and I'm looking for advice. I'm thinking civic coupe or integra. What I'm wondering is that if I get a standard 1.6 is it a big deal to change the engine at a later date to a type r. Is it simply whip out one and drop in the other or does drives, wiring loom, ecu and all that have to be changed. Would I be better holding off for one already with the b16b engine in? They few and far between esp. integras, and particularly at the right money. This is a project that I'm hoping to be doing over the latter part of the year so time isn't an issue. Any advice is gratefully appreciated.

Thanks.
D. :cool:

its not major work to do that but would be cheaper building a vti or sir or ek9 from the beginning as everythin is different, mounts drives etc and y a coupe??? bit heavy??!!! plenty of cheap dohcs out there!!!!!!!!

Thanks of the reply. I'm thinking of a coupe because, and i'm probably wrong here, it just feels like there is a bit more space inside. I need all the space I can get inside! Plus in all the time I've spent at various rallies round the country I've never seen one. I'm not bothered about being competitive just want to have fun in something that's different, that's also why I was thinking of the integra, there's not many of them round either.

I really can't find many coupes with the b16b engine in them so i was thinking if I got one and a 3/5 door type r would I be able to swap all the bits over?

Thanks.
D. :cool:

would u not br better going and buying a ready built car?

would u not br better going and buying a ready built car?
It's true and cheaper in the long run, better value

It's true and cheaper in the long run, better value


I know it would be probably be cheaper in the long run. The biggest thing is the roll cage. I can't fit my seat into a car with a standard roll cage already fitted. I have the Sparco Evo3, it's a pig to fit so my plan is to build the car around my driving position. At least that way it's made for me, and I'm not buying one already done and trying to fit me into it. I had a chat with the lad in rocofab and I'm very impressed with his work, he'll be able to build the cage around my driving position. This is going to be a long term thing too, I'll buy the car when I have the money then fit the cage again when I have the money. So instead of laying out 4/5/6000 in one go I'll be saving for each bit, and it'll be the way I want it.

Thanks.
D.:cool:

ya i agree with the lads...movin alway from whats common is expensive and can be complicated......i just built a new car and i could of bought the same spec of car for a fraction of the price ......so buy!!!!! learn from my mistakes!!!!!

I agree 100%. And if I was maybe 4 or 5 inches shorter and 5 stone lighter then I would with no problems. The thing that kills me is getting the seat in to the car. I've navved in a civic and inprezza, the seat will go in handy enough in the civic but my knees are shoved right up on the dash and the top of my helmet is rubbing the roof. In the imprezza I have more room but it takes forever to get the seat in.

This is all to do with the cage and the seat catching. I rented a corolla for a sprint a while back and it took me 4 hours to get the seat in, it wasn't comfortable for me driving but I was just happy to have it in!!!

That's the reason that I want to build rather than buy. Then it's made for me, I'm comfortable and most of all I know I'm safe. I'm in a proper position and the cage is round me right. I know it'll cost me more but I'd rather spend a 1000 now and in 6 weeks another 1000 and so on rather than trying to come up with 5000 right now for something that I'm going to have to change anyways. I don't care about fastest time or any of that I just want to rally and have fun.

Thanks again.
D. :cool:

id probably say the same about buying rather than building, looking back it. It would have been alot easier and cheaper to buy but i still dont regret it, nothing like driving a car you've built yourself, until it has to get cleaned up and rebuilt by someone with the right gear!:laugh:
When it comes to being comfortable and safe in the car your as well off to get it done right sure, cant put a price on safety, or even being confident inside the car even if your only out for fun. Best of luck with the build anyway lad!!

much better off building. at least you no whats in your car and where the weak point if any are. plus its a good lagh and a great sence of pride when you have it all done

gerry broderick rallys an integra and does all rally works on hondas for lots of the civic boys eoin from emt rally prep is the man to fit your cage.built my own car on the same principal as your self and many lads helped me out you ll have plenty of power in a standard b16a if your only going out 4 a laugh

Be careful as I dont think the cages this lad makes are FIA approved the are ok for the Drifters and Time attack lads but Rallying is a whole lot different and everything has to be approved.

I'm a big lad and I had EVO 2's in my civic and had no problem getting them into in had some in a 205 as well and again no problems getting them in. If the cage is that tight that you cant get the seat in think how YOU will get into the car and more importanly how you will get out if god forbid you are upside down and the car is on fire ????

There is some really nice EG6's out there for sale and if I was buying a car in the morning thats what I would be looking at.


I had a chat with the lad in rocofab and I'm very impressed with his work,

i hav civic ek4 for sale at reasonable money wit all the rite bits. if u intrested in buying car. car comes wit loads of spares; 20 wheels an tyres spare shell an gearbox. i can b contacted on 07793156525 any time.

OP, have you compared the interior dimensions of an ordinary 2 door civic hatch and a coupe? I wouldn't be surprised if they are the same.

If you want to stick with Honda, what about the 5 door hatch? IIRC there was one at the Ravens Rock.

I am 6' 3'', 16 stone' size 12 shoes, old & stiff but I can still get in & out of an ek4 civic easy enough. Weld the seat raills as low as possible. Bolt the seat as close to the tunnel as you can to get a bit extra head room at the cage.