Okay, to be clear, I do not own the Integra (but I hope too.. I think).

I own a 1999 Ford F-150 XLT extended cab (four door) 4.6L V8. It has 170,000 miles on it. Has new Unique 297 wheels and Cooper ATPs with less than 5,000 miles on them. Truck does have some LIGHT damage to the front driver's fender and a dent in the hood.

I have been contemplating trading my truck for a small car, preferably a sports car and LOVE Integras. Found a guy that needs a truck and has a 1997 Acura Integra "LS-Vtec" 5-speed that I'm interested in. It's a 4-door, with new yellow paint, nice black rims, 75-80% tread tires, nice interior with racing seats in the front. He said the body has 248,000 miles on it, but he has replaced the axles and has done some work to the transmission. He also removed the cylinder head and replaced it with a VTEC cylinder head off of a GSR. He said that head has 80-90K miles on it. He said he did it right and also replaced the water pump and fuel pump, etc. It also has a T3 turbo kit and is tuned to 5 lbs of boost.

My question is this.. the Integra has a lot of miles.. but does the head replacement basically renew the life of the motor (basically rebuilt?)? Or should I be weary of the mileage?

I don't need a truck, I don't use the bed and it drinks gas like crazy.. Would it be a fair trade? Would you do it if you were me? Why or why not?

Here's the craigslist link to my truck: http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/3307939966.html

Here's the craigslist link to the Integra: http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/3346529688.html

 

looks clean, I just would never buy an 'already turbo'd' car.

I just don't trust people enough, that's all I can say

 

Yeah.. I'm not always very trusting either, but it does make me feel better that its only running 5 lbs of boost (not to say that it always has but..)

But do you know the answer to my question? Does the fact that it has a newer cylinder head on it basically renew the life of the motor kinda like a rebuild? I mean, I realize there are still some parts that haven't been replaced that could fail, but.. nothing major I would hope.

The car does look very well taken care of though.

 

so he replaced the head but did nothing to the block? i'd be more weary of a block with that many miles on original components than a head with just as many.

 

I say if he doesn't live to far from you go take a look at it , Also I would take a compression tester ( if avalaible ) to make sure compression is good on all four cylinders. I would do it if it's clean . I mean you could always get it , find another bottom end to build with low compression forged pistons , forged rods and boost it on higher psi. Or even with your block dropped the oil pan to see if they used arp rod bolts , if not and plan on running that block I would get them and a fresh set of acl bearings. I find with these ls/vtec's people build them pretty good but tend to leave the rod bolts stock and sure enough in a few months or whenever the bearings wear out or spin. Just some thought to your decision. Anyways good luck and hope the best for ya !

 

I just asked "Did you change the rod bolts when you changed the head or no?"

He replied, "ARP head studs and bolts, it's all there man."

So, it sounds like he did it right. I don't have a compression tester, but he might. Sounds like he basically has a shop at his house. Says he has 3 docks/lifts and a wheel balancer.

 

that doesnt mean anything. people are shady these days. without opening it up and looking for yourself you'll never be 100% certain.

 

i still wouldn't trust it. do you have any friends who are good with hondas?

 

Nah.. not really. Not any that would know how to tell if it has ARP head studs and bolts and such.. Idk, I really like the car. I just don't know what to look for.

 

if you pull the valve cover off look to see if the head studs are 12point nuts. also if you look closely you can see it will say arp on them

 

looks like a clean car, and truck. its hard to trust people out there, just make sure you get it nice n warm and it will show any problems it has, but youll never know intill u tear into it.

 

Yeah it does seem really clean and well-kept.

Yeah, he seems like a good guy, but I trust no one without them earning my trust, so it will be an interesting day.

Looking to meet with him Saturday morning to check it out.

We are meeting halfway (a 45 minute drive for each of us), so I'm thinking it should be nice and warm when he gets there and I'll go ahead and let it run and then test drive it and see what it feels like.

I'm a little worried that I'll enjoy driving the car so much that I'll be blinded from seeing any issues =P. I had a Nissan 300ZX when I was 15-17 and I'm 21 now. I miss driving a small, quick car..

 

yeah i use to drive a big ol truck and then got into the honda thing, now im hooked but yeah just be sure to check oil, water etc. (im sure you know this) but also check the running gear, make sure its not about to fall apart lol, but for that price i wouldnt think it would be junk. also check for a reason hes selling see, if it sounds legit lol

 

Haha yeah.. they're just freakin fun to drive man..

Well, yeeeah I know to check the oil, water, etc... but what do you mean running gear?

