Should I build a motor or work on suspension first?

Completely stock 92-95 cx/vx

I'm stumped.

 

depend on what you want to do auto cross or drag

 

This is my plan.

I want a car that's equally fast in a straight line as it is through corners. Occasional lapping days and maybe a drag strip here and there.

I'm going to be doing both suspension and motor work in the future, I'm just pondering which I should do first.

 

i think it should turn fast before it goes fast. besides, are you really going to want a mushy suspension with a fast motor? i think not!! suspension first is the route i'm working on.

 

sus all the way

 

Suspension.

Basically, if you just throw a motor in, the car will feel sluggish because it was not meant to handle the extra power of the other motor. That's where you turn to the aftermarket to upgrade your suspension to harnass the power the new motor makes.

 

Tell you what, Flower, I have an EK that has wilwoods and 11" rears, kg/mm coilovers, sways, torinos, roll bar, f&r strut tower braces, etc and IT IS NOT FUN TO DRIVE AT ALL!!!!! Get a motor. Stock motor fawking sux, especially when it`s single cam.

Ryan

 

agreed. Don't get me wrong, suspension is very important. But as a CX driver I can testify to the fact that even after a suspension build up in a CX, your car is still slow ****. A B16 with stock suspension would be much more fun.

 

Motor then blow ur money on suspension

 

Engine all the way.

I have a B18C1 in my 93 hatch, and it feels like a whale in the turns, but it's a beast in the straights. It feels like a totally different car than what it was before.

Suspension is in progress, but I'm glad I did the engine first.

 

No, he doesn`t have a swap, it`s a stock dx/cx EG.

Ryan

 

In order to really enjoy a new suspension with a stock motor, you have to really drive hard at all times. Even then its hard to drive hard because of the lack of powa.

 

Do this:

BUY all the suspension parts you need (Don't install them)

Swap it.

Drive for a bit.

Install suspension

appreciate suspension

 

Well, I've been thinking about this. I know it's gonna take me a while to piece together a swap. I have the cash right now for suspension (which is why I'm kinda leaning towards it).

I figure once I get the suspension, I can swap in a SOHC VTEC motor to hold me over til the time comes where I can afford to spend the money on a full swap.

 

 

Suspensions are easier to come across than swaps. Get the swap. Then the suspension.

 

DON'T!!! If you have moeny for a suspension right now, then hold it and save a little bit longer for the Swap.

The EX swap will be wasted money for you.

Buy lowering springs to hold you over

 

I say find a cheap ex tranny for a good price.. slap that baby on.. that;'ll give you enough pep for now.. go full suspension and brakes... then after all that be the First guy to put a K20 motor in a EG =x but the ex tranny is the cheapest and best mod you can do to any sohc with a dx or cx tranny.. but hmm if you have a cx engine there's not escaping the 70hp =P

 

LOL, I voted for suspension.
You guys are funny, motor first? no thanks.
I drive a stock '93 CX during the winter and its so scary/bouncy/sloppy/high(ugly) that I almost cry when I come to corners near anyone with a sportscar.

Also I had $4000 into my '92 CX setup without even touching the stock 70hp motor besides removing the intake resonator. I even autocrossed it and did very well. I daily drove on AO32R then Azenis with 70hp! ---> yes it was still a "momentum" car because of the minimal power, but I had so much fun driving it. I say suspension and seats will be the best to start with, I wouldnt do it any other way. Even if I got a swap first, I wouldnt drop it in a stock CX, that could be a dangerous combination

 

But my point is this: Which to do you use more? I damn sure don't hit every single corner I come across as fast as I can. **** it's illegal to drive so wrecklessly on public streets. But when you do a swap, you will have the ability to accelerate quicker, which is a little more useful for day to day use. Sure suspension is more important for auto-xing or whatever else racing you do. But like Fowler said, he plans on competing occasionally.

 

was this a daily driver?

 

suspension is first.
if you want to have fun with the car before you do both things. it has to be sus first. you wanna baby a motorswap around and suck in the turns..? no way. i opentracked a fully sus'd out car with a stock dx'er a couple of times and it would be way better than the alternative. it teaches you the importance of the line and other characteristics of the track and driver., seeing as you'de have no power.
you will get both. but until then the sus is the only way to go...
don't swap in the ex engine though, too much labor for the measley hp gain. just hold out for the real swap.

 

Build the motor, and get some spring and shocks in the meantime.

Once your car is built and has power it will drastically change your suspension needs. Unless you go for fully adjustable components right off the bat with the suspension, then build your motor first. The suspension needs of a 100whp car and a 180 whp car will be completely different.

Cruzer

 

My vote went to motor.

That is exactly what I did.
Bone stock cx, did the motor swap and then threw on some used tanabe springs that I picked up for $70 (till I can afford a good suspension).
That set up does just fine, for now.
I dont drive crazy on the street, I dont go ***** out around corners, and it actually rides pretty nice.

I dont care what suspension you have on a cx, that will NOT be fun to drive.

Also, dont waste a single penny on that cx motor!!! (unless you are swapping the head)
I've driven in a completely gutted '93 cx hatch with ex tranny, ex intake manifold, short ram intake, dx exhaust manifold w/ a straight pipe, and a bone stock DX would've blown the doors off that turd!!

If you have plans to do a dohc swap, dont waste any money on a temporary sohc motor. Thats just a step backward, imo.

 

i say motor, i am tired of my slow sohc.