You all are probably sick of me by now. If not thats cool haha. So I have decided that I want to build my own engine and all that. Originally I wanted a 96-00 EX, for the sole reason that when it goes over 105 I am a pretty big fan of the ac. Yet, I've been researching on them and looking at craigslist, and not only are they more expensive than I think they should be but the y8 doesn't seem to take to turbos well (oil pump=spun bearings). d16z6's on the other hand look cheaper, Ive seen a couple clean cars with them for under 2 grand, where its going to cost all my 3500 to buy a clean d16y8. What I want to do is buy a civic with a fairly clean body, and preferably a little suspension/HID kind of stuff done to it already with a nice running engine. Then I want to use it as my dd as I buy another used engine and build it when I have time. Want to build it up some, swap it when I'm done building, then run a turbo. Looking for like 210-260 whp while keeping it reliable and hopefully decent on gas. I have 3500 as of the moment. I know that probably won't get me where I want, so I am willing to end up spending more, just don't have it at the moment. Sorry for the long start up, but any opinions/advice/ideas/etc would be greatly appreciated. Definitely looking for the most bang for the buck while being a reliable dd. Thanks.

 

As a great man once told me:

Cheap - Reliable - Powerful

Now choose two...

 

Huh. I expected that response, but if I was a betting man, I would have put my money on getting told to use the search button before that. Just to make it clear, I have searched, and I want more power and reliability than cheap. Cheapness would just be an obvious bonus.

 

Wasn't trying to be a ****, just saying. I haven't been in Hondas long enough to give you any real advice other than buy a solid car to begin with even if you have to pay a little more than what seems "fair" because Civics are extremely popular still. It'll save you money in the long run from having to replace lots of little things that add up quickly. After that if you want to build an engine then go for it. Honda engine parts just aren't cheap compared with other makes out there is all.

 

No its cool I know your not a "****". Even if you were I'm just looking for some advice. I went from a world where my 94 Mustang 5.0 I just sold had a small engine to the world where 2.2L is a big engine so I'm kinda outta my environment here you know.

 

im no honda expert but if i were you, this is what i would do:

Get the cleanest car i can afford, meaning look for the the least modded car you can find. if you want an EX civic get one, it sounds like this car is going to be your daily so buy something you are going to drive everyday.

i say no mods because more often than not (unless you are buying from a trusted friend) you are fixing someones elses mickey mouse repairs and mistakes. from bad hid wiring to blown out bushings to bad body work (all of which i am fixing at the moment).

If you start with a clean canvas then YOU get to pick what you want to do, insted of settling with someone elses choices because they were on the car already.

and trust me driving a bone stock civic is a MUCH better experience than driving a riced and raced out car.

 

Yeah I completely agree with buying a clean one. Only mods I will consider buying a car with are ones that I can pretty much check out to see if they are all proper before I buy it.

 

i would agree with a few of the guys below, i suggest u buy a clean not too beat up one.

 

Buy an unmolested bone stock DX/LX/CX EG or EK. You can get a decent mileage bone stock base model Civic for under $2000 if you look hard enough. NEVER buy a pre modified car if you don't have to, it is a nightmare cleaning up somebody elses mistakes. My gf bought what we thought was an un touched 2000 DX hatch with 96k miles for $2100. Turned out somebody did an auto to manual swap in it. They did fine and all except for using the wrong engine harness and ECU.

And I say a base model because it has less options which means more reliable, and less to go wrong. Also find one that is already a manual, if that is what you want. You sound new to all this so take it easier and more simplistic on the first go around. Try to find a stock one for under $2300 and take the rest for a z6 swap or a y8 swap. And build the motor the way you want and drop it in. My two cents...

 

let me tell you something so you learn from my many mistakes...
i bought a decent 97 civic ex..
didnt like the lag on the motor when i had the a/c on but i DID have A/C
no problems with the car except for the oversized rims and paint that needed to be repaired.

well instead of just painting it and making it look nice with mods and suspension (WHICH I SHOULDVE DONE, FIRST!!)

i decided to go b20v.. bigmistake!!
rod ended up going threw the block not even a yr later!!

the downtime and constant fixing and repairing and not having people available to help is very regretful.

my advice is work on the car make it look good on the outside.. lip kit, hids, jdm ish if you like it, visors, etc. and paint it if you need it then. then do your suspension and interior and leave the motor til the end.

if you can do all that and spend time building on a motor on the side great.. it will give you more knowledge about how to build a HONDA motor since its new to you and you can have more time to decide which block would be best for turbo and you can source parts so that you can still have room for a/c and power steering because it is possible you just have to make some modifications.

OR if you just want to keep that car for a daily make it nice and get another car so that one you can just mess around with and if something breaks down you can still have a reliable car to drive around..

trust me bro ive learned from my mistakes and i wish i had went a totally different route