Well this is my first time on this site, and I figure it is probably the best place to throw this idea out at.  I was thinking about a way to classify the tought of how im going about modifying my AE72 (yea i hear the snickering going trough the speakers now ).  At first the thought was drift, but hay this is the daddy to the "86" so why be like every one else right (here comes the bandwagon now)?  Then the possability of grip or drag comes in to play.  After some thought i came to a realization that a blend of all wouldn't be to bad.

So here is the idea. If you look at a current trend in the motocycle world right now you see a nich type of bike right now called "Street Fighter" and how they classify this is a day to day bike that is stripped down and handles the riggors of "Traffic" and the commute to and from work.  They go pretty far for this type of bike so how about applying this to the import world?

Take this idea out on the road and think about it.  You need some form of gas mileage so heavy mods to the motor won't cut it, plus cuts on reliablity, this wouldn't rule out light cam for mid range, port, polish, blueprint, balance, and the list goes on. the showroom stock guys have been doing this for years and it helps for reliablity for the season of beatings the motor gets (but a motor swap with light mods to get power to pass that caravan won't be out of the question). Your after the 30 to 70 not the 1/4 or 100mph because your "on the street".

Got to have a good suspension so you can navigate the suv's, but too low and your watching potholes and manhole covers.  Stealing better brakes off a larger car or higher performance version of yours is muy bueno for the aspect of keeping the cost down. Also plus size the tires but keep the ultra low profile tires to the show circuit because of cost and they damage too easy.

Now what does a hunter do to get its prey? Hide right? Lowest possable profile to get themself as close as possable to its target.  So apply this to the theory, wings out, huge body kits out (catch on speed bumps and curbs), screaming yellow paint and graphix out, exhaust louder than a harley out. Your after the sneek atack on that mid-life crisis guy in the automatic corvette, then coast right by the cop when the red corvette blows by you. Who is the cop going to go after? Evade the enemy by blending in.

So afer this long drawn out speach (sorry) the basic idea is, "aforedable", reliable, streetable, quick, responsive, and evasive.  Send that civic or S13 to the gym give him a workout!  Tighten everyting up what happens? He still 2500 lbs, looks about the same, but you can jump in and hold your own! It's about the total package, does it all work together, does it flow well, can you drive this every day, can you go 300 miles and not feel like you just got your ass kicked? can you attack mountain twistys and drive home? Can you drive by a cop and not get pulled because "I heard you were going fast back their".

Put in your two cents and tell me what you think of my "Idea" , dumb, good, bad, were all ready doing this, I don't care its a thought.

Thanks  

Dude, it's an oldie and a goodie. It sounds good. You don't see any of those cars around much, like an RX2 and the such. I've seen an RX3 suped up for drag racing, slicks and all. Too cool! It does not matter one bit what any one thinks. Recycle, reuse, baby! Keep up the retro fit.  

you're car isnt going to be as fast as you anticipate.

stripping the car will add speed/fuel milage, increase handling (i have my civics int stripped, seamed and tintes)

but you're motor mods aren't great masive increases.

the port and polish has been in the honda scene for years. so we all know about it. gains are minimal 5-6 horse at the most. larger throttle bodies and a ported intake manifold at the throttle body end and head side/primaries.

balencing/blueprinting is something VERY common.....

you missed knife edging the crank or "V" ing the crank.

after the complete rebuild you're looking probably at a more reliable car with a SLIGHT increase in performance. you might notice it you might not.........you def will not smoke the corvette or a k24 swapped civic...........srry  

you should REALLY look into the honda scene if this is your thing. most kids just want to buy a fast car and be done with it, but with a civic, you buy a shell pretty much and build it to your likeing. for example NSX brake swaps, rear discs from a GSR and integra 1" slug master cylinders are a pretty hefty upgrade that can be had for about $500.

the k24/k20 motor is probably more than enough to run a 12 second quater and turbo k24/k20's are having trouble planting to the ground.

not to mention s2000 slugs which are forged stock fit right in. wahts awesome about these honda's is you can do sooo much with them it's stupid  

I have to interject. The fact is that the dude wants to be original, not follow what every one else in the "honda world" is doing. Yeah, the honda is a tested product and the after market results are very, very good. What's the point of building what every one else has. If he wants to build it then why should he settle for less. And I mean "LESS" because if you build a honda it's the same as building a Chevy or a Ford... there is no challenge in building a honda. I also own a 1976 810 maxima wagon that's been sitting in my drive way for 8 months. It's fugly but its different, you see my point. It has a L24 inline6 engine and the potential that it has for horse power is up to me. I don't think Rockrash34 intends to out run a 'vette or a mustank or even a purpose built "K" engine with NOS like yours, civic.slow. He's trying to be original for originalitys sake. So what if it's an AE72. It's his ride and he sees potential in it. He's not following he's leading, in my book. How many old shool Datsun, Toyota and Mazda cars have you owned and built, civic.slow? At 19, I doubt that it's been many, if at all any. Like American muscle, old Japanese cars that are in good shape are hard to find. Find, rebuild and reuse... that's my motto. I'm actually thinking of going to Puerto Rico to purchase a Datsun 510, in need of attention, from an old friend of mine. Maybe this summer after I heal and finish my 200sx. I feel that as an old school tech I must teach the youngens that are bias to their "hondas" and see nothing else. It's called IMPORT TUNING for a reason, SON. No pun intended on the "import tuning". It's for the love of Japanese imports and Japanese imports only. You sound like those V8 huggers that can't see passed their noses.

 

street fighter ayy....  

I know how it sounds. But hey, who are any of us to deter the dreams of a person who wants to tune his ride up? If it were up to all those V8 lovers back in the early, mid and late 80s there wouldn't be any pioneering imports beating them. I saw quite a few races where the owner of a domestic muscle car was left jaw open and disgusted at him self for being stomped on by a Corolla AE86 or a mazda RX7. That was in 1988 at a drag meet. It wasn't legal but that was when things were more simple and I was too young to understand the dangers of street racing! Any way, to each his own and all that good stuff. You know?