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]

[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.

[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

Nice Looking Hatch

[Greg Dawson]

Sweet ride.

[Pico]

Very Clean
Welcome to 3geez

[HON-DUH]

Superb looking car, clean engine bay!

[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.

[JeromyA20A1]

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

[87roach]

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

[JeromyA20A1]

OBX 4-1 stainless steel header

[JeromyA20A1]

Weber 38

[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

if 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