Civic VS CRX

[Simon Tibbett]

I have a 1989 Honda Civic and was wandering what is the main difference between it and a CRX? Such as what can I do to it which also works on a CRX. Body, Engine, etc. I plan on making it an SCCA car and if you all have any good sites, let me know. Thanks to the peeps at GTP dogs! :honda: :honda:

 

[toleman19]

Sounds like a cool Idea sorry I dont have any ideas, good luck.

 

[12sec. Civic]

well, an engine swap is the best all around thing you can do to capitalize on the cars extremely low weight. Other than that read my sig....

 

[risingson77]

I didn't realize that an AWD tranny would fit in a h/b...or with that motor. What did you have to do to make that work?

But yeah, the CRX is a lighter vehicle than a standard Civic. It can also be made to have very neutral handling (from what I understand) so it's a very popular choice for autocrossing.

You can also swap in a number of engines relatively easily. A D16A2 from an 86-89 Integra would more or less drop in without modification. In stock form, it would provide a decent bump in power, and it responds pretty well to mods. That's be your cheapest option.

Of course, you could also swap in a B-series motor (cue celestial choir). B18A/Bs from second and third generation Integras are fairly plentiful and not too expensive. Plus, even a mildly modded one can have as much as 170 BHP (bolt-ons, mild engine work). 170 BHP + gutted CRX = :burnout:

Then there are the VTEC B-series. B16A2 (from the 99-00 Si), B18C1 (from the Integra GS-R), B18C5 (from the Integra Type R). All are great engines, but they get quite a bit more expensive and quite a bit more rare. Particularly the B18C5.

Then there's hybrids.... :weird:

Also, check out http://www.honda-tech.com/ They have a considerable knowledge base in their tech forums.

 

[Simon Tibbett]

Thanks for the help! An AWD Civic 90 HB? Sweet! Got any pics?

 

[masonholmes]

He says SCCA and nobody mentions suspension?? It is my understanding that a CRX is basically just a short wheelbased Civic, of the same era. (minus a few things, like power steering and such) That being said, I would bet most of the suspension stuff, (and other parts of course), would go directly onto either car, although both have a strong following, so I don't understand why you are looking for CRX parts already. Also, if it's really going to be an SCCA car, stay away from most of the body stuff. It's not needed and usually only adds weight and drag. If you search Google or such, I'm sure you can find plenty of Civic based groups that do nothing mainly, but talk and discuss what can and has been done with the car. That's where I'd start, go look for a group or three to join, then become an active member. It's alot of fun, and you can learn alot if you so desire.

-by active member, I also mean read their FAQ's and check out their pages, before you just jump in and ask a really basic/broad question. being a multiple car-group member, I know just how annoying it can be when somebody joins, and then immediatly asks what he can do to make his car fast.. that's why groups have search features, pages, FAQ's etc, to provide an information database for people wanting to learn and know. questions are good, but questions with no research tend to be frowned upon, and somtimes things can get downright ugly if you do so.

 

[risingson77]

I mentioned suspension, but I didn't get into it...got proccupied with motor swaps.

But FWIW...

Eibach Sportlines, H & R Cup Kits, Tokico adjustables...all very good, track proven suspension bits. Be sure to get some good tie bars and anti roll bars. With a little practice, you can shame many more expensive cars... 😈

 

[masonholmes]

Be careful and read up before you just go out and buy swaybars tho-because you can really screw up the handling of the car. (not somthing you want to find out when on the streets!) That's a spot where the joined groups come in handy, advice and such. IMO-suspension is more important than power, although power is alot of fun. (but if you get right down to it, id rather hang corners than fly down straights, and thats how alot of races and beginner SCCA runs are won) An 89 civic may need a lil help to start off tho

 

[risingson77]

Well, right....you don't just want to put in huge swaybars. (Psst...that's why I recommended Honda-Tech ).
More power never hurt anything....a sleeper hatch that runs 13s with mild mods? Yes please....

 

[masonholmes]

very fun indeed , I'd rather run autocross events than drag I guess, hehe. (although dragging is great fun, finally got to find that out last summer ) -and if you're getting into swaybars and endlinks and struts and such, that's typically what you're wanting to do with your car. power wins those races after the suspension is properly tuned.. Oh, and I don't think an 89 civic is going to run 13's with mild mods. (an engine swap is not a mild mod, IMO, no matter how easy it drops in )

 

[risingson77]

I meant mild mods to the engine itself...no, swaps are not mild!

I keep on meaning to get into autocrossing. I'm sure I would have a blast, but I just haven't looked enough yet....

 

[masonholmes]

I can't think of the name right now, cause I'm a tard, but there's an excelent class for the everyday joe.. all you need is a street legal car, typical drivers liscense, and a DOT approved helmet. (alot of places will have a helmet rental shop on-site) and if you wanna race with your window down, sunroof cracked etc., it's legal as well. (although you usually create drag by doing such things) If you check out the SCCA page, and look around, you should see what I'm talking about, and it will point you as to where to go in your area. -only thing that's really expensive about it is going through tires (but cheap performance tires are becoming more and more abundant!)

 

[-Fred-]

i think you're referring to NASA, mason.

where to start... the 2nd gen CRX/4th gen Civic is a pretty good chassis for a race car, in fact there was a racing series full of these Civics back in 88-91 in Canada. they're pretty cheap, they're fun to drive, and they're nimble.

a good and relatively cheap suspension setup would be something like Ground Control Coil-Overs, mated to Koni shocks, and some aftermarket swaybars/strut bars. (to your liking, i personnaly use a DC sports front bar on my Integra, and it's good, though not making that much of a difference.)

as risingson said, H-T is probably the best place to ask this kind of stuff, as a lot of people there know what they're talking about...

oh, a B16A swap is considered a mild mod, in my book... it fits right in, no need to change anything (or almost)

try an H22A swap, however... i'm not sure if it even fits in there!

 

[masonholmes]

nope, not NASA. I wanna say somthin like "STS-" or somthin, for Street Tire Street somthin. Can't remember the last letter.. Another basic thing, even tho older civics are already very light, lightening it up even more will only help-and is free (of course you don't want to get rid of your "wheel" or somthing)