K swap 88 CRX track car build

[Bakeme521]

I know some of you aren't into hondas, but I love them and some you may as well so I thought I'd share. I owned one k swapped car and I ended up selling it and then regretting it since. So this time around I wanted to do the build myself. I also wanted it to be a purpose built track car that would hurt some feelings. So I picked up a retired ITA CRX and dug in. I took it to the track for the first time this past weekend, it had some issues which were expected, but the car is a monster and got quite a bit of attention. Here are the pictures I took along the way over the past 9 months. Hope you guys enjoy!

Update: Added a video from its first track session where it actually completed some laps. The track was pretty wet so I was being pretty light on it. I love the way it sounds, some may call it rice, but in my opinion its one of the best sounding all motor 4 cylinders I've heard.

This is the day it made it to the shop.


Roll cage repainted, then entire interior and engine bay repainted.



Engine and radiator in. The motor has about 1/4 inch of clearance on each side.



New wheels on, they didn't fit so of course now it needs flares at some point which I was excited about.



Brakes on, I also converted the rear to discs.


Seat in, and I made a slight body panel modification


An almost complete engine bay, with a newly painted valve cover.


Rest of the body panels on, headlight covers made, and wing mounted.



Cockpit complete


Flares, Splitter, and vinyl on.



Suspension install was complete, on the scales to corner balance. This is the weight with a half tank of gas and me in the car. Dry weight is right at 1750 lbs.


First trackday this past weekend. Had a brakeline failure which caused me to go off in the mud.



A little fun after taking the car off the trailer.

[ashtaron14]

That looks CRAZY FUN!

[Slops]

awesome build man! I bet that thing flies around corners

[Red Bread]

My first car was an 89 black Si. Nice build!

[Slops]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

My first car was an 89 black Si. Nice build!

mine was an 87 lol Loved that car even though you could see the road through the rusted floor :O

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by Slops

mine was an 87 lol Loved that car even though you could see the road through the rusted floor :O

My second gen was 2200 pounds, weren't the first gen right at 2000? With some rust, you were probably under a ton.

[Slops]

yeah it was super light it was a sliver one just like this... good ol days hahaha

[kyleb350]

To us non-Honda guys, what were the K engines from? The RSX Type S?

[Bakeme521]

Thanks for the feedback guys, I am glad you guys enjoy it as much as I do, pretty cool to see some other CRX owners as well.

Originally Posted by kyleb350

To us non-Honda guys, what were the K engines from? The RSX Type S?

K engines came in a lot of cars. This particular engine is from an RSX type-s. All of the 8th gen civic SI's had this engine as well. The K engine platform is also used in multiple honda and acura vehicles like the CRV and TSX just to name a few. As the engine differed from different vehicles displacement could be a 2.0 or a 2.4 and compression ratios are slightly different. But K motors are pretty much building blocks you can slap different pieces from different engines to make your own, the possibilities are endless really.

My particular engine like i said was from an RSX but I have the manifold from a 09 civic SI because it is the best flowing. With all my mods the car makes about 230 whp out of 2.0L which is insane as it is, but given the cars weight its a monster.

[Slops]

Then you can turbo that bad boy right???? how about some vids???

[eVitO]

Dear lord, I take shits that weigh more than that. What an amazing car...

[gtron]

like honda's or not, one can still like this thread. looks fun.

[Bakeme521]

Originally Posted by Slops

Then you can turbo that bad boy right???? how about some vids???

Oh yeah you can, but that much torque at the front tires would be a little much for the track but would be nice on the straights.

Didn't get too many good videos this past weekend, I had to work out all the kinks on the first go round so there wasn't much opportunity for filming. It will be going to track again in 2 weeks and I will get the go pro that time.

Originally Posted by eVitO

Dear lord, I take shits that weigh more than that. What an amazing car...

Originally Posted by gtron

like honda's or not, one can still like this thread. looks fun.

Thanks guys.

[DieGrüneHölle]

Nice build. Thanks for sharing.

Lets hear it in action. Get some in-car Gopro footage of some laps.

[VMRWheels]

Nice build! I'm sure this thing is amazing on the track.. VIDS!

[Yodaime]

I seen that beast and you ain't wana say hi noob!!

[504medic]

Do you have to file a Flight Plan with a wing like that?

Looks like y'all built an outstanding car.

[davesz4mc]

Just design a boost controller based on stearing angle and your good

[TSM330i]

Wow! That is light!!! Should be a blast on the track.

I've raced against Harold (the blue e46 M3 in the pic is his sprint car), he has another former DE car that he uses for endurance races.

[ShocknAwe]

Looks amazing. Love what you have done and I've always loved the CRX. I really wish Honda had pulled a "new CRX" with the CRZ, but nope. As a former Honda owner (hopefully again if they make a decent car sometime soon), their engines are hard to beat.

[Bakeme521]

Originally Posted by 504medic

Do you have to file a Flight Plan with a wing like that?

Looks like y'all built an outstanding car.

haha it certainly does it's job.

Originally Posted by TSM330i

Wow! That is light!!! Should be a blast on the track.

I've raced against Harold (the blue e46 M3 in the pic is his sprint car), he has another former DE car that he uses for endurance races.

Really? Thats' pretty sweet, I am most of the events he is at, usually I am driving a blue E36 but now that I have built this car I plan on bringing it all over the country. I will be at the Chin Motorsports event in september here in NOLA and at Road Atlanta in november.

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Looks amazing. Love what you have done and I've always loved the CRX. I really wish Honda had pulled a "new CRX" with the CRZ, but nope. As a former Honda owner (hopefully again if they make a decent car sometime soon), their engines are hard to beat.

Thanks! I am not a huge fan of the newer cars, but the K motor is insane for what it is and it is a monster in this little car.

[TSM330i]

Originally Posted by Bakeme521

haha it certainly does it's job.



Really? Thats' pretty sweet, I am most of the events he is at, usually I am driving a blue E36 but now that I have built this car I plan on bringing it all over the country. I will be at the Chin Motorsports event in september here in NOLA and at Road Atlanta in november.



Thanks! I am not a huge fan of the newer cars, but the K motor is insane for what it is and it is a monster in this little car.

Yup, it's Harold Petit. He's a main sponsor for the Bimmerworld cars and has driven in some of the endurance races with them. Great bunch of guys. I usually see him in the Northeast. Of course, he's usually racing up and down the entire Eastcoast.