crx build ideas

[rx191]

i have thought of the tdi cars, but being a mechanic i wouldn't want to own one. The engine will last forever, everything around it will fall apart.
i plan on redoing the interior some to make the car a much nicer ride for sure, the rest of the car i know can handle the drive. a first gen has crossed my mind.

the top chop would focus mainly on the back of the car, i want to drop the deck lid about 3 inches, almost the height of the rear tail lights. it would essentially be the same as adding a boat tail as there would be less area behind the car. i wish i could use photoshop better i could show you

[Ryland]

Originally Posted by 3gd16

If you want to go and destroke to a 1.3 liter engine why not get a first generation crx they came 1.3 carby on the HF models and are lighter then second gen rex.

1.3L engine was only in the 1984 CRX 1.3, 1985 was the first year of the HF and the HF had a 1.5L engine, the 1.3L is apparently hard to find parts for and is a rare car to find at all.
If you search around there are newer Honda engines that were only sold in Japan that are 1.2L and 1.3L fuel injected engines, I think there was a V-tec in that size and there was another design of the 1.2L that was sold in the JDM Honda Fit that that seemed pretty slick, if you can find an importer that is willing to get an odd engine like that, it might be worth while.

[jakobnev]

Originally Posted by rx191

the top chop would focus mainly on the back of the car, i want to drop the deck lid about 3 inches, almost the height of the rear tail lights. it would essentially be the same as adding a boat tail as there would be less area behind the car. i wish i could use photoshop better i could show you

Changing the angle of the rear slope might actually worsen things.

[Old Mechanic]

It seems like you appreciate the TDI engine but not the rest of the car. I think someone here put a TDI engine in a CRX, another put a VX engine in a CRX.
Probably the best setup would be the 1.3 IDSI engine in the Honda Civic Hybrid.

regards
Mech

[pete c]

Originally Posted by rx191

i have thought of the tdi cars, but being a mechanic i wouldn't want to own one. The engine will last forever, everything around it will fall apart.
i plan on redoing the interior some to make the car a much nicer ride for sure, the rest of the car i know can handle the drive. a first gen has crossed my mind.

the top chop would focus mainly on the back of the car, i want to drop the deck lid about 3 inches, almost the height of the rear tail lights. it would essentially be the same as adding a boat tail as there would be less area behind the car. i wish i could use photoshop better i could show you

Now I see what you mean about chopping it. That would be relatively easy compared with chopping the entire roof which would be a PITA.

I think it would clean up the aero some. I think a much easier and probably cleaner, aerodynamically speaking, way would be to just tack on a boat tail. Not much weight, really and it would give you the option of restoring to original later on if the economy ever picks up and people aren't forced to drive ridiculous distances for a paycheck.

Good luck, whatever you do.

[pete c]

Originally Posted by jakobnev

Changing the angle of the rear slope might actually worsen things.

I understand what you are saying, but, I think it would help, as it would get rid of that big flat wall on the back which is aerodynamically horrible.

I do think keeping the existing line and adding a boat tail is the way to go.

[jakobnev]

pete c: It may be counterintuitive, but a flat bit in the rear is not the worst possible thing. In fact, the latest rage in car aero design is to shape your car like the template, and when you reach a point where you no longer wish to have car, you simply cut it off.

[HydroJim]

You'll actually want to raise the rear of the car up to better follow the template for attached flow. I'd definitely consider adding a boat tail that follows the curve of the template.

examples:

Aerodynamic Streamlining Template Overlay for ZX2?