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Old 10-12-2010, 12:49 AM   #11 (permalink)
thecarfarmer
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Mechanic View Post
I remember either Motor Trend or Car and Driver drove one of those at 55MPH and got 73MPG when it was new.

I bought an 84 new, made in July 1983. It was serial number 1018.

The problem is the spaghetti factory of vacuum lines, switches, servos, and all the issues with them and the carburetor.

They were slow, with 0-60 times of 13.5 seconds, the 1.5 I got was good for 44 MPG and I was not trying to drive it as efficiently as I would today, but it would do 0-60 in about 10 seconds.

If you are patient you might get it back to OE operational condition, but it will certainly be a challenge.

regards
Mech
Ah, yeah... I remember the '84-7 model Civics; they bought me a house.

Intake problems: hoses rot (and there are dozens of 'em), base gaskets like to start leaking (and they're not cheap), and the carbs get crud in 'em from rusty fuel filler necks (and by now, probably tanks).

The hoses and gaskets are straightforward: replace 'em. Just tedious work; nothing trick.

Carbs... I used a vacuum gizmo to suck out the carb passages. Check with carb cleaner. Replace filler neck and tank as needed. Now, if you don't want to get good at cleaning the carb (with practice, you'll just flip the lid up and do 'em in situ), go to a boat place and get a RACOR fuel filter with a screw-on can; install it right before the carb. They'll catch the crud.

BTW, you probably already know, but... when you pull the head on one of those, you replace piston rings (unless you don't care about oil consumption).

With all the engine management gizmos now pushing 25 years old, it might be a good candidate for a megasquirt installation. Or as was suggested above, an EV project.

In fact, I've got a buddy looking for a CRX HF here in the PNW... if anybody knows of one in the Seattle area, I'll forward it to him.

-Bill

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