___1979 Civic 1200.... motor mount questions... and... engine is ragged out and needs a little work
Thread Starter
New User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 4,143
Likes: 0
From: Wilmington, NC, US
___1979 Civic 1200.... motor mount questions... and... engine is ragged out and needs a little work
ok, i've got a 1979 Honda Civic 1200 and i've got a few issues i'm going to address in hopes of finding some help...
**first off... motor mounts....
anyone have a service manual for this model car or own own personally? i am breaking exhausts left and right... no matter how much flex pipe i either rip the flex pipe apart or it flex's so much it drags ground and tears it up..... my motor moves A LOT. I only see two motor mounts... one is on the driver side like any honda, the other is a metal bar that extends from the firewall to the head. it had rubber inserts in both ends but the end at the head was busted so i filled it with JBWELD and made it a solid mount..... well i don't have any other mounts... my motor is held in place by those two mounts, the axles, and the crossmember that runs from the radiator support to under the firewall..... am i missing mounts or am i going to have to do something custom??? thanks
**ok, now onto the engine
i don't know exactly what i have as it was bought used. the only thing the previous owner could tell me was "it needs at least 93 octane, it uses a powerstroke ford oil filter, and don't forget to check the oil daily" so... it was an autocross car for a few years... i hear it has a fully built motor that used tot urn 12k rpms... well i don't take it over 9 unless i am feeling lstupid, usually shift at about 6,500 when i'm have fun with her. i know she has a cam in her that is definatly NOT daily driver friendly, it loves the high rpms, hates low rpms.... loads up a lot. the compression is high, i'm guessing 11 something, maybe 12 to one. it smokes a lot down low, i always thought it was just from loading up in traffic and that the fumes were unburnt gas but i'm starting to think it's my valve stem seals.... well, i'm gonna replace them once i figure out how but i figure while i'm in their i'll replace that cam with something streetable, replace valves, springs, and retainers also. can anyone point me in the direction of a company that sells parts for this old of a car??
**should i fix the engine and either turbo it or spray it... or should i toss that carb'd nightmare away and swap something in?
i'd love to just swap a single cam vtec motor in it... can't be thaaaat hard, could it? i'm hoping someone can provide me with some feedback on this concept. weighing only 1200 pounds i dont really need a big motor to be fast, hence the single cam vtec consideration. i also thought of a non-vtec swap but what the heck, might as well....
well, what do you guys think? i know this forum isnt the best place for me to start looking for help but it's the best i can do for now.... thanks in advance for your help.
-Erik <--- can't afford to keep driving this turd if it keeps breaking
**first off... motor mounts....
anyone have a service manual for this model car or own own personally? i am breaking exhausts left and right... no matter how much flex pipe i either rip the flex pipe apart or it flex's so much it drags ground and tears it up..... my motor moves A LOT. I only see two motor mounts... one is on the driver side like any honda, the other is a metal bar that extends from the firewall to the head. it had rubber inserts in both ends but the end at the head was busted so i filled it with JBWELD and made it a solid mount..... well i don't have any other mounts... my motor is held in place by those two mounts, the axles, and the crossmember that runs from the radiator support to under the firewall..... am i missing mounts or am i going to have to do something custom??? thanks
**ok, now onto the engine
i don't know exactly what i have as it was bought used. the only thing the previous owner could tell me was "it needs at least 93 octane, it uses a powerstroke ford oil filter, and don't forget to check the oil daily" so... it was an autocross car for a few years... i hear it has a fully built motor that used tot urn 12k rpms... well i don't take it over 9 unless i am feeling lstupid, usually shift at about 6,500 when i'm have fun with her. i know she has a cam in her that is definatly NOT daily driver friendly, it loves the high rpms, hates low rpms.... loads up a lot. the compression is high, i'm guessing 11 something, maybe 12 to one. it smokes a lot down low, i always thought it was just from loading up in traffic and that the fumes were unburnt gas but i'm starting to think it's my valve stem seals.... well, i'm gonna replace them once i figure out how but i figure while i'm in their i'll replace that cam with something streetable, replace valves, springs, and retainers also. can anyone point me in the direction of a company that sells parts for this old of a car??
