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Hey all, recently joined member here, my name is Ben and im 19 from the Seattle area. I have been a long term lurker here and decided that now is as good a time as ever to start up a build thread for my 1990 dx manual. Not looking to impress or fit in with my ride, just to have fun modding as its my favorite thing to learn about! So, I used to drive an 01 civic ex auto that was in my parent's name
Only photo I had of my phone of her, will have to look for more..
but then this happened...
This lady without insurance hit me going 40+ in my neighborhood like an idiot...
Insurance barely paid out much for the car, and i wanted something to my own name,so i just gave the money from the insurance claim to my parents, worked and was car-less for the summer until about a month ago i found a sweet deal on this Ad on CL was for $2600, but i talked him down to 2 grand.
a
Day i brought her home
And since then I have yet to do much, recently painted the wheels to cover up some rust that was showing, put in a new steering wheel with quick release, password JDM shift boot, and threw on some rally armor UR, but everything like the engine, drivetrain, and suspension is still stock.
Currently saving up for a drop (leaning toward F&F type 1 but open to suggestions!) and also planning on doing a z6 swap in the future. Thanks to all who have read and stay tuned! And sorry for the shitty pics, ill be working on that. There always will be more to come!
Anyway, as for the F&F Type 1 coilovers....ehhhhh. You'll get mixed reviews! There are better coilovers for the money in my opinion. If you want good performance coilovers with a 2" or so drop, Progress is the best bang for the buck. If you can afford Koni/GC, they are the industrial standard. Obviously Tein and such are great brands, but run a bit more.
As for the Z6 swap, it is a good swap. If you are on a budget and know a little bit about motors, or just want to learn about them. I'd suggest pulling one from a junkyard (an experience in itself). And then clean it up yourself. Drop the pan, remove the head, swap the pistons/rods/rings, do the valves and just basically rebuild the whole thing. $250 for a motor, couple hundred more dollars in parts. It is a great learning experience.
Transmission is everything though. Definitely get a 5 speed, preferably cable in this situation.
Take some plasi dip to the bumpers. The flat black makes them look OEM new!
If you put new wheels on the car, save those center caps on those rims. They may fit if you are using aftermarket wheels.
Anyway, as for the F&F Type 1 coilovers....ehhhhh. You'll get mixed reviews! There are better coilovers for the money in my opinion. If you want good performance coilovers with a 2" or so drop, Progress is the best bang for the buck. If you can afford Koni/GC, they are the industrial standard. Obviously Tein and such are great brands, but run a bit more.
As for the Z6 swap, it is a good swap. If you are on a budget and know a little bit about motors, or just want to learn about them. I'd suggest pulling one from a junkyard (an experience in itself). And then clean it up yourself. Drop the pan, remove the head, swap the pistons/rods/rings, do the valves and just basically rebuild the whole thing. $250 for a motor, couple hundred more dollars in parts. It is a great learning experience.
Transmission is everything though. Definitely get a 5 speed, preferably cable in this situation.
Take some plasi dip to the bumpers. The flat black makes them look OEM new!
If you put new wheels on the car, save those center caps on those rims. They may fit if you are using aftermarket wheels.
The DX is a 5 speed already Ill check out the Progress coils, koni and gc is a little pricey for me lol. Thanks for the suggestions! ill try and plasti dip the bumpers when i have time off from work
Find them in the for sale section here (Progress, the Vendor). They had a winter sale for like $550+shipping (call it $600 total). It was like 10% or 'free shipping', however you want to dice it. They are definitely a nice product and the people are top notch. I called them several times with questions prior to my purchase and they always had someone there who knew at least A LITTLE BIT about Hondas.
for the bumpers you should use bumper coating. Gives a brand new appearance. I just used it on my bumper earlier today. Looks great. Also check out Tokico shocks. I hear they are pretty good and are easier on your pocket. I can post pics of the results of the bumper coating if you want.
Good thread for suspension information.
They suggested KYB GR2 and Tein S. Techs.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TEIN-S-TECH-LOWERING-SPRINGS-HONDA-CIVIC-CRX-89-90-91ED8-ED9-SKA36-AUB00-/270832691969?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year%3A1990%7CModel%3ACivic&hash=item3f0ee2eb01&vxp=mtr
http://www.ebay.com/itm/KYB-Excel-G-GR-2-Front-Rear-Struts-Shocks-1989-1991-Honda-Civic-CRX-/361044613323?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year%3A1990%7CModel%3ACivic&hash=item540fef98cb&vxp=mtr
If you want the Tokico Blues
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tokico-HP-blue-shocks-89-91-Honda-Civic-CRX-EF-Front-Rear-Set-Made-in-Japan-/251649860506?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year%3A1990%7CModel%3ACivic&hash=item3a9780239a&vxp=mtr
The Blues cost a little bit more. But either way, you are looking at $400+ for the suspension. Progress CS-II will give you adjustability for $600. Koni/GC is the 'best' for a lot of set ups at the $800 price point.
