Hey guys,

Well I am new to the forums, and I currently have a stock 98 Honda civic ex. I am looking for something with a little more power. I ran across an integra on Craigslist and got a few questions to ask you guys since this would be my first turbo car or modded car I've ever really messed around with.

Specs:
97 integra LS with orig b18b1 engine with 136k miles
Greddy TDO5H-18G Turbo Kit which came with Greddy e-manage RC 310 injectors
Greddy 24v fmic
Greddy bov
3 inch tbe
Kyb 4 way adjustable suspension
Rota 15" slipstreams
Jdm front end conversion

EDIT: here is the link to the craigslist ad with pics and other info- http://bozeman.craigslist.org/cto/2150551125.html





LINK TO A TON OF PICS: http://www.flickr.com/photos/5868550...n/photostream/

My questions are:

He said the intercooler piping blew off once on the highway, is this a big deal if it happens? EDIT: he said when he put on front end conversion, clamp was accidentally loosened.
Also, with the rims there is some negative camber wearing the insides of the tires. How much are camber kits to fix this?
The turbo kit has been on the car for 8k miles at 6 psi. With the engine having stock internals, is 6psi gonna hurt the engine?
He is asking 5k obo, what do you guys think this car is worth? (he is including most stock parts, and stock rims)
Finally, what do you guys suggest I look at/test to make sure the turbo and engine in good cond.?

Thank you for your help,
Corey

 

I personally don't like to buy people's project cars

 

I agree with this. Intercooler piping coming off like that with so little boost just means the current owner did a bad job on the install (or whoever did it for that matter). Honestly, just think about it. You don't know how the guy installed the JDM front, so it could be poor craftsmanship too. I personally would forget that car and look for something else.

If you have a DX Civic, then an Integra or Civic with a B18C1 will be a nice jump in power. Hell, keep the car you have and do an engine swap with some buddies. You'll gain experience and it'll be fun.

 

its sketchy to buy cars other people built. i agree with that. but it doesnt matter how much boost he was running, what matters is the tune. a stock motor can handle 6psi just fine if it has a good tune. and what your seeing on the tires is probably wear from a poor toe setting. camber doesnt cause as much wear as bad toe settings will.

 

Thanks for your guys' opinions. Another noob question I have is there a huge difference between the non vtec b18b1 and the vtec b18c1? My Civic has the d16y8 SOHC so I have never driven with a vtec engine.

 

I would be weary of buying a car where the piping "just blew off". It makes you wonder how well the rest of the car is put together, especially as modded as that car is.

 

Of course big difference ahaha. I mean if you're going to be messing around with it yourself, then go ahead. The car doesn't look too bad from the pictures.

 

of course theres a difference. b18c1 has more power. and its noticeable.

 

I asked him about the Greddy emanage thing. He said it is a piggy back system, and pardon my lack of knowledge of modding cars, but is that something that is tunable with or do I need to get something separate if I were to get it tuned?

Asked about the intercooler piping falling off, he said the clamp was accidentally loosened when he did the front end conversion.

 

most people buy turbos to race. and if he was putting it under all that stress no tellin the shape of the internals unless you pop the head. its always easier to start your own project than finish someone elses. and youll treat it better. i had a dx. fun and reliable but lacks speed. if you really like your civ then swap it. nothin better than a sleeper civic

 

Ask him if you can test drive it, if he starts making up excuses why you can't then something is probably wrong. You could at least go look at it in person if nothing else, just to see what kind of shape it really is in.

 

Yea, he lives about 2.5 hours away from me, but is willing to let me test drive, setting up a meet together date next weekend most likely.

 

that worth it..as long everyting check out..the fmic pipeing just need to be re-tighten.

 

Honestly if you have 5k to spend you would be better off keeping your dx and building something better then this car and having a motor swap or what ever you decide to do with the dx under your belt ... just something to think about

 

I just feel bad about taking out a perfectly running 37mpg engine from my civic. Plus its got some minor cosmetic problems. I love the JDM fronts for integras too.

 

Keep the civic as your DD, buy the Integra and build it.

 

Don't have money for both, planning on selling the civic regardless to my brother as his first car and am looking for something for me to start my performance modding.

 

i say u dont bro...like many have told u, u dont know the quality of the job he did on it...ur better of just starting ur own project !!!!

 

That's also dirt cheap for a JDM front integra with a turbo kit. If it was really clean and well put together I see him asking for more. Sounds sketchy to me.

Do a compression test at the VERY least

 

I wouldn't. When someone is selling a turbo car, I've learned that they r usually unhappy with it and want to start over. Jus my opinion, buy a stock car and build a car that is best in your preference. What u will learn, no one can take away, experience is knowledge, and the result will b more to your liking.

 

I wouldn't buy it. This is why stock cars are more attractive to me because I know there is nothing funky done to the car that I will not see until later on. Plus I don't like anyone else working on my cars, there is always some issue with something not done totally right...

 

true right there,

stock= you mod yourself, you know whats in it...

you buy it modded= you dont know what hes done to it...if hes taken care of it...and if he's even put good parts in it. you got 5k to spare? spend it on a stock GSR.

 

I have to agree with most of the above, Your really taking a chance buying a car someone else modded, you will have no idea what condition the engine/drive-train is in, quality of his work, how hard the owner drove the car.

Also as mentioned, why is he getting rid of it, I also worry about any car being sold with an OBO, [meaning he wants to unload it].

If you are interested, I would suggest spending some cash for a mechanic to go over it real good, better to be out $100-$200 then $5000, it would also put you in a much better bargaining position if you know it is going to cost you $1000 right away, [new brakes, clutch, shocks, tires, timing belt, water pump] there can be a lot of things wrong that won't keep the car from running, even sounding/feeling good, but would still need fixing.

For $5000 you should be able to find a GS-R in very good condition and low milage, and hell for something with "a little more power" find a G3 Integra LS. 94

 

Added some pics and some more info on the car: Clean title, no accident history, 2 owner. did a compression test 4k miles ago and all 4 cyl were 150psi. Do you think the car would be worth it if I could talk him down into the low to mid 4k range?

 

I'm not overly familar with ls motors, but shouldn't the compression be at least around 180 across the board? Anyway, 4000 miles ago is 4000 miles ago. Its irrevelant what it was then. You need to know what its at now. Dont just take his word for it.

Listen to all the people telling you to stay away from this thing. Dont waste your money on it. Buy a stock gsr. Dont buy someone elses project. Thats setting yourself up for failure.