Article Request
Whatever articles you’d like to see for your CRX can be requested here. While I can’t realistically write something up for everyone, I’d prefer to spend my time writing something that’ll be appreciated. If I were doing this just for myself, there’d be no purpose to having this be public!
April 15, 2008 at 6:06 am
Hi! i just came across your site via a google search, it seems pretty interesting and id like to thank you for the great reading. I have a question though, i have really REALLY loved honda forever, and then back about 3 years ago my i met my friend Jer, and he drove a 1990 honda crx, im not sure what model but i know it was a 1990. Ever since then i have pretty much fell in love with the crx, and at the moment im 15, and next year im taking an automotive class at my highschool, what is cool about it is in your junior year you learn basic auto classes but then in your senior year you get a bit mroe advanced and you can even bring in your own car to work on. So what im planing is, to start saving up alot of money for a CRX build project. I want to go and find an Crx in either a junkyard, or find a cheap CRX on ebay to buy, im going to stripe the engine out of it and replace it with a swap from another car. So my questions are:
1. If im going to buy a CRX whats the best model i should buy?
2. Do you have any idea as to what engine is best suited for it? Ive heard that if you want to go big, go buy a honda S2000 engine and swap it in the CRX and thats 248HP in a hatch, which would be pretty sick!
I would really appreciate it if you could help me answer these questions, you seem liek you have a passion for CRX’s just as i do..and im trying to start mine on the right track =)
thanks
-spence
April 15, 2008 at 8:19 am
Spence,
First off, congratulations on joining the CRX community. From the sounds of things, you’re on the right track but you could really use a little guidance.
Since this is a pretty specific case, and you have a specific situation going on, I’m not going to write up an article. I’ll just answer your questions here.
1 - The ‘best’ CRX that was sold here in the States (assuming you’re in the US) is the Si model, but it’s also more expensive. Assuming you’re on a budget, with this being your first car, I’d suggest a CRX HF as your first. There are two generations of CRX, the 1984-1987 (first gen) and the 1988-1991 (second gen). I very highly suggest getting a second-gen because of how common parts still are. The first-gen is a little more specialized, and often more expensive to work on. There are subtle differences between all the years, but anything from 88-91 is what I’d suggest.
I highly suggest that you read through Are you a CRX Wannabe? as your next bit of research.
2 - It’s funny that you mention the f20c or f22c (s2000) motor in a CRX. I was planning to do that swap myself. However, it requires cutting a channel in the frame for the driveshaft, aligning the motor, fabricating motor mounts and a shift linkage, fabricating a new rear drivetrain (or modifying another car’s to fit and welding it in), reinforcing the chassis for rwd, and re-wiring the whole car. You’d pretty much be better off building a car from scratch. I was completely ready to move forward with it until I took some measurements and found out that the f20c is just too long for the CRX’s engine bay.
So, the motor I’d recommend is whatever happens to be in it. I love your enthusiasm, but try not to focus on the engine in this bitty little car. No matter how great it might be, it’s still just an inline 4 and there will always be something that can wallop it. What you should focus on is handling and learning to drive, more than anything else. Check to see if there’s an SCCA track in your area, and you can see what real racing is all about. Attend an autox event, and either watch or join in on the fun. If you can afford it, take some driving courses (on a closed racetrack). It’ll make you safer on the road, and you’ll understand the limits of your car much better (which is how races are won). For the actual upgrading of your car, start here:
What do I upgrade on my CRX?.
Keep up the good questions, join some forums, and SAVE some money so that whatever mods you do to this car, you can plan them first, and do them right.
April 18, 2008 at 4:39 am
Thanks for answering all of my questions, and spending the time. Ya really before i do anything with the engine, ill be focusing more on the handling, working most likely with trying to do some work with the suspension first. Im one of thsoe people that think you should make sure your car can handle th extra power before you actually put it in. Last summer i got to drive a 1990 Honda Crx ALOT which is what started my CRX fantasies…1990 is also my preferred year to find. My plan of action is to spend between $1500-$2000 (hopefully) on the actual car itself. Then take about $2000 in suspension and then in later years try to find a B16 engine and swap it in it…But really more than anything a stock CRX is just as fun to drive around in =) plus you can go forever on one tank of gas which is always nice =)!! Yea i noticed the size for the f20c and compared it with my friends 1990 and noticed that “hey thats goign to take alot of moding!!” plus with that much power if you dont reinforce everythign odds are it would twist the body with that much power in a hatch! As far as watching races go i do my shared time at oreillies race way park in Indianapolis, Indiana…summer times i might as well live there.
But im definatelly keeping an eye on your site, its full of great information, plus it helps feeed my addiction!!! =)
Once again thank you for answering my questions, and spending the time to review my questions!!
Your definatelly a BIG help…im just counting down the days until i can start this project =(
May 13, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Gettin kinda tired SHO already and still pretty new haha
^^ like spence i went to automotive school during high school but now im going to UTI in a month
so im lookin for sites a little more technical and less noobish
any way i was checking out different wire tucks write-ups and pics, and they look pretty sick, idk if you tried it or seen it in a rex but its something i wanna do in the future..maybe spencer would want to get down wit the wiring biz 2 haha
idk just trying to give you ideas
btw good luck with your 240zs, id love to have one and drop the ever popular sr20 but thats my plan for an sx..still think the 240zs look nasty when their finished so i cant wait to see pics!!!