Its an 88 CRX with a brand new ac system, newish valve cover and head gaskets, decent body and interior condition, 195,000 miles, has not been started in a year but worked fine except for seriously slipping clutch. My guess is the clutch ought to be $300 for a cheapy Sachs or something. Shocks are cheap if they are bad. Starter, alternator, tranny acceptable.

here's the rub, I am inspecting this car tomorrow but have the word of this person I trust that all I have printed is true...SO, after I change the oil, jump it and drive it I will have more info. I am not an idiot, i will inspect the car with a fine toothed comb, BUT, even if some shiat is bad, here's the rub....


$400 (its not totalled, its a matter of the seller "needing" to sell immediately.)


so $400 for a "decent" 88 CRX


I am a long time Honda owner (2 civics, present 95 accord), so if you CRX owners can give me insight, it would be very much appreciated, ie, 88 CRX's blow rotator splints or something, LEMME KNOW!!!! please...

If there is only minor/no rust and it still runs half decent, and for that price I say get it.

if you get that thing for 400 that is a great price just make sure it's half decent and hell if the engine doesn't run drop in a zc for what 1000 max and you only spend 1400 :D nice

Originally posted by spy54
if you get that thing for 400 that is a great price just make sure it's half decent and hell if the engine doesn't run drop in a zc for what 1000 max and you only spend 1400 :D nice

Yeah he's rite...if u're planning on a swap then go for it. Do not get it if it has too much rust on the chassis...no good.

Get it!! Its only 400 bucks.

I got my 89 for $500 and it had 200,000 miles on the engine and only ran on 3 cyl. But still ran good. The brake master cyl was shot, but replaced it with one off a parts car civic SI. There was very little body damage, interior had seen better days. The engine has now been replaced with a 94 Civic CX engine but later will do a engine swap sometime, but not to sure on what one to do.

well there is oil all over the block but I believe it is from the valve cover gasket, n9ot the head gasket. The interior needs TLC, which I will happily givew it. the CVs are going bad and the clutch is pathetic. brake are noisy but seem to work. the hazards don't werk (fuse?). I will replace the clutch for $460 but you say a ZC is only $1000 or so? what else drops into an 88 HF?

another key question...I don't remember my 82 civic having such heavy steering. it was a workout when going slow. is this normal, wasn't it power assisted? seemed very heavy

yeah zc is only probly gonna run you 1000 installed and probly your gonna need some suspension work b/c mine was hard to work and my parents took it to a shop and they fixed it not sure what they did though ill go check

Hey dude- check out this link for info about 4g Civics & CRXs - http://hybrid.honda-perf.org/tech/4gtech.html

I think a ZC is a good choice for the HF - the HF is the lightest of the CRXs - the advantage of a ZC over a b16 is that it bolts right in to a 4g..it will even bolt to the HF tranny, although the gearing will not be advantageous to use with the ZC motor. I would recommend an Si tranny or even a DX tranny with the ZC. You can run an Integra (88-89) ECU ($100) on the ZC or for about $300?? buy a good re-chipped ECU like a Zdyne.

ZC motors run about $500, so that $1000 figure may be a little low if you pay someone to install it, and you buy a tranny, etc etc. However, HP per $$ I think the ZC is a good choice.

Disclaimer: All the above is my opinion..I know some peeps like the b16 much better than a ZC, and generally there is more aftermarket support for a b16, however, it all depends on what you are trying to do with your car..this dude asked for our $0.02 so I gave him mine. If you like your b16 better, great! - I chose the ZC because that is the swap that will work best for me and based on this vehicle's condition, I think it would make demonicaccord happy as well. :cool:

disclaimer:rocket:lol just kidding if you look around we all say got b16a but bang for the buckt he zc is the best, it all depends on what yo prefer and what oyu can afford

haha - u said it bro....i just figured if I put that in upfront, this poll wouldn't turn into a bunch of peeps arguing about whether the ZC or b16 is better..

If I had the cash - hell yeah I'd do a b16...but I just don't have the $$ to justify the extra 30HP. I am already moving up from 92 to 130+ (CAI, & headers) so I think I'll be happy- I have the $$ to either do the ZC swap correctly, or to do a half-assed b16 with a bunch of ghetto stuff cuz I woulda run out of money shortly after the motor/trans and mount purchase...so I chose to do the ZC the right way.... :cool:

You can get an ACT clutch kit for $300. And if you get the Zc. Try to get it from Soho. Sometimes they will send the Zc with the Zc tranny still bolted on. And the best part is that they only charge about $40-$50. for the tranny.

I seriously appreciate all the response I have gotten from all of you. I have decided to pass for a number of reasons.

I had no problem doing the work it would take to get this car where i want it, but things like creature comforts and interior design played a far greater role than i thought they might.

As some of you may know the interior of the 88 HF is far more similar to my old 82 Civic DX than to the 89 CRX. What I mean is the center console. i like the cockpit feel and the 88, though VEREY roomy (I'm 6"4" and . . . large) doesn't have what i fell to be a more asthetically pleasing center division. Also, the safety info (NHTSA), though only marginally better than the 88, suggested that, for the way I think and feel, 89+is a better go.

Also, upgrading is key. FYI, I know nothing about the B series or ZC engines, save for what I have learned in the last three days. I have never had a reason to know as my focus is on my Accord and specifically H series.


I hope when I decide on a CRX in the future all of you will be just as open and helpful.

Thank you again