Hi everyone,

I'm pumped because my parents just suprised me with an '86 CRX HF! They bought it for $50 (bad starter, owner was going to have it towed to the junk yard). They got it all running and better, and have invested a grand total of $230 in it.

We're hoping to set it up for HS auto-x, and maybe in the long term CSP, or if they open the SM rules up a little bit, maybe swap in a 1st gen integra motor and go SM or SM2 whatever it happens to be.

For now I basically have two questions:

1) will any 1st gen CRX exhaust fit on an HF, or are they different between the Si, DX, HF? It still needs an exhaust, and I'd like to just buy something that I can use for the life of the car.

2) the car seems to be starving for fuel at WOT. Any suggestions? Idle/normal driving seem okay.

okay, I'll add one more question:

3) do you guys think we can fit 205 auto-x tires on the 13X4.5 stock wheels?

Man, this is awesome. I've wanted a CRX for like 10 years and I finally have one! even if it's a little bit of a junker, that's totally cool with me!

 

there are a lot of possibilities for that crx. first, there are only two models in the first gen crx - the carbureted hf, and the fuel injected si. if you really want that car to be competitive in hs, you will need to advance the timing, get better shocks, and yes, the 205's will fit. you will really need to squeeze them on, but it can be done. i have an 86 ep crx si with 205 60 13's on honda rims (kuhmo's that i use in the rain, or on really long courses). if you want to skip trying to be competitive in hs, then let me know - i can get you a lot of parts for that car that will make it competitive in the prepared/modified classes - actually, pretty much just prepared. the modified classes will eat you up.

 

Ya, one thing I'm looking for is a second-hand set of Konis. I'd prefer to buy them locally, though, so I can check 'em out before I hand over the cash.

Do you guys think the 205's are where it's at for HS, or should I get a 175? I noticed that kumho goes from like a 175/65 or something to the 205/60 in the 13" sizes. The 175 seems pretty narrow, but for a car as light as a CRX, maybe that's enough?

 

the best thing to do is get the 1/4 inch offset for the tires. that is why i picked the 205 60 13's for my crx. if you have rims that give you the offset, then you could use the 175's, but that really is smaller than the stock tire. the 205 60's will flatten out more and give you a lot more tread.

 

There's also the carbureted DX, with more power than the HF. And in '84 there was a 1300cc CRX too.

 

not for the first gen crx's. the dx became a model in the second gen crx's. and it isn't really carbureted. i have a dx, and it is fuel injected, with more horse power than the hf, but not multi-port fi. the 84 is considered the first generation along with the 85-87's and is probably fuel injected, so it would be the "si" model, so to speak.

 

I'm not sure if it was ever badged as a DX, but I've heard it called that. The only '84-'87 Civic/CRXs with fuel injection in the US were the multi-port Si versions, introduced in '85. And I'm pretty sure all of the carbureted CRXs in the US were CVCC (Compuond Vortex Controlled Combustion) engines.


In 1984 there were 2 variations of the CRX. The 1300 and the 1500. Both carbureted, one with 60 hp and the other with 76 hp.


In 1985 the 76 hp 1500 was carried over from '84. Then there was the fuel injected Si (91 hp) with the same block as the '84 1500 but with a different (non-cvcc) head. The HF was also a 1500, designed for maximum gas mileage. I'm not sure of the HF's hp. I believe the 1300 was dropped from the line up.


I'm not too sure abot the '86 & '87. They're probably similar to the 1985 line up.

 

did they really have a 1500 in 84? cool. i thought they only made one type. i do know that the 85-87 crx's are all the same, with the hf and the si. the only thing that changes is the hatch, with the rear "spoiler" located on the top rear of the hatch for the 87, and on the rear of the hatch for the 86. other than that, they are all the same.

 

I was looking at my 1985 Civic/CRX factory service manual, and I noticed that there was both a DX and HF in 1985. Both engines are the same displacement and same size carb, but the HF has a higher compression ratio and a transmission geared for economy. I wish the book had hp ratings. I love Honda history.

 

It's tough finding performance parts for that car, so good luck. A good bet with that car is to find a doner 86-87 Si drivetrain, swap that in and go out and run CSP (with suspension mods of course). The 84-87 CRX HF is one of the cars to have in CSP. But if you are looking to sell it (douesn't sound like it though), I know a guy who is looking for a 84-87 HF CRX to do exactly that. Actually, he already has the drivetrain and suspension ready to drop in.

Good luck, and aren't cheap Honda's the most fun?

 

you can take my CRX when you pry it out of my cold dead fingers! maybe your friend wants to sell his stuff to me!

Cheap Hondas do rule!

 

A couple points- The HF engines were a low friction design meant for high fuel efficiency and are junk from a performance standpoint. I believe one less piston ring than the DX and Si and I am pretty sure other internal parts are different from the DX and Si.

As for tires for AX, the 205/60/13 will fit on stock rims with stock offset without rubbing. Been there, done that. I would suggest going to a 185/60/13 for AX due to the lower height of the tire which will give you an effective shorter (higher numerical) gear ratio. Basically this will improve the acceleration out of the corners. I run a 185/60/13 on my ITC CRX instead of the 205/60/13 for this very reason. I notice a good second a lap decrease with the 185s over the 205s. This is with the same BFG R1 tire.

As for performance exhaust, the only one I have located lately is Pacesetter for a DX or SI CRX. This may bolt into an HF but may need some mods.

Lastly, I have my old 85 ITC CRX (DX model) that has a good, stock drive train, Autopower cage, SS brake lines, Mugen suspension bushings, and Mugen Torsion bars that I am trying to sell. The chassis is junk due to rust but the other parts are ready to get back on track. Let me know if you are interested- all these parts will bolt into the HF.

Good luck,
Devin
itb42jr@aol.com

 

solo I (track) and solo II (autocross) are two completely different things. i have also run stock size tires - 185/60/13's on the crx, and they don't even compare to how the 205/60/13's handle for autocross. you need the extra grip in autox - and since you are pretty much always in second gear, there really isn't any reason to shorten the gears - and their really isn't that much of a difference between the two sizes for the gear ratio. not enough to worry about in autox. if you really want to notice a difference, you go with the slicks - 8 inch on 13x7's, with only a couple inches of tire height. that will really make a difference!

if you are really looking for parts for that car, i can have someone custum up an exhaust for you to fit that car (depending on where you live), i can at least get you a header for it, a webber carburetor specifically for that car, and maybe some suspension for it. if you really want to change to the si, i might even be able to sell you the parts car that we have that will have everything you need to make the conversion - motor, wiring, tank, pump, ecu, tranny, head - unless you just want to buy them separate from the junky frame.


[Modified by crxplus, 7:37 PM 9/26/2001]