CRX Purchase Recommendations?

I am looking to buy my 1st CRX and would like recommendations to get started. I want to stick with a 2nd generation, and preferably a Si. What things should I look for (any special problems, etc.)? What engines can go in it and still be smog legal in California? Any good shops in the SoCal area to do the engine swap? Thanks!

well give the car a test drive and see how everything is, rust is a major crx problem, so check that too, see if you can get the car to a trusted mechanic so he can give it a thoruogh looking over and tells ya the situation.

Any engines will fit into the crx with some type of modification, but good luck going smog-legel in SoCal, im sure the Socal peeps here can help ya with that tho.

Your starting on a good platform, so you shouldnt have that much trouble in your project.

I would DEFINITLEY recommend taking it to a mechanic to have him look it over. I made the mistake by not doing that and my motor ended up blowing 6K miles down the road. Oh well...i got a ZC now :D

dude where do you live?! sweet more LA rexers

Thanks for the input. Rust shouldn't be a problem living in Cali... but that assumes it is a local car. A once-over by a good mechanic sounds like a reasonable investment.

I'm in the 310-Torrance area.

not sure if this helps you at all - but the 88-89 Si's have rear drum brakes, and the 90-91's have rear disc. in 91, an airbag was standard, and on the Si there was an available very tasteful rear spoiler. if you are planning on doing a swap, stay away from the DX model....get an Si, or an HF (they dont handle as well as the Si's). the DX is dual point fuel injection, and the Si and HF are multipoint.....which is what any engine that you would swap into it is going to be. Avoid DX to avoid unnecessary headaches. my 89 Si has a lot of rust on it....around the fenders, and the sunroof is completely taken over by the terminal disease. sorry for rambling......oh yeah.....if you are doing a b series vtec motor swap....and want the SiR gauge cluster....it is more convenient to have a 90-91 crx....cuz it will fit into your dash without getting this weird piece....later

i dont know which 91 crx you are talking about but mine didnt have no airbag?

310 sweet me 2

Yeh well mine is a ' 90 and i do know some ppl that has 91 si and they never did have an airbag?

the funny thing is.. and argue all you want, but the first gen CRX has much more potential, its smaller, and lighter with a lower center of gravity

if you look at the 2001 SCCA national autocross results in CSP class, in the top 20 finishers, there are 3 88-91 CRX's, but 6 84-87s (i do, admit, though that #2 place was an 89, but #3 was an 86, and there were 3 other 1st gens before the 2nd highest 2nd gen CRX)

if you are looking to get the most handling and speed potential, the platform is the older CRX, it would just be more work looking for aftermarket performance parts, as they are less prevalent

but still, the 84-87 CRX HF has a curb weight of ~1700 lbs, and they can be lightened to ~ 1600, you just can NOT get that little weight out of a 2nd gen