Been a bit since I've update, and well, there is a good reason why.
After I parked it for "winter" (which I've yet to see) I started to yank the motor/trans out. Not the easiest thing to do with out a lift, and a jack that goes very high. It took a scissor jack, and my pump jack + a few 2x4's to get the extra height and I was finally able to get the motor out from the bottom.
Once the motor was pulled, I listed it on a local facebook group to fund the J35 swap. Well, after many people "looking for a b series motor" but not wanting to pay B series prices (Honda people tend to be cheap), I received an offer right before I was going to tare the motor down and find the source of the oil burn. Guy mainly wanted the motor, suspension and brakes off my GSR and offered to trade a barely running 91 Accord Wagon + cash.
Now here's the problem. I had no attachment to the GSR and have a very soft spot in my heart for wagons. I don't know why, but I love them. In the past, I owned a 1.8T Passat wagon, and loved it, minus all the headaches and repairs it needed. So, yeah, I pulled the trigger on the trade and the extra $500 to go ahead and fund the first stage of suspension upgrades. And as a bonus, I he threw in a spare F22A1. Now this motor is a base motor, good for about 120hp/tq. The EX Wagon (in which I have now) came with a A6 version, that was much higher on tq/hp thanks to a better cam, tune, intake and exhaust manifolds. So now I have a A1 motor sitting in my tiny one car garage taking up space. But it defiantly sweeten the deal.
It runs/drives/shifts, but it's an auto. That's really the only downside to the car in general other than some rear 1/4 rust on the wheel arches. But when I say it runs, I mean, I can drive it for about 5 minutes, and then the car starts running like total crap thanks to a bad o2 sensor and blown/leaking head gasket.
However, I've devised a plan to fix these issues. Of course, it's going to involve me dropping about 2K+ on parts/labor at my friends shop but it's something that I know the head mechanic is very capable of doing, and has tons of resources to pool together to accomplish it in a reasonable about of time. But what's the plan? H22/23 swap and probably a manual trans swap to boot. I mean, I'm not trying to build a time attack or auto cross monster here. Just something fun to drive to work and back, keep the miles off my tC, and maybe surprise a few unsuspecting people here and there.
Of course, I must say, I know a decent amount about Honda's, but am by far a guru. I know enough to get by I suppose. Also, I really don't see my self as a "Honda Guy". I've always been more fond of 80s/90's Toyota/Nissan as well as 60s/70's Japan cars. But for some reason, I've now owned 2 Honda's in the last 6 months. Shoot me!
Also, here is a shot of the cruiser. It's lowered on TruHart Street Plus coilovers. It's pretty much as low as it'll go. I've got a lot of work ahead of me getting the suspension sorted out, but one of the more expensive items being the coil overs, I figured I'd knock them out first.
CB7 Wagon by DESY photowerks, on Flickr
Things I plan:
H swap motor
5spd swap trans
Rear disc brakes
adjustable arms for rear
adjustable ball joints front
wheels/tires
And hopefully miles of easy cruising.