I'm rapidly approaching the status of autocross junkie, and I'm looking into buying a 91 Civic hatch, STD. I'm wondering if this car will be safe/competitive to autocross in. I'm mostly concerned by the 4-speed manual (competitiveness), and the stock suspension (safety), which is most likely not built for handling. I'm by no means a competitive driver, but I'd like to give myself a fair chance.

I've seen a couple of ED's at the local events (notably Spencer's), but I'm sure those cars aren't stock?

Thanks, and please be gentle, I'm new around here.

 

Better than nothin....

But it's the EF Si that's competitive in HS.
And STS, and CSP.

 

What Eee Pee said. A STD is doomed in HS, and why bother when running Si EFs can be had for $1000? Unless it's free, well, then take it! Remember that locally, a fabulous driver in a shitty car can destroy mere mortals driving damn near anything.

As for your question about safe -- yes. As with any typical 12 year old street car, however, replace worn stock shocks before going to r-compound tires. I have seen too many scary near-rollovers from people not getting shocks under control before going with stickies.

 

My hatch is a std, but I got into auto-x after swapping in an Si engine and tranny. the 4-speed's gearing is definately going to give you troubles. the std engine is pretty darn lacking in the power depertment, mostly because of the restrictive throtle body.

the suspension on the EF is great, as long as the old parts aren't worn out. One thing about the STD is that you don't have ANY sway bars, front or rear! the DX has just the front, and the Si has both.

A question I have... If you take a light weight STD, and put a completely stock engine and tranny from the same year Si in it, and the Si F&R swaybars, could you still race in Stock class?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by thumpu77 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
A question I have... If you take a light weight STD, and put a completely stock engine and tranny from the same year Si in it, and the Si F&R swaybars, could you still race in Stock class?</TD></TR></TABLE>

In Stock, option package conversions must be complete; that is, you have to add everything that came on the Si (whatever that is). By definition, if your conversion is complete, the STD is no longer lighter than the Si.

 

How about an 86 Civic for EP? Trailer Queen.

 

i bought a 91 std and its....slow. 70h and tall gears make it the momentum car of all momentum cars. its mainly the gearing. i know of some other folks that have swaped to the si trans and are having better success than i. but if its cheap and ur just lookin for something to run, it will be fine. its a learning experiance for sure.
but if ur looking to be compettitive, go ahead and get in si instead.

-spenc

 

A standard EF with an Si engine, well prepped, will do quite nicely in CSP, so as long there arent too many national level Miatas or CRXs in your region. You could also run that combo in STS, although there's a good chance that backdate/update allowance in STS will be scrapped next year, forcing such a setup into CSP anyway...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jsi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You could also run that combo in STS, although there's a good chance that backdate/update allowance in STS will be scrapped next year, forcing such a setup into CSP anyway...

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That sucks!!
I was going to put my car in STS next season!!! Miatas and MR2's are eating me for lunch in CSP!!

I guess I'll just have to learn how to drive instead.