Not really an update, but its been a while and i promised some better pics so enjoy! it was a terrible day to wash the car (typical Seattle rain) lol but only day off in the next two weeks so got off my lazy *** and got it done
My fave of the bunch
Sorry the sun was really bright on this one and the filter i threw on really saturated the pic
Still saving up for that drop, but contemplating doing the z6 swap first as the d15b2 i have in currently is driving me insane Also just purchased the energy suspension complete bushings kit and blackworks LCAs, just waiting on the coils and will have everythng else replaced as soon as i have the time. Thanks for stopping by guys and happy modding
Haven't had anything to update in a while, only thing that has changed is that I got window visors lol. Still busy with work/school at least until the quarter ends and then I will get a well-deserved month off for winter break. Wasn't overly swamped with **** to do today so i just cleaned the whip pretty thoroughly, changed out the oil and went and hung out at the park Pac NW sunsets are super nice during the fall/ colder months!
Anyway just wanted to share this dumb pic and just check in w/ everyone. Countdown to drop: approx. T- 1 month (December) Thanks for stopping by as always guys, and happy modding :D
The car looks good, but those mudflaps need to go.
I don't know what vehicle those belong on, but they are disgusting.
It's not just me or a personal preference, it's the entire world.
Those flaps need to leave this planet.
Oh wait - is this a girl's car? If so, then they are fine.
mini update, just a pic i snapped at the self serve car wash.
cleansed.
got my new passenger side headlight on to replace the ugly cracked one, and will be picking up and installing a passenger side mirror tomorrow. also as you can tell the red rice flaps are officially off the car:D after months of trying to defend the look, i realized how retarded i was for having them on in the first place lol, i just purchased some black RA flaps til i can get my hands on some OEM mudguards so these salted roads dont murder me (PM me if anyone has some for sale btw) but overall just enjoying the car and just trying to get through winter.
So update, these are just the few parts I've managed to collect up to today.
Energy Suspension Poly Bushing kit
haven't had the ***** to do any bushing work yet lol, (more DIY research to come)
Blackworks LCA's
Overview of everything so far :D
also I had ordered some Progress coilovers last week that were scheduled for delivery today, but I was sleeping when the UPS guy came looks like I'll have to go pick them up myself tomorrow! Really pumped about this build though, its taken awhile and had its ups and downs, but I'm finally back on track and things are getting movin! Exciting days ahead, and if the weather pans out I'll start the install of the coils, lca's, and tie bar and hopefully finish up by tomorrow night or Wed.
(PS. Im gonna start trying to upload my pictures through TinyPic or another site from now on, sorry for the distorted sized-pics)
Hey, I kinda forgot about this, so my bad lol. Its been a lazy *** winter, but I can honestly say she's improving every day. Pretty sure theres a blown gasket somewhere or maybe a piston ring, I've been starting to see alot more smoke in my rearview when im starting from a stop, so Im gonna have to look into that. Here are some bad pictures from the park today:
looks like your starting right with suspension, i would look into a newer motor something more reliable and something not with dpfi im guessing the lil d15b2 probaly has 250k on it
looks like your starting right with suspension, i would look into a newer motor something more reliable and something not with dpfi im guessing the lil d15b2 probaly has 250k on it
Ya I wouldn't be surprised if the engine is up there in miles, the PO put in a new odo I think. I really want to build a z6, but at this point I may just need to put that on hold and just swap something in for reliability, but we shall see!
Wa-Honda-ED6's 1990 Civic slow, budget build
Ad on CL was for $2600, but i talked him down to 2 grand.
Ill check out the Progress coils, koni and gc is a little pricey for me lol. Thanks for the suggestions! ill try and plasti dip the bumpers when i have time off from work
Also just purchased the energy suspension complete bushings kit and blackworks LCAs, just waiting on the coils and will have everythng else replaced as soon as i have the time. Thanks for stopping by guys and happy modding 
looks like I'll have to go pick them up myself tomorrow! Really pumped about this build though, its taken awhile and had its ups and downs, but I'm finally back on track and things are getting movin! Exciting days ahead, and if the weather pans out I'll start the install of the coils, lca's, and tie bar and hopefully finish up by tomorrow night or Wed. 
