front end swap

I have a 95 civic coupe that is getting some extensive body mods done to it. My question is, what would be necessary to update my 95 front end to the next gen civic front end? Is it just a matter of swapping the hood, fenders, lights, and bumper or are their major modifications that need to be made to the support structure of the vehicle. I wanted to get some feedback before running this by my body man. Thanks.

ask kicker he knows

I just did this maybe a month ago on a 95, I put a 98 front end on it. You have to cut off the 5th gen front core support (radiator support) and weld on the 6th gen core support. Here's what it'll look like after you do that
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid40/p0527d13951457ebb09d09e73a3e860a4/fcfd1de9.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid40/paae0d58fb536087417e76b47d5c78cc2/fcfcb1da.jpg
after you do all the then the front bumper and hood will bolt right on
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid40/p2ab8cb722094bd3e3d40bb2c82095a27/fcfcb1d8.jpg
now comes the hard part, you have to cut some fenders in half and weld them together. You cut the front of the 6th gen fenders off, and then you cut in the same spot on the 5th gen fenders. Then you weld the front of the 6th gen fenders to the back of the 5th gen fenders. That way the back of the fender will still lign up with the door and the front will lign up with the newer bumper.
It's not quite as hard as it sounds, we did it in about 25 hours of work with 2 guys.
the white on the sides is just tape
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid41/pfc152eb6b6653ea515749cad321c5e9d/fcf61ed6.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid41/pb752da0664ca4e706dd903db1cf9cc17/fcf61ed4.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid41/pb2a5122db32abd49c770f5aedcabf016/fcf61ec8.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid41/paa3d7c424fe8ed871e8a199ab46a3095/fcf61ec7.jpg

thanks for the insight kicker.....you are the man!

yeah i and i am the man that funded this endevor... it looks good :smoker2:

hey kicker acrdman, how much do you think the labor would cost at a body shop...would it be the same if i were to convert a 96-98 civic front bumper to a 99-00 civic front bumper? Do you guys know anywhere other than honda to get oem parts?

Thanks

My shop would normally charge about $1500 for the labor. I'm not sure if it would be the same about the 96-98 to the 99-00. And don't buy the parts from honda, you'd pay WAY too much. Check the junk yards, you could probably pick up the whole front end for around $500.

That front end conversion is bitchin'! I didn't even know that was possible. Good job Kicker.

Peace

Originally posted by hey yo!
That front end conversion is bitchin'! I didn't even know that was possible. Good job Kicker.
anything's possible :D

you should also check out www.hparts.com
it's more expensive than a junkyard but it's brand new OEM honda parts (not taiwan stuff) and it's cheaper than buying from the dealer. check it out. and i think the 96-98 and the 99-00 is pretty much the same thing. if you're gonna get the core support however, i think you should TRY to get the 99-00 support because www.jdmfan.com says that you need that for 96-98 to 99-00 conv. but some people say it's unnecessary. since you HAVE to get a new core support, might as well get a 99-00 one...just to be on the safe side.......

Originally posted by tenzoracerevovii
and i think the 96-98 and the 99-00 is pretty much the same thing. The 99-00 headlights are more pointier and look a lot better, there's also a couple differences in the fenders and bumper, not sure about the hood. I would look for a 99-00 front end if I were you, they look much better imo.

Originally posted by kicker1_solo
The 99-00 headlights are more pointier and look a lot better, there's also a couple differences in the fenders and bumper, not sure about the hood. I would look for a 99-00 front end if I were you, they look much better imo.

sorry. i guess i wrote it so it was misunderstandable (is that even a word?) i actually meant that installation wise, the 96-98 and the 99-00 is the same. you're right and the lights on the 99-00 are more aggresive as is teh bumper. and teh hood and the fenders are also different to accomodate for the newer style headlights. i definately like the 99-00 better too.....

naa, I probably just didn't read it right :D