Integra Type aRgh- a LoPrep Challenge build

A little late to getting this posted but want share the build we are bringing to the challenge for team LoPrep

Obligatory back story:

84FSP and I are challenge virgins, but decided this was the year we would finally attend. 

Dave (84FSP) introduced me to Tim (EastsideTim) and Tim mentioned he and wae were wanting to race but not having a car ready. I have been wanting to get a project car since selling my GT in May so a plan came together to kill both birds with one stone 

The Type aRgh.

We mulled what to buy when I remembered that near my in laws a 3rd gen Integra had been sitting for a few years. A few phone calls yielded a “please drag this out of here” price of $300. 

Three Friday’s ago 84FSP and I went and sealed the deal: 

The Type aRgh is a 94 LS auto tragic, 207k miles that shockingly runs but has nearly no brakes. 

The good;

Price is cheap, looks complete, runs, no mods to undo, near my house

The bad- tetanus level gross, decayed pine needles in every jamb, brakes are nearly inop, misfires heavily under load, valve cover leaking majorly, 04 date code tires, shocks all blown, exhaust is rusted in 2, suspect fans are inop, 0 of 5 motor mounts are functional, probably more but we don’t know yet

We limp it the 3 miles home and set to washing 

We get it cleaned (so.much.sap) and set to assessing the situation and making a punch list and start to dig in. 

Quick trouble shooting finds good news:

Brake lines and most hoses are new

All rotors, calipers and pads are new

Master cyl seems to be the culprit 

$35 from Rockauto and about an hour and we have brakes 

Facebook market place find scores us used GSR shocks and H&R springs for $100. Attempted install yielded broken bolts and a need to order parts

So a $250 rockauto order went in for bushings, motor mounts and a full tune up. 

Which leads us to the current state of affairs. Waiting on parts to arrive and researching best budget improvements that will help for the challenge but not destroy the car for my future plans to manual swap and add power. Anyone with tips on these cars (it's my first Honda) or solid rear quarters please chime in! 
 

Can't wait to get the suspension sorted now that she has brakes.  Lots to do ahead of Challenge glory!

If you want to bring it over to the shop and get it up on the lift to do the suspensiony bits, we can absolutely do that.  There's bourbon in the blasting cabinet and I fixed the kegarator.

Until it runs a bit better, it may not be wise to drive it that far.  I am hoping it's just the three year old gas that is causing the problem.  Also, the one broken bolt should get replaced

For the exhaust, we definitely should use your shop space.  Which reminds me, I should probably start figuring out how much used exhaust pipe FMVs for.  Got loads of 2.5" exhaust stuff in the garage that will hopefully work for this.

That cleaned up way better than I thought it would!

In reply to Cooper_Tired :

I just noticed it in the background - I wonder if he'd sell that S10 Xtreme for $300 also?

Slippery said:

That cleaned up way better than I thought it would!

Thanks! I felt the same way. This is without any buffing or polish. Just 5hrs of elbow grease. 
Im hoping a shampoo will bring the carpets back

Glad to see you start a thread here!  I was the guy who suggested you put in a B16 trans from the 99-01 Si (if you can find one).  Seems like you managed to find some decent suspension in the meantime.  I had those Tokico blues on my old EG Civic and they worked well for me with the Eibach Prokit rates.  I imagine they should be fine with the H&R.

In reply to Matt B (fs) :

Thanks for the tip from FB! 

I think 5spd will have to be post-challenge but will definitely look for a b16 one!

Wow that's like a dream list of team mates. 

In reply to Cooper_Tired :

Perfectly understandable.  You have bigger priorities at the moment.  She cleaned up quite nicely btw!

This is going to be fun.

Parts arrived sooner than expected so time to dig in to the misfire

Threw on a new fuel filter and some fresh 93 octane. Still misfiring. 
 

Started on the ignition components. 
Pulled the cap and found it looked suspect

Get the rotor ready to pull and it's stuck. Way stuck. All the plastic broke off and 30 mins with vice grips and no dice. 
 

Perfect time to stop and approach with fresh eyes tomorrow

I know my D series had a set screw in the rotor. It liked to eat coils.

In reply to 10001110101 :

This had the screw as well, but it's out

Them coil leads and screws don't look happy either.. dremel or chisel what's left of the rotor off and see if there's anything conductive left under those rusty screws.

In reply to 06HHR (Forum Supporter) :

Yea a little worried I'll have more to replace, like the disty

Cooper_Tired said:

Perfect time to stop and approach with fresh eyes tomorrow

Walking away from a car when you are mad at it is a very important skill to have.

eastsideTim said:

Cooper_Tired said:

Perfect time to stop and approach with fresh eyes tomorrow

Walking away from a car when you are mad at it is a very important skill to have.

Agreed. I wish I had that skill. 

Yes! I love the idea of a challenge type Arrgh!

I'm more familiar with the d series, but you probably have room in the budget for the manual swap and adding power via swapping in a GS-R or civic si head or just doing a turbo. 

If you post the numbers on the ECU we can tell you if it's "chippable" or if you'll need to get a new one for engine mods.

In reply to CrustyRedXpress :

The manual is coming post challenge. As is rust repair and some form of power. The vtec head swaps seem more expensive (at least around here) than the turbo, so we will likely go turbo. But maybe I'll luck out and find a deal 

Needs more turbski!

Small update for those fans playing along at home: Victory. A wiper arm puller followed by vice grips freed the remaining bits of the rotor button

Feeling bolstered by this small win, I threw it back together with the new cap

then moved on to fresh plugs

the old looked rough and measured .052-.058 vs the .044 the book indicates. 

I fired it up and it is a little happier sounding, but misses and hits a wall under load.  Damn. 
Will try the coil when it arrives tomorrow, but may have to switch to troubleshooting mode vs just replacing the obviously bad items. 

Scored some nice streets and factory fat fives for the Type aRgh today enroute to Detroit for the dream cruise for the princely sum of $400 with swanky Conti ExtremeContacts in minty if a couple years old shape.

The Hilton hotel lobby was a tad confused when I rolled thru with the luggage cart.

In reply to 84FSP :

#perfectlynormaltoseeatthegatewaygrandbestwestern