New guy here, a few questions

[Melt]

HI everyone, I have known about this board for quite a while, but have not registered due to the fact that I dont own a 3rd gen accord. However my friend does, and this being one of the best 3rd gen resoruces around I have a few questions.

He took his car to the mechanic the other day and the following things are wrong with the car, alternator is bad, clutch is dead, mechnic was suprised he was even able to drive like that, the brakes have like 10% pad left, and the water pump is leaking, all can be fixed for around $2300. I think that that figure is quite inaccurate due to the fact that a clutch job is around $500, brakes, $200, and I dunno about the alternator or water pump.

The next day he was driving the car and it died, so he started it up and it drove, but blue smoke was coming out of it and it ran really rough.

The way I see it, he can either donate the car and get a $500 tax write off, or he can maybe do a complete engine swap with all new shit for around $1000 and get the car running nice, he is in the process of selling it anyway.

What other engines are swappable into this car without major work (new mounts, etc) and what is the stock engine code?

The car is an 86 LXi sedan with about 150k miles on it, everything is original as I understand it, the body and interior is perfect, so I feel that it may be worth it to fix it.

Sorry for the long post, and I hope someone can help me out here.

[dXsquared]

well ur options are limited to 86-89 SEi or LXi or 2nd Gen Prelude Si

it sounds bad... so just get a new low mile motor and drop it in...

Travis

[Melt]

hmm... What are the differences between the SEi and LXi motors.

And about how much in USD can one be acquired for. We arent the most technical savvy people, so we might try a swap, but if we run into trouble we will take it to a mechanic.

Im talking full swap here, tranny, clutch, lots of stuff, that way we can be sure that we replaced most of the messed up stock stuff.

[njpeter]

get another 3g..I just bought a running 86lx-1 for $300..if I had another LX-1 with perfect interior, I'd be all set. If you have to pay shop labor rates..things add up reallly fast

[Neuspeed87lx]

they want 2300 to fix all that stuff ?!?!! do a b16 swap ....

[AZmike]

A low-miles imported A20A3 is $400-700. If the body and interior are good then I'd say it's worth it. Those are the things that really cost money to fix since it matters how they look, not just how well they work.

[Melt]

Aight, I will talk to him later and see what he wants to do with it

Thanks for all the replies.

[Melt]

Update: Its being donated.

[ACCORD EX]

nice civic you got there any pics ?

MIKE

[Melt]

Plenty.

[ACCORD EX]

i really love that style ! :super:
is it a good ride ? i mean mechanically !?

MIKE

[Melt]

yes. I bought it january 2002 with 130k miles and a new SOHC ZC engine, I have had very few problems with it, and it has taken me on a road trip to fort collins, CO with no problems at all.

Im going up to the sierras with it tommorow, I got my roof rack on right now, and I make sure I put my chains in, so this should be a lot of fun.

[johndej]

sorry to hear about the 3g but the civic looks great.

[Accord-SEI-89]

You quoted 4-700 for a A20A3 any references for places to find that. I am in Florida.

Also I am sure this can run the gammet but what would the labor run on a engine swap. Don't think I would try that myself... :-)

Thanks

TD

[PortugalHonda]

I'm not to surprised that it's that much.... a water pump is a fucking pain in the ass to put on..... I had to replace min once and I had to take off the valve cover timing belt cover, the timing belt itself the air box assembly then the pump is a pain itself to get out there are 5 bolts 2 which are near impossible to get to.... plus alternator is a bitch aswell... brakes are easy, but a clutch install on a FWD car are hell I hate them... I put one once on a RWD 75 Nova it wans't too bad but it was a major shit job....

But I agree with the maybe b16 swap

[PortugalHonda]

car looks great tho..... is that Civ Manual or Auto?

[Melt]

Manual 5spd. I love this car, just got back from the sierras, it was snowing like mad and all these other cars were fishtailing and stuff, and I was just able to go steady although I spun up the hills every once in a while.

I guess this actually has more to do with my tires than it does the car, but taking me through the cold gave me a lot of confidence and pride in my own car.