Hello all! I guess the first question to ask is how tolerant is this list of really dumb newbie questions? I'd like to benefit from all you've learned about your X's but I'm starting from waaayyyy back in the pack. I'm willing to eat dust, though, until I get somewhere near up to speed.
Here's the situation. I've got an '87 Si that is, except for the tires (I'll get back to that), totally stock. Bought it in '88 with 17k miles and have been driving it as my everyday car since then. It's now got 131k miles which is still pretty low. Runs like a top but, needless to say, she's looking kinda droopy - rusted out sunroof (no surprise there), cracked front mask and fender, seriously deteriorated paint job, some chassis rust spots but not too bad, grubby under the hood. You get the idea. I don't want to part with her and, given the kinds of things that folks like you have done with your X's, I don't see why I should. However, I could use some serious guidance to bring her back to respectability. How far back is still a question. I'm in total denial about the dollars this might involve and don't tell me either 'cuz I'm not ready for the brutal truth. Where to start? Right off the top I need to get about $900 worth of body parts before I can think about a paint job. Ok. Accepted. It's the idea of the paint job itself that really makes me wince. I've been quoted from $800 (Maaco) up to $2400 (highly-recommended local shop). I've got no sense of the ratio of dollars to quality in this area. Seems like something that basic shouldn't be such a crapshoot. It needs a new set of tires anyway so that's next. The stock size is 185-60-14 and it's presently running with a slightly wider set of 195-60-14's. Everybody seems to go with larger wheels to get larger tires, but is it necessary? I really like the original Honda mag wheels on the car and would keep them if it makes sense. If the idea is to get more rubber on the road, and if the wheel wells accept them (big if), could I consider 205-60-14's or even 215-60-14's? If so, then should the car be lowered if it hasn't been raised in the first place? Or just harden up the suspension? Then it's on to the engine. The concept of a swap is a little overwhelming at this stage and it may be overkill since a racing set up is not the objective. (Did you all start out saying that?) For now, I'd like to see how much can be squeezed out of the stock engine with bolt-ons. But what? And in what order given the need to spreeeaaad out the money? Any direction would be greatly appreciated here. Or if there's a better place to go with my basic questions, just point me there. After 14 years of absolutely reliable and fun transportation, I really want to do right to resurrect my baby. Thanks! Dave
