89 hatch

[JeromyA20A1]

Everyone this is my new project...89 hatch A20a1. At only 93XXX miles it has new...

Falken 185/70/13 tires
Optima Red Top battery
NGK wires
NGK Iridium Plugs
starter
distributor
alternator
power steering pump
brake master cylinder
water pump
fuel pump
fuel sender unit
Cherrybomb glasspack muffler

...as well as all new belts, hoses, filters and vacuum lines. Recently flushed both motor and tranny with Seafoam detergent. Now running on Lucas ATF fluid and Royal Purple 5w-30 full synthetic.

Im currently looking into some aftermarket JDM exterior parts like side markers, yellow 7x6 headlights and JDM style rear tails.

Im also looking into a few bolt ons...
Header...Pace Setter or Megan?
Exhaust...Pace Setter or custom straight pipe?
Wheel+tire...13 or 15?

I would like some help in deciding either to stick with the stock A20a1 motor and just replace all the internals with better rings and bigger cam, Webber carb or even EFI. Maybe full swap!? B16? Tranny?

[charliekuney]

If your car has factory Phoenix Red (R-51) paint, it's an '88 because the hatch only came in that color in 1988. Also, no JDM tails for the hatches. As for the headlights, save a shitload of money and get some Sylvania Silverstars and spray them yellow with glass stain.

[JeromyA20A1]

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/jdgaf07/IMG_05491.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/jdgaf07/IMG_05411.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/jdgaf07/IMG_05421.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/jdgaf07/IMG_05361.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/jdgaf07/IMG_05281.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/jdgaf07/IMG_05271.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/jdgaf07/IMG_05451.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/jdgaf07/IMG_05431.jpg

[JeromyA20A1]

88? crazy..my title and vin both say 89...really NO jdm style tails? for $40-50 bucks ive found a set of yellow 7x6 oem replacement headlamps.

[charliekuney]

Yeah, in 1989 Phoenix Red was only available on the DX coupe. Check your VIN again. JDM tail lights only for the pre-facelift sedans. Please link said headlights. :D

[JeromyA20A1]

ill def check first thing tomorrow when i head to work. either way im going to keep the 51 paint scheme, finish minor body work, sand, and have repainted the same red just in a matte finish.

[forrest89sei]

Welcome to the forum :wave:

Nice Looking Hatch :rockon:

[Greg Dawson]

Sweet ride.

[Pico]

Very Clean
Welcome to 3geez

[HON-DUH]

Superb looking car, clean engine bay!
:welcome:

[JeromyA20A1]

thank you guys for all the compliments! opinions on rebulding stock or easy swaps for this hatch?

[knarg]

welcome!

[wh1skea]

The more hatches, the merrier!!!!

[charliekuney]

Why rebuild the engine with 90k miles?

[JeromyA20A1]

Have some extra money and looking to get some extra power.

[Vanilla Sky]

Unless you're married to an automatic, I'd do a transmission change first. Bitesize did the swap and picked up over a second in the 1/4 mile. If you do decide to keep the automatic, put Honda ATF-Z in it and add an inline transmission cooler after the stock cooler.

At less than 100,000 miles, you're not going to pick up any power from a simple rebuild. With some port and polish work and a compression bump, you'll see a gain. I'd stick with just a cam and a Weber carb. For the exhaust side, I have both a Pacesetter header and a Pacesetter exhaust here at my place. Neither are worth their price, unless you buy them used. With the exhaust, you end up having to install a new muffler in a year or two because they rust out. The headers are either rust prone and cheap (painted) or they're ceramic coated and kinda spendy. I'd spend my time tracking down a DC or buy the OBX from ebay first.

If I were the one looking for lights, I'd buy a set of Hella or Autopal E-Codes. If you must have yellow, I'd get some 3000k bulbs for the conversion housings.

You have one of the first aftermarket cruise control systems that I've seen in a 3gee. Does it work well?

