For the price you are paying to have your old engine rebuilt, you could buy a brand new engine, they cost $2297.78 from honda, of course that doesn't count shiping, or installing it, but it is all new in a box, and you might have to use your old head, it's not exactly clear, but there are also used engines out there, of course repairing old stuff is alwas a good idea, and it sounds like you will basicly have a new working engine when you are done.
after braking it in, put in synthetic and you should be pleased with what you see.
my grill block doesn't get noticed by anyone, and anyone who is interested in a crx HF isn't going to mind it as long as it looks good.
the HF has a smaller exaust, because with lower engine speeds that helps get better mileage, larger exaust helps if you are running it wide open, and at that point you don't normaly care about mileage.
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