okae I just got a 1976 CVCC hb and Im ready to get wrenching. Its is all stock , except its has a electric distributor no points ...let me know what I can do for mods? thanks

By John S. (67.72.98.52) on Monday, November 03, 2003 - 07:54 pm:

By upright I meant knuckle, you need the wagon knuckle, rotors, and if you want them springs as well. I would use the Accord calipers however as they are bigger than the wagon pieces and a lot easier to find. (76-81 Accords, and 80-82 Civic Wagons).

By Shane (66.183.138.242) on Monday, November 03, 2003 - 06:29 pm:

Just did the rear disks on my wagon. And it is so far my favorite mod. And I can stop really fast now! Shane

By Cyborgben (Cyborgben) (204.171.48.7) on Monday, November 03, 2003 - 08:52 am:

john, so the wagon spring and strut will fit into the original steering knuckle? will the caliper just bolt on over the new rotor as well? or do I need to get the whole steering knuckle from the scrapyard?

By John S. (205.188.209.107) on Sunday, November 02, 2003 - 11:55 pm:

The best bang for your money on the brake swap is still 1st Gen wagon uprights and rotors and 1st Gen Accord calipers, keeps you with your origional 120mm bolt pattern but doubles your front brakes.

By Cyborgben (Cyborgben) (199.239.200.30) on Saturday, November 01, 2003 - 08:18 pm:

thanks for your interest. it is a 1982 prelude motor (ek1 1751?) bored 1mm over with later civic (i was told 1980) 5 speed. i have a full gauges dash and a set of 13" alloys. also, extras of nearly every body or interior part (3dashes, 3hatches, a 5gal bucket of extra bolts,and 2 new fenders still in the original Honda cardboard etc etc.) Weird thing is the previous guy did a 2" lift on the front and a 3" on rear by inserting a spacer on top of the coils (at least i think so, since the coils dont go all the way up to the top of the tower like i would think is normal) also the rear A-arms seem to have been lengthened by a welded insert - which means i'll probably need a set of new arms when i set her back down. your thoughts are all appreciated.

By b (67.200.12.150) on Saturday, November 01, 2003 - 07:25 pm:

ok Cyb......does the exhaust come out of the front of the block or the rear? if it comes out of the front it is a 1200, if it comes out of the rear it is a cvcc motor...1488. It helps us to know what type.

By Cyborgben (Cyborgben) (199.239.207.203) on Saturday, November 01, 2003 - 04:53 pm:

Bigger brakes huh? I was planning to do the strut spring change with probably wagons up front and fronts in the rear, with some (Koni?) type of performance strut. but the brake change, as ive seen here on the board, seemed like too big of a deal for my skills as of now. are there any "bolt-on" type conversions for brakes? Also as a general rule im not always even sure what "im running." the car was built to this point by someone else, is not running, and ive spent very little time under the hood as yet. a bad well pump and an overcrowded garage have slowed me. also this is my first civic and looking at stuff doesnt mean i instinctively know wat it is.

ps im in westmoreland co., in south central PA

By H (24.70.95.205) on Tuesday, October 28, 2003 - 09:41 pm:

Undercoating is good but equally important is a good seamsealer/rust fighter sprayed in every nooky and kranny.A wax oil type product is best.3M makes this stuff called "Rust Fighter",it is about $30.00 a can from Lordco,great stuff.

By Kurt (142.179.39.216) on Tuesday, October 28, 2003 - 09:00 pm:

My car was undercoated several years ago (70's). By the job that was done it appears to have been professionally done and I did not notice any of it flaked off (I re did the undercoating when I had everything stripped off the car to get to spots that were missed, ie. upper fenders). My floor is as new as is the sills and quarters and I attribute this much to the undercoating that was on there. As an example, when I removed the stock exhaust not only did the bolts come right out with no problems but when I scraped free the undercoating to fit the socket on the bolt the original shine on the bolt was still there Having undercoating done is not expensive especially on something so small so if your not worried about the added weight it may be worth having a place spray it to protect your investment.

