View Full Version : Sh4d0w's 87 LX-i Build Thread
Sh4d0w
11-03-2009, 02:37 AM
Well, its been over a year since I joined here, and I wanted to share what the invaluable advice from this site has helped me accomplish.
I started out with a 86 LX-i, champagne in color (that my wife somehow named "Little Red"), with some random aftermarket exhaust and dropped it 2", put in a camber kit, and a short air ram. Then the engine blew. OK, so rebuilt the engine, put in new front axles, got some 15" AR rims, tinted the windows (15%), replaced the radiator (that I broke while leaning on it while scrubbing the 20+ years worth of crap that built up in the engine bay), put in a reman'd tranny, replaced the alt, got some ngk plugs, spiro 8mm wires, new EGR valve (wow those are a bitch to get off), some "Angel-eyes" headlights, indiglow gauge cluster, and a set off JDM corners.
Then, I rear-ended a ford F-Huge-50 pulling a trailer on the off-ramp. The bumper crushed my hood and headlights but miraculously spared the corners. The engine was all ok, minus the radiator, so I pulled it all out and swapped it into another shell I picked up for $300. The shell car is an 87 LXi, dark grey, and has a blown head gasket, so the original owner (a cop) said. He said that his daughter was the driver, and didn't take very good care of it.
So, I swap into "Sh4d0w" my engine, tranny, axles, air ram, suspension, rims, corners, and got 15% tint all around, with 5% on the sunroof. I had to pull out the little cover that slides over the sunroof, because it was just trashed. Cigarette burns, stains, ya.. it had to go.
Later I installed a pacesetter header, and a pacesetter monza exhaust.
That is where I am at right now. Just basic maintenance, and not too much hard-driving, and it runs amazingly.
So, now my future projects are:
SE-i brake conversion
B16a Intake Manifold w/Over-bored Throttle Body
JDM tails
JDM eyelids
JDM hood piece
DSM 450cc injectors
OBD-1 conversion
Bisimoto stage 2 regrind on cam
Bisimoto spring kit
Bisimoto MLS intake mani gasket (group buy)
Bisimoto Cam Gear (group buy)
A-Pillar gauge pod
SE-i armrest
swapping over the indiglow gauge cluster
Any thoughts on what else I can/should do to this car? I'm staying NA.
I'll post some pics when I get some decent ones, now that I have a working camera again.
Nafs Asdf
11-03-2009, 04:33 AM
Yup, this thread needs pics...
Also the gasket in the group buy is not a head gasket, it's an intake manifold gasket. And hasn't it been almost 3 years since you joined? ;)
Sh4d0w
11-03-2009, 06:14 AM
yeah.. i ment the mani gasket - thats what I get for typing at 3am
and according to this my Join Date is Dec 2006
I was just a troller for a while, not really posting anything, but reading, reading, reading
lets see what I've got for pix...
http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/7079/shadowbacktinted.th.jpg (http://img27.imageshack.us/i/shadowbacktinted.jpg/)
http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/7003/shadowwithtint.th.jpg (http://img27.imageshack.us/i/shadowwithtint.jpg/)
-=-
my original 3g - "Little Red"
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j85/llvll3t4/Dec2851.jpg
preaty much how the engine bay looks now in sh4d0w except its gray of course
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j85/llvll3t4/engine.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j85/llvll3t4/lilred.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j85/llvll3t4/lilred-1.jpg
-=-
I'll take some new pics of Sh4d0w when I get home from work today... in about an hour or so
Sh4d0w
11-03-2009, 09:00 AM
I forgot to mention my JDM Momo stearing wheel. From my understanding this was only available as a dealer installed option if you where in Japan and I'm sure it was not for the 3G - but its the sex, so I got it, and put it in.
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j85/llvll3t4/shadowstearingwheel.jpg
Drivers & Passenger door custom panels for the speakers
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j85/llvll3t4/shadowdriversdoor.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j85/llvll3t4/shadowpassdoor.jpg
pacesetter header - unfortunately I didn't wrap it b4 it was installed - going to have to pull it and do it right.
