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

[OG VX]

Originally Posted by vrmouseyd15b

The skidmark is front wheel drive only. The rt4 models were real time 4wd if I read correctly. There was a cool " switch" by the engine valve cover for rwd only on manuals, by the tranny on the auto's. I'll dig around and post the page from the FSM. It's pretty cool! But I'm only 2wd

EDIT:
The 4wd is real time 4wd, and can be switched to front wheel drive.



it switches like this:



I wish I had the 4wd even more now!

Thanks,
Victor

Hey Victor, 4WD is a neat novelty, but with the Wagovans, it makes dropping them very difficult, as no company made aftermarket suspension kits for the rear suspension of the 4wd wagovans. Actually, no one made any suspension kits for the wagovans specifically, since this chassis has never been viewed as the performance chassis. It just so happens though, thta since Honda made a lot of parts interchangeable in the 90's models, that the 2wd wagon shares the same front and rear suspension as the other "performance" variants of the same model year. So, what fits the EF hatchback will also fit your wagovan. Long story, since lowered cars look cool and handle better versus stock, and buying performance suspension components off of the shelf rocks a lot harder than calling Bilstein to make custom parts, you win with this 2WD chassis, sir.

[vrmouseyd15b]

Originally Posted by OG VX

Hey Victor, 4WD is a neat novelty, but
.....
It just so happens though, thta since Honda made a lot of parts interchangeable in the 90's models, that the 2wd wagon shares the same front and rear suspension as the other "performance" variants of the same model year. So, what fits the EF hatchback will also fit your wagovan. Long story, since lowered cars look cool and handle better versus stock, and buying performance suspension components off of the shelf rocks a lot harder than calling Bilstein to make custom parts, you win with this 2WD chassis, sir.

Wow that answers a lot of questions! You're a good dude to know


I've been pm'ing with Gasoline Fumes, and it looks like the first aero mod will come compliments of him - a passenger side mirror delete!
Big thanks to Gasoline Fumes! Pictures when it arrives!

More news on skidmark, I ended up getting the rear hub assemblies, not the front bearings I needed. I'll call it oke doke and just do both, since the car's not for sale and she's down for a big (25 year) maintenance job anyway. Going to start looking into tires (new, but cheap) to put on the stock rims for when she comes down off her jack stands. I don't trust used tires, but I don't want to go all out on these, since I'm not sure what rims I'll end up with

Thanks,
Victor

[Cobb]

Yeah, 4wd would be a future upgrade.

Dual vtec? Wow, is this the economy or performance vtec?

[vrmouseyd15b]

Originally Posted by Cobb

Dual vtec? Wow, is this the economy or performance vtec?

BOTH!!! economy 0~2500rpm, standard 2500~5000rpm, wild cam 5000~8000rpm.
depends on how hard you push the gas pedal, and your shift points of choice




maybe I can find a 4wd WAGO inthe future....


thanks,
Victor

[Cobb]

In that case, play me a song of your people!!!!!!

Originally Posted by vrmouseyd15b

BOTH!!! economy 0~2500rpm, standard 2500~5000rpm, wild cam 5000~8000rpm.
depends on how hard you push the gas pedal, and your shift points of choice

[awcook]

Isn't dual V-Tech great? Use economy in traffic, use performance when there's no one watching

Also great thread, sub!

[vrmouseyd15b]

Originally Posted by Cobb

In that case, play me a song of your people!!!!!!

Right on, and more of that in the tunnels for me!




bwahaha! Skidmark is still in the garage, front wheel bearings and lower ball joints and outer tie rod ends are all in. Put on new cap, rotor, and wires, but the dizzy sounds like her bearings are not in the best shape internally. I'm going to hold off on plugs until I get a valve cover gasket set with the spark plug tube seals, since a few of them are leaking a little. still need to get the rear brake shoes done (maybe tomorrow morning or something).


In other news, after speaking to my head engineer and discussing my power goals, we have decided that the "off the shelf" tranny Mount conversion kit just isn't going to suffice. We will have to fabricate solid mounts, and make them heavy duty. .. same thing goes for the motor mounts. That means after this bit of work and some fresh tires, I guess I just have to make her sexy!
Think low. Lower than last time. lower than a pregnant ant's stomach b!t$h

The tranny and motor will go in together (god knows when, motor's are in pieces in my garage)
I will show the tranny build. Bearings and seals are here already. Just gotta find the time.

Edit: I like to use 18" pipe wrenches to open tie rod ends. Leverage is king!

Thanks,
Victor

[Cobb]

You just going with regular disks and pads? For 60 bucks I got cross drilled slotted rotors and ceramic pads for the insight and it can stop on a time from triple digits over and over again and give me back 9 cents change.

[vrmouseyd15b]

^^^^For now, yes. for later, Brembo has a nice ring to it. .

[user removed]

Four wheel drive is a MPG killer.

Why would you upgrade brakes on a car where your driving technique minimizess brake wear.

Personally I would focus on making skidmark as reliable as possible.

Racing upgrades are fine if you're racing, but in a wagon that seems ludicrous to me.

regards
mech