turning a civic into an off-road machine... can it be done.

[Rallispec]

I have a 93 civic DX collecting dust in my driveway right now. Its still in pretty decent condition, which is why we refuse to get rid of it... however the crankshaft is bent and cracked at the end, so it cant be driven.

My dad and I have been toying around with the idea of taking apart the egine and rebuilding it from scratch so we both could get a better understanding of how it works and we thought it would be fun.. And since the car hasnt been driven for 3 years now, its not really a big loss if we never get it running again.

I want to know if its possible to take this one step further. Could once the engine is rebuilt-- could we raise the car, get a new suspension for it.. new wheels and tires, new shocks, turbocharger,..... and turn it into an off-road project car.

has anybody attempted anything like this before? could the cars chassis handle off-roading?

 

[Beau]

I't would probably be better as a ralli car than a real off-roader, modding it for 4x4 capabilities would be a PITA. Even if the chassis isn't rigid enough, it's nothing that a torch and some steel couldn't fix.

 

[iamwiz82]

the handling capabilities would be crap. independant suspension sucks for off roading. It could be done, but how much money do you have? All new front and rear suspension would cost a pretty penny. I have no clue how you would get 4WD in there. It is scary just to think about.

 

[Rallispec]

it would stay front wheel drive, turning it into a 4x4 would be hell. And yeah, Beau-- it would actually be more of a rally car than off-road vehicle i guess.

 

[Fausto]

You're not going to be able to make a car that can handle the same kind of gnarly stuff that something like a jeep could, but you could certainly make one that could handle fire roads and such. I've seen RX7s, Mazda 323s, VW Golfs etc at amateur rally races. All you really need is beefy shocks, skidplate, and a roll cage and you're all set.

Fausto

 

[Beau]

Originally posted by: Fausto1
You're not going to be able to make a car that can handle the same kind of gnarly stuff that something like a jeep could, but you could certainly make one that could handle fire roads and such. I've seen RX7s, Mazda 323s, VW Golfs etc at amateur rally races. All you really need is beefy shocks, skidplate, and a roll cage and you're all set.

Fausto

And a 3" lift
and larger wheels/tires

 

[xirtam]

Sure... Fight Club style.

 

[Rallispec]

Originally posted by: Fausto1
You're not going to be able to make a car that can handle the same kind of gnarly stuff that something like a jeep could, but you could certainly make one that could handle fire roads and such. I've seen RX7s, Mazda 323s, VW Golfs etc at amateur rally races. All you really need is beefy shocks, skidplate, and a roll cage and you're all set.

Fausto

yeah, thats exactly what i was thinking. i dont need this to do anything outrageous.. just enough to do some trails and amateur rally courses. I just dont know if the body of the civic is enough to handle those conditions

 

[Rallispec]

Originally posted by: Beau6183

Originally posted by: Fausto1
You're not going to be able to make a car that can handle the same kind of gnarly stuff that something like a jeep could, but you could certainly make one that could handle fire roads and such. I've seen RX7s, Mazda 323s, VW Golfs etc at amateur rally races. All you really need is beefy shocks, skidplate, and a roll cage and you're all set.

Fausto

And a 3" lift
and larger wheels/tires

what do you think would be the minimum wheel size i should have? it has 14" wheels now. What do most rally cars use?

 

[Beau]

Personally, I'd go with either 15" or 16" so you get the best overall performers. That size has the largest selection of tire types, enough metal to handle well, and enough rubber to pad well.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: Fausto1
You're not going to be able to make a car that can handle the same kind of gnarly stuff that something like a jeep could, but you could certainly make one that could handle fire roads and such. I've seen RX7s, Mazda 323s, VW Golfs etc at amateur rally races. All you really need is beefy shocks, skidplate, and a roll cage and you're all set.

Fausto

bah! Lift that sucker 10" and then we will talk!


If you keep it FWD, then it gets easier. To lift it, just throw in some rubber spacers un between the coil and the frame. That is a quick and dirty 1" or 2". With that, you must decide if the brake cables are long enough to get to the caliper since it has been stretched an inch. You probably need new shocks, but i dont know how much the Civic shocks travel. I would suggest removing the sway bars, since they will get in the way of "flexing" (cant really be done with independent suspension)

 

[Rallispec]

the engine, if it ever gets running again is only a 1.6L 105hp engine.

i dont think thats enough to really give it the power and torque to handle hills off road. I was thinking there are plenty of aftermarket turbos and superchargers that would beef it up some. Or would i be better off buying a used integra vtec engine for around 1k.

total budget for this car would probably around 5-6k in the end, over the course of a few years. not something that would get done in the next few months.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: Rallispec

Originally posted by: Beau6183

Originally posted by: Fausto1
You're not going to be able to make a car that can handle the same kind of gnarly stuff that something like a jeep could, but you could certainly make one that could handle fire roads and such. I've seen RX7s, Mazda 323s, VW Golfs etc at amateur rally races. All you really need is beefy shocks, skidplate, and a roll cage and you're all set.