**should i fix the engine and either turbo it or spray it... or should i toss that carb'd nightmare away and swap something in?
i'd love to just swap a single cam vtec motor in it... can't be thaaaat hard, could it? i'm hoping someone can provide me with some feedback on this concept. weighing only 1200 pounds i dont really need a big motor to be fast, hence the single cam vtec consideration. i also thought of a non-vtec swap but what the heck, might as well....
well, what do you guys think? i know this forum isnt the best place for me to start looking for help but it's the best i can do for now.... thanks in advance for your help.
-Erik <--- can't afford to keep driving this turd if it keeps breaking
Thread Starter
New User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 4,143
Likes: 0
From: Wilmington, NC, US
Re: (kid-honda)
well i'm hoping someone will see this and pop in with some suggestions.
it's driveable... been driving it for about 6 months... just want to make it more streetable and "friendly"
it's driveable... been driving it for about 6 months... just want to make it more streetable and "friendly"
Re: (Erik_Pb_Foot)
I had a chance to buy a civic hatch like your style for $600. It had weber carbs and it was fully functional widebody. The thing was sick! But as I was saving up to buy it, some ******* redneck bought it. No doubt it's rusting somewhere.
Not very knowledgable about that style, but bump for kickass project car...........
Not very knowledgable about that style, but bump for kickass project car...........
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,491
Likes: 0
From: socal usa
Re: (Erik_Pb_Foot)
ive always like those old school cars... i have some plans on getin 1 in the near feature ....
from wut i read, since the owner said u can rev it up to 12k .. that means its a build motor ... but then again u only paid 300 bux.. so it sounds weird .
for my plan i was thinkin on a z6 motor ... light, with lots of potential.... yeah yeah b series are better but they cost alot of money and weight more ...
if u wanna keep the motor that is in there .. i will recomend takin it out and rebuild it ... or i would just spend all that money to get a newer single cam motor in it... custom mounts would be needed ....
about the mounts .. yeah i think u missin at least 1 mount ... u might wanna check ur local junk yard to see if they might have 1 so u can take a look at it ... good luck
from wut i read, since the owner said u can rev it up to 12k .. that means its a build motor ... but then again u only paid 300 bux.. so it sounds weird .
for my plan i was thinkin on a z6 motor ... light, with lots of potential.... yeah yeah b series are better but they cost alot of money and weight more ...
if u wanna keep the motor that is in there .. i will recomend takin it out and rebuild it ... or i would just spend all that money to get a newer single cam motor in it... custom mounts would be needed ....
about the mounts .. yeah i think u missin at least 1 mount ... u might wanna check ur local junk yard to see if they might have 1 so u can take a look at it ... good luck
Thread Starter
New User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 4,143
Likes: 0
From: Wilmington, NC, US
Re: (JCracer723)
yeah, i'm thinking maybe the engine mounts to that member that runs from the radiator support to under the firewall. hopefully i can figure this out b/c exhausts don't last more than a day and a half of spirited driving.....
my header took the grunt of the last exhaust as it's developed some hairline cracks down two of the runners and at one of the primary/flange welds. nobody happens to have a nice header laying around for this car do they? hehe
as for the engine.... i've heard if i swap it to any newer engine i am going to need custom axles, possibly need to front half the car, and i'll need to fabricate mounts. sounds like it's a rough swap but would be rather nice once done. to swap a dual cam in i am almost positive you have to front half the car and i know for a fact you ned custom axles....
-Erik
my header took the grunt of the last exhaust as it's developed some hairline cracks down two of the runners and at one of the primary/flange welds. nobody happens to have a nice header laying around for this car do they? hehe
as for the engine.... i've heard if i swap it to any newer engine i am going to need custom axles, possibly need to front half the car, and i'll need to fabricate mounts. sounds like it's a rough swap but would be rather nice once done. to swap a dual cam in i am almost positive you have to front half the car and i know for a fact you ned custom axles....
-Erik
Trending Topics
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 564
Likes: 0
From: Anywhere but here, MI, USA
Re: (Erik_Pb_Foot)
Well my buddies got a 76 in his backyard that's basically "rusting to death", but i can pop the hood and check the mounts to double check your situation.
