Honda CRX track car build (270bhp N/A)

[Partyvan]

Hi all, I thought I'd upload a brief history of one of my cars

I bought it back in 2016, as a 1988 Honda CRX with the D-series engine. It had a few modifications, but I pretty much only wanted the shell for a track car build.





The year before, I'd written off a high spec Civic EP3. But kept the engine. It was a very well developed engine that made 270bhp on the dyno. I thought of re-shelling into another EP3 but the CRX represents a better suspension design in a much lighter shell. Ideal for track.

Here's the EP3 K-series engine



Next up was getting a gearbox built. Grinspeed obliged, building me a box with short final drive and Mfactory LSD


The conversion was not easy. New mounts are needed, new shafts, a new subframe, a new exhaust. The clutch from cable to hydraulic. The speedometer from cable to electric. Whole new cooling and fuel system. Even then it doesn't physically fit. Engine touched the bonnet, headlight and front panel. In hindsight a 90's Civic would have been better. But it's in and running.





By this point I'd chosen Ford Frozen white as the colour, and fitted a Mugen bodykit made by Fibreworx. I also sourced some wider, lighter GRP wings and bonnet. Paint was done in 2k.


Prep consisted of a lot of welding, fettling and sanding


Out of the garage and unmasked


Here's what I hope will be the first part of a mad, functional aero package. It's properly braced. Future plans include flat floor, diffuser, splitter etc


On to the chassis build, as it's a track car this is the most important part




The car benefits from camber and caster adjustable suspension, with a mix of rosejoints and polybushing. Everything is either new or fully refurbished.

Geometry setup at Grinspeed


Wheels wise I have 15" Team Dynamics Pro race 3 with R888 on them, and a second set with Rainsport 3's.

Brakes are new all round, including a Wilwood kit


Seats are in with harnesses and a billet gear shifter


And just for fun I had a go on a vinyl plotter. Hopefully Nissan won't sue.




There's been lots of detailed modifications, like deleting the sunroof, deleting the heater, relocating the lightweight battery etc. All things that in themselves gain you little, but together should make it a bit of a weapon. I've seen enough Best Motoring DVDs to know these things can outpace Skylines, Evos and the like on track with under 200bhp. I'm hoping this will be a sub 8 car at the Ring and sub 1min 40 around Cadwell park. My Civic was close.

Since getting it running I've taken it to Racing Circuits in Leeds, who thinned out the loom and rewired it to include more modern relays and fully tested it. Amazing service.

Here's the full list of work done

CAR:
1988 Honda CRX originally red

ENGINE:
(Originally 1.6 16v D-series non-vtec)
K20a2 engine from Civic Type-R
Innovative polybushed engine mounts
Spooner restorations cam cover
High compression pistons
TDi North cams
TDi North mapped Hondata K100 ECU
Ported and modified RBC inlet manifold
Ported throttle body
K-tuned exhaust manifold
K-tuned heater system delete
MIJ custom 3" exhaust system, manifold back
Baffled sump
Aircon deleted
EVAP system deleted
Stock battery deleted
AEM fuel rail
AEM adjustable fuel pressure regulator
Aeroquip -AN fuel lines
Billet aluminium fuel filter
Civic EG Alloy radiator with slimline 10" fan
Alloy header tank
Mocal oil cooler
Fiat punto upper rad hose!

TRANSMISSION:
6 speed EP3 gearbox built by Grinspeed
Mfactory helical LSD
Mfactory 5.83 final drive
Mfactory magnetic sump plug
Lightweight flywheel
EP3 driveshafts with CRX outer CVs. Rebuilt with high temp grease.
K-tuned billet shifter
K-tuned billet shifter cables
Hydraulic clutch conversion

BODY:
Fibreworx Mugen bodykit including door pods
Fibreworx GRP bonnet with bonnet pins
GRP flared front wings
Sunroof delete
Aerial delete
OEM spoiler delete
Roof vent
Fuel filler replaced with flush aeromotive filler
VT model rear lights
Pro Car Innovations spoiler mount kit
Full 2k re-spray inc door shuts in Ford Glacier white
Vinyl graphics by Gateway Signs & Graphics