Kurt

By Jonathan (66.252.173.251) on Tuesday, October 28, 2003 - 10:56 am:

All the undercoating I've ever used came straight out of an aerosol can.... went on like spraypaint, but built up somewhat thick. Was reasonably flexible when it dried. Sounds much easier than trying to paint something by brush on the underside of a car. Also, where in PA are you located? Seems like more and more people are showing up in these cars in the Northeast US!

By Keil Shepherd (Medicineman) (213.122.217.213) on Tuesday, October 28, 2003 - 10:41 am:

Greetings Cyborgben

Mmmm.. tasty recipe!

I've never heard of that over here, generally we put our faith in Dinitrol wax underbody sealant. Sounds interesting though. Only problem I can think of is how flexible is it when it drys? From previous experience I know that if a sealant dries out completely then minute flexing in the body can make it flake off, in some cases trapping moisture behind it.

By John S. (205.188.209.107) on Tuesday, October 28, 2003 - 10:21 am:

You've got the 5-speed, so if you are also running the 1751 electronic ignition, the absolute best mod at this point is better brakes. The stock brakes have scared me many times just with a stock motor...a 1751...you need bigger brakes yesterday.

By Cyborgben (Cyborgben) (199.239.200.36) on Sunday, October 26, 2003 - 05:11 pm:

any recipes for undercoating? my uncle, a mechanic from the 60s and 70s said he used to mix up a batch of tar and solvent until it got paint-like and put it on with a brush. the solvent would let the tar ooze into the metal and then evaporate and leave the tar behind. ive never tried it but if nobody comes up with a better idea ill try it.

By Keil Shepherd (Medicineman) (213.122.101.145) on Sunday, October 26, 2003 - 09:02 am:

The best mod?

Underseal!! And pleanty of it!

I don't know about you guys in the US but over here in the UK these cars came from the factory with virtually zero rust prevention. Mine was undersealed before it was picked up from the dealer which at least kept the floor pan intact. Perhaps it's not so much a problem in the US but over here it's a constant battle against the elements with these cars now.

By jms (67.30.45.55) on Sunday, October 26, 2003 - 08:21 am:

Ed,
I have AC, an S&S header and 0 emissions stuff. Its easy to do, the only thing I had to leave on was the smog pump, but I turned it into an idler pulley. I just gutted it and bolted it back on. Now if yours is a CVCC I dont know maybe similar way though.

By lazy (210.11.216.11) on Saturday, October 25, 2003 - 07:46 pm:

for real! i hear you, brudda.

By 1300dx (63.230.205.113) on Saturday, October 25, 2003 - 07:32 pm:

Best 1st mod- YOU in the driver's seat!!!!!

By mo (80.217.187.28) on Saturday, October 25, 2003 - 01:37 pm:

best first mod ..... hmmm ... dual side drafts ... or was it good rubber? ...no, wait .. a 5 speed tranny!!!! ya that's it !! ..
but then again, i was pretty smitten with my fresh tremclad paint job ... !!

By Cyborgben (Cyborgben) (199.239.207.16) on Friday, October 24, 2003 - 06:55 pm:

its a 73 with an 82 1751 and stock keihin carb. No emissions are needed before 74 here in pa. it has an 80 5 speed and full gauges dash. brakes and suspension are stock.

By Ed (24.102.180.208) on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 07:50 pm:

ok...

how do I rip out the emissions, and still keep my A/C functioning.????

Ed

By KillerB (209.16.211.49) on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 07:38 pm:

What do you have a 1200 or CVCC?
If it's a 1200 and you don't live in an area that does emissions testing, the first mod I would do would be ripping of the emissions controls. It was the best and cheapest mod I ever did on my 1200

By Cyborgben (Cyborgben) (66.187.162.227) on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 07:13 pm:

Sorry if my first post under "obstetrician needed" was too complicated. How about a simplified question.
What is the most important mod in your opinion?