Track day Civic 1.6i 16v 1990

[kaivaksdal]

Hi all,

I have a 1990 Civic 1.6i 16V - engine D16A9.

Engine is at 90k and all seems well. The cambelt was last changed at 58k around 7 years ago. QUESTION: How long will engine/cambelt and other bi last?

Shocks and springs are standard and a bit soft. I want to change for lowering springs (as a start) but can't get the old ones off as all the nuts and bolts seem to have seized with age. QUESTION: Any tricks to remove old shocks/springs?

Any other suggestions to get more from it? Cheap suggestions....

Kai

[Tinohead]

Hi mate,

Nice wee motor there, especially for some track fun. I've just sold my D16 CRX, but plan to get another one some day for the same thing when £ allows!

These engine are solid as long as you give them regular oil changes, you may also want to consider doing the timing belt again seeing as there's been quite a bit of mileage since the last one, and you're going to be taking the car on track.

Something else you want to do if budget allows is a big brake conversion. On a 16v this involves sourcing hubs, etc. from a VT (Civic or CRX), and fitting them. You can then use bigger calipers (generally from a Prelude I think) and 282mm discs, from MG/Rover.

Regarding the nuts, can't really suggest anything more than good tools, penetrative fluid (WD40 or the like), a power bar (long ratchet) and a lot of hard work! But once you've got them off, copper grease everything for next time.

Some good websites to check out are 4guk.co.uk and civicsportsclub.net, www.hondacrx.co.uk would also be useful because although it's a CRX site, there's a huge amount of technical info, and a lot of it is transferrable to the Civic.

Good luck with the car mate and if you're after any bits, give me a shout as I have quite a lot in the garage!

[kaivaksdal]

Cheers Tinohead,

Good advice there. Will look into the bogger brakes - sounds like a cheaper way of getting there rather than expensive new kits.
Tried to get the main bearing nut (?) off to change the cambelt, but it was absolutely solid! Broke three sockets... Will get it done, though.

Decent intake, straight through exhaust and stripped interior and it's really flying already. It seems to have much better mid-range than the VT, to!!

Speak soon.

PS - What have you got in the garage that I might be interested in?

[MrFlibbles]

Just out of interest - heres a video of my mates '91 Civic doing an 8.38 Bridge to Gantry at the Ring.

http://bridgetogantry.com/index.php?option=com_con...

[kaivaksdal]

Hi Mr Flibbles,

Superb video (quality a bit shaky). That Civic is a bit more "track biased" than mine - and that 1.8 vtec engine a bit more powerful, but the basic car is the same and I was very impressed.

I will take mine to the Ring as often as possible once it's finished - looking forward to a bit of "giant slaying"..

Could you let me know a bit more on the engine conversion in your mate's car? How much, how difficult, how fast?

Cheers for now.

Kai

[MrFlibbles]

kaivaksdal said:

Hi Mr Flibbles,

Superb video (quality a bit shaky). That Civic is a bit more "track biased" than mine - and that 1.8 vtec engine a bit more powerful, but the basic car is the same and I was very impressed.

I will take mine to the Ring as often as possible once it's finished - looking forward to a bit of "giant slaying"..

Could you let me know a bit more on the engine conversion in your mate's car? How much, how difficult, how fast?

Cheers for now.

Kai

I'll point him in the direction of this thread, he's a lurker.