Fausto

And a 3" lift
and larger wheels/tires

what do you think would be the minimum wheel size i should have? it has 14" wheels now. What do most rally cars use?

you want more rubber offroad because those holes and rocks will destroy a normal tire. i would stay with 14's and go for 225/50R14's or maybe 215/55R14's

 

[Rallispec]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: Rallispec

Originally posted by: Beau6183

Originally posted by: Fausto1
You're not going to be able to make a car that can handle the same kind of gnarly stuff that something like a jeep could, but you could certainly make one that could handle fire roads and such. I've seen RX7s, Mazda 323s, VW Golfs etc at amateur rally races. All you really need is beefy shocks, skidplate, and a roll cage and you're all set.

Fausto

And a 3" lift
and larger wheels/tires

what do you think would be the minimum wheel size i should have? it has 14" wheels now. What do most rally cars use?

you want more rubber offroad because those holes and rocks will destroy a normal tire. i would stay with 14's and go for 225/50R14's or maybe 215/55R14's

thats kind of what i was thinking. i wouldnt really want a set of low profile tires to take over rocks and stuff.. that would be hell on the rims as well.

 

[Beau]

Originally posted by: Rallispec

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: Rallispec

Originally posted by: Beau6183

Originally posted by: Fausto1
You're not going to be able to make a car that can handle the same kind of gnarly stuff that something like a jeep could, but you could certainly make one that could handle fire roads and such. I've seen RX7s, Mazda 323s, VW Golfs etc at amateur rally races. All you really need is beefy shocks, skidplate, and a roll cage and you're all set.

Fausto

And a 3" lift
and larger wheels/tires

what do you think would be the minimum wheel size i should have? it has 14" wheels now. What do most rally cars use?

you want more rubber offroad because those holes and rocks will destroy a normal tire. i would stay with 14's and go for 225/50R14's or maybe 215/55R14's

thats kind of what i was thinking. i wouldnt really want a set of low profile tires to take over rocks and stuff.. that would be hell on the rims as well.

It's more of a balancing act for rally races. More rubber is great, but at high speeds the tires roll more, and your handling goes in the sh!tter.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: Rallispec

Originally posted by: Fausto1
You're not going to be able to make a car that can handle the same kind of gnarly stuff that something like a jeep could, but you could certainly make one that could handle fire roads and such. I've seen RX7s, Mazda 323s, VW Golfs etc at amateur rally races. All you really need is beefy shocks, skidplate, and a roll cage and you're all set.

Fausto

yeah, thats exactly what i was thinking. i dont need this to do anything outrageous.. just enough to do some trails and amateur rally courses. I just dont know if the body of the civic is enough to handle those conditions

My brother has a good friend who rallys a civic. He finally blew the motor this year, but didn't have any problems with the chassis that I know of.

 

[pyonir]

Of course the only real question is: why would you want to?

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: pyonir
Of course the only real question is: why would you want to?

Rally racing. Dirt roads. 4-wheels drifts. No speed limits.

Get the picture?

 

[Beau]

Originally posted by: Fausto1

Originally posted by: pyonir
Of course the only real question is: why would you want to?

Rally racing. Dirt roads. 4-wheels drifts. No speed limits.

Get the picture?

Couldn't resist posting in a reply that had the both of you in it already. Nef!

 

[pyonir]

Originally posted by: Fausto1

Originally posted by: pyonir
Of course the only real question is: why would you want to?

Rally racing. Dirt roads. 4-wheels drifts. No speed limits.

Get the picture?

In virginia? oh, ok.

 

[Rallispec]

Originally posted by: pyonir

Originally posted by: Fausto1

Originally posted by: pyonir
Of course the only real question is: why would you want to?

Rally racing. Dirt roads. 4-wheels drifts. No speed limits.

Get the picture?

In virginia? oh, ok.

are you telling me that thier are no dirt roads in virginia? i think it would be fun as hell... and something really neat to do and be able to look back when its all done and say "yeah, i did that"

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: pyonir

Originally posted by: Fausto1

Originally posted by: pyonir
Of course the only real question is: why would you want to?

Rally racing. Dirt roads. 4-wheels drifts. No speed limits.

Get the picture?

In virginia? oh, ok.

Rally isn't as popular in the south as it is up north but it's slowly catching on. There was a great one in TN for a few years (Cherokee Trails Rally), but it's cancelled for next year AFAIK thanks to the idiocy of the organizers.

 

[pyonir]

Originally posted by: Rallispec

are you telling me that thier are no dirt roads in virginia? i think it would be fun as hell... and something really neat to do and be able to look back when its all done and say "yeah, i did that"

I'm sure there are dirt roads. no speed limit?

anyway, have fun. wish i had money to blow on building a 'ralli car'

 

[iamwiz82]

there are dirt roads near my home without any speed limit. They have "residental zones" which are speed limited and then its a free for all.

 

[Rallispec]

Originally posted by: pyonir

Originally posted by: Rallispec

are you telling me that thier are no dirt roads in virginia? i think it would be fun as hell... and something really neat to do and be able to look back when its all done and say "yeah, i did that"

I'm sure there are dirt roads. no speed limit?

anyway, have fun. wish i had money to blow on building a 'ralli car'

well, no speed limit at a local amatuer rally event.
And i dont really have money for it now... which is why its going to happen slowly over the next few years as lit bits of extra money happen to come along.


right now i'm more concerned with getting my sentra souped up and good to go.