HELP with everything for 85 civic sedan

[carguy316]

Hey.
This is gonna be a long one. My name is Adam and I have an 85 honda civic 4dr sedan 5spd that I am planning on doing some major work to. Like interior I am doing all new carpet, seats and I am trying to find a black dash and trim so I can exchange for those UGLY brown ones. I am also looking fo a body kit for the exterior and after that I plan to do a pretty sweet paint job cause that is the only area that i have connections in. Then under the hood, this is where I need the most help, I am planning on doing a complete engine/tranny swap. I have looked online and found some pretty sweet setups but I don't know what size engine my car will hold. My dream would be to have a JDM Integra Type R DC5 K20A mated to a 6 Speed tranny but that would set me back about 6 grand and I don't even know if it would fit in the dang car. Ok enough dreamin now for the true to life stuff, I am looking for a cheap setup but also one that will get points at the car shows because as you may have gathered by the mods I'm doing, I am planning on this being a daily driver during the week but a show car on the weekends. I ain't rich but I do work and I'll be able to get things as I go along. Please any internet links or tips you can give me I'm all ears. Thanks alot.

Adam

[85 sedan]

Good luck, The 84-87 sedan is a fantastic cat that has almost 0 aftermarket support. First of all your car is carbureted and any engine swap that is worth wile will be fuel injected unless you go with a D16a1 or ZC and have a custom entail made that will accommodate side drafts. The Fuel injection conversion is quite intense you need wiring, ecu, complete fuel system including, fuel lines (not big enough to accommodate the volume needed for FI) fuel pump (manual on the carbureted version) fuel pickup (Same reason as fuel lines). I am in the middle of doing a Fi swap on my 85 sedan right now but decided to stay with the EW motor and add the Fi.

As far as a body kit for your car you will need to fabricate it your self as no company ever made a kit for it. You can see the progress of my civics [url]http://www.redpepperracing.com/gallery/87hybrid[\url].

Fir the interior you can get a black dash out of an 86-87 Si hatchback but no sedan door panels were ever made in black, recovering of painting the existing parts is your best bet.

Sounds like you have a project on your hands, I can appreciate that, good luck and keep us posted on your progress. Post some pics of your progress

[lxndr]

Putting a K20A In this car would require tons of fabrication since the trans is on the other side of the engine. Also your car would have lots of power but will have so much weight at the front end that you will have serious understeer problems (which would not make this car a comfortable daily driver). You would be better off swapping in an '86-'89 Integra D16A1 or D16A1-ZC since this is pretty much a direct bolt in or, swap in a B-series motor using mounts from Hasport http://www.hasport.com/Products/Mounts.htm

[87civicfranky]

i have a minor question....i plan on doing a d16a1-zc (soch) for my 87 sedan.....my question is....will this be a direct bolt on or do you have to fabricate mounts..??? i think the engine lines up well but the tranny.....looks a little off to me.... i have the fuel pump,ecu,motor,trans(with every thing)....what else would i need???

[lxndr]

SOHC D16A1?
What did this come out of?

[85 sedan]

That is a SOHC ZC it wasn't available as a a stock engine in the united states. It bolts up the same as the 88 and up motors I believe.

[lxndr]

This link may help.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=199192

Is this an '88+ Honda motor or an '88+ Acura motor? Any D-series motor from a Honda through 1987 or an Acura through 1989 will bolt right in without much modification. Starting in '88 Honda decided to use a different mounting system for all motors including the D-series and Acura didn't change until '90. This means if your motor is an '88+ Honda or a '90+ Acura, you will need to make custom mounts and CV axles, or see if Hasport has anything that will work.

http://www.hasport.com/Products/Mounts.htm

Hope this helps!