Hi,
Im new hear and am planning on selling my 2003 mustang mach 1 in the next few months or years. Im hoping to buy a used of course, civic hatch back.
Im wanting to get the most out of my money. Im hoping at spending no more than $20,000.00 On it. I want to completely redo the interior, get HID's, Rims, Body Kit, Paint, Body Work, And A New Engine, As Well As Sound. I Want to push over 500 hp at the crank. What is the best and easiest civic to find, and do this to.
Thanks.

 

two letters... Si civic

 

ugh. why would you want 500hp if you're carrying around 3500lbs of car + crap? scratch the body kit, the paint, the 'body work' (whatever thats supposed to mean), and just go to the new engine. start with a 92-95 DX hatch and swap in a GSR. that should get you a sweet start.

 

Maybe he wants a show car, Nail. To each his own. Anyway, the best car would be one that you like, so the best thing to do would be to look through the styles and body kits available and see what appeals to you. You are going to have to engine swap to get that kind of power, I would imagine, and the bigger engines that you would want are all kind of a hassle to the same degree (i think, correct me if I'm wrong here). My advice would be stay away from 5th gens (92-95) people love those cause they are light and relatively easy to swap engines into. I guess I would recommend 6th gen (96-00). Please correct me if I'm wrong on any of this. Hope that helps

 

Thats the beauty of the Honda hatchback... they dont weigh in at 3400+ lbs. With a curb weight around 2300 lbs you dont need 500 HP. Like the people said above take a B18, swap it, try it out and if that isnt enough, try a modest turbo at 5PSI or so... of course if you do get the 500 HP then please post your dyno runs and lots of pics.

 

What if you could swap in a K24A4 engine? For those in the dark the K24A4 is the 2.4L L4 i-VTEC found in the Honda Accord, CR-V, and the Element. Sure makes bundles of torque, but must cost a fortune to swap into the Civic?

 

ugh. ignorance is bliss i suppose.

its easier to swap any engine into a 5th gen over a 6th gen. with a 5th gen almost everything bolts right in. with a 6th you usually have to change the rear mount and sometimes the transmission mount, then for most of the popular engine swaps you have to do OBD swaps and it just gets complicated as hell as opposed to a 5th.

nobody in their sane mind would put 500hp of work into a show car. its just impractical.

with all this extra body work, stereo, interior work hes talking about, he would be curbing in at waaaaay more than stock weight. 3.5klbs is a bit of an exaggeration...but it will add a ton of weight.

and nobody puts a K into an EK. thats just car suicide.

 

whats wrong with making a show car that can move. its his car and i think hes gonna do what he wants with it. Im all for the show/race cars

 

Nail never said there's anything wrong with a show car that can move, but a 500Hp Civic Hatch is a little rediculous for a show car, especially with all that extra weight he'll be carrying. I'd say if you want that much go, then go with a little show. A nice front and rear lip kit, paint your OEM side skirts and your set. I personally find that looks way better than a huge body kit and alot sleeker. And in regards to this "My advice would be stay away from 5th gens (92-95) people love those cause they are light and relatively easy to swap engines into. I guess I would recommend 6th gen (96-00)." -Chips. Maybe I'm reading that wrong, but are you not just contradicting yourself there? Either way, the 5th gen is a great Hatch so I fail to see why you would be telling him to stay away from them.

TiCkEr

 

ticker about nailed it. 500hp is impractical for any car for the street, not to mention a show car. if you're building a show car you shouldnt worry too much about teh engine except for maybe cosmetics. 500hp takes a lot more money than people like to admit, and it will be more than the car and all the show will cost together. besides, IMO a sweet Type R or Mugen front and rear lip, along with some skirts. a set of them all around would look sweet.

if you really want a full kit, look at Buddy Club kits. great lookin as far as body kits go IMO.