Hello All ! (This is my first post ever - sort of- ...so please be nice )

I did some work for my neighbor and purchased some gravel for him and in return he gave me his commuter civic.
I know this much about it: 1997 Honda Civic HX 4 Cylinders 1.6L MFI SOHC VTEC-E 097 CID - Default Given a free running 1997 Civic HX - What to do...


(Manual transmission)
It's ugly because the paint is peeling bad with a few rust spots on the hood. We live in an area that gets snow and I know he ran it like a beater for a few months before its reg expired. The trunk has a leak somewhere and the bumpers need to be replaced because he ripped them off on a snow berm last winter.
The car runs but it has one error code which is P0335.
I'm an extremely overconfident nerd and I decided to replace the crankshaft position sensor behind the crank pulley. After researching and going through this PITA chore, the error code still persists. I think I'll eventually figure it out though.
I kind of fall in love with projects and I can feel this one taking over...
So my question to you guys is this: is it even worth it?
I'm just looking for opinions, so don't be shy.
I'm willing to dump about $1k into the project not including body work.
Is that a pipe dream? (I'm fairly handy and love research - I'm working on a BS in Physics for my own personal edification - but this could be a whole new level of headache ya?)

 

It has a D16Y5 VTEC-E which is very similar to my EUDM 1.5 LS VTEC-E D15Z6 and had incredible gas milage thanks to valve deactivation and econo mode so honestly with current gas pricing I would keep the econo part of it and cherish it as a commuter with really good gas milage.

Slap a nice 4-2-1 header on it with a 200 cell race cat and a 2.25/2.5 inch exhaust with a Vibrant Performance Ultra Quiet muffler, proper intake doesn't have to be a expensive one just a cheap or self made CAI would work fine, B16A2 throttle body (or a skunk2/bolk 60/63mm one), port match the intake to the TB or put a Y8/Z6 intake on it, leave the injectors (have them flow tested / ultrasonic cleaned just to be safe), do some nice interior mods like a nice steering wheel, some prelude / integra seats, a good short shifter with new bushings, some suspension stuff like a riaction street coilovers kit with billet aluminum arms, 262 brake upgrade (if it has drums rear, not sure on USDM, EUDM VTEC-E has drums) with some nice rotors and pads and call it a day. Fix the body up a bit and enjoy it. Maybe some wheels and tires..

 

You start bolting all that **** on and say goodbye to that sweet MPG.

 

I have basically all of it except the intake + TB on my D15Z6 and it hasn't affected MPG whatsoever. Dyno at 126WHP from 114 stock and still does 42MPG doing 65 on the highway (110km/h which is all we can do here during daytime) and 34MPG at 80-85 (135kmh) during the night. Mine does have very long gears in the S20 which helps, but it's fine otherwise. Nothing in that mod list makes it run any richer, just breathe better, and the rest is suspension mods as I can imagine a old beater like that having totally worn out suspension and aftermarket aluminum arms are literally cheaper here in EU then OEM ones if you include new rubbers and pressing them in and a good coilover kit like the D2 or Riaction is pretty cheap as well.. Oh and I also run front and rear strut braces.

 

With $1000 a few years ago I would have said B swap it. Those swaps are becoming rare and $. I got my 98 for free too, but a year and a half ago when stuff was cheaper.

I'd get the car running right and enjoy the good gas mileage.