[JeromyA20A1]

Sky your a damn good man!! I think I'll just stick with the auto and your awesome advice cause my wife occasionally like to drive mine around town to just get out when she doesnt wanna drive hers. I think I'll try and track down a DC 4-2-1 2 price ceramic header..reviews I've read today DC seems to be the safest bet. Kinda hard finding one for the mine. You hit the lighting right on the nose the conversion kits also seem to be exactly what I'm looking for. The cruise was definitely a surprise when I first bought the car last month and I have to say it works great! Had to replace the speedo clip in the back of the dash and the cable itself but so far this cruise def comes in handy.

[Vanilla Sky]

One thing to keep in mind in your search for a DC header is that you likely will not find one brand new. Quite a few places claim to have them available, but when you call, they have to order them from DC Sports, which discontinued the part more than 5 years ago. If you find a new one, do not hesitate to buy it.

The OBX doesn't seem too bad. It's a Chinese copy of the excellent S&S header. If you search the site, you'll see an example of what is likely the first 3gee OBX header.

[JeromyA20A1]

I've been noticing quickly that a new DC header for the 3g is going Tongans some serious homework!! Correct me if I'm Wrong Sky but DC creates headers for efi setup not carb? The only company that I see doing a efi/carb safe header is pacesetter!? For being a daily driver what's your idea on a more ideal header..4-2-1 or 4-1?

[charliekuney]

There's a DC Sports header in the for sale section for $100 obo right now (http://www.3geez.com/forum/showthread.php?t=75801). :)

[JeromyA20A1]

Think Ive fallen in love!
Diamond Racing steelies 15x7 4x100

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5226/5691518507_5175c564b8_z.jpg

[87roach]

Those would look pretty sweet depending on the offset. I like the deep dish style.

[JeromyA20A1]

OBX 4-1 stainless steel header

http://i.ebayimg.com/04/!B6+I03wCGk~$(KGrHqN,!mEEy+jC1qTKBMy7(p6,Y!~~-1_12.JPG

[JeromyA20A1]

Weber 38

http://img.eautopartscatalog.com/live/18930020WEB.JPG

[lostforawhile]

88? crazy..my title and vin both say 89...really NO jdm style tails? for $40-50 bucks ive found a set of yellow 7x6 oem replacement headlamps.it used to be common in a lot of places to title an import the year it was sold, so it may be an 88, but was sold in 89, so it's titled as an 89, for the headlights, get some high quality replacements, and use duplicolor anodize gold to lightly spray a coat, it's translucent and is the correct color, I've seen pictures of it done, and the light output is comparable to a stock light. it's the same dicromatic yellow output as the lights on European cars


Think Ive fallen in love!
Diamond Racing steelies 15x7 4x100

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5226/5691518507_5175c564b8_z.jpgif you like 14's, the geo prism wheels are just like that pattern, just add beauty rings


I've been noticing quickly that a new DC header for the 3g is going Tongans some serious homework!! Correct me if I'm Wrong Sky but DC creates headers for efi setup not carb? The only company that I see doing a efi/carb safe header is pacesetter!? For being a daily driver what's your idea on a more ideal header..4-2-1 or 4-1?both cars use the same header

[charliekuney]

both cars use the same header

I thought DX's, LX's, and 1986-1987 LX-i's used 4-1 while 1988-1989 LX-i's and SE-i's use 4-2-1? Isn't that the majority of the reason as to why 1988-1989 LX-i's have ten more horsepower than the 1986-1987's?

[lostforawhile]

I thought DX's, LX's, and 1986-1987 LX-i's used 4-1 while 1988-1989 LX-i's and SE-i's use 4-2-1? Isn't that the majority of the reason as to why 1988-1989 LX-i's have ten more horsepower than the 1986-1987's?

aftermarket header,both cars use the same header if you can find one

[ADRIANFARINA]

The more hatches, the merrier!!!!

welcome !

[Vanilla Sky]

The DC in the marketplace is only a partial header. You'd still have to make a down pipe. While you're making your down pipe, you might as well make a header.

The 4-1 design is better suited for a narrow rev range than a 4-2-1. That's my only concern, bit the A series has a pretty fat torque curve for what it is.

