Help me find an efficient new car ... for ~$1200!

[elhigh]

That's just down the road from my folks, but I don't think Dad is keen to give up his VW.

[mikeyjd]

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...gan-29140.html

[Daox]

Well, I think I might have found a replacement. I was talking with my father in law this weekend. We know a guy from church whose car is on its last leg, its an early 2000s Civic. The head gasket is gone and he has been dumping in water to get around for the past month. My father in law wants to give him his old Taurus, but that needs some suspension work. So, we're going to fix that up and give it to him in trade for the Civic. My father in law was just going to scrap it. So, I said I'd give him scrap value for it and drop a new engine in it. I don't know the specifics of the car yet. I just know its a silver Civic similar to the one below:

[Xist]

I hope that it looks as nice!

So, you get to fix up two cars in order to replace your current one?

Good luck!

[sarguy01]

Originally Posted by Daox

Well, I think I might have found a replacement. I was talking with my father in law this weekend. We know a guy from church whose car is on its last leg, its an early 2000s Civic. The head gasket is gone and he has been dumping in water to get around for the past month. My father in law wants to give him his old Taurus, but that needs some suspension work. So, we're going to fix that up and give it to him in trade for the Civic. My father in law was just going to scrap it. So, I said I'd give him scrap value for it and drop a new engine in it. I don't know the specifics of the car yet. I just know its a silver Civic similar to the one below:

Auto or manual? If you are going with another used engine, go ahead and replace the timing belt, water pump and tensioner while it's out. Also, you may want to resurface the head and put a new gasket on it. The 7th gen Civic's are great, but they are known to have occasional head gasket issues.

If it is a manual, you might want to check out the input shaft bearing. If it makes the can of marbles sound in neutral or first gear, it's probably that bearing.

[darcane]

Originally Posted by Daox

How can you tell?

The most obvious difference, those SL2 or SC2 have a plastic panel across the back between the taillights. The SL1 does not.

Also, the SL2 has painted door handles the SL1 does not.

SL1 for comparison:

[darcane]

Originally Posted by Daox

Well, I think I might have found a replacement. I was talking with my father in law this weekend. We know a guy from church whose car is on its last leg, its an early 2000s Civic. The head gasket is gone and he has been dumping in water to get around for the past month. My father in law wants to give him his old Taurus, but that needs some suspension work. So, we're going to fix that up and give it to him in trade for the Civic. My father in law was just going to scrap it. So, I said I'd give him scrap value for it and drop a new engine in it. I don't know the specifics of the car yet. I just know its a silver Civic similar to the one below:

This is a common failure mode for these engines. It typically won't mix oil and coolant, but it will vent combustion gases into the coolant and spew it out through the overflow. New headgasket and milled head and you should be good.

I need to do mine soon.

[Daox]

Originally Posted by Xist

I hope that it looks as nice!

So, you get to fix up two cars in order to replace your current one?

Good luck!

Haha, yeah, something like that. Except, my current one also needs fixing up!

[Daox]

Originally Posted by sarguy01

Auto or manual? If you are going with another used engine, go ahead and replace the timing belt, water pump and tensioner while it's out. Also, you may want to resurface the head and put a new gasket on it. The 7th gen Civic's are great, but they are known to have occasional head gasket issues.

If it is a manual, you might want to check out the input shaft bearing. If it makes the can of marbles sound in neutral or first gear, it's probably that bearing.

I'm not sure if its auto or manual. I guess I'd assume auto just based on sales numbers. I hope its manual of course.

I'll make sure to check out what I can when I get it, if I get it. I agree a timing belt and what not is a ton easier with the engine out. I've done a water pump on the EX engine for the 7th gen. It wasn't hard, but did take a while. If I get the car, I'll definitely start a build thread for it. Thanks for the input!

[Daox]

Originally Posted by darcane

This is a common failure mode for these engines. It typically won't mix oil and coolant, but it will vent combustion gases into the coolant and spew it out through the overflow. New headgasket and milled head and you should be good.

I need to do mine soon.

Woo, that would be great news if it was a gasket replacement! WAY cheaper too.