Hi all,

Been a lurker for a while... Trying to figure out if I should keep it or look into something else...

I ended up with a 91 EF after a Drunk hit me in my 2000 Si. Their insurance wouldn't pay because they were drunk. Had to find something quick and found a 91 EF, as my insurance was fighting ( took 29 weeks for a check )

Fast forward 5 years...

I'm still in the car. It now has 495,000 on the odometer. D15b1, 4 speed.

I just did a compression test and got

C1- 170psi
C2- 130 psi
C3-180 psi
C4- 120psi

We just had -14 degree weather and the fuel pump has gone out. I replaced it two years ago...

Mechanically I can do somethings, but I'm still a novice..


The family is trying to get me into something newer, as they think it will be more reliable...

I'm not convinced... as I can find parts and the gas mileage is in the upper 30's, which is as good or better than many new cars.

Driven this thing all over the US, but am now concerned ( maybe needlessly) about leaving town, garage and tools.


I'll give more info, but wanted to pick your all minds...

 

To work, you need a reliable car. If you don't have the tools and space to work on the car, you probably need to find something newer. Your compression delta is too large, so something is wrong. At your mileage, that motor is just about done. You can find a D15B1 long-block pretty cheap, but you need the space and tools to put it in. By the time you bought the engine and the tools to put it in, you would be looking at a pretty good down payment on something. You should keep the EF as a second car and get something newer.

 

Thanks for the advice..

Any thoughts on the variance in the cylinders? I'd think head gasket more if they were adjacent...

I've done a lot with this car. It's practically has a warranty as ( alternator, radiator, ac, rack, axels, master cylinder, brakes ) have been gone through by me.. I've also got the si wheels on it. It's been a good car.

 

The loss of compression could be valve seats or worn cylinder walls/piston rings. You should see some smoke on start up or while driving if that were the case, though. You've got a LOT of miles on that thing. If you fix one thing, you need to fix everything.

 

Actually I haven't been seeing smoke...

nor have friends who tail me...


body is in really good condition. Would make a good shell for anyone wanting to do a swap. The thing is stock.

 

Well its like this. Do you like the EF body style? If so, you will always regret selling that. They are getting hard to find and even harder to find without rust or body damage. But it really depends on what you can do right now. As stated above you need a reliable car to work

 

Honda with 495k miles, to me, is more reliable than brand new: Ford, BMW, Mercedes, FIAT, VW, etc etc etc…..

cheap to run, cheap to insure, and cheap at the gas pump.

 

I can't argue with that. That is why I drive one. $24/month for insurance can't be beat. $220 for a set of tires. 30 mpg when I get my exhaust fixed. These cars are a win for you if you have the tools, knowledge, and space to work on them. Just don't get into an accident with an EF. Been there. Damn things fold up like a soda can.

 

For what it is worth, what engine replacement ( swap) combination would you all recommend going with?

A buddy gave me a multiport intake and computer from a 91 si. He also has a obd0 to obd1 phearable computer.

Really trying to figure out what my cost options are. Actually looking really hard at the elio ( eliomotors.com)

 

Probably be cheapest to put a ZC in there.