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j85/llvll3t4/shadowpacesetterheader.jpg
Short air ram, and Optima Red Top
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j85/llvll3t4/shadowengineleft.jpg
Engine overview
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j85/llvll3t4/shadowenginebay.jpg
Front view
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j85/llvll3t4/shadowfront.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j85/llvll3t4/shadowfrontright.jpg
Rear view
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j85/llvll3t4/shadow-back.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j85/llvll3t4/shadowbackleft.jpg
Tomisimo
11-03-2009, 12:39 PM
It looks real good.. Like that dark gray color.
Civic Accord Honda
11-03-2009, 07:03 PM
looks good! the chrome flairs look good on that color
AccordB20A
11-03-2009, 07:56 PM
car looks mint mate.
Tomisimo
11-03-2009, 09:51 PM
And i love that st.wheel. sell it to me :D
Sh4d0w
11-04-2009, 02:22 AM
It looks real good.. Like that dark gray color.
Thank you, I prefer the Dark Grey to the Champagne that was on my first one. I like the dark gray much more, but it shows the dust (thank God for california dusters), rain (good wax job ftw) few minor dents (only in the bright sun, which I rarely see since I work nights) and rock chips (the car lived in Mountain Home, which is an Air Force Base in the middle of the Desert here... lots of rock chips on the hood. I'm going to get it repainted eventually, but I want to get it built first - no sense in screwing up the new paint with other work being done to it...
looks good! the chrome flairs look good on that color
Thanks! I know quite a few people have put them on just about every car & color imaginable, but I think this particular color 3G actually pulls it off well.
car looks mint mate.
Thanks mate. Not quite mint, but at 286xxx mi on the body, its doing quite well.
And i love that st.wheel. sell it to me :D
Thanks man! It really is the sex. Hand-wrapped leather just feels sooooooo nice. Soft, supple Momo love everytime I get in <3
On that note, I had it just direct wired with the horn in the middle, and the 2 side thumb buttons (very hard to see in pics - I'll post better ones when I take them) set up for my cruise. Basically, the 2 buttons on the left side of the stock wheel are controlled by the one left button, and same on the right. Unfortunately I didn't get a cord real adapter with it, so after hard-wiring it, and having it work for about 2 months, the wires evenntually go tangled up inside, and I yanked them all out making a hard turn. :( So, no horn and no cruise for now.
I know, I know... everyone takes out their Crusie Control and AC... well, I like my Cruise - it keeps me from getting too many tickets ;-) since its been out, i've been pulled over twice - warnings both times since the cop was going the other direction and couldn't get an accurate read on my speed.
And I want to FIX my AC - so to all you guys that ripped out yours, I may need some parts if you have them still. Once I find out whats wrong exactly with it. I know it won't hold vaccum. I don't know where the leak is coming from.
ShyBoyCA6
11-04-2009, 03:52 AM
nice car man liking the rims
Sh4d0w
11-04-2009, 04:56 AM
^^ Thanks man! They've got a bit of the ol curb rash on 2 of em, but I really like them too. They are light (so I've been told...) and I dig the style and color - seems better on a dark colored car named SH4D0W then bright chrome ones lol
Sh4d0w
11-04-2009, 06:16 AM
COMPLETE
Engine / Performance
Rebuilt stock a20
NGK plugs
8mm Spiro plug wires
Short air ram
New Front Axels
Reman'd Auto tranny
Pacesetter Headers
Pacesetter Monza Exhaust
Exterior
lowered 2" - I'll find out exactly what was used and post it
15" AR rims
195/50/R15 Toyo Proxis4's
15% tint all around
5% tint on sunroof
JDM Front Corners
Aftermarket Schucks Fog/driving lights
Chrome fender flares
Interior
JDM Honda MOMO stearing wheel
Red dome light
Aftermarket Ebay shift knob
Undisclosed Audio Components
Undisclosed Security Components
NEED TO DO
Find Cord Real Adapter for steering wheel
Weld in Flexi-pipe to eliminate vibration from solid exhaust
WANT TO DO
SE-i brake conversion
B16a Intake Manifold w/Over-bored Throttle Body
JDM tails
JDM eyelids
JDM hood piece
DSM 450cc injectors
OBD-1 conversion
Bisimoto stage 2 regrind on cam
Bisimoto spring kit
Bisimoto MLS intake mani gasket (group buy)
Bisimoto Cam Gear (group buy)
A-Pillar gauge pod
SE-i armrest
swapping over the indiglow gauge cluster
JFern
11-04-2009, 08:09 AM
Looks clean man! loving that steering wheel and door panels... It's always nice to see a good 3gee (it gives me ideas for mine :P)
Sh4d0w
11-04-2009, 08:58 AM
Awesome! Hope your ideas pan out well!
