, but for some reason I feel like I'd want DOHC and vtec. But really what do I know?

I wish I had the know how to do the swap myself, because I REALLY dont want to spend 1g or more to get it installed.

 

Between motor, trans, mounts, and labor, you'll spend more than $1000 easy.
D.I.Y.

 

Not the SOHC ZC the DOHC ZC it is non Vtec but it is a very easy bolt in swap and if you don't want to try the wiring change you can get an adapter harness fro Si to ZC.

I really cant see you getting a B series Vtec or really any B series and have it fitted by a mechanic for anything close to the money you will have but it is easily possible to get the ZC and pay someone to fit it if you don't want to try it yourself.
Get a decent workshop manual and read about how to do the engine,or save your money uuntill you can afford the engine you want.

 

Definitely couldn't do a B16a for a 1000 in a shop. I would get a B18a1 and swap it myself and put a Vtec head on it later. Oh wait that is what im doing lol. Good luck to the op.

 

dude you should check out bisimoto.com
i got alot of stuff for my car there even basic mods can help your car out greatly.
they do good work

 

good choice for your first honda, mine was a 89 crx si, and id go with the b18a1, the swaps really not as hard as you think

 

my first and only (still running) Honda was an 88 CRX Si. Good choice. Enjoy it man!