NEwBie ExTroDINare

I want to build a car, a honda civic hatchback to be precise. I know nothing about cars except what I have read here and a couple CarNDriver magazines. (Fastnfurious too) I know I am going to get all kinds of shit for being some teenine bopper type that just wants too look cool so take all you shit to a different post because I am looking for real knowledge.
1. I want to know where to start. I know the basics like what a fuckin tire is and a window, so save the bullshit. I want to learn exactly where to start. I dont even have the car yet.
2. I want to know what I do with the car once I have it (Either stock or made from junk yard parts) I have decided on the honda civic only beacuse of the look, I have no idea what is under the hood stock. So this is where you teach me.
3. Decals....... what different forms do they come in.... and what kind of upkeep do you need to do on them.

Look, I actually want to do this shit, I a guy with a shit load of time and money, all I want is something I can drive around town, and from home to work. I want to be able to do everything it will look like it can do once I decal it. Plus I want it to be my own sweat and blood holding it together. Something to be proud of.

Thanks,
fuller

If you really want to go fast, i'd look at something other than a Civic..... you said you wanted one for its looks, right? if you're a real hot rodder, looks aren't the reason you buy a car. the performance is the main reason, then looks come second. you say you have a shitload of time and money. maybe look at something with less of an economy car image and more performance? or if the "sleeper" thing is what you want, you should definetely swap out the civic motor for something with some balls(over 250hp stock). that would be sweet. i haven't seen one truly fast civic running a modded factory motor yet. maybe i'm looking in the wrong places, but i haven't seen one.

also, i'd do the modifications and THEN decal it. if you decal it first, then you're just a ricer.

peace.

hey' i'm kinda gonna do the same thing since my car got stolen and i have a very limited budget i was thinking of getting a small econo car (and since i'm an import guy i might end up with a civic just because of the aftermarket stuff i can do).

depends on really what you want. a friend of mine who is also a good tech said he could get me a good deal on a civic at the car auctions, like a 92-95 civic hatch and we could drop in a b18c engine in it. the big advantage on the import is not that they have high displacement engines its that they're light.

if you want to go import you might want to consider this or you can also get an all wheel drive turbo talon/GSX eclipse which is a pretty good car to modify since it's already AWD and with turbo, you just need to add more power and you can toast a lot of V8's out there.

check out http://www.howstuffworks.com and check out their articles on internal combustion engines, and other automotive articles

figure out what you want out of your car first, not just put mods on for the hell of it