As for the motor swap, it's not incredibly hard but VERY time consuming. Since the car is carbed currently you'd have to run hardline from the fuel tank to the engine bay. Also you'd have to get a fuel pump. There's definatley some work in that cause i'm pretty sure that tank doesn't have the option of installing a in tank pump. After that it's alot of wiring. You'll have to get the dash and engine harness for the engine you want to use. Of course you could get other harnesses and modify them too. Theeen you need to figure out your axle / hub assembly. Pretty damn sure those hubs are super tiny on that car, plus the rims aren't even 4x100 if memory serves correct.
So if you want to do the FI switch there's alot to think about. I almost did it on my 87 DX, but said screw it and bought some 40mm Mikuni's. I say stay carbed and possibly detune it to make it more streetable.
Just my .02
As for the motor swap, it's not incredibly hard but VERY time consuming. Since the car is carbed currently you'd have to run hardline from the fuel tank to the engine bay. Also you'd have to get a fuel pump. There's definatley some work in that cause i'm pretty sure that tank doesn't have the option of installing a in tank pump. After that it's alot of wiring. You'll have to get the dash and engine harness for the engine you want to use. Of course you could get other harnesses and modify them too. Theeen you need to figure out your axle / hub assembly. Pretty damn sure those hubs are super tiny on that car, plus the rims aren't even 4x100 if memory serves correct.
So if you want to do the FI switch there's alot to think about. I almost did it on my 87 DX, but said screw it and bought some 40mm Mikuni's. I say stay carbed and possibly detune it to make it more streetable.
Just my .02
Thread Starter
New User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 4,143
Likes: 0
From: Wilmington, NC, US
Re: (boosted_zc)
i've got an older dfi gen 5 sitting around to run the engine so wiring would be pretty simple. as for the mount i'd appreciate it man. with the fuel pump.. i've got an electric fuel pump now... not in tank i don't think but i dunno for sure...
-Erik
-Erik
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,941
Likes: 1
From: Dirty, Jersey
Re: (Erik_Pb_Foot)
i honestly cant say i know anything about it...but if at all possible i would deffinately try to swap it with a sohc. i love it man...i think that would be such a fun project to work on...deffinately keep us posted on how its coming and also ill try to ask around for you....
Rob0
Rob0
Thread Starter
New User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 4,143
Likes: 0
From: Wilmington, NC, US
Re: (EKsnatchback)
thanks man, yea she's fun but driving it isn't when its acting up... like for some reason all my lights turn off every now and then..... not good.... anyway, thanks
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 2
Re: (kid-honda)
Love those old school rides. I've always wanted to get a 510 and drop a sr20det into it and have a suuuper slepper.
But if i had that i would try to throw in a z6. For now and then down the road maybe slap on a greddy kit.
But if i had that i would try to throw in a z6. For now and then down the road maybe slap on a greddy kit.
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,265
Likes: 0
From: Right Coast
Re: (B2FiNiTY)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B2FiNiTY »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">That is nuts! Keep it aliveee </TD></TR></TABLE>
hell yeah, that thing is siiiiiiiiiic
</TD></TR></TABLE>hell yeah, that thing is siiiiiiiiiic
Thread Starter
New User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 4,143
Likes: 0
From: Wilmington, NC, US
Re: (Pooptooth)
she's sick allright, lol.....
got an "exhaust" put on today finally, just a straight pipe with a 22" resonator and a lil flex pipe... sounds pretty good, really suprised me.
anyway, back to the subject at hand... motor mount(s)? any ideas guys? anyone have any pics of an old civic engine bay? thanks
-Erik
got an "exhaust" put on today finally, just a straight pipe with a 22" resonator and a lil flex pipe... sounds pretty good, really suprised me.
anyway, back to the subject at hand... motor mount(s)? any ideas guys? anyone have any pics of an old civic engine bay? thanks
-Erik
Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,922
Likes: 0
From: Connecticut, USA
Re: (Simon Tibbett)
i found this site if you didn't know about it already.
http://www.1stgencivic.com
http://www.1stgencivic.com/fir...s.htm lots of 1st gen links
http://www.thisoldhonda.org/
http://www.1stgencivic.com
http://www.1stgencivic.com/fir...s.htm lots of 1st gen links
http://www.thisoldhonda.org/