[JeromyA20A1]

Just ran across a cheap set of rims...just thought of throwing it out there! I think I might order a set since I just bought new 185/70/13 tires. Black, red, maybe even the pink for the breast cancer support.

http://www.aeroracewheels.com/colors.html

[Vanilla Sky]

Performance tires for 13" wheels are becoming rarer than hens teeth. I'd use up the tires you have and then get new wheels. To get decent tires, you're going to have to move up to a 15" wheel. Another reason to avoid the small wheels is brakes. If you ever want to swap to LXi brakes, you'll need at least 14" wheels.

[lostforawhile]

Performance tires for 13" wheels are becoming rarer than hens teeth. I'd use up the tires you have and then get new wheels. To get decent tires, you're going to have to move up to a 15" wheel. Another reason to avoid the small wheels is brakes. If you ever want to swap to LXi brakes, you'll need at least 14" wheels.

the 14 inch wheels are still widely available in performance tires

[Dr_Snooz]

I think I'll just stick with the auto and your awesome advice cause my wife occasionally like to drive mine around town to just get out when she doesnt wanna drive hers.

You know where this is leading right? Before you know it, you'll be driving hers all the time. I'd say do a manual swap first thing! LOL

Car looks pretty tight. Welcome!

[MessyHonda]

The DC in the marketplace is only a partial header. You'd still have to make a down pipe. While you're making your down pipe, you might as well make a header.

The 4-1 design is better suited for a narrow rev range than a 4-2-1. That's my only concern, bit the A series has a pretty fat torque curve for what it is.

a custom header will cost 400-600 bucks. Get a OBX header and weld a flex pipe with a 2.25 or 2.5 inch collector

[Vanilla Sky]

a custom header will cost 400-600 bucks. Get a OBX header and weld a flex pipe with a 2.25 or 2.5 inch collector

That's pretty much what I was getting at. I don't think it's worth it to buy the upper of a somewhat common header, just to spend as much as the whole header would be worth on the down pipe.

Going with a 15" wheel gives you the option of running a 205/50 15 tire. It's a common size with good prices and wide availability of cheap street tires all the way through competition tires. There aren't many good 14" tires out there anymore because no one uses them anymore. It will only get worse in the future.

[lostforawhile]

That's pretty much what I was getting at. I don't think it's worth it to buy the upper of a somewhat common header, just to spend as much as the whole header would be worth on the down pipe.

Going with a 15" wheel gives you the option of running a 205/50 15 tire. It's a common size with good prices and wide availability of cheap street tires all the way through competition tires. There aren't many good 14" tires out there anymore because no one uses them anymore. It will only get worse in the future.

check tire rack there are a bunch of good 14's they fit a lot of cars and aren't going anywhere, especially with the new micro cars being the new thing

[Vanilla Sky]

Actually, I did check the Rack. There are 14 tires available in our size. If you go with 205/50 15s, there are 24 tires.

If you put sticky tires on a tall car with a small footprint (like the micro cars you mention), you roll over. There's a reason the xB isn't allowed to autocross.

[MessyHonda]

yeah running a 15 inch rim opens up more selection for tires. so far i had khumos and falkens and both are stickier than my stock goodyears on my 14 inch rims.

[JeromyA20A1]

alright guys, got a tech question for you all..#1 i noticed the other day I was late to work and I was haulin ass to work and noticed that after I parked at work i noticed there was radiator fluid had spilled out, but when i took a flashlight to find if there was a leak from radiator itself or the upper or lower hoses....nothing. The only thing i could find was it looked like it came from the radiator reservoir. Any suggestions why it would only be coming from there? she runs nice and cool all day long even on long trips, the temp never raised and the radiator hasn't lost any fluid, yet only when i ran her a little harder than usual...let me know what you guys think. #2 being an auto tranny Ive noticed while its running in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gear i accelerate and de-accelerate and the tranny seems to jerk in mid gear....? maybe some sort of mount gone bad?

[Dr_Snooz]

If your head gasket is bad, it can over-pressurize the cooling system and push coolant out your reservoir. Overfilling coolant will also cause this. It's easy to overfill these cars because it's so hard to see the level in the jug. For the trans, check your fluid level. If its isn't nice and clean pink, then do a drain and fill.

[JeromyA20A1]

Ok so turns out it was just me over filling the resevoir! Now about to readjust my carb and throttle when I get off work this afternoon!