You guys must excuse my lack of mechanical knowledge.. haha

 

Uh. I'd say. If you've never owned a boosted car before. Avoid it.

 

like the wheels n such, shocks make sure wheels dont wiggle when you pull on them berrings are good, breaks arnt worn to the bone, and everyone thats ownd a boosted car b4 has always had that 1st car

 

Alright, so an update. We have been having an ongoing talk about the A/C. He has all the parts for the A/C, but it isn't hooked up. He said he got his mechanic friend to try to hook it up today, but the piping for the turbo is in the way. He said the pipe would need to be bent and the wastegate removed because it is welded to that pipe. Then the wastegate put back on after bending the pipe, then hooking up and charging the A/C. He has offered to give me $150 on top of the trade so I can get that done. My only worry is that the compressor won't work once it's all done. He says the compressor was working when he unhooked it.

Any thoughts on that?

 

Some turbo kits are a/c compatible and some are not.

I just took my A/C out of my integra and it was a piece of cake.
If I was you, I'd just have him give you all the components and then you worry about it another day. Winter is coming anyway.

5lbs of boost doesn't really mean anything.

You said the engine is LS-V? Who did all the work? How do you know it was done correctly?

5lbs of boost on a small turbo and 5lbs of boost on a huge turbo aren't the same, understand?

Personally, there are too many "what ifs/who did the work" for me.

Your taking a chance, it could be awesome and put together perfectly, OR your just going to open up a can or worms.

How deep are your pockets to fix whatever you may come across?

I always buy my cars as stock as possible because I don't like molested cars.


Built not bought

good luck too you buddy I hope everything works out in your favor...Maybe bring a mechanic with you to check over the car if you can?

 

I wouldn't buy it because it's been extensively fucked with by someone else. You'll never know how good of a job was done until you get into it. Given the mileage, I'm sure every suspension bushing is cracked/dry rotted and in need of replacement. It's been painted a different color than what it was from the factory and what looks to be a poorly done job at best. I could go on and on and on. If I were buying another one of these cars, I'd be looking for something as stock as possible because generally when something is modified it has had the **** beaten out of it. That's just me though. If your into buying cars and hanging on to them for a few months and then trading or selling, go for it. I've always been the type to hang on to cars for a long time so I look for something very clean to start with.

 

I don't think it's fair to say that a modded car has been extensively "fucked" with.. If it was done correctly, then the car is better and faster than it previously was. It seems to me that it has been done correctly, so I may take the chance. Also, the axles and some other suspension parts have been replaced so I'm not so worried about that. Plus, if there's a few things I can do on a vehicle, they're wheels, brakes, and suspension. I also don't understand how you can say the paint job isn't well done.. You really can't tell in the pictures. Take your frustration out elsewhere and please just make a helpful post. That post did not help me one bit. But it doesn't really matter. I'm a big boy, so I've decided to go take a look at it on Saturday. Will return with a decision when I get back guys.

Thanks for all the help and opinions!

 

You call it modded, I call it extensively fucked with. It's been painted and the only thing painted was the exterior. Again, my opinion, but to me that says shoddy work. If your going to re-paint a car a different color, do it right, which means engine bay, door jams, ect. I can see yellow over spray all over the place as well. There are parts painted yellow that are not supposed to be painted at all. I can't wait to see that paint job in a year or two to see how bad its chipping and flaking.

It has an ls vtec with 200,000+ miles on the block and it's turboed. I wouldn't touch a car someone else turboed that has the kind of paint work that thing has. Who knows if it was ran turboed before it was tuned. If the owner was willing to go shoddy and cheap on the paint work who is to say the same wasn't done with the motor. Need I even say more?

It has a cheap set of vinyl recaro knock-off/fakies. Again, no pride of ownership. I would never do something like that if I gave a rats *** about the car.

The brake master cylinder is about 2/3 empty. There is either a leak or the owner doesn't care enough to top it up with fluid. Power steering fluid reservoir also looks to be low. Not anything major, but hey why fill it correctly right?

I've been around these cars long enough to know what's going to be a long term problem child and what's going to be reliable.

If you decide to trade your truck for it, I wish you only the best of luck.

Oh, and I'm not taking out frustration, I'm telling you how it is. Seems like you don't care to listen to reason(from myself and others) so buy it, **** it up even more, then try to sell it for more than what you paid for it. That's the cycle for some people now a days.

 

i would pass on the way the car looks alone (yellow? really? front bumper is painted incorrectly too, but that's another story)

what turbo is that? if the wastegate/turbo is one cheap chinese made ones, run away.

 

With the ridiculous asking price aside... There is no way in hell I would go near that car....