MessyHonda
11-09-2009, 08:12 PM
nice looking project..any plan on making it a 5 speed
Sh4d0w
11-09-2009, 08:34 PM
nice looking project..any plan on making it a 5 speed
Unfortunatly, this one will be staying an automatic. My wife has a plate and pins in her ankle, and can't drive a stick.
I've been kicking around an idea of turning my OLD (slightly wrecked...) 3G into a auto-x beast tho. Ive got a complete engine sitting in my garage, and a shell with a smashed front end and no tranny. I was thinking on fixing up the engine in my garage, pairing it with a nice 5-speed (I'll be researching which ones to use with the write-ups on here...), and gutting it for max weight reduction.
It would be an epic journey seeings how I have a tendency to break things that are more expensive then what I was trying to fix...
Let's just say at this point, my mechanical skills need help. I'm more of a computer repair guy. Like I said, I break things that cost more then what I'm fixing...
But, this would give me a chance to learn as much as possible about the 3g, and give me a helluva goal.
Yea, I think I will. I'll rebuild that engine in the garage, and rebuild Little Red into a auto-x beast.
Project Little Red is born....
I'm going to be needing a bit off help from the gurus on here...
MessyHonda
11-09-2009, 08:46 PM
yeah...then why put performance parts on a auto? just save it for the 5 speed
Civic Accord Honda
11-09-2009, 09:06 PM
yeah...then why put performance parts on a auto? just save it for the 5 speed
becuase a nice Daily driver auto with balls pwns a slow one :P
2drSE-i
11-09-2009, 09:22 PM
Hey shadow, will you do me a favor and take side shots of your steering wheel? I'm very interested in what it looks like on the sides.
Sh4d0w
11-09-2009, 10:39 PM
misposted... then screwed up the edit, and made new post... sry...
Sh4d0w
11-09-2009, 10:42 PM
yeah...then why put performance parts on a auto? just save it for the 5 speed
becuase a nice Daily driver auto with balls pwns a slow one :P
exactly.
Hey shadow, will you do me a favor and take side shots of your steering wheel? I'm very interested in what it looks like on the sides.
sure, I'll have them up in the morning. I left my connection for the camera at home, but I got some good side shots for you.
Sh4d0w
11-10-2009, 09:16 AM
As promised ;-)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2549/4092496043_79a88495ba.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2434/4092494281_72c9acc43a.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2667/4093252644_3253dcb865.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2631/4093249526_3fef0cc26a.jpg
Sh4d0w
11-10-2009, 09:34 AM
one more, just for good measure.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2747/4092497721_b5de193226.jpg
Civic Accord Honda
11-10-2009, 04:43 PM
i want that steering wheel~!!!!
Sh4d0w
11-11-2009, 03:40 PM
Well, SH4D0W was hesitating really badly today, and died on me and wouldn't restart for about 10 minutes. It cranked over fine, but wouldn't catch. The last place I had it (for its 30k flushes) mentioned that the dizzy is going... I've got it in at the shop right now.
I know I have pending orders with some of you on here, but I'm sure you'll understand if I wait to buy extra goodies till next paycheck, and focus on getting it running again.
Sh4d0w
11-11-2009, 04:30 PM
So, another thing I'd like to get fixed is the fact that all the wires in my stearing wheel are snapped from being hard-wired together. They tangled when I made a few turns, and eventually the stearing wheel wouldnt turn at a vital driving moment, and I yanked the wheel, made the turn avoid the Ginormus Suburban that was barreling down on me, and lived to write about it. I have been in 4 accidents in my life, all of which involving suburbans. They are evil; the very embodiment of evil. Them, especially involving distracted nurses as drivers are at the top of my "stay far away from" list. Alas, I digress..
