I've just been clued in that my 4wd wagon is rare. I never thought so because I see them running around here all the time... Well, I see wagons, Not sure... They could be all 2wd models...

Can anyone confirm this rarity? I already run 20w50 Mobil 1 Synthetic every 5000 miles and tuneups every 20-30K (NGK BUR5EB-11 Spark Plugs, Wires, Cap, Rotor, air and fuel filters, adjust timing and idle speed.) Coolant flush, tranny oil, and rear diff oil every year. (20k Miles) So, I think I take good enough care of it.

Also, some of my friends said it'd make an excellent rally-x car. It's got fairly worn stock replacement shocks and stock springs on the back, but apparently newish (Couple years old, at least 30K miles on them, but they look pretty good.) KYB GR-2's on the front. If I was gonna take it to a rally-x track, I'd like to get a stiffer/lower suspension for the rear as the body rolls a little too much for my tastes.

Other than that, the engine still runs strong at 175K miles, although the carb could use a rebuild, and the driveline still puts plenty of torque to the rear wheels when it's in 4wd mode.

 

I remember reading something about how they have very bad gear ratios and are heavy so nobody would even want to try to swap them. As for rally cars, I'd guess you'd want some good ratios, personally I've always wanted to do a 4wd swap into a crx, throw some beefry tires on it and be able to drive around in a crx all year round.

 

I've always wondered if that rear axle would fit into a CRX with a little light welding... Shorten the drive shaft and you're good to go... Or just convert the CRX to RWD...

 

gear ratios are what i would say, exactly the same as the si.

 

Welcome to the carb'd 4wd wagon entusiast club.
So far, I think I'm the only member.

You can use 84-87 CRX aftermarket larger diameter torsion bars for the front. I was lucky enough to find an old but new in the box set of Koni reds. Out of production so if you see a set, hop on it.

For the rear. I'm working on that. I'm talking with an engineer at Koni. He's taking my old rear shocks and finding a "close enough" match from their catalog. A couple 1st gen CRX guys are running a Rancho RS 9000x truck shock. 9 position adjustable performance oriented. Part number 99136.
For the springs...I'm working with Suspension Techniques 90-93 Accord wagon progressive springs with a couple coils cut out.
The rear setup is easy to work on...spring and shock are seperate so it's easy to replace either.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Pele &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've always wondered if that rear axle would fit into a CRX with a little light welding... Shorten the drive shaft and you're good to go... Or just convert the CRX to RWD...</TD></TR></TABLE>

There are a few more differences. The rear trailing arms on a wagon are longer than on a CRX. The fuel tank is shaped differently to accomodate the driveshaft, and IIRC, the floorpan is different to accomodate the fuel tank and rear subframe thingy.

I've thought at length about doing what you're proposing, and it seems that the only way to do the swap correctly would be to section out the CRX and wagon floors, at least from the seat back, and weld the wagon floor to the CRX. You could then use the wagon rear crossmember thingy which locates/retains the diff as well. I would probably cage the car for structural integrity and safety, too.

A 4WD CRX would be sweet, though. Throw in a DOHC ZC with a Greddy kit on it, and have 175+HP to the wheels, too. Now <U>that</U> would be entertaining.

/edit at least until you break tranny parts, and you absolutely can't find a 4wd civic tranny, and when you finally do, it's $2000.

 

ive heard that the transfer case is pretty weak and wouldnt be able to handle that kind of power. there is a guy on here with a wagon 4wd at 10 psi thouhg. i think hes got a z6