Should I, or shouldnt I?

Okay, as we all know, my civic had some nasty front end damage. After some time, it is slowly getting to what it should be. Well, the front end will always be wrecked. Plus I have a sedan radiator support slapped on, no thanks to Honda themselves. :rolleyes:

Anyways. The junkyard I go to has a 90' White DX hatchabck. The reason it was brought there, is there is a monster of a hole in the block. So they dumped it. Other than that, it is pretty straight. No rust holes, no major dents, etc. Plus it has never been touched by the aftermarket world.

It has been picked aprt pretty good. Interior is pretty much gone. Majority of the motr is gone as well. Rear glass is missing, no rear bumper, etc. You cath my drift right?

Well, they will give me the car, as-is, for $100 if I want it. What I have in mind, is taking that car, and completly stripping everything off. Just leaving basically the bare shell, including doors. Then I could completly strip the paint, and that nasty, god awfull tar undercoating, down to the metal. Then I could start over from scratch, with any color I want. Once the body has been finished, I could then take the civic I have now, and transfer everything over. Interior, body kit, suspension, etc. I mean it would have to be everything. Wiring, vacuum lines, hoses, etc.

I know something like this wouldnt be a overnight project. I would be looking at a finish date of sometime next year. Including my motor.

It would be a tough task. But what I have found while working underneath my car, is it is nasty. Having a 12 year old car, takes its toll on things. This would give me the chance to replace rusted bolts, corroded stuff, you know what I mean. I would also be losing the "Si", and I would just have a DX with Si parts. :bloated:

Then I think on the other hand. Do I really want to do this? Would it be worth it? Or am I just waisting my time and money doing this? So, what would you guys do, given the situation?

Well I would say if you have the time, dedication, resources and patience go for it. Coming from someone who restored VWs for years I can tell you the road to glory is a long one but nothing beats walking outside and firing up your baby that is old but feels like it just rolled off the lot. That feeling is awesome. Our cars are getting to the point where restoration is becoming more common with some projects. What would be your plans for the car? show? go? weekend driver? This would be one deciding factor if I were in your situation.

Originally posted by EFsleeper
Well I would say if you have the time, dedication, resources and patience go for it. Coming from someone who restored VWs for years I can tell you the road to glory is a long one but nothing beats walking outside and firing up your baby that is old but feels like it just rolled off the lot. That feeling is awesome. Our cars are getting to the point where restoration is becoming more common with some projects. What would be your plans for the car? show? go? weekend driver? This would be one deciding factor if I were in your situation.


I have the resources, I have all the time in the world, and the civic is not my only car. So it doesnt matter if its off the road. But when it is off the road, I sure miss driving it. :D

As for show or go, I am not into much of a show car. However, I like my car to look good, and feel solid.

I guess I will have to sleep on it. I have about two week sto decide, before this car goes to the crusher. Two weeks should give me time to talk the finace department (wife) into my idea. :bloated:

Do it.

Originally posted by kris

. Two weeks should give me time to talk the finace department (wife) into my idea. :bloated:

I bet many of us feel that pain. I know I do.

i'd say go for it. you'd have a car in better shape, and have the parts to do mpfi without having to look for em. Also no sunroof so its lighter

Go for it

I know if i find a SI shell im going to do that

Bulid it back up from scratch and have a car that will be perfect better then off the floor when honda sold it


keep us posted on it

Originally posted by EF9JDM
Go for it

I know if i find a SI shell im going to do that

Bulid it back up from scratch and have a car that will be perfect better then off the floor when honda sold it


keep us posted on it


I just wish it was a Si. I dig the sunroof..

Originally posted by kris



I just wish it was a Si. I dig the sunroof..

And I dig beating SIs with B16s because they have that heavy sunroof. Is it really worth the sunburn on your domepiece?

Although that would be a sweet car once your done, if you really want a sunroof then don't do it. Because you'll have a new civic built up, but without the sunroof and you'll always be wishing you had one.

I say screw it until you find a scrapped Si that you can rebuild. But then again if you don't care about the sunroof then it'll be lighter and faster so really decide whether or not you want the sunroof or not.

I would never buy a DX just cause I like having some light come in from the roof as im driving, its nice.

I dunno man, its all up to you!

i would do it....Screw the sunroof!! Save it from being crushed

hell man, i say you do it! my car is TECHNICALLY a dx......but i call the "SX" because i took EVERYTHING off of si's at junkyards and transfered it to my car, yes, i even went thru with the sunroof!, it wasnt that much work to get in and weld from the bottom.......and i even have the si headliner, and everything.....

I'd do it, that would be sweet,building it from the ground up would be sweet.You can start of and build it just the way you want, lay your stereo just the way you want, new bushings, new suspension, springs,exhaust....whatever...


gunnmen01

like slammed89civic said, just transplant your sunroof and everything else, then transplant the Si emblems and, TA-DAAAA brand new Si

Originally posted by 91civicDXdude
like slammed89civic said, just transplant your sunroof and everything else, then transplant the Si emblems and, TA-DAAAA brand new Si


Sunroof job is more than I want to tackle. Besides, I have a sunroof in my G20. :)

I am heading back down today to reall look it over. If it is rust free, and looks like it is worth it. I will probably pick it up.

i say go for it. thats a good project. sounds like it will take awhile. if you have the time and money than just do it.

I really like that idea Kris! I would love to do that with my car, start from the ground up and do everything perfect, start to finish.

grrr, a different guy was in there today. He said $200 :mad:

I have to wait until the guy I know is working, so I can get it for $100.

Originally posted by EFsleeper
Is it really worth the sunburn on your domepiece?

LOL :p :D :flash:

hey if i had a chance like that, i would do it in a heartbeat, because just like u i hit someone and my front ends all messed like i thought it wasnt too bad just hood fenders front filler thingy but man i know the radiator support and all that is bent too because when i put on the z3's it took 4 hours of bending to get them to go on and most of the bolts in. But yea totally you should ur lucky i cant even find some damn hatchs in the pic n' pull where i live.

Do it!!!!!! If u miss ur sunroof then put an aftermarket 1 in & it'll b lighter than stock.