Hey guys - I'm a Honda drivetrain newbie and have a lot of questions I'm hoping you can help me with. I plan on using a Honda engine/trans to power a full tube rock buggy. I've done enough googling to make me sick for one night, and the extent of my knowledge is about what you can read in wikipedia 
I'll break down my questions for ya'll and hopefully you can put things in perspective for me..
1. I've heard/read that pre-2000 Civic/Integra engines are what I'm after because they run the 'correct' direction for my rear engine application. Can someone break down for me if that includes 2000 model years - and sort me out a list of which engines are encompassed in this group? I know the D16 has been used in this application before - but that is about it.
2. Of the engines listed in the answer to #1 - which are the easiest to stand-alone wire? Are the VTEC engines any more tricky to deal with?
3. What are the different types of fuel injection available on these engines - and what types are the most desireable? I do plan on turbocharging it down the road - so fuel system flexibility will play into my decision.
4. Transmissions - I'll need an automatic transmission. I'll basically be welding the spider gears in the diff to lock the front and rear outputs (yeah, engine will be mounted in a forward/back configuration with the left/right outputs actually feeding the front/rear axle diffs) and am curious if there are any auto transmissions I should avoid because of some sort of limited slip? Also - which auto trans will have the lowest first gear ratio and the tallest overdrive ratio? This buggy will be using the trans as the 'transfer case' - so no range selection will be available.. whatever final drive ratio I select is what I'm stuck with - and I'd like it to be able to crawl relatively well in 1st gear - and still be able to move out down a dirt road at a decent speed and RPM. Are there spools available for any autos? Manual valve bodies?
Thanks for any help you can provide - I 100% appreciate it. And for an example of what I'll be putting together - check out this build -
Project Lo-budget Pimpin - Pirate4x4.Com Bulletin Board
I'll break down my questions for ya'll and hopefully you can put things in perspective for me..1. I've heard/read that pre-2000 Civic/Integra engines are what I'm after because they run the 'correct' direction for my rear engine application. Can someone break down for me if that includes 2000 model years - and sort me out a list of which engines are encompassed in this group? I know the D16 has been used in this application before - but that is about it.
2. Of the engines listed in the answer to #1 - which are the easiest to stand-alone wire? Are the VTEC engines any more tricky to deal with?
3. What are the different types of fuel injection available on these engines - and what types are the most desireable? I do plan on turbocharging it down the road - so fuel system flexibility will play into my decision.
4. Transmissions - I'll need an automatic transmission. I'll basically be welding the spider gears in the diff to lock the front and rear outputs (yeah, engine will be mounted in a forward/back configuration with the left/right outputs actually feeding the front/rear axle diffs) and am curious if there are any auto transmissions I should avoid because of some sort of limited slip? Also - which auto trans will have the lowest first gear ratio and the tallest overdrive ratio? This buggy will be using the trans as the 'transfer case' - so no range selection will be available.. whatever final drive ratio I select is what I'm stuck with - and I'd like it to be able to crawl relatively well in 1st gear - and still be able to move out down a dirt road at a decent speed and RPM. Are there spools available for any autos? Manual valve bodies?
Thanks for any help you can provide - I 100% appreciate it. And for an example of what I'll be putting together - check out this build -
Project Lo-budget Pimpin - Pirate4x4.Com Bulletin Board