3rd Gen Civic - 1986 3 Door Hatchback - Teach Me

Hello Fellow GRMer's

I've come across a clean looking 86 Hatchback and my car senses started tingling. I'm doing some basic searching trying to find more information about those cars in general but not having a lot of luck with that specific generation. I think I've seen later motor swaps, but I'm just not familiar with Hondas. Not sure which parts fit together or how backward compatible new engines are in the old cars. Not sure if they have much aftermarket support either.

Any links or information you might have would be helpful. Perhaps past experience with a Civic of that era?

Would any of you consider daily driving one? Parts seem ridiculously cheap for them.

I've driven the CRX Si of that era and really enjoyed it. I think a Civic Si would be a ton of fun, but the carbureted DX would be a penalty box.

Swaps on these cars are much more involved than the later EF and EG cars if I remember right. They tend to rust pretty badly. And parts are getting hard to come by.

The EF was a much better car by all accounts.

Check out Red Pepper Racing. It was the go-to site back when I was into these 10+ years ago. I think some members here are talking about making parts available too.

This is essentially exactly what the Civic I'm considering looks like.

Those use an old engine family called the EW that is basically the predecessor to the D15 iirc.

Unfortunately, there is no 'better' Honda engine that goes in as a pure bolt-together swap except for the DOHC 'zc' 1.6L from first gen Integras (which are mostly extinct). Every other possibility requires custom SOMETHING. Which isn't to say there haven't been a lot of swaps done over the years.

On the plus side, there's a fair amount of info out there on how to get power out of the EW due to the CRX Si getting raced so much.

1986 Civic Hatchback

Here's the car I'm looking at.

It looks clean and it might be simple to get the engine spinning and running. It might not. There are innumerable websites to find out about the car. As stated, it is the wrong platform to enjoy the ridiculous amount of cheap OEM and gigantic aftermarket performance tweaking available. D Series.org and honda-tech.com are encyclopedic vaults of information on Honda products.

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/csw/pts/5390999457.html

In reply to Shaun:

Thanks for your input.

I've got an 04 Saturn Ion with 210k on the odo and I'm looking for a replacement. I'm getting all nostalgic for older cars for some reason right now. This looked interesting.

I'll keep looking up the information on it. Already found a motor within 30 miles of my house for $250.

Wow, a 1500S. You know, a certain car magazine did a project car series on one way back in the day.

Not to get all nit-picky, but that's an '84, not an '86. Nifty car though. I wanted one very badly.

I graduated HS the year those were new. Boy, how I wanted one.
I can not believe that car is in Michigan. Those all rusted to nothing years ago.
Wow, how I would like to have that now!

I'd guess it is gone by now.

For the record, im vaguely looking for a 1.3L from one of these or the parts needed to convert a 1.5 to 1.3l.

Oh God, I miss mine.

Very very fun to autocross. Not much for acceleration, but you didn't have to slow down much.

That chassis used something called a torsion bar suspension. It's an odd thing to most, but they can handle like crazy with the right tuning.

pinchvalve wrote: That chassis used something called a torsion bar suspension. It's an odd thing to most, but they can handle like crazy with the right tuning.

Boy does that look like fun. Torsion bars aren't a big deal. I'm building a 1971 Dodge Demon for track fun....and that will continue to have torsion bars

In reply to Woody:

Thanks for the information. I don't know anything about these cars. The seller told me it was an 1986.

I had an 84 1.3 CRX years ago. Still one of my favorites...

redpepperracing.com used to be one of thes best places for information on this generation of Civics/CRX's.

When these were new, I remember a Car and Driver editor calling the Civic S "The best car in the world" Seriously.

These are my favorite Civics--- at least styling-wise. They are also incredibly well packaged--- real humans can sit in the back. They also have that low-cowl that Honda used to be famous for. It made all of their cars feel airy and open. Great little cars.

So did you get it yet?

sethmeister4 wrote: So did you get it yet?

I did not get it. I actually picked up a 2007 Saturn Ion with a 2.4 Ecotec and 5 speed manual. It only has 110k on the odo so it's quite an upgrade to my worn out 2004 Saturn Ion with 2.2 and a 5 speed with 210k on the odo.

The added power of the 2.4 is nice....also a lot quieter interior and less worn out rubber pieces.

I needed a DD replacement and a "project" wasn't going to go over well with the wife. Just not enough knowledge on the Honda to get it "right" for DD quickly.

I love these and I wanted one badly. They're great unless you run them into something.

Two words for motivation : wonder civic. Google it. It'll make your skin crawl. http://www.superstreetonline.com/features/130-0906-1985-honda-civic-spoon-sports/

3 years newer, 200cc more motor and 100k less miles. Sounds like a good upgrade to me

This car seems to be back on the market. Original sale must have fallen through.

Civic Hatch Back