Black Mamba modding and repair thread (1997 Civic HX 5-speed)
 

This is my repair and modding thread to my 1997 Civic HX 5-speed.

Current project:
Trying to figure out why my car 'surges' along with irritating losses of power, more noticeable at cold starts. I think it's the o2 sensor but further research is needed.

Current mod:
HX to VX tranny swap.
P/S disable, removed belt.
Mud flap delete.
5w-20 motor oil.
Ultragauge.
44psi all around.
2.5" lawn edging air dam.
Upper grill block, lower causes overheating.

Repairs done so far:
Timing belt and water pump.
New belts.
Oil and transmission fluid change.
Distributor gasket replaced.
V-tech solenoid gasket replaced, fixed oil leak.
Spark plugs.
Spark plug wires.
EGR chamber cleaning.

Repairs that are still needed:
o2 sensor replacement.
Dipstick replacement (I broke it opps).
A/C recharge.
Interior dome light doesn't come on when door is opened, works when manually enabled.
One of the instrument cluster bulbs is out.
Wiper blades.
Master brake booster is leaking where the brake fluid filler connects to it. Probably just a gasket.
Brakes.
New muffler.
Front end damage.



Planned future mods:
Upper grill block.
WAI
Underbelly pan.
More permanent solution to gap problem (fix front end damage so I can use weather sealing)
Removal of the back seats.
LRR tires.
Rear wheel skirts.
Smooth wheel covers.
Kill switch.
FED ECU, I believe this has a cali ECU, I have to check.
LED lights all around.
Gap sealing.
Boat tail, or at least a kam-back.

This will be the power steering belt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDMWN27pyLg

and from what I remember the back seats in the civic didn't weigh much, I'm sure it will be beneficial if you took out the seats, brackets, seat belts, and the interior panels around them.
When I had my civic i just took the rear seats out so I could put them back in quickly if needed and i remember pulling out 4 large pieces of foam that honda likes to call seats.

I bought varying thicknesses of weather stripping from Lowe's for use under the hood of my Del Sol, and it has worked nicely as a seal. The results haven't really shown up above background noise in my fuel log though, so I wouldn't have it too high on the list. First items I'd probably tackle are the smooth wheel covers and kill switch.

For simplicity, cheapness, and known effectiveness on these cars: airdam, tires pumped 10 psi over sidewall, and power steering belt removal. I have your chassis and I'll tell you I'm not highly athletic or muscular and I do not miss my PS much. Things are a little stiffer in parralel parking, but not different than an old VW bug. The PS delete was worth 1 or 2 mpg and it was free and easy.

An airdam? I thought underbelly pans were more effective, and as for the power steering, I'm gonna rip the entire assembly out for sure and bolt off the holes. I want nothing left of P/S when I'm done with it. I turn sharply from asphalt into my driveway with my engine off and I have absolutely no problem turning the wheel.

Well if you're gonna remove all of the PS hardware anyway, you might start by going out there and cutting the belt before your next drive, could not get simpler to remove that parasitic drain. Then you can remove the rest when time permits. Yes, I think a good bellypan is generally thought better by the experts around here, IIRC. But that's more involved. I'm building one this summer, and I am spending a lot of time finding the right hardware and other materials, plus chasing down leaks, and crawling under the car. My lawn edging airdam was easily cut and mounted and cheap and had immediate effects.

As far as belly plan vs dam, you could do both. Air dams don't divert 100% of air, but the dam is much easier to put on and you can add the pan later.

There are good and bad ways to delete the power steering, I've read. I believe the best way is to connect the hoses in a loop in and out of the steering rack, it offers less resistance than just cutting the belt and leaving the pump in, while also keeping fluid in there and preventing things from drying out/falling apart. As CA98Civic said though, cutting the belt will provide immediate improvement.

Thanks guys, and cacivic, do you have a build log on what exactly you used, where you got it an how you put it on? I didn't know about the airdam and would like to do that within the next could days.

I like manual steering. You guys are giving me ideas...Echo has very light steering even at a dead stop with the engine off. It's almost not really worth engineering a p/s system for it.

I've had the P/S belt off of my car and don't miss it a bit! I plan to swap out for a manual rack (only because of VA vehicle inspections) when the money seems right. :)