The Dog Project: Daihatsu Charmant Resurrection: Daydreaming The Next Project

Daydream - verb (intransitive):

To spend time thinking about something pleasant, especially when you should be doing something more serious

Workload is getting crazier each day and yet i still manage to let my mind wander off thinking about the next project. If, and that's a very big IF, i get the opportunity and cash to start a second build project, i would go the totally different direction from where i went with my Daihatsu Charmant. I don't see any point of doing a second project if you're just repeating most of stuff you did on the first one. You'd lose the opportunity of learning new stuff and, in my opinion, just wasting your cash. Here's a list of what my next project should be:

1. Not a Toyota or its derivative (*cough* Daihatsu Charmants)

Doing The Dog build project has introduced me to new part-shops and junkyards which specialize on Toyota and Daihatsu and have helped me so far in supplying stuff i need. Not doing a Toyota would force me to hunt new part suppliers and junkyards. Finding a shop which sells rare parts unknown to many is satisfying, right?

2. Front Wheel Drive

It would be great to actually feel and know the difference between driving a RWD and FWD. It would be like installing a switch in my head allowing me to shift driving habits. Those theories of oversteer vs understeer would actually be experienced on the road. Doing a FWD might also allow me to learn new suspension system. I've the chance to learn MacPhersons and 4-link solid axle systems on The Dog. Who knows i'll see double-wishbones or trailing-arms on the next project.

3. Normally Aspirated

or Forced Induction, depending on how i go with The Dog. So far, i've been collecting turbo parts at a very slow pace. If i do end up turbocharging The Dog, the next project would be learning how to increase NA performance. We're talking about port-n-polishing, high duration camshaft, ITBs, lighter flywheel, etc. I might even go dinosaur by going for carbs as The Dog is running EFI.

However, no matter how radical i go with the next project, some points from The Dog must be kept. They are:

1. 90's or older cars

Simple, they usually come so cheap, you don't mind hacking the hell out of them. Plus, you're left with extra cash to build them!

2. Plenty of knowledge bases

A bit related to #1.. Usually it's easier to find knowledge bases or articles on older cars as the age itself allows many people to research and experiment on them. You won't realize that Mitsubishi Sigma control arms will fit an S13 suspension conversion on the AE86 if it is only two or three years old.

3. Easy engine conversion

Putting a 4A-GE to The Dog was fairly easy. The next project should be the same.

Pretty sure some of you already have in mind of what my next project should be after reading the points above. I won't lie to you, i have also started the research on what could be my next build. Let's see if we share the same idea.

Meet Honda Civic.

This is one is the 3-door hatchback 4th gen model, commonly referred to as EF Civics. Beautiful, isn't she? Let's see how well this model does on challenging the points above. First, they're obviously not Toyota, duh! That means new shops to find and rare parts to gather. Second, Civics are all FWD. In fact, i've never heard of RWD market sold Hondas. Is there any? Oh wait, S2000 and NSX! Silly me. Also she comes with double wishbone suspension, on the front at least as according to Wikipedia the rear one is more correctly described as "multi-link trailing arm", whatever that is. New system to learn, more fun coming! Third, as far as NA goes, i'd love to have an ITB'd Civic. The sweet induction sound would complement what's missing on The Dog. Next, you can find a lot of information regarding EF Civics on the net. Here's some: 1, 2, 3 ... 1001.. the list goes on and on. Last one, having D13 engine, it should be easy to swap in a D16+P08 head in. Of course there's old OBD conversion problem but i don't see how a Megasquirt can't get around it. Obviously, i haven't done enough research yet.

She fulfills all of the points above, well some at least, as one thing still bothers me: They go for US$4K-5K here depending on the condition and that's not what i consider as cheap for build project basis. May i remind you that The Dog cost me only US$1K? I guess all the retro fever lately has bumped the price of nearly every old Jap cars available. The price has also made me consider the earlier 3rd generation EA Civic but even these would cost US$3K-4K and even worse is that they come with E series engine. I don't know much yet but i think it's more difficult to swap a D series engine to an E engine bay. If i'm wrong on this last one, the EA Civic would be a better candidate.

Anyway, here's some more pics of this beautiful car i found on civic4g.com