97 dx

[Matthew Terry]

so i just got a 97 dx civic from my brother for $200 runs and drives fine. looking to go down the rat rod kinda route with it. the body has very little rust but quite a few dents and dings, hence the reason I'm going down that route. its already got 2.25" full spoon exhaust, took the can off the back and just put a strait pipe to a 4" tip sounds pretty good. at high RPMs it likes to blow black smoke, looks like a diesel "rolling coal" not too sure why it does that but for it going to be a rat rod its pretty friggin sweet.

looking for advise on what kinda suspension is not too expensive but still rides alright, some performance mods that can be done to the y7 thats in it for decently cheap, i might do a swap after i get some money banked up, possibly a b18 or something along those lines looking to turbo whatever swap i put in it and i will do all the supporting mods needed to support the boost, and any other input will be much appreciated. don't bash me for doing it this way. its my car and ill do whatever i want to it. i don't have any pics of the car yet but will post some as soon as i can. thanks in advance.

 

[XpL0d3r]

to ClubCivic!

Black smoke = dumping fuel, you're running WAY rich.

Define "not too expensive" aka give us a budget, then we can help you out a bit more. $800 could be cheap to someone, yet expensive to someone else, so it's hard to judge. Also, are you looking for adjustable suspension, such as coilovers, or a just struts and lowering springs?

As for Y7 performance for cheap, the answer is simply: nothing, really. You can slap on a Y8 head and do a mini-me conversion, but I think you'll find that it's really not worth it. I did it, and was left wanting much more.

If you plan on going the boost route, don't bother with stuff such as a header, intake, etc., because you're just going to replace those come boost time anyways.

I think your first step would be to fix that rich issue. Check the fuel lines and FPR, and inspect the injector seals, etc... get the car running good, then see what you can do with her. You can find a B18 motor for fairly cheap now (as I am selling one for $300 locally, and still can't get it gone).

 

[lethal6]

Definitely wouldn't do anything to this motor upgrade wise if you are going to swap to a bigger one. Nothing will be compatible.

Thick black smoke out of a non diesel engine is never a good thing. Would remedy that quickly before the motor takes a s**t.

 

[Matthew Terry]

$800 is a little on the spendy side. id like to go with adjustable suspension considering i drive the car year round and it snows a s**t load where i live hah. its probably gonna be a while till i save the money for a swap just trying to make the car a little more fun to drive. i don't really mind the black smoke its been doing that for a long time now, and still runs pretty good its the cars second y7 and its been through both of my older brothers who beat the living piss outa it, and i haven't exactly been nice to it. I'm really surprised it still runs like it does. XpL0d3r where you located i might wanna take that b18 off your hands, thats not a bad deal. oh and probably like $400 is the most id like to spend on any one part until i do the swap

 

[lethal6]

It's not really a matter of you liking the smoke or not. It is the car telling you that there is something really wrong with it. It's only a matter of time before that motor decides that it has had enough of the poor conditions and dies on you. You might be doing that swap a lot sooner than you want to if it is left in that condition. Just sayin.

$400 isn't going to get you much of any good suspension, especially not adjustable. There are cheap ass coil sleeves but they are terrible quality. With suspension you get what you pay for. Actually it's that way for a lot of parts.

The consensus on here is that you save the money and do it once correctly, or do it again for more money if you cheap out the first time. That is the advice I have given and have seen MANY people on here give time and time again.

 

[Matthew Terry]

Ive been doing some looking around and racelands are $400 and I've heard good things about them. The cars been blowing smoke like that ever since we replaced the motor which was like 5 years ago. If it was going to do anything I think it woulda done it by now. It runs like the day we put the motor in it. I'm pretty well rounded with mechanical things and would know if it was gonna blow up or something not trying to be a d**k but your coming off as one so I'm just backing myself up.

 

[lethal6]

In no way was I trying to come off as a d**k, but to be honest I am a d**k so take it as you will I hear it all the time. I am straight forward and tell it like it is. Been working on cars for 16 years now and the other member (XpL0d3r) that commented has been for a long time too. He and I have also had builds and both have had turbo builds (his in a civic mine in a VW). It isn't like either one of us are talking out of our ass and it isn't like we don't have to posts and knowledge laid down on this site to back it up. I am by no means perfect and like any true mechanic I will admit that I have a lot to learn and will also lay down to advice when given it. ESPECIALLY when I ask for it. Not that you asked for advice on the black smoke, we both just felt that it needed to be addressed because it is never good when a car is running like that.

Do some googling, call around, ask around town, talk to any real mechanic at a shop. I guarantee you that none of them would say that is normal nor is it good for the car.

But hey, it's your car and your money. Spend it however much or as little as you like.

As far as the racelands, you definitely get what you pay for those. A coworker has them on his Golf and they are a terrible ride. $400 isn't that much. Why not double it and get something like Function/Form that are at least good entry level coils? Hell there are deals in the store here all the time that put F/F coils down around $650 and they are night and day better than racelands. Racelands are for guys that want to go as low as possible but don't care about the quality of the ride and the way they get "to the ground". Again, it's your money. I personally would and have saved up and bought good name coilovers and have been extremely happy with both the quality and the ride. You don't even have to break the bank to get up to the good name brands either. All have good affordable entry coilover sets just under $1000. I picked up mine for $800. They are made by KW and are their entry coils under the name ST.

Good luck either way.

 

[Matthew Terry]

I respect your opinion and appreciate the advice. I'm going for like a rat rod look and don't really care how it rides. It can't get much worse then blown out stock suspension. I'm only 21 years old and still trynna go back to school and don't have the best job. This is my first build. Just trying to make it somewhat of a cheaper build. I understand building cars ain't cheep but you gotta start somewhere right? Not looking to make it a show car or anything like that just don't wanna keep it stock.