just trying to figure out which would be the best to buy
planning a swap later down the line. which would be best
for that? i remember seeing a 1st gen engine bay and it
seemed Very small. what about other features? i like the
'86 door handles + the price and availibility are better.

input appreciated

 

Heh... those old-school door handles ARE cooler, yeah .

HASport sells a mount kit for a B16A swap into the 1st gen CRXs, so it can be done. Check their website... I'm sure it has more info on it! I'm sure the wiring would be a b*tch, but in an 1800-lb car a B16A would be very rewarding!

The only downside is that damn straightaxle in the back, and the less-comfy interior...

 

2nd gen all the way...meaning 88-91 crxs
much better design in every way, much quicker, easier to fix, to get parts,

you get double wishbone, much bigger engine bay, chasis that stiffer and many aftermarket parts avaible

in 84-87 cars all you get is cheap price,,,

don't make a mistake go with a 88

 

i would say you really need to test drive both cars and make a decision for yourself. there are advantages and disadvantages to both cars. there are definately more parts for the newer models, but if you can find parts for the older models, they can handle and compete just as well as the newer ones, if not better, because of the weight difference.

as for the single bar suspension in the rear of the earlier models, that doesn't really affect the way the car handles - if you go all out on suspension in either car, they both handle just as well - i have a 90 crx that i have the suspension all done up on and an 86 crx that i have turned into a race car - the major difference is the limited slip in the 86 - with the huge weight difference, the 86 can handle better than the 90 in some cases, but the 90 has less body roll with the strut tower bars than the 86.

basically, you just need to drive both and think about what you want to do. you can always find parts for both models and you will be happy either way. think about what you want to do to the car and then go from there.

and remember, when test driving these cars, don't be gentle - go all out and see which one you like better - it is your choice - drive like hell!

 

well u cant motor swap an 86 only 88 and up ..am i right?

 

yes you can..
1st gen integra motor[d16a1?]..d16a6..zc..b16..b18c....b20a5...13b w/rwd conv..what ever you got the money for.

 

the 1st gen integra motor is only a 1.6. if you want to save yourself the time and effort of doing an engine swap with mounts and wiring and all that stuff, then just bore out the crx motor to fit the 1.6 integra pistons and rings. then just take the ecu from an integra and put it in. the wiring from the crx will plug right in, nothing to change. now you have the integra motor. all this is possible, since that is what i did with my 86 si, along with a racing cam, suspension, and stripping down.

 

Who said 2g's are quicker? I really beg to differ. Have you ever driven a 1g? Much less, one with a swap? I doubt it.

The 1g's are much lighter, and if an engine swap is to be done, can be much faster than the 2g.

Granted, I like the looks of the 2g much more, if I had to build an autocross car, it'd be a 1g.

 

well since you own one i can see why you take pride in them...
but the 2nd gen is newer..
and i should hope honda can improve its product and not make it worse..
i mean come on look at the torsion bar suspension compared to the double wishbone..its infinatly more advanced..as is the whole car..
sure theyre light..but so is a bicycle.
give a lighter car the same engine and sure it can be faster..
but the engine bay is cramped and theres not room for everyhting there is in a 2g[bseries or hseries with turbo]
at what point does the cost of the labor on a swap out weight the gains?
at what point is there that a torsion bar suspension has no grip?
its not like the 1g's are a pos and not worth owning..
but dont kid yourself.

 

thanks for all the input!

because after the swap i'll probably go turbo, i have
to go with 2nd gen, there also seems to be a lot of
improvements from gen1->2.

another quick question.. someone said something
about RWD conversion, that being said, is an AWD
conversion possible? one with front lsd perhaps?
i remember seeing an article where they converted
an s2000 to awd (super street?), however that's
already rwd.

-thx

 

im sure if you had enough money you could do a zc w/realtime awd youd need custom driveshaft for sure and who the **** knows what else..
dunno even if it would fit under a crx..or even a hatchback..
ive heard people talk about it and ive dreamed of it..
but never heard of anyone actualy completing such a project..

the rwd crx im talking about is full tube chassis with crx shell and 13b rx7 motor..

 

well i was thinking about the back of a honda ('8x) AWD wagon.
rip that apart. and as far as things fitting, i saw a vw gti with the
muffler (not tip) inside the back of the car. not sure how stable
it would be but maybe the rear drivetrain could go inside the car.

mmm.. imagination.. i'll talk to some people and get some
measurements.

oh and you'd probably want more power than a zc for awd

 

that awd cant handle much more power than a zc..

 

how does that work?

 

AWD, RWD, Turbo H-series? Damn, this forum is all about the rediculous swaps. Seriously, what motor do you plan on dropping in this new car?

I think that if you have the money to blow by making an AWD or RWD CRX, then you have enough money to get a better car. Just MHO.

 

B series engine + turbo.
the rwd/awd ideas were mostly fantasy.. mmm