Got a honda del sol for free. What now?
 

I previously owned this car from 2008 to 2011 before selling it to family as a cheap commuter. After a couple years of use (and neglect) the car is no longer running or in good shape on the interior or exterior. It's been sitting in a driveway for over a year, and in exchange for hauling it off, I get the car back for free.

Here is my truck, a 1992 Chevrolet C1500, with the 1993 Honda Del Sol S loaded on a car dolly. I don't hypermile or track mileage on the truck because I only drive it when I need to haul things. I like red cars if you couldn't tell :)

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Anyway, here is the car. As you can see it has the normal Honda rust on the quarters and rocker panels. Several large dents, hail damage, and some fading paint. It's not pretty, yet, but for free I can't really complain!

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So what do you think should be done with this blank canvas? I was thinking building for max MPG. Obviously the Del Sol's main problem is aero. Otherwise it's a pretty light car (2200 lbs) compared to my HX (2400 lbs). My thoughts:

- D15Z1 VX motor or possibly D15B 3-stage VTEC
- My spare HX transmission with VX final drive
- HX or VX wheels (sell/trade current wheels)
- Fiberglass kammback, mirror delete, rear wheel covers, belly pan, grill block
- Lighten the car 100 lbs

Buy some metal body parts from the scapper and get it back on its feet , then look for a 1 liter motor for it possible air ride it for fun and economy / comfort.

Gut the interior

Could buy a Sprint or firefly and use its drivetrain

Or a tdi and join the diesel crowds mpg savings !

Your plan sounds perfect! I would love to see a long kamm/ short boattail on a del sol

Maybe it would be interesting to replace the rusty panels with some fiberglass, both due to its lighter weight but also to eliminate rust issues.


With a turbocharger and an intercooler it would be great. It may even not feel so underpowered without them, but a well-tuned setup would allow it to be kept at lower RPM while cruising. Nowadays even the turbo-lag issue is easier to overcome :thumbup:


Or if you would go with a TDI there is also the opportunity to convert it to also run on vegetable oils.

That rear window/deck is screaming for a plexi fastback treatment.

A diesel swap would be fun, but the availability of diesel swaps here in the US is not so good. I don't think a 3 cyl. swap would be ideal without a turbo because the Del Sol still weighs a lot compared to a CRX or Sprint. 60-70 HP just isn't enough. If I do go a turbo route, it would be with a CRX HF/Civic CX motor (70 hp 8 valve) and be tuned to run very lean at low loads. 8 valve + turbo + lean burn is a setup I have been researching.

Make a trike! :D

Quote cbaber: it would be with a CRX HF/Civic CX motor

That makes good sense, I like the idea of a lean burn Del sol and both being Honda's it should be a reasonable easy job, especially if you have the parts car parked next to it.


I like idea of the plexi rear extension it gave me a idea of making a canopy for it , removable and acts as a storage areo back. Nice to dream anyways..

My first thought was to make it a crotch rocket that seats 2. :D

You can get small diesel engines from generators, small tractors and such. Maybe find one use, use the motor and sell the rest online to someone?

I got my sidekick aligned and love it. I wouldnt mind a b series engine it with vtec. As is it hover around 3 grand at 60 mph in 5th gear.