New stuff!!

So we finally got the new sidemarkers in!We also have the manual clutch assembly, clutch cable, and shift linkage headed this way.

Also some things left for us to grab:

• MOTOR!!
• 88-91 CRX Si Tranny
• P28 ECU
• Radiator
• Axles
• Radiator Hoses
• Battery
• Manual Gauge Cluster
• Intake
• Header
• Some sort of exhaust

This will be enough to get the car functional and where we want to be after that the plan will look a little something like this:

• Wheels/Tires
• Suspension
• Interior
• Paint 

So all of this looks expensive but with Brad working construction and me working at Autozone we should be able to make some real good progress this summer!

Also be on the lookout for a DIY on installing coilovers for the Prelude coming very very soon!

-Brock

Finally some progress!

Well we have finally made some headway! Tonight we were able to track down several things:

A) A manual clutch assembly
B) Clutch Cable
C) JDM Sidemarkers

No the sidemarkers weren't exactly mission critical at this point but they look so sick!!!!

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Change of Plans..............

And so as we delved deeper into the actual process of putting the H22A4 into our little wagon, the cost began to rise tremendously.  As this is our project car, we are also very poor college students who would like to put together an all-round car instead of throwing major amounts of money to squeeze in a big engine.

After 2 days of contemplation Brock and I have decided to, in order to offset high costs, buy and drop in a JDM D15b motor. Here are some quick specs with the stock motor:

JDM D15b

Horsepower
130ps @ 6800 rpm (128.22 hp)

Torque
14.1 kg m @ 5200 rpm (101.74 ft lbs)

Fuel Mileage
38 miles/gal (in mode 10 driving? daily driving i guess)
55 miles/gal if you drive 38 mph all day

This motor is only going to cost us $650 dollars.  We will also have to buy an L3 si transmission which will probably run around $300.  We also have some basic maintenance costs to help keep the rest of the car updated.  Hopefully, our low cost plan will enable us to spend money in other places such as wheels, suspension, brakes, exterior, and interior......AND FUTURE ENGINE MODS SUCH AS ITB'S OR TURBO.  Our overall plan for the car is to use it as an autocross car.  We are now super excited about our new plan!

Day 1

Yesterday, May 10, 2011 was the first day me and brock were able to start doing anything to our EF wagon.  We decided the first thing we wanted to do was take off all the black trim pieces: front bumper, side skirts, mud flaps, rear bumper, and the side flashings.  All these pieces need to be thoroughly cleaned and shined up.  We only got the front bumper and mudflaps off last night as well as removed the headlights.  Today we plan to finish removing the black trim, clean it up, and start to clean out the interior.  We will post pictures later tonight after we have more done.

We were also delighted to find out that the wagon will fit into Brock's small under-house garage with 6 inches to spare!!!!! This means the wagon will have a nice dry place to stay during its long and arduous journey to excellence.

-Brad

Well its finally here!

Well we finally picked the car up. First impressions; rough. But you cant have overly high expectations for a car you paid $350.  My mind also started to race when I saw it.  Where to start? Wash the car, strip the interior, pull the motor, clean the car top to very bottom, paint the wheels for the hell of it. As you can see the possibilities are endless.  Im excited to say the least but only time will tell how this build will turn out.

-Brock

Ok so maybe not yet...

Well in our excitement for the wagon and my college graduation we completely forgot about mothers day. This put a little damper on picking the wagon up. The good news is we pick the wagon up tomorrow at around 4:30 or so! Expect pictures to be up soon.

But to keep everyone in the wagon spirit here is quite possibly the most badass wagon video in the world.

-Brock

A nice little day trip

Well me and Brad decided to take a trip to Cumberlands Falls.  Its probably one of the few bright spots of south eastern Kentucky where we go to school.  The Falls really are an incredible sight. Its one of those things that makes you realize just how small you are in the grand scheme of things. You know long after were gone that waterfall will still be here. It really does put everything into perspective you have to live everyday to its fullest as cliche as it sounds because our time here is short so make the most of it.

Here are some snaps from today we took alot but I will post the best ones.  The majority of the photos are of my car though. Brad was the photographer today and took some great snaps.

Your bloggers: Brock-Left, Brad- Right

Like I said it really is an awesome sight to behold.  I would have posted some more of our nature pictures but since this is an automotive blog I decided to post pictures of the SI.  Also an issue of mention is that we are now officially just 2 days from picking up the wagon!


