Here it is. The life of my 1989 Honda CRX DX in one year. Over the year, my father and I have put a lot of time in this, and I've learned a lot in the process. All I knew before this was rotary engines from my old RX7

So mid-december of last year, I saw this CRX posted for $900 on my local CL. I knew it had issues, like a miss, but I had no idea how bad it really was, but at the time I figured for that price I'd make a project out of it. 242,XXX on the clock, and so I bought it. It didn't look all too bad really, just your typical wheel well rusting. So I got it home.







So not awful, I suppose. But shortly after I bought it. maybe 3 months, The "New Clutch" the previously owner put it went bad. So out came the transmission. I used an OEM Exedy replacement kit from RockAuto. Cost me about $80-$90. Came with a new clutch, clutch cover, bearings, and alignment tool.






















And there it is, new clutch in one day.

Couple of months later, I decided to put on a Thrush glasspack, cus why the hell not? Little more volume never hurt. But it only confirmed my suspicion of a missing cylinder, which you can tell too when you hear it here:


The glass pack was around $40, and it didn't need any adapters at a size of 1.75". So now you know. 1.75" Thrush glasspacks fit right over a stock CRX DX pipe system. Just need some couplers!

So then it came time to rebuild the engine, or at least re-ring it. I also went to a scrapyard and got a new head for my engine, because I figured some of the valves were to blame. I was right, which you'll see below. So for another $80, I bought a re-ring kit, and $70 at the junkyard I got a head, and I went to work. Took my father and I about 2 weekends to do it (We both work full time during the week)

Here is in order, the before and after. I even painted the valve cover. You can see the old head that did me in, and the pistons before and after we cleaned and re-ringed them.


































The crank and cylinder walls were in an impressive condition for having so many miles on it. Now you can hear the miss is gone, and here is a POV test drive here.


and so far, there it is. I have an MPFI intake and ECU on the way, and then it's the cosmetic issues. Hope y'all enjoy!!

 

Nice! I just picked up a '91 Si that needs a rebuild so I'll be going through all of this soon. What are your plans for the body?

 

I plan on buying new fenders and a hood, or at least better ones from a junkyard. Then I will wind up filling the rust holes by the gas tank, and either fill or patch in new metal for the wheel wells. Then I'm gonna have it painted!

Good luck with the SI man!

 

Thanks!

Are you keeping yours the original color or going with something different?

 

I want the Celestial Blue Pearl (B53P) or Tahitian Green Pearl (BG-28P)

But it seems everyone is doing those colours. Lol.

 

BG-28P is the way to go! That's the color of my civic. Not to be biased but I think it is the most enlightening color for a 4th gen

 

And now, with more updates!

Over the past week, I've slowly been putting together my MPFI swap, and now it runs! Runs on the first shot with no CEL codes, no leaks! Nailed it!

I frankenstiened this project together, slowly sourcing all the parts from eBay.

Complete D15B7 IM with fuel rail and throttle body: $55
TD-02 dizzy: $65
PM6 ECU: $65

I am using a D15B7 intake, obd1 injectors with no resistor box.

I started with the ECU wiring, running a PM6 ECU, soldering, heatshrinking, and taping all the wires!

I used a TD-02 distributor, swapped the plug for the DX plug, so I wouldn't have to modify the stock harness, and I hardwired the CPS wires.







Looks like a rats nest, but I'll tidy it up.

Then I bolted on the intake, ran all the lines, and did all the injector wiring.

Now it's all together!

 

Haven't posted about this car in awhile, mainly because I've retired it from DD duties. (Only because I have a 89 Mustang I've been DDing now.)

Today's updates!

Since December, I've done a few things in preparation for turbocharging.

I've done a header-back exhaust system which came from eBay (because I am a broke college student, really.) That I don't have a picture of.

I've installed in AEM UEGO Wideband O2 sensor, which is visible in the bottom right of this pic:




I have chipped and socketed my PM6 ECU, which is now running a custom tune with launch control and datalogging. I just converted the PM6 maps to NG55 code and made some small changes since it is a D15B2 engine.

I added an SPDT switch which gives me the choice of sending the wideband signal through the ECU for datalogging, or the stock O2 sensor for running with the O2 sensor enabled.








Today, I installed a Walbro 190lph high-pressure fuel pump, and some 440cc fuel injectors.






For now, I've just scaled the fuel maps on my current tune to run with the 440 injectors.


I have fenders sitting in my closet waiting to throw on when I have the cash to get the rest of the bodywork done.

Between the MPFI swap, re-ring, clutch, and everything I've shown in this post, I should be ready to turbo it.

Now comes the lengthy process of saving up for a turbo....>.>

 

Good updates.

Are you running two O2 sensors? OEM and wideband.

 

Thanks!

Yeah, the stock one is located on the left of the header (close to where it is on the stock manifold), and then the Wideband is underneath the car. You can't see it in the pictures, but when I tune I disable the stock O2 sensor and flip the switch to send the wideband through the ECU so I can datalog it.

When it is done, I turn the stock o2 sensor back on in the tune, and flip the switch so that the stock o2 sensor goes through the computer.