MN '92 civic vx owner

[hondaguy72]

Looks like this is the place for vx owners. Hope to help and learn as much as possible.

Here's the project:


180k on the clock, unmolested but never maintained either. It will be looking like new/stock before too long. It will be lowered on tein s-tech springs and koni struts and get a grill block. In the future I plan on making fiberglass rear wheel covers.

[suspendedhatch]

Dear god man. You'd be doing the world a favor. Can't wait to see this. How much did you get it for? Was it wrecked at some point (black hood)?

Grill block? Aren't you worried about overheating? Even just raising the engine temp you're costing yourself engine life. I had a problem with my lean-burn setup running too hot for the stock coolant system. I had to install a lower temp thermostat and a higher pressure radiator cap to bring the coolant temp down from 220+ F to 200. Yeah and btw, the factory temp gauge gives the same reading from 190 to 230.

[red91sit]

Ouch! 220+ F ?! Your poor car! also, you seem to have extensive car knowledge (your sig) so why would you install a lower temp thermostat? They will both be wide open by 200F right?

[hondaguy72]

The grill block will be a partial. In MN I highly doubt I'll have much trouble with overheating, but with your tech info I'll probably install an aftermarket temp gauge to monitor heat. The car has had a small front-ender blowing the driver's bag, but I've already replaced it. It'll be getting a certifit front cover and driver's fender.

The car was owned by a local college student who had very little cash. The battery was completely dead and the car wouldn't start when I bought it. It turned out to have a bad main relay which I repaired. It now runs, but lean burn isn't working right. I've got the new 5 wire o2 already, a Bosch. It needs much more mechanical help, but I'm the guy to do it. A new clutch and transmission are waiting to go in. It will still need new rear drums but the front brakes are done. I bought the car for too much at $800. The gal who owned the car didn't even know what car she had. I thought it was a dx since it had air per her cl ad. When I saw the car in person I knew I wanted it regardless of cost. I'll keep everyone posted on my progress.

[suspendedhatch]

Originally Posted by red91sit

Ouch! 220+ F ?! Your poor car! also, you seem to have extensive car knowledge (your sig) so why would you install a lower temp thermostat? They will both be wide open by 200F right?

Lower temp thermostat opens cooler so it maintains a cooler minimum temp. The stock rating is 190F and the low temp rating is 170F. I haven't been watching the coolant temp closely yet since replacing the thermostat, but I've noticed that the radiator fan isn't coming on very often compared to previously when it was almost always on, even on the freeway! Lean-burn simply runs hotter. Mine is tuned to run lean much more often than the stock VX. I'm in Salt Lake, Utah btw. I don't think that ambient air temperature was the cause. The coolant temp was the same 220 degrees on a 65 degree day in Utah as it was blasting through Nevada when it was 107 degrees outside.

$800 bucks you can't really complain. I had the same experience when I first saw my VX. I saw the moonroof and that it was an Si! Also the owner reported that it had AC and Cruise Control (CC tuned out to be aftermarket). I bought the car in CA yet it turned out to be a federal model. I'm really glad for the moonroof although it can't be helping my fuel economy.

[GasSavers_TomO]

I can't see the pics at work, but I have an idea of what it looks like. Where in MN are you? I live in MN as well as a few other VX owners and can help you out with any work that you need.

BTW I run a partial grill block on my VX (only a 6"x6" opening) year round and it works great. I run an aftermarket temp gauge and the temps stay right in the OEM range and the cooling fan is able to keep the temps down without excessive cycling.