89 civic wagovan 5spd (very slow build: power + ecomods & lots of pics!)

[vrmouseyd15b]

Originally Posted by Gasoline Fumes

It's on the way!

Thank you so much!! Good man! I can't wait more pictures when it comes - the passenger mirror can come off NOW!!!

Originally Posted by Cobb

Yeah, but how does it feel when VTEC kicks in yo?

I wish. there's no vtec here, still running the 1989 head. the only reason it looks different is that I've sandblasted the valve cover and knocked 25 years of dirt, oil, and grease off that motor and tranny - literally

no vtec, and the original head kept the "band-aid motor" fairly simple to just throw back into the car. the only difference in wiring from the two motors is that I didn't tap the opening on the back of the block for the coolant temp. sesnsor like in '89. I went the easy route - using the stock '95 location, right by the mechanical thermostat, and using the '95 coolant temp. sensor. The only wiring modification was to extend the wiring from the old sensor location on the back of the block to the new spot, by the thermostat. Didn't even have to cut the factory harness!!

In my "infinite wisdom" I may have these two backwards, but this is the '89 block for sure - note the holes from the broken rod at cylinder one:


so the wiring for that sensor got moved to this location, since it was available and easier than drilling and tapping the block. That's because after 91, they left the blank for that sensor on the back of the block untapped, and moved it here (this isn't the block in Skiddy now, this is a d15z1 {VX BLOCK} it will be the bottom half of my turbo mini-me):


That said, Skiddy's current motor is a "mini-me" (d16z6 block and d15b2 head - all stock), and it does have a little "surge" to it, at about 2500 rpm's, but she is by no means fast this current setup is a low compression "dog" ran a quick check:


But it does go down the road in style

Thanks,
Victor

[vrmouseyd15b]

couldn't find one with a kamm-back, but this looks like how the vtec kicks in around this site, yo! represent!!



he's even kinda got that hatchback shape! haha!!

thanks,
Victor

[Cobb]

Thats ok bro, I hope it ends up like the second meme, sounds like it is currently the first meme.

[vrmouseyd15b]

I'll have to keep it under 9 grand, then

[vrmouseyd15b]

great day today! interior blank off came in from Gasoline Fumes just as I was "googling" how to take the window cranks off the door so I wouldn't break them!

This is Skiddy's first ecomod, so....

Interior door panel (before):


got the door card off and pulled the mirror:



Then to cover up that nasty hole:


same idea inside:



Looks great, fits like a glove, good as 1989! Big thank you again to Gasoline Fumes


So this is the "delete pile"so far- one complete passenger mirror, one compressor and mounting bracket, exhaust mani heat shield, some refrigerant lines, a few mud-flaps, assorted clamps, the intake snorkel that runs across the radiator...



The delete pile will start to pile up before too long

After getting the mirror done, we went out for dinner and found the rear hatch lift supports came in today too! bonus!

That will be in the next post.

Thanks,
Victor

[Gasoline Fumes]

Originally Posted by vrmouseyd15b

Put that on eBay and it'll pay you back for the delete parts!

[vrmouseyd15b]

Yup, I was actually thinking Craigslist. They don't charge you anything. eBay kinda rips you off as a seller as a buyer, it's great

Thanks,
Victor

[OG VX]

Good work! Those little window cranks can be tricky to get at first. But after a while "there a snap"

And the Vin Diesel mime is a TRIP! Love his face at 6K. Hilarious. OK, I'm going to bed now...

Keep us posted. I've got a feeling I'll be "shocked" by your next post.

[vrmouseyd15b]

This is the coolest trick to get the Window crank off: How to remove a window crank: http://youtu.be/N-6iIYLGj0A



here are the new gas shocks for the rear hatch


they came with new hardware, which is cool since I've read that the old bolts rust apart! The new shocks use both mounting points at the top of the hatch:


looks like this one rusted out before (and the new ones didn't fit the top, they might fit in the bottom):


so I went with this instead:


Now my hatch doesn't try to eat me anymore!

Thanks,
Victor

[tvbd56]

I'm curious why you removed the intake snorkel, I went to a pick-n-pull to get one and put it on my car. My thinking would be that the snorkel is pulling hotter air than from the intake box.