Thread: Honda Hatch back....

H22/ Turbo/ nitrous/ intercooled/ race gased/ slicked up Honda civic hatch back..with lane prep...

Vs

97 S10/ LS1/ cam/ heads/ intake/ 93 octane/ untuned/ suspension/ 100% All season street tire/ 100% on motor.

all racing was done on a closed track!!!!!!

We went out to the road..... ahem... Track. The S10 was being spotted out 10 cars, and the hit. for 300 bucks. I had butterflies in my stomache the minute I drove down the track. I have no idea what this truck is capable of, let alone try to keep it straight..... I had made a few test passes the night before last.

we proceeded to push the S10 up, one truck length at a time. By this time I was starring straight down my lane. The heat from the hot engine turned the cabin into an oven. I began to heat up the tires and let it role out. I looked back, two oil slick black tire marks moving left and right down the road. I reversed it back to the start. gave it a few revvs in neutral, popped it back into drive.

The Honda flashed his lights telling me he was ready, and he began revving on his 2-step. I waited and waited.....for that turbo to get red hot. I SLOWLY got out of the whole and then mashed it as far to the floor as it could. I nail 2nd gear, the rearend swerves left. I quickly counter it and bring it back to straight, then it drifts toward the center line...nail 3rd. I pass the line... look in my rearview mirror...... The honda never made it off the line.

I drive back down( on the return road)... the kid in the honda said he cant wait that long on his 2 step...and had to shut it off. This was my plan to begin with.... over heated turbo...doesnt really work that well.

I line it back up..... He flashes his lights..I went before he could even get on the 2 step. I look in my mirror....he is still back at the line. I turn around again....

line it back up... by this time my tranny temp is getting up there....around 230ish...... The motor is right around 210....

This time the kid gives me another car, and we go off a flashlight. I agreed. I flashed my lights to say I was ready, then BOOM the light flicked on beforeI moved my foot over to the gas. The honda shot out and gained 5-6 cars back off the line. I nailed 2nd and got REAL loose...and I mean all over the lane. I stayed in it, nailed 3rd. The honda was able to get side by side with me and slowly walked away from me. That honda was LOUD!!!!!!!!

When it was all over said and done with, The honda got me by 2 car lengths. I was happy with the way the truck handled the first 2 times, but the 3rd..it was hot.

turns out that the honda was a 11.00-11.20 car in the quarter. It gave me a base time for what the truck does as it sits. I was happy!

yikes this thing got long quick!!!!!

good race,close one.

so did you lose $300

you lost to a honda i understand they can be fast but still man s-10s are sweet fixed up!

WOW! awesome story!!! great read. how much do you think the s-10 weighs. and a heads/cam/intake ls1 can easily be in the 11's also. a little more suspension work and some stickey tires and its a different story. with the hit you might have won. it problew would have been pretty close if you were ready. none the less good races tho and excelent job of throwing him off trying to make his turbo hot. and congrats on keeping it safe and driving er back home

Sounds like an awesome project. Even tho I am a ford guy I LOVE the ls series of motors but not a big fan of the cars they were avalable in. I had thoughts of a s-10/ lsx project until I saw how much the engines cost, even out of wrecked cars. Looking forward to seeing a video when you get it tuned. i think with a tune and some slicks you have a damn good chance of taking that honda heads up. Add some spray to that and you got him all day. Good luck and congrats on a really impressive project.

Originally Posted by 02BlueGT

so did you lose $300

yes

I am fairly new to this site, how did you decide to do this project and how did you come about the truck, motor and do all the work? I have dreamed about starting a project car or truck, particularly somthing ls1 powered but I think it might be a little to much for me to handle.

handle..... on street tires you ice skate!!!! LOL!!!

well I met the 2nd owner of the truck a few years ago....4 or so.

He had pulled the V6 out, bought most of everything needed. the motor was sitting next to the truck....no tranny, had a stock harness, etc.

after running the Vin, and went on various S10 sites, found out the truck was originally an S10 SS. it had the improved suspension, and optons inside. I picked the truckup, non running with an LS1... for 5G.

parked it at my friends shop for a few months while I was fighting with my Camaro. parted the camaro out and started work on this. paid a friend of a friend to finish it as with my new job...I was lackin time. well all said and done with...I went over after hearing I could pick it up soon this weekend...I went over... nothing was done to the truck. learned a valuable lesson on this one.....DO THE WORK YOURSELF.

I got it back home, and started in on it. Every weekend for the past 4 months straight. I had to repin the harness for the PCM(Painless..HA!), throw my suspension on, Tranny, basiclly EVERYTHING. but it was all worth it when you turned the key on, hear the fuel pump buzz like a sworm of ANGRY bees, and listen to her try and idle. I have had this truck for 3 years..... and it was worth the weight!!

I wanted to do the S10 for fuel economy. the truck itself weighs way less than 3000lbs, big fuel efficent V8, in a tiny lightweight truck... should be able to have fun, and get great gas mileage. this was my thoughts. I filled up last saturday, have had fun everyday since. these street tires are now bald....lol. I had fun on the way home tonight. I have barely used any gas.

have your mind set on something and do it. Who cares what everybody else thinks, as long as you want to do it, and have your heart dead set on doing it. this is what is driving me for the GTP to get done. I know it will take a little longer now than I had anticipated.....the truck is just sooo much fun to drive!!!

Originally Posted by UR LOSN

have your mind set on something and do it. Who cares what everybody else thinks, as long as you want to do it, and have your heart dead set on doing it.

I couldnt agree with this statement more. Decide on what you want to do then go for it. You cant concern yourself with what others say. If you are content with spending the money and doing the work then go for it.

You will always find someone that opposes what you are doing, thinks they would do it differently or better, etc. And while it is wise to take what they are saying in consideration (you never know, they may have a point or make sense) you should still stay focused and continue on.

Rather than listen to some one say "You're wasting your time because of this, this and that", what I hear is this, this and that and incorporate that info into my project if it is necessary or good advice and disregard the rest.

We've all ran across people that have failed at projects, or could not complete them, etc., and when you take up the same project they expect the same results from you and if you show signs of actually being able to finish it and see it through they get offended or upset, etc. You cant be swayed by that.

Will you take up such a huge project and get through it flawlessly? Probably not, but thats not the point really. The point is setting a goal, seeing a vision of what you want that project to be and working towards the completion of it. What you will do is learn, grow, mature and most importantly gain confidence in your abilities. You're going to hit a few stumbling blocks here and there.

Write stuff down!! I cant stress this enough. If you want to do an S10, for example, then get a piece of paper and write that down. Then sectionalize the vehicle, suspension, engine, engine management, transmission/drivetrain, etc. Write down what you think all you will need to get each of those sections where you want it. Then have a tools section and write down what tools you think you will need.

Then start doing some research. Find out if what you think you will need lines up with what works and is proven and modify the list and goals accordingly. Then when you have it all worked out, hang that list up on the wall. I would even go as far, if you are good at drawing, drawing up what you want it all to look like and put that on the wall. Look at it everyday, spend a few minutes visualizing it everyday and see yourself doing the work, making the purchases and so on. Budget accordingly. Save your money and make purchases when you can. If you are fortunate enough to be able to buy all this at once it becomes even MORE critical you do the first steps because having the money to buy what you want when you want leads to impulsiveness sometimes and that can lead to spending money on stuff you probably didnt need or wont work together.

As you go down this list, check off items as having been bought, been completed etc. Do all this and one day you will wake up and that drawing on the wall you will see in your garage with the keys to take it out for a spin.