So, I finally decided to take the plunge into buying a honda and trying to learn about them. I literally have NO clue where to start even. Well I guess i do. I know literally nothing about cars. I can change my oil, and oil filter, and change tires and thats literally it. Im sooo very eager to learn about, and build my honda. I know itll be a long and expensive project. If anyone has any links that can help me learn thatd be really awesome. When i say I know nothing i literally mean nothing. I dont even know the terminology so when you guys talk, its like a different language to me. I know we were all there at one point, and im there now so any help i can get i can take.

Is there like a honda for dummies book i could read or find online? Lol, i know this sounds pitiful, trust me. I dont even know the different parts of cars (well at least under the hood). So i guess thats the first thing to learn, but i have no idea where to look to begin learning. This is my first honda. Ive always have a kind of pull to 90s civics and when i totalled my 04 volvo s60 i told myself id only get a 90s civic. So i did. I just find the look of the hatchbacks to be so damn sexy for some reason thats why insettled on my 94 EG. Its got a little D16z6 vtec in it (only know that because of a friend's help picking it out, but he's moved out of state and can no longer help me learn.).

Im really excited to start this project. The only little bit of research ive done is deciding what engine i want to put in it. Either a b18c1 or b18c5, will probably go for the c1 just because of the price difference. But thats literally it. Before that happens i need to get this all figured out and tinker with what I already have. My little d series only has around 100k miles on it (so the seller says but didn't have paperwork). So ive got plenty of mileage to mess with it before doing an entire swap. Ive been lingering around here without creating a profile for a few weeks and trying to learn but just dont get it. Since i know absolutely nothing, it sort of has to be explained to me like im a small child with half a brain. If anyone could help with that, thatll the first step in this awesome journey i want to commit to.

So any ideas on sites that can explain things for me/help me learn to understand that way?

1 other question. Since ive got a 94 civic hatch, do i need to find a 94 civic hatch owners manual or just any 94 civic owners manual?

 

Hey, good to have you on HT. I am relatively new to the website myself, but I've been working on Hondas for a few years now. Your car looks pretty good for just starting into the scene; good pick!

I'll give you some advice that you can take as you will:

1. Go to local meets, make Honda friends. Avoid ricers and gravitate toward people who look like they know what they're doing. Don't be clingy or desperate, but just be honest. "Hey, I'm new to modifying cars and just got my own honda." Generally people like new guys who are honest and looking for quality information and experience.

2. Watch lots of Youtube and read, read, read. Start with the "Engineering Explained" Youtube channel. They aren't all about Hondas but you will learn about cars nonetheless.

3. Get good at Google and Forums. No one will want to spoon feed a new guy information. You have to show the drive and search for yourself. Don't believe everything you read until its confirmed in multiple sources.

4. No engine swaps until you are extremely comfortable with the car. I mean EXTREMELY comfortable. If you try big stuff too early, chances are you will get stuck and discouraged.

5. You have to pay to play. No name, cheap, junk parts will get you in a lot of bad situations quickly.

6. Listen to people. Take people's advice. But don't be ignorant or let people take advantage of you.

7. Don't rev at every modified car you see.

8. Impulse buys cost you big money in the end. Research, decide, wait for a good deal to come along.

9. Go to your parts store (autozone, advance, whatever) and buy a Haynes manual for your generation civic (1992-1995). Read it through. Twice.

10. Don't act like you know more than you do. Ask questions... be humble.

Alright, now I've got some questions.

Can you post a picture of your engine bay? Your car doesn't look stock so I am wondering if you already have engine mods you don't know about.

Do you know if you have aftermarket (not from the factory) suspension (springs and shocks)? Post pictures if you're unsure.


Engineering Explained - Learn how cars work playlist: https://www.youtube.com/user/Enginee...f_id=2&sort=dd

Haynes Manual - Honda Civic and del Sol Repair Manual covering 1992 thru 1995 models

Car Mods 101 -

 

Thank you for your reply! And also thank you for telling what to buy when it comes to the manual. I know the swap will most likely be the last thing i do. For some reason im having a problem uploading my pictures. It won't up load, i belueve the attachments are too big. Once I figure that out ill be posting them asap. Now that i know i get reply notifications via email ill be replying a lot faster.

When i try to upload pictures it says a security token is missing. This is the firt forum ive ever been apart of so im not too savvy

 

Give this page a read through. It should familiarize you with the site - Honda-Tech - FAQ: Reading and Posting Messages

 

Awesome thanks man. And i didnt see that video the first time around but it just loaded so I checked it out. Luckily i wont be limited to certain things such as emissions since I live in a pretty small town and dont have any emission laws, so im pretty free to mod how i want. I did check into somethings like that and my town doesnt have any laws about nodding the exhaust or really anything like that.

 

Ok, here are some pics i got to upload. If i upload them to FB, then save them to my phone again, for some reason it allows me to post them here. The pics taken by my note 4 must be too big to uploaf here and FB probably compresses them. Although im guessing the pic quality wont be great because of it.

 

Cool! I live in NY where it is illegal to breathe... So most car enthusiasts just do what they want and either pay the tickets or just don't get caught.

Post up some more pictures when you can.

 

Picture quality is actually pretty good on my end. So, you have Skunk 2 lowering struts as well as lowering springs (I can't tell the brand). So that is pretty good, as long as all the struts are in good condition.

Engine bay looks stock except for the exhaust headers... I can't tell the brand on those either.

So mods you can start to research on are less restrictive air intake (cold air intake or short ram intake) and header back exhaust (Don't get something obnoxiously loud please).

 

I would also go for a full tune-up, which a lot of people do whenever they buy a car.

What's a full tune-up? Click Here

Also, go to a shop and have your suspension all checked over: Struts, ball-joints, tie rods, bushings, brakes, rotors, wheel bearings, etc

 

Sweet, will def do that about the suspension. As far as an exhaust, i dont want it to be loud at all lol. In the end ill obviously want as much power as possible so i know there will be noise, but i cant stand those loud *** cars that whizz by and you cant hear yourself think haha. These mods were dont by someone i know was tight on money, i do think new headers would be a good idea.

 

I know how you feel. Just do a lot of research on full exhausts that have good flow, but keep it quieter.

I have a quick question. Can you check the engine code print (where the red circle in the picture is) on your engine? Normally d16z6's have a different valve cover like in this picture.