CHASSIS:
Gaz coilovers, height and damper adjustable. Solid topmounts
K-tuned traction bar
Alloy rosejointed caster adjustable front arms
Skunk2 pro series polybushed upper arms (camber adjustable)
Polybushed front lower control arms
Double front anti-roll bars linked with custom billet aluminium joints
Polybushed anti-roll bar drop links
Rosejointed rear toe arms
Polybushed rear camber arms
Polybushed rear trailing arms
Skunk2 polybushed rear LCA
Tegiwa rear LCA brace
15x6j Borbet alloys with Rainsport 3 tyres (road / wet track wheels)
15x7j Pro Race 3 alloys for track with R888

GEOMETRY
(Grinspeed)
2.2 deg camber front
1 deg camber rear
2mm toe out front
2mm toe in rear
4.5 degrees caster

BRAKES:
Wilwood 4-pot front brakes
DS2500 front pads
MG-ZR rear brake upgrade
Pagid rear pads
No ABS
ATE Super Blue brake fluid

INTERIOR:
Fully stripped
K-tuned billet shifter
K-tuned billet shifter cable grommet
Momo steering wheel
Minimal dashboard
Fully thinned out, tested, re-wrapped car loom by Racing Circuits
Lightweight Oddysey 680 battery in alloy cradle
Integra Type-R clocks
Stack oil pressure gauge
Stack oil temperature gauge
Stack voltmeter
Dash mounted battery killswitch
Dash mounted switchable Go-pro 12v (battery delete)
Dash mounted fan override
Corbeau winged bucket seats
FIA spec seat rails
Adjustable roof vents

SPECS/PERFORMANCE:
Dyno'd at 270.1bhp, 229 N-M torque, 9,000rpm rev limit
800-850kg

Hopefully more updates soon. Any questions welcome

[Partyvan]

Cheers guys

Tommie - The front is double wishbone, so you get increasing negative camber with load. Certainly seems to help turn in, (which the EP3 struggles with). The weight is more of an advantage though.

Faz - No video but do have a graph!


Evoluzione - here you go!
https://www.facebook.com/racingcircuits/?ref=br_rs

or 07979918888

Pixelpeep - The majority of charger kits only make around 300bhp, so I'm not far off. If ever I kill the engine I'll be aiming for around that figure N/A. It's so much more pure Honda than any forced induction.

[Partyvan]

E36Dan said:

Epic build! Always nice to see stuff like this coming from the UK.

Final drive is crazy short though! You'll be bouncing off the 6th limiter at the 'ring

Thanks dude. It was good for 145mph on the limiter in 6th in the EP3 on 17" wheels. So maybe a touch lower on my 15's now.

And yes you're right, that would be on the limiter on the main straight. Not that you'd want to go much quicker in what's basically a tin can.

[Partyvan]

Podie said:

Nice.

How did you solve the engine touching the bonnet and light?

For the bonnet I bought a GRP one, for the later VTEC CRX, it has a bigger bulge in it.

I then chopped out sections of the webbing until it fitted. I also had to use bonnet pins.


For the headlight, it still touches the alternator. But only just, and there's no movement in the engine mounts so we'll see how she goes

[Partyvan]

Podie said:

Oof... nice work.

Thanks

[Partyvan]

The stickers will be coming off soon

[Partyvan]

I did a poll on the stickers and 70% of people prefer it with them on. My plan is to do a few photoshoots and maybe a trackday like that then do something else, maybe another colour scheme.

d_a_n1979 said:

Great car and build...

Thought I recognised that workbench with your gearbox on...

Popped over to see Stevie @ Grinspeed yesterday; the lads mashed one of his fingers and he's useless currently as only one handed haha...

Think I saw this when it was on the ramps too. Great track weapon!

Thanks!

Let's be honest now, Stevie was never a grafter anyway. Don carries the whole operation!

[Partyvan]

I know exactly what you're referring to. A great shame indeed. It's just a bit of banter, he's a top bloke and in fairness ribs me far more than I do him

[Partyvan]

Thanks for the comments guys

Today I took the CRX VTEC binnacle I'd sourced (it's curved instead of square), the Integra DC2 cluster, some B&Q mending plates, a drill and some screws


From the back, I fitted the mending plates to secure the cluster to the binnacle


From the front


The fit is about 90%, it just needs something in a couple of corners to fill some small gaps. It'll be in the car tomorrow!

Just a small job i know, but it's a necessary one as the OEM cluster is cable driven speedo, the K20 engine is electronic speedo.