-Brock

Time Time Time

You know what the beauty in all this is? Time, we have lots of it. Their is no specification on when this has to be done or any deadline to meet. If it takes us 3 months to 4 years it really doesn't matter.  Working on your daily driver is one stress inducing hobby, trust me I know.  After having multiple cars that I have put extensive modification and time into they were always fun to drive when running properly but it was an absolute bitch when I broke something and I had to try and figure out how I was going to get to school or work.

This project though it doesn't adhere to those guidelines.  Break something? Well shit push it back in the garage.  Run out of money? Let it sit.  Run out of time? Oh well I've got another Honda to jump into.

This is going to be by far the most stress free build to date. I cant wait this is what the hobby is meant to be about.

And just for a little bit of inspiration here is the Bisimoto Wagon, its one bad ride if you have the time check it out theres some really great photography in this piece as well. http://speedhunters.com/archive/2010/11/24/car-feature-gt-gt-bisimoto-civic-wagon.aspx

-Brock

Oh what to do.....

Hello everyone, I'm Brad.  This is my first post for the blog.
Me and my colleague have been bouncing ideas off each other about what direction we actually want to take with the motor.  We thought about a possible Frankenstein engine (h22/h23) but to keep things simple we've just decided to rebuild the bottom end of our existing h22a4.  After we pick the wagon up on Sunday May 8, 2011, we'll most likely begin the process of breaking the ole girl down.  The next week will mostly consist of this.  We will post pre tear down pics on Sunday evening and post pics as the break down and engine removal commences.  The real fun can't start till the h22a in my prelude gets swapped out which will hopefully be completed in the next 3 to 4 weeks.  Stay tuned...

The Start of a Journey...

I guess we should start this by introducing ourselves and the goals of this project. My name is Brock and my best friend is Brad.  We will both be using this blog but right now i'm writing the intro.  Me and Brad are close, the kind of close friends who literately do everything with each other.  Hes the 7th member of my family and honestly the closest person to me.  Were the kind of friends that would literately die for each other. I only have a couple other people I consider  that close with me and thats our good friend Paul and of course every member of my family.
Im on the left Brad is on the right:

We share alot of passions but a love of all things Honda is where this all starts.  Brad drives a 97 BB6 Prelude SH and I drive an 08 FA5 Civic SI. Brad's Prelude has had a rough life it started off as this:

 But now currently sits like this:

The car was previously owned by his uncle, the car as you can tell was pretty well riced. When Brad came in possession with it he started the pain staking overhaul.  The body kit was removed and  soon stock pieces followed, the Z3 fenders removed and stock suspension placed underneath it.  The car is making great progress right now and is getting ready to have a shiny new H22 Type S motor dropped in and the body work fixed and painted like an SH should. Also this summer we will be installing the famous Koni/GC combo for the suspension.   We have already made some progress by installing a new headlight, side mirror, repainted the wheels and calipers, and ordered some JDM Fogs and Sidemarkers. We will get pics up ASAP of how it currently sits!

My car just for kicks and giggles is below the only plans for this right now are JDM sidemarkers, maybe some lowering springs, some JDM red H emblems and hopefully some HID lighting down the road.  This being my daily driver I dont want to go to wild just look good and ride great. I have completed one stage and have the sidemarkers right now!

Now that you know us I guess I can start to introduce the project. We orginally had grand plans for our own cars, coilovers, full bolt ons, engine tuning, wheels the full 9 yards. Well after giving some thought we found out this was a bad idea for the sake of reliability and drivability. This is when we had an ingenious idea! Soon Brad's  car would be undergoing a major overhaul with the replacement of the H22A with its JDM big brother the Type S H22! Therefore we would have a spare motor to tinker with.

Thats  when we started our search what was in our price range? What could we manage to stuff an H22 into? Thats when we found what we wanted just up the road from us a 1991 Honda Civic Wagon.  Yes I know some may think dear God why???? We have both always had a thing for odd builds and what could possibly more bad ass then a 2,300lb wagon with an H22 stuffed into it? Thats right, nothing! We actually pick the car up on Sunday and couldn't be possibly more excited.  We don't expect this to be an overnight thing and we dont even expect to have it running by the end of this summer.  We do have a couple things going for us though; my fathers full shop, moderate mechanic experience, a drive to accomplish things, and most importantly big dreams.

This is the beginning of the journey of two best friends, an EF Wagon, and an H22A!