The stearing wheel is supposed to have a piece that accepts a set of wires from the car harness, and connects to the horn and cruise control buttons.
All hail, mighty 3g gurus... I beseech your vast arrays of knowledge that I may implement said knowledge and post good pix.
Sh4d0w
11-12-2009, 06:25 PM
Well, the shop says that one of the injectors was misfiring. They said they took it out, cleaned it up, put it back, did some other tests, the dizzy is fine, they say. IDK. They said its running better now. Well, it was intermittent before, and never until now did it happen when it was anywhere near a shop. So, we'll see. I pick it up tomarrrow.
Sh4d0w
11-13-2009, 10:36 PM
Well, got SH4D0W back today. He is indeed running much better now taht all 4 injectors are working as they should. Only thing is, I had had it back all of 20 minutes when the starter decided to fail on me. When I cracnk the key, I get a click. this happens a few times, I rotate the car from park down thru the gears and back, and then it fires up.
Going to be putting in a new starter this weekend if I'm not too tired after work from
10 - 8. Otherwise it will be monday at the latest.
Civic Accord Honda
11-13-2009, 11:43 PM
you sure its the starter and not a shitty ground or postive cable or battery contection?
Sh4d0w
11-28-2009, 05:44 PM
you sure its the starter and not a shitty ground or postive cable or battery contection?
yea, it was the starter. got it replaced, and all is well.
Just puled the header and wrapped it, wil finish shooting it with hi-temp silicone in the morning, and get it re-installed.
also pulled some wiper arms from the JY and got them painted too. I'll post the pics later once we get them bak on tomarow.
Sh4d0w
01-15-2010, 12:12 AM
Update:
I have a Blaster2 coil to instal, and all the pieces to do the ground upgrade. I recieved Justin's custom suspension bars, and got new rims.
Everything but the rims should be done soon - within the next couple weeks, as my days off allow. I'm going to wait till we are done with winter and all the wonderfullness it brings to the roads before puttin on the rims.
Monday I'm going out to pick up a vigor rear sway bar, then its just getting some new good bushings for it, and gettin it on as well.
Sh4d0w
02-10-2010, 12:42 AM
Well, its been a hectic time for me, culminating with my wife slashing my tire and threatning me with a knife. This has led to my abrupt moving out of my house, and into hiding, basicly. I really need to get the dizzy done badly. Its stalling out completely now, below 1k rpm. Hopefully I will be able to get that done in the next couple days.
Bluntman
02-10-2010, 06:04 AM
Well, its been a hectic time for me, culminating with my wife slashing my tire and threatning me with a knife. This has led to my abrupt moving out of my house, and into hiding, basicly. I really need to get the dizzy done badly. Its stalling out completely now, below 1k rpm. Hopefully I will be able to get that done in the next couple days.
Did the distributor from Rock Auto that I posted the link to come yet?
Sh4d0w
02-10-2010, 10:36 PM
no, aparently the order never was finalized or something. I re-ordered it today with the 3 day shipping option, and got the receipt. It should be here on sat.
Bluntman
02-17-2010, 06:24 AM
no, aparently the order never was finalized or something. I re-ordered it today with the 3 day shipping option, and got the receipt. It should be here on sat.
Did it arrive yet?
Sh4d0w
02-18-2010, 06:48 PM
I recieved it on the 16th, and got it in this morning. Also put in the msd blaster2 coil.
It has improved the idle somewhat, but it still is having an issue. My friend that works for a shop is going to take another indepth look at it on thursday so we can get it fixed up.
I did snap a couple pix, and Ill get those up tonight. I can't upload them from my work computers, and I haven't figured out my iphone well enough to post them directly from there to, say, photobucket or flikr
ShyBoyCA6
02-18-2010, 07:11 PM
yo Sh4dow where did you get that steering wheel??
Sh4d0w
02-25-2010, 06:32 PM
yo Sh4dow where did you get that steering wheel??
I found it on Ebay
-=-
Horrible news. As some of you may know, I am now in the midst of a nasty divorce. My wife pulled a knife on me after she slashed the tire on SH4D0W, so I filed a protection order, and moved out, and have filed for divorce. Well, the day after I left, she took out a title loan against SH4D0W, and never repayed it. This was on the 9th of this month, or thereabouts.