More soon

[Partyvan]

Some pictures from today. I'm booked in next week for some last bits and pieces towards finishing it.

[Partyvan]

Thanks And yes I've got go-pro

[Partyvan]

Sorry for the lack of updates!



I've moved house, and almost finished sorting out the new garage.

When I started it had two lightbulbs, one power socket and not a lot else. It was crap.

Since moving in I've built the workbench from scratch, fitted a vice, put shelves up, put up drawers in the walls for fastenings, moved my tool chest in, put up 5x LED batten lights, mounted 2 cabinets on the walls and much, much more.

Might actually get to work on some cars soon 😅 CRX is 2nd on the list after my daily driver sadly!

I will get it on track early summer!

[Partyvan]

Thanks guys

I've nailed off a few more minor jobs

- Small patch on the floor
- Fuel pressure set to 50psi
- Fuel injector #4 leak fixed
- Fuel level now working
- Fire extinguisher mounted
- Gear cables secure
- Brakes bled (although possible minor leak still)

Main issue now is just how much the bulkhead is flexing massively with the brake pedal being pumped. I'm going to have to brace it somehow, either from the servo to a strut brace, or by welding some bracing to the inside of the bulkhead. That'll mean dash out!

Other jobs left
- Awaiting custom hoses from Roose Motorsport for coolant
- Secure brake bias valve on a bracket
- Refit passenger seat
- MOT

[Partyvan]

Now finished, MOT'd and taxed!!!

[Partyvan]

Kev_Mk3 said:

Cant wait to see this thing sing on track.


Ben you using the EP3 plate at all?

I'd love to, but it's an E-reg car, so I can't put an R-plate on it

Nigel_O said:

I had a non-VTEC CRX in the same shade of pinky-red - used it as a daily for a short time then took it sprinting at Curborough - won my only sprinting trophy with it!

It was fairly handy with 138bhp, so your must be properly mental with double the power - it must be a hoot to drive it hard, although I suspect it won't be much good as a daily driver....

You're absolutely right, it's far too harsh. Even hitting a catseye is a major event. Like hitting a deep pothole in a normal car. It's brutal. Far too loud as well, much more than expected!

[Partyvan]

It's all progress now chaps! I've done about 50 road miles in it without much issue.

I have a second set of wheels, Team Dynamics Pro Race 3's, which I intend to use as dry track tyres. I bought 2x 225/50/15's AR1's and fitted them to a pair of these wheels. I've read nothing but praise for these tyres.


They were too wide for the rear, sadly, but that's what I needed to know to move forward.

They went nicely on the front. The rears are now some scrubbed AR1's in 195/50/15




I've also started replacing the terrible 80's bulbs for LED ones. Here's the dipped beams sorted. The rest are on order.


In my first round of road testing I also did a quick decibel check... Oh dear!


That's going to need another exhaust box fitting.

Next up:
- 150 mile roadtrip in it
- More uprated bulbs
- GoPro mounting
- 2x Cadwell trips
- Santa Pod

[Partyvan]

I made the trip once more to MIJ exhausts, who'd seen pictures of the system they made and told me it could be made quieter with an additional box. Arriving at MIJ they told me they couldn't fit any more boxes in! Total waste of time!

In frustration I headed home, then on to Cadwell for a professional noise test, to end all doubt on the system one way or another.

Cadwell says NO


116db is beyond any regular UK track day.

I'm going to have to drop down to 2.5" exhaust and lose power

[Partyvan]

Bright Halo said:

Before you do it has to be worth getting a second opinion on the boxes.
There must be another exhaust expert who can change your boxes to reduce the decibel level.
Hopefully someone on here will be along to advise.

I hope so mate.

Butter Face said:

I've just ordered a 3" exhaust from Solid Fabrications, they do a 'super silent' system, how 'silent' it is I am yet to find out but worth an enquiry to see if they can help you?

If that's for an EP3 I had the same system, it's still too loud for many tracks. I got kicked off Donnington with it!

[Partyvan]

Cheers for the advice guys. I have booked in for a new system to be built.

[Partyvan]

Today saw a Frustrating session at Santa Pod... it started leaking clutch fluid and coolant. Managed a 13.2 @ 118mph.

Drag racing front wheel drive is like playing football with your shoelaces tied. And in the case of naturally aspirated, with your pants rounds your ankles too.



I'm on a bit of a downer with this car tbh!