Project 1991 CRX Si

[balactm]

I guess it's about time to start a project thread. Well, After 8 months and numerous oil changes, and other work, i've finally had the funds to make some decent mods. I am going in 3 separate stages: The first has been completed which included a brand new set of tokico illuminas, ground control's, 27mm tanabe rear sway bar, energy suspension bushings, new ball joints, rear rotors, rear pads and a tanabe upper front strut bar (yet to be installed). I had planned on completely disassembling all of the components and having them sandblasted so i could paint them. This was purely for aesthetics and me knowing that everything suspension-wise would be pretty I had planned on getting a mega discount but the parts came back un-sandblasted and they were asking for 150 bucks. So i went to ace and grabbed some wire wheels and went to town. I didn't take as much time as i would have lied because by the time they came back un blasted i had about 3 days to move out of my apartment while also going to work for 8 hours. I got everything done and realized i had forgotten the stop washers in the shock/spring assembly, so i took just the shocks out, reassembled them and put them back on the car and adjusted the height to what i wanted. To wrap everything up I put on a set of 5zigen FN01R-c in matte black with 205/40r-16 Falken Azenis.
On with the pictures
the good side:

The side in progress:


You can kind of see the bottom of the tokico in this one:

And you can see the rear sway and ground control here:

So low...I might bring it up a little bit, but for right now it holds tight in turns so until i see negative effects it will probably stay that way:


The second stage of the build is going to be the bottom end build. The top end was rebuilt a couple months ago and so i have no worries there. The engine will be receiving .5mm oversized vitara pistons and custom i beam rods from FJDistributors. Also on the list is a new water pump, timing belt, all gaskets, new oil pan (someone....stripped my oil drain plug and it wasn't me), arp head studs, new bearings, paint, and all of the other little things (plugs, wires, vacuum hoses, etc.). I also have an 88 crx dx tranny with a competition clutch and ultra lightweight flywheel. During this The body work is also going to be done. My buddy is a licensed body tech and is fixing all the dents and rust and paint it satin black. I am also going to add some euro flair and do a boser hood. The engine bay is getting shaved and the wire harness tucked.

The final stage is the turbo and all accessories. Still unsure on a lot of these parts as I haven't bought any of them just yet. In the end though I'm looking for between 300 and 350 to the wheels. I am going to be running an electronic cutout for the best possible flow and so i can save money and use my current exhaust but re-fabbed. Once I move into a place with a garage I'll be getting steel mist gray painted on and add an edm carbon fiber rear spoiler. Also, as the funds arrive the first things to come will be a lsd and wilwood big brakes and rotors. Racing seats are also on the menu.

[V1GiLaNtE]

Sounds like you got a big project ahead! Car is looking good so far! Should be interesting seeing a turbo sohc.. I don't think too many people do that! :thumbup:

[balactm]

Sounds like you got a big project ahead! Car is looking good so far! Should be interesting seeing a turbo sohc.. I don't think too many people do that! :thumbup:

I love how simple the sohc is which is why i really wanted to go the single cam route.

Oh, I forgot I also have to convert to obd1 and add a hondata s300 chip.

[JustinG]

I'm looking for between 300 and 350 to the wheels.

Just given ya a hard time, looking good man.

[Goodspeed]

Awesome. I do love me some CRX, yours is coming along great. Can't wait to see the paintwork.

Also...your "Euro" CRX idea intrigued me, so I did some interneting, please buy this German exhaust :lol: :thumbup:

[balactm]

ick. that exhaust is gross. wayyyy too big. and that wing...yikes. i do like the offset wheels though.

[balactm]

Welp, time for an update. I'm really bad at taking pictures while i'm working, so unfortunately i didn't get any shots while the motor was coming out. So i went from this:



to this:








The last thing I have to get out is the transmission. Once that's out I can start bringing the wires through the firewall for the tuck. Then I can start shaving the bay. As far as color schemes go, I've decided to embrace my inner redneck. I'm going to paint the bay blaze orange, and keep most of the engine black and some bits of silver. The valve cover is getting a special treatment. I've already stripped all of the paint off,

and I am sending it tomorrow to indiana to get some hydrographics. The process is also called water transfer imaging. If you are familiar with the Orange County Choppers' camo bike, you'll know what I'm talking about. It's essentially going to be dipped into a camoflauge film, Mossy Oak 'Break Up,' and then cleared over. The guy has done several valve covers for V-8's and they have held up fine. I'm going to ask him if adding a high heat clear coating over top will be ok just to be sure though. Needless to say, I'm so excited. I also already ordered a couple yards of Mossy Oak 'Break Up' fabric, and am having the seats re-upholstered with camo inserts and some heavier duty black fabric for the rest of the seat, to prevent it from tearing like the stockers. I am alos considering doing the sun visors, but am on the edge about that. I bought enough fabric, I just have to see if I like the look.

