Hi all, I found this website surfing around last night and I think i remember it from my days in highschool. I have recently gotten into a phase where I cannot keep a car, I have been swapping and selling on Craigslist as of late, but just last night came across a car I do believe I will be holding on to.

I guess it started with a 1996 Celica as my first car. It was very pretty, had 17 inch fat chrome rims and a very nice paint job. The chicks loved it, it handled like a dream, but not very fast. It was very comfortable, and felt like driving a space ship when you sit in it with it's tight steering. This car was sweet indeed, but I wanted a CRX or Civic hatchback before I got it. All through high school I was kinda envious of the civic owners hehe. It was somethign about them that charmed me. They all felt the same driving, like a wooden plank with wheels that would dart around corners. It was not as smooth or graceful as the toyota by far, but something about them I still liked.

Later I owned a whole slew of vehicles like 90 nissan truck, 1996 toyota pickup , 04 ford focus, 90 trooper , 89 firebird, 81 dodge aeris , 85 f150, 96 vw golf, and a ton of motorcycles, mopeds and scooters. About a year ago my girlfriend picked up a 95 civic ex 4 door , I was jealous hehe. We still have this car, but it was hers and I wantedmy own Honda. I dont really love it like I should love a civic, but it is also not mine. She has made a deal with me though that if i fix a golf up , she will trade me it for the golf. I am still planning on doing this, but last night I finally nourished the need for a Honda.

I purchased a rusty, but floorboard is decent, 1986 Honda Civic Wagon Push Button 4WD ! I must say it drives great, maybe a little better than the 95 because of alignment and shocks. I had no problem going up inclines on the highway (colorado) in 5th gear , and could have easily accelerated past speed limit it seems. It def not more power than the 95 vtec, but for 73hp it suprised the hell out of me. I found that the drivers seat is not bolted in, it seems that the floor had a hole where it as mounted. It's not rusted, but looks torn out with shear force. I did not notice this till i got home, but I do not know that it woulda affected me buying it or not, maybe the asking price . I did not pay alot for it, 700$ . It has 210K on it , and everything works, even the AC. Shifts smoothley, but I can hear the throwout bearing rattling, also didnt notice it too much with the excitement of 4WD civic. If I barely tap the clutch it will go away sometimes for a while, and it's pretty slight right now. I finished off the rusted fender while backing out of the dudes driveway on a big *** rock lol. The back wheel went over with a slight bump, but the mud flap on the front wheel got caught on it and when under the tire casue it to rip from it's rusted shackle lol. All in all, it does not look much different then it did before at all, but not the fender can flap if you pull it with ur hand haha.

So for 700 bucks, new brakes, new seat , throwout bearing, rust repair, primer, new windsheild ( eh when i can haha) , and some TLC I have a sweet car, even ahs a roof rack. Check it out, glad to be on these forums, hope to fill my brain with knowledge.









This is my Dodge lol, I may make it look cool one day, all it needs is new vynl top and rims. Runs and drives great to my suprise when i got it, and ive kept it that way. Or maybe i'll sell it and get a CRX hehe.

 

Heh, looks good man. Screamin' deal for 700 bucks! I want a 4WD civic

Welcome to the forum.

 

Definitely looks awesome man! I would have bought it for 700$ too! I enjoyed reading your story as well, welcome to the site!!

 

That has a lot of potential. 4wd wagovan Civics are awesome.

There's a local guy who owns the shop I go to here in Little rock that has one. It's red and identical to that, rust included. Only difference is that he rebuilt the engine and put a Jackson Racing Supercharger on it. 200hp 4wd beast that owns the road in the snow.

 

Sweet thank you very much guys. Im glad to be here and learning. I honestly prolly would have paid more for it , was pretty convinced I wanted an 4wd wagon heh. Today convinced me a bit more, it has snowed for past 4 days here, so we want and had a little drifting fun in a few parking lots, nothing ruff though. I tested out SL gear on a steep icy ally and it ran up it like a billy goat, even stopped at steepest part and took off again with ease, bald front tires and all.

Thats awsome WellFed, I have located a D16a1 im almost positive im going to purchase pretty close by. What is a good price on a D16a1? I figure drop one in, cold air intake, exhaust, small turbo and i'll be more than happy. I guess D16 turbos are really cheap.

The only reason im glad I own a first gen over a second gen. I really want one of each haha.

 

this is epic.
does anyone know anything about engine swaps that will link up with this drive train??!?!?!

 

The D16a1 is a direct bolt on with the transmission. 86-89 integras had them, and some other car in japan. The ZC motors will also fit, but more work is required. The ZC that is the easiest is also the rarest : ( I have heard the D16a1 doesnt fit in a 88-91 Wagovan, but only read it. If you put a more agressive cam on the D16, it would be essentially the same as the ZC>

 

what about ripping this whole drivline out and putting it in a 88 civic hatch

 

CRV is the most popular choice for donor in 92-95 hatches, but I have seen a 88-91 once. I have not seen, but doesnt mean anythign at all , a swap with the RT4WD/4WD system from a wagon.

Could you really gut one of these rare classics though when there are tons of CRV's in the junkyard or online for possibly cheaper? Parts would also be easier to find, but you will have to custom fabricate each system anyhows.

 

very nice dude, look spectacular...