Black & Green modding thread (1998 Civic DX Coupe base)

[Xist]

Nah, it was this guy:

Originally Posted by California98Civic

When the old switch failed a couple weeks ago, I decided to do something different than the shifter mounted switch.

Took a couple hours to figure out the arrangements and get proper fitting hardware from my leftovers and odd-and-ends bin, but here is my new shifter and injector cut off.

The injector toggle is mounted on my DIY center console "instrument panel." The new shifter is a primed and painted kids candy box of some kind that I found in the street a couple years ago. It is made of really strong plastic and had a "gear-shifter-ready" ergonomic shape. Only purchase was the $3.50 for the toggle.

Way back in #201

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by Xist

Nah, it was this guy:Way back in #201

Yes! That's the "candy box!" Blast from the past. That never worked as well. Was never as solid. This new ratty shifter is simpler and much more solid. The weight is kinda cool, but I wouldn't wanna pay 50 or 150 bucks for one. Free is a better price.

[Xist]

How long did the candy box shifter last?

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by Xist

How long did the candy box shifter last?

I am not sure. Probably less than a year. It didn't break. I just learned. This new shifter is the first time I have made one this clean and simple and solid. The desire to use only salvaged or leftover parts creates limitations.

[GreenTDI]

Love this thread. Much appreciation for all the work on your car. I'm beginning to realize how ideal (and important) those '90 Honda's are for ecomodders. They seem to be incredible reliable too.

Seen your fuel log, hats off!!

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by GreenTDI

Love this thread. Much appreciation for all the work on your car. I'm beginning to realize how ideal (and important) those '90 Honda's are for ecomodders. They seem to be incredible reliable too.

Seen your fuel log, hats off!!

Thanks man. And yup, these are exceeding reliable little cars. I am at ~276,000 US miles and compression is nearly as good as new and I am on the original clutch and flywheel. I have done some major repairs, such as the head gasket, but that was at something like 240,000 US miles. Honda makes possibly the best engines in the world when considered on the basis of engineering and initial build quality. Toyota is the only real rival, I think.

[jcp123]

Kinda fun trying to use found/salvage stuff to keep the car around. I’ve thought about it in the past, but I just don’t have enough time at home to make that happen.

While we’re on the subject of shift knobs, I scored a cheapie off of Amazon. Ever since I learned stick in a ‘66 Mustang, and especially since I had my SVT Focus, I have really liked a globe shaped knob. Feels the same no matter how you hold it, and the stock Honda knob, though made of that nice soft-touch stuff they used back then, felt too slight in my hands. I think I scored this and my poly shift bushings together for under $30.






In terms of engineering prowess, I’ve really learned to respect Honda - at least, 1990s Honda - quite a bit. While mine has already failed to be as reliable as my Echo, the suspension is well sorted, the steering and shift feel are superb, and the engine clearly benefits from Honda’s past in engineering high-revving four cylinders, even in lowly spec’d ones like ours made for for durability and economy of operation than any pretense of performance. Heck, even the seat fabric, which feels pretty cheap, has so far worn like iron. The car has a certain amount of confidence and polish I didn’t quite expect from something of its era or price point.

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by jcp123

Kinda fun trying to use found/salvage stuff to keep the car around. I’ve thought about it in the past, but I just don’t have enough time at home to make that happen.

While we’re on the subject of shift knobs, I scored a cheapie off of Amazon. Ever since I learned stick in a ‘66 Mustang, and especially since I had my SVT Focus, I have really liked a globe shaped knob. Feels the same no matter how you hold it, and the stock Honda knob, though made of that nice soft-touch stuff they used back then, felt too slight in my hands. I think I scored this and my poly shift bushings together for under $30. ...

your images from your album didn't post, so I screenshot one of em and cropped so it would not be automatically turned sideways. Does the knob get hot sitting in the sun? I like the look of black, and especially the reflective black. An M.C. Escher sorta look going on...

[PaleMelanesian]

That's funny. I didn't like the round knob on the Fit's shifter so I swapped in a 90's Civic knob in its place.

[jcp123]

Originally Posted by California98Civic

your images from your album didn't post, so I screenshot one of em and cropped so it would not be automatically turned sideways. Does the knob get hot sitting in the sun? I like the look of black, and especially the reflective black. An M.C. Escher sorta look going on...

Oops, thank you!!

Surprisingly, it doesn’t get hot at all. It’s made of a fairly cheap grade of plastic - kinda feels like Bakelite - so even though I like the shape, it doesn’t have terribly good hand feel. But heat or cold has never once been a problem. It’s also maybe a millimeter or two large in diameter, but it functions quite well.

Originally Posted by PaleMelanesian

That's funny. I didn't like the round knob on the Fit's shifter so I swapped in a 90's Civic knob in its place.

To each their own I took a look at the Fit’s shift knob, looks a lot like what I had on my SVT Focus. That might be a worthwhile upgrade at some point.