Jumping in, 92 Civic CX with DX swap.
 

I had been searching for quite sometime for a clean Civic HX or VX to no avail. Most were overpriced, swapped, or otherwise beat to death. I opened my search to the anemic CX as a potential VX or HX engine swap candidate but still nothing out there.

Until last week, when on my day off I decided to check the Raleigh area Craiglist one more time. I had already been denied another HX in Maryland that sold in two days. This beauty popped up and I called the place, told them to hold it, and I would be right there.

I couldn't get there fast enough!!! 104,000 miles, theft recovered CX, with a recent maaco (aka: crappy and oversprayed) paint job. Interior is clean, no tears in the pleather, and nice and black. Just missing a few things like the ash tray and the trim piece around the cd player. I popped the hood and noticed a DX engine inside. A free 30 horsepower upgrade. I'm thinking it has been mated to the stock CX trans which should maintain the good gas mileage because the gearing is dog slow. I will write the trans code down and do more research on it. The tires are matching 09 year as well as the battery. The air intake tube is a CX tube poorly stuck on the larger DX throttle body. Will need to source something better than that. A straight metal tube would be ideal.

Overall, clean and straight.

So far I have removed the lock cylinder and moved the tumblers around to get the key to work in the driver's door. I also added my leftover Integra type R strut bar. Nothing gets rid of rattles and makes a civic feel tighter than that little mod. I've had one on every honda/acura I have owned. Also, aimed the headlights a little better and filled up the tank. At 200 miles at the halfway mark currently. Hoping for 45 mpg but we shall see.



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First real mod will be security!!

Just detailed the interior only to find out the floor on the passenger side was soaked and possibly the driver side floor too but not as bad. I think I can hear water swishing about when turning. The rain was intense the past few days. Also leaking from the tail light gaskets as well. Le sigh.

Leaks always annoyed me a lot with my CRX. They're all easy to fix though.

Did you already swap the DX engine in?

It came with it. Still has the CX header and one wire 02.

Nice little red machine you rarely see a civic with so few miles on it. The CX is a good base line I knew a guy that have an original CX and all he did was lower it and put strut bracing on it and a 5spd stock CX conversion.

Turns out there is a TSB regarding the leak. I need to remove the fenders and apply additional seam sealer at the base. I'll post the TSB pic later.

I couldn't believe the mileage as it's so easy to swap clusters but the pedals, carpet, seats, and trim still look really good.

You should be able to get 50mpg out of that without to much trouble once you get it all in order.

We shall see.

Update : ordered the rear diffuser/cover from the VX model! I was already ordering tail light gaskets and other miscellaneous clips and covers. What's another 40 bucks?

Welcome!

Interior has been stripped to see if the leak has caused any interior rust and luckily none was found. Removed 8 lbs of sound deadening (dry ice is awesome)/bottom of the firewall mat that was soaked and smelled terrible. Cleaned entire interior and plan to POR 15 everywhere I can. Still waiting on parts from Honda. Looking into some local VX rims as well.

Almost time to fill up the tank as well. Last fill up was March 25th when I bought it.

Did you blast it with dry ice pellets - i.e. like sandblasting - or just use dry ice to make the stuff brittle and easy to remove ?

11 lbs worth of blocks hammered into smaller pieces and letting it sit till brittle.

39.8 MPG at my first fill up!! Off to a good start.

Just picked up a set of 14 inch HX wheels locally!! Sweet. Still waiting on parts from Honda.

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Took care of the two worst wheels yesterday. A lot of work but well worth it.

Bought and installed the rear diffuser!!

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POR15 in the hatch area, the floor pan, the seat backs, the ecu stay, and inside the quarter panels.

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New oem hatch lift.

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Part number from Honda.

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That looks very clean and lightweight on the inside. ;)

Are you going to drive it this way ?

Thanks and no. I already have one gutted car so the interior will go back once the POR 15 dries. Removing the two squares of sound deadening and the lower half of the firewall mat probably offsets the weight of the interior trim panels. I will look to other places for weight reduction.

I have been covering the build over at k-series.com. Current best of 41 mpg! I converted from a one wire to a four wire 02 sensor which finally got rid of the check engine light. I also added an integra rear sway and a civic front sway bar today.


.: K-Series News & Information :. - Project Fuel Sipper Part 5