Well, yesterday morning I went outside, and my car was gone. Repo'd.
So, since she went behind my back and took me off the title and the registration, insted of going and paying off the loan (which she would then be able to get another loan on) I opted to find another reliable little car to get me thru until the divorce is done.
So, at this point, I have no more Honda
=( </3
2drSE-i
02-25-2010, 09:02 PM
Wow im really sorry to hear that man. Crazy bitches are just that i guess. I'm sure she wasn't always bad, not to bash on someone i don't even know.
Hope you get through this OK good sir, always a hard time.
Sh4d0w
02-25-2010, 09:12 PM
Thank you, I am getting thru all of it quite well, actually. No major meltdowns to speak of. Got a new apartment all set up, and have a car to drive, even if it isn't my honda, it gets me around to work. My friends here in the area, both old and new friends alike,have really been a tremendous support thru all this.
I will get thru this, and I have no doubt I wil own another 3g, but not while in the midst of this divorce.
Tdurr
02-25-2010, 09:49 PM
Wow thats crazy man! I hope you get everything figured out fine. Hopefully the divorce will will be quick and not too painful. Good Luck with everything man! Stay strong.
ShyBoyCA6
02-25-2010, 10:05 PM
dang that sucks sh4dow hope you get yo car man looks to nice just to let it go...hope you doing better man
Sh4d0w
02-26-2010, 09:56 PM
Thanks guys. I am going to do my best to get the car back, but I don't know. The courts arn't exactly in my favor, as a guy. She came at me with a knife, slashed my tires, and the only thing she got charged with is "interfereing with a 911 phone call".
If I came at her with a knife, the cop told me, I would be looking at 5-15 years for assault with intent.
So, pardon me if I don't put too much faith in the courts doing what is right.
Either way, all will be well. No amount of money or physical possessions is worth having your life threatened. I am much happier (and safer) now, and even without my car, I am and always will be SH4D0W
Sh4d0w
02-28-2010, 12:14 PM
edited...
Sh4d0w
02-28-2010, 12:17 PM
edited
2drSE-i
02-28-2010, 12:19 PM
Long stuff
Please, for the love of god, do not post here. Cannot understand a word you said.
That being said, I do not , nor does anyone else on this forum, know the complete story from either side. Your soon to be ex-husband was kind enough to leave out most details, I would have hoped you would have shared the same courtesy. You coming on here, posting this information on a public forum will do you nothing but harm.
I would advise everyone else to just leave this alone.
ShyBoyCA6
02-28-2010, 12:24 PM
um whos typing this doesnt seem like Sh4dow hmm
Sh4d0w
02-28-2010, 12:41 PM
always and will be Sh4dow
Sh4d0w
03-01-2010, 06:39 PM
that was posted by my soon-to-be-ex-wife..
I will be editing my login info to prevent this from happening again.
My apologies.
2drSE-i
03-01-2010, 08:33 PM
Called it! No worries good sir. I'd save that craziness for court.
Sh4d0w
03-01-2010, 08:52 PM
Im not sure what was posted, but if it is the same that was posted on her facebook, then it has no business being anywhere but in the defamation of charactor suit that will be following the divorce.
Again, my apologies.
2drSE-i
03-01-2010, 09:03 PM
I saved the webpage for you. If you'd like it, i will send it your way.
Civic Accord Honda
03-02-2010, 06:08 PM
wait what happened? his wife slashed his tires took his car then came on here and posted some shit? thats bs man..
i hope everything works out for you man, that really blows..
Sh4d0w
03-02-2010, 09:36 PM
I saved the webpage for you. If you'd like it, i will send it your way.
if you can forward it to my pm box, that would be great. Thank you.
and CAH - that's basicly the nutshell version, yea
2drSE-i
03-02-2010, 09:39 PM
I cant attach it to a PM, but if you pm me your email address i can send it over.
itzdave
03-02-2010, 10:01 PM
:koolaid:
Sh4d0w
03-08-2010, 09:14 PM
pm sent
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