THSCC Forums

I am finally doing some long overdue work on my '94 Civic Si. The transmission has been singing a variety of tunes for awhile so it will get replaced. "While I am in there anyway" ... what else should I do?

Here is what I am thinking:
- all the seals on the engine
- valve job
- engine mounts (stay with OEM? or are there nice aftermarket alternatives?)
- water pump (or do Honda pumps last forever?)
-timing belt (of course)

and check the piston bores and the crank bearings for wear, then contemplate whether rings and bearings, etc. are needed.

maybe... cat back exhaust? I have heard not to replace the stock "header" so as to keep what torque there is... Agree?

Any other Honda wisdom to share? I really like the car and want to maintain the overall awesomeness and driveability of the stock configuration, but would certainly upgrade a few things if it would improve performance without hurting mileage or driveability.

Cheers!
Eric

Most definitely do the water pump while your doing the timing belt. Seals and gaskets are smart too and if I was you I'd stick with factory parts (try slhondaparts.com or hondaautomotiveparts.com). As far as the other stuff goes, how many miles are on the car?

Oh, and when doing the transmission, fill it up with Pennzoil Synchromesh.

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Stephen Westerfield
2009 Infiniti M35 | 2007 Honda Fit Sport | 2005 Ford Mustang GT |2000 GMC Sierra |1992 Acura Integra LS | Super Westerfield Bros Acura Integra

agreed with ^.. stick with oem honda parts if you can.

about the trans fluid, ive heard + and - things. ive always been told to just stick with OEM honda MTF (apparently the new stuff is a lot better). but who knows, i havnt changed trans fluid in a loooooooong time

check all of your joints and steering boots and axles. pretty much like any other car they tend to wear out. axles from autozone are lifetime warranty, but are also hit or miss as far as how good they are. ive personally have not had a problem, and have bought 3-4 axles for few hondas.

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'11 RallyX VP
1998 Integra Type R - track fun
1999 Subaru 2.5RS - dirt fun

If it's a car you plan to keep, then visit www.raxles.com

Their axles are better than OEM and also have a lifetime warranty. - AB

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'14 Toyota Sequoia Platinum 4WD
Super Westerfield Bros - '93 Integra - LeChump Du Jour
STX 93 - Scion FR-S

Thanks guys,

I have heard of Raxles.com, but I'm staying at stock horsepower, so don't feel overly compelled to get "the good stuff". Maybe for the rallycross car tho!

This engine has 198,000 very vigorous miles on it. I got the bottom end opened up over the weekend. The crank journals look perfect, but I haven't measured them yet. There is plenty of visible wear on the crank bearings, and they measure 0.002-0.003 inch clearance. Service limit is 0.002, so they are done.

Cylinder bores look/feel great, but I haven't measured them yet either. Plan is to just hone 'em and go with new rings.

I'm planning to take stuff to Cylinder Head Spec. in Wake Forest as recommended in other threads here, but heard elsewhere to use THoff in Durham. Is THoff good again?

Also having trouble getting a complete engine gasket set. The corner auto parts stores can't get them. They only have upper gasket set, so apparently have to get the crank and pan seals seperately. I thought this was still a common engine, so am suprised that it isn't easy...

Then you're doing it wrong.

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Has no responsibility whatsoever.

Yes, very wrong. You have two options...

1. Marty at Raxles with the best axles for your FWD car
or
2. Everything else... autozone,advance,etc... You'll end up with regrinds that are out of balance and shake right off the bat, or joints that start failing after 5-10k miles.

After you go with #2 a few times you'll question whether that 50$ you saved on each axle was worth it.

They are right about Raxles Eric...ask me how I know. I replaced the driver side axle on my Z-24 THREE times with one each from NAPA, AutoZone, and Advance. Finally I called Marty at Raxles. He told me he mainly does foreign not domestics, but he would see if he could get the parts and build me one. He was able to get the parts and I've been running this axle for 3 years now with no problems.

You can tell from the packaging alone that his stuff is better.

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Vincent Keene
'06 Ford Mustang GT (track rat)
'15 Dodge Charger R/T (yeah, it's got a HEMI!)
'07 Ford Fusion SE (205,000 miles and counting)
'98 Chevy Z-24 (retired)
'93 Acura Integra (Team SWB 24HOL Car)