Ok, so i figured i would copy my project thread to honda-tech for additional c&c. Keep in mind some of the pictures are out of order...Ok. Let the games begin. Here is the story of how i came to buy and modify my 1990 Civic Hatch... Mr. ED!!!
Ahhh winter 2004, the good ole days...
After getting bored with the lack of available parts for my accord the search to more thoroughly modify a honda began. I searched hoping to land a great deal on a EG or EK hatch but after weeks of tireless searching a cheap deal could not be found. It was at this point that i decided to search for a older lighter honda chassis. Eventually on a cold winter night similar to this i placed a ebay bid on a 1990 Civic DX hatch in huntington valley, PA. The car was looking a little expensive for what it was but overall decent body (no major) and most importantly Bone stock w/ 149k on the clock. The total cost of car $1250.
Unfortunately that there are no pictures of the car in this state, it didnt stay stock for long. Despite getting this new project, i hadnt sold the old accord and budget to modify the civic was tight.
Initial mods to the car that winter included:
- TYC Sppoon Mirrors (The car had no passenger mirror, DX!)
- Amber Corner Lights
- Infinity basslink (xfered from old accord)
- SRR Shift Knob (xfered from old accord)
- ATC Volanti Steering Wheel (Blue Stich uber rare)
- TYC 'Cusco' Rear strut tower bar
- eM Racing C-Pillar bar (Initial eM Racing group buy!)
- 1988 Acura Vigor Front lip (xferred from Accord)
- 93 Del Sol Seats with modified rails (xferred from accord)
- The notorious 88 CRX wheels
That was it, I went back to school in the city and left the car nicely tucked in the garage. Meanwhile the accord was still for sale and i was getting closer to make the sale. I was able to sell the accord just in time to fend off some CC impulse buys from my 8x10 apartment. That fall i moved back into west chester and had a nice pile of parts awaiting for me. I will let the pics do the talking:
- Megan Racing Lower Control Arms 6061 aluminum (50% weight savings over stock)
- Invidia SS/Ti EF9 Exhaust
- eM Racing Rear Strut Tower Bar
- eM Racing Triangulation Bar (both not available at original purchase of car)
- DA Integra Rear Trailing arms
- DA Integra Rear Disc Brakes
- DA Integra 40/40 Prop Valve
- CRX Si Ebrake Cables
- 1st Generation Omnipower Coilovers for EG (Custom Bottom Mounts, stock spring rates 10k, 8k)
- ARP Extended studs (Fixed stripped studs)
- Ebay lower tie bar (painted jdm orange)
- OEM Honda Rear Speaker Pods
- Infinity Kappa 5.25"s
- Some Pioneer Speakers (cheap and brand new)
So this is how it looked toward the end of 04. I eventually got new tires on the Rota Slip streams and rocked em...
Ok enough for now...
Eventually over this time i replaced the tail lights with those of an EF3 & got keyless handles and keyless entry
- JDM EF2 Tails
- JDM EF2 Sedan Rear Door Handles
- SPAL Keyless entry kit (Works great years later btw!)
Ditched the AC for future clearance:
At this point i also swapped wheels with my buddy darren, (who will hopefully see these pics for a little nostalgia). Ran over to East Goshen Park for some quick pics:
Due to the wider track of the integra rear discs the meaty azenis tires rubbed constantly forcing me to search for new wheels. I happened to stumble upon the deal of a lifetime My Slipstreams for a set of 15" EP Civic wheels & 15" Konig Villians. Naturally i couldnt pass up the deal. Here are some pics:
At this time i also finalized the trunk install with a hidden Hawker Genesis battery
It was at this time that i was able to compare darrens b16 si and Greg Immings d16z Eg hatch. After some careful consideration i decided to go d16z sohc vtec swap primarily. The price between the two swaps was hard to justify (b16 1250$ vs. d16 ~500$), plus the sohc motor reused motor mounts, shift linkage, and other equip. I eventually stumbled upon a d15b7 1.5 liter Sohc Vtec Found in the JDM vti civic sedan for 435$ + 75$ freight from socal to here. The mileage was low and motor was very clean and properly removed:
So the parts compilation continued:
- Rywire Custom DPFI OBD0 -> MPFI ODB1 Harness and jumper
- JDM p08 ECU
- Discontinued STR Gold Fuel Rail (purchased from estate sale wtf??)
- Fidanza 9.5lb flywheel
- Exedy Stage 1 Clutch
- Stainless Fuel Line AN Fittings
- b&m Fuel Pressure Regulator
And so me and my dad (teh man) pulled her into the garage for a 05 new years party!
Drained Fluids:
The old Heart:
3M painters tape wiring schematics:
Out with it:
New equipment:
Initial Start and diagnostics:
Its Alive:
The finishing touches:
- shaved valve cover (custom Wrinkle black, 7 Coats)
- Megan Racing SS Header (Another good buy only 75$!)
- Neuspeed Tie Bar
Many thanks to Papa-Dukes without his nay-saying i never would have never conceived of such an pointless endevour and without his experience i never would have completed it. Thanks Dad (tu) x 100
Here is where we left off... i swapped the motor and modifications came to a screeching halt. Back to school i went and for this time it was for 15 months straight, commuting none the less. I averaged about 33 MPG and drove most of it in west philly. I rocked the same look and began my research on building a turbo kit.
I dabbled in parts buying and started working with ECUs. (No pics due to crashed hard drive (td).
First was this Blitz 60mm boost gauge:
Then i changed my mind to a triple gauge pod 2" Spearco boost and westach A/F ratio:
June 06: Graduated college and began working fulltime. Needless to say the parts buying amplified since the college years:
Completed the triple gauge pod:
Not happy with how the regular pod looked, i custom molded another one to the dash (tu)
Got rid of the sparco wheel in favor of a JDM integra type-r spec96 wheel:
First check i bought JDM window visors, no a/c is no fun.
Instrumentation was out of the way, so now the actual turbo part gathering began. I started out with an HF Crx manifold w/ Td04l turbo adapter plate for 40$. I then purchased the turbo from a Subaru wrx w/20k orignal miles:
This turbocharged air needed to be cooled down so a 87 Mistubishi starion intercooler complete with rewelded endtanks was added. The mocking up began:
To be continued...
So put the motor on an engine stand and started mocking everything up. Bought flanges, and clocked the exhaust and compressor housing such to have all the piping work. Also if you note the use of a half size civic radiator (custom mounts):
Tapped oil pan w/AN fittings:
Then one hot day, months of preparation came to life. Here are the pics from install day:
Hooked up the battery, burned a basemap and held my breath:
Its alive:
But not for long, oil overflow through the feed line 
As you could probably tell by the rats nest of wires and vacuum hoses, i wasnt quite done. I drove the car as is for a limited amount of time before realizing a gas leak. I fixed the leak with a oem honda filler hose, a rather expensive peice of rubber i might add. Then the wire tuck began, starting with the passenger side all of the wires were run in the frame rails, fuse boxes relocated inside the cabin and unecessary vacuum hoses eliminated:
Sleeping in the bumper:
Just thought i would document some winter projects on the hatch:
I recently acquired this on ebay in a pretty dirty state. Cleaned and shined her up a bit:
- Hand Polished Aluminum Moroso catch can w/ AN Plumbing
Since this thread lacks pics:
More goodies:
More random pics to enjoy
Like, i said alot has happened in the past couple years including harddrive failures and duplicate pictures. I will try to sort this out a little bit, but hopefully you have enjoyed the photos of my money pit 
-Bobbo-
http://bobfab.blogspot.com