Here is a quick picture of the suspension with the wheels off:


The engine is at inline pro, getting all the machine work done, assembled, blue printed, the works. So in 3-4 weeks, I'll have that back and hopefully the shave will be done and painted and ready for the engine. The transmission is getting a thorough cleaning and then black high heat paint, just like most of the other parts. My next update won't be for a couple weeks, because i'm waiting on a couple parts, and have to get the valve cover to indiana and the seats to the upholstery shop. So I leave this update with the newest crx bling:

[CaptainHenreh]

Water transfer is pretty easy to do yourself, I hope you aren't paying too much...

[balactm]

Water transfer is pretty easy to do yourself, I hope you aren't paying too much...

30 bucks yo. yeah i looked around at the kits they sell, but this guy in indiana said he'd do it real cheap.

[V1GiLaNtE]

This is starting to shape up into a project... looking forward to updates..

[SlimKlim]

Camo and Orange? Oi vey. I can't hate too much though, your building this thing for realz, you could do it pink on purple and I'd still respect it.

[balactm]

Camo and Orange? Oi vey. I can't hate too much though, your building this thing for realz, you could do it pink on purple and I'd still respect it.

haha, it's not that bad... Like I said, with this car, i'm really trying to tie myself into the appearance as i can. And Since I have an inner redneck dying to get out occasionally, this will be something that I can stand back and really respect. Plus, most of the camo and orange will be in the engine bay, so it will only be seen occasionally. And thank you for the respect. I appreciate it.

[balactm]

Great Success!!!

So I got the tranny out, took out all of the little odds and ends except for the brake master cylinder and the booster, which is going to be replaced. I also ran the all of the wires on the passenger side back through the firewall to prepare for the wire tuck. The rest of the a/c came out, which included the wiring for the a/c and the condensor underneath the dash, which now consists of a hollow tube. Hooray for losing weight! The next step is to take the master brake cylinder and booster out, run the driver's side wires through and then start the degreasing/bay shave. Once that's done, it gets a nice coat of blaze orange, and then pieces can start going back in. Here is a pic of the bay:


I haven't taken any pics with the wires through yet, but it's coming. Like I said I suck at taking pics while I'm working. I will be getting some work done today, so hopefully I'll have more pics by the end of the weekend. OH! I got my valve cover back from Indiana getting the camo. It looks MEGA-bawlin. Tell me if you agree:



Does it say mossy oak on it? Oh hell yeah it does!

[Jake]

That is the most redneck JDM valve cover evar. Love it.

[D_Eclipse9916]

hahah thats awesome. Big thumps up from me.

[balactm]

thanks Jake and DJ! I was so excited when i got home from the post office after dropping the stuff i needed signed for the ridgeline and saw that my jimmy john's box(lol) was back on my front porch! He did such an amazing job and i can't wait to see it on the black motor with the orange bay and orange oil cap.

[WRXtranceformed]

Are you leaving the AC out permanently?

That camo job is so redneck and so awesome at the same time.

[ScottyB]

valve cover looks surprisingly pimp. i toast my mason jar of shine to it.

[balactm]

Are you leaving the AC out permanently?

That camo job is so redneck and so awesome at the same time.

yes a/c is out permanently. I don't use it anyways. I always roll windows and moonroof open. Plus I'll have the ridgeline with max a/c

Well FML. I found a crack in the valve cover that wasn't originally there when i sent it off. effin a, and you can see it in the pictures too....bottom right, on the part that goes over the timing cover. Trying to get in contact with the guy to see if he dropped it all, cuz it was packaged reallly well. and the box wasn't damaged at all, so it had to have happened there. It looks like it was dropped and then bent part that goes over the timing cover and then because of the stress it broke. So pissed. Granted it doesn't it won't seal properly, it just won't look perfect. a-hole. Anyways, I went over to the upholsterer to give him my deposit for the seats and he had already run into problems with the vinyl on the back tearing, increasing the price. Balls. He does great work and has had a couple of cars he did interiors for in magazines...one can only hope.

[balactm]

valve cover looks surprisingly pimp. i toast my mason jar of shine to it.

bawlin. I toast back with my mason jar...seriously i do, that's all i drink out of