91 Honda CRX Si
The CRX was the second “Childhood Dream Car” I wanted as a teen. It didn’t quite have the same attraction to me as the MR2 and I don’t have any real stories to tell but it was Japanese, fun, spacious. Maybe because it lacked pop up headlights and a spoiler, it didn’t have the same “fun” factor lol. I thought the tinted clear window in the hatch was pretty neat.
I wish I could find an old retro video of the 90-91 CRX but I could only find this one of the earlier generation.
For my enthusiast cars, choosing a vanity license plate that holds meaning is very important to me. It all began with the OBSSSSD plate on my MINI which represented the S in Cooper S as well as my passion for cars. My wife MINI ended with a 2 as in “also”. For my MR2, adding the prefix 2 helped show my passion for MR2’s. Ending OBSSSD with C combines two messages. “C” references the CRX but also stands for “see” as in see, I”m obsessed.
The ride height on the bottom pic looked amazing when parked but was highly impractical to drive as it rubbed all the time.
I found this car in Simi Valley. It was a shell that was put together. What I saw was a very clean stock CRX with a lot of potential. The seats were torn like all of them from this era, I didn’t realize the cat was bad and wouldn’t pass smog, overall had a variety of blemishes along with needing new paint. Mechanically it was on point.
I really disliked the pedals so I got new ones from my favorite supplier, SRP Racing that fabricates them. I bought a set for my MR2 that I really liked so I went with a slightly modern look that was sure to provide great feel and grip.
The stock fender gap annoyed me to no end. Eibach lowering springs helped close the gap. But I really wanted to go with some Koni Yellows with Ground Control coilovers.
I love having an armrest and I wanted to match my interior. Since I had acquired new seats which I really only wanted for the fabric, I cut up my old torn seats to make the arm rest.
The Greddy SP2 is considered by many to be the best exhaust ever made for the CRX. Its made in Japan and no longer in production. I was able to buy a brand new one on closeout off EBay that was intended for the Civic Hatchback. It was the same exhaust for the CRX and just needed to be shortened. My exhaust shop cut and welded it and it sounds amazing.
Engine bay restored to stock.
CRX Toy
CRX Toys
Rota Grids versus Stock Wheels
Found these very clean seats. I mounted the seat backs to my USDM seat pans, and had to make new foam because the foam on these seats is for a different pan.
Changing to an aftermarket steering wheel makes low speed manuevers easier due to better grip on the wheel.
Changing to an aftermarket steering wheel makes low speed manuevers easier due to better grip on the wheel.
Test fitting my embroidered CRX lettering
Perfectly clean CRX floor mats are very expensive. Usually the letters are missing and they are stained or faded.
Recovered Arm Rest
New Seat Covering on Driver Seat
Seats look great with arm rest
Arm rest bracket
Ash tray replacement mod turns it into a usable cup holder.
Doug Ioki is a long time friend and electrical wizard!
Interior with restored carpet
- CRX- bought April 21, 2019-225,000 mi
- Approximately: July or Aug 2019
- Repaired cargo cover latch
- Passenger side fender liner
- 8/08/19: New front rotors and pads
- 8/13/19: Eibach lowering springs
- 8/??/19: Oil change and filter
- 8/20/19: Thermostat, radiator replaced and coolant
- Kenwood radio replaced with Pioneer
- Subwoofer added (amp removed)
- Seats replaced with JDM CRX
- 9/10/19 Ash tray cup holder
- 9/10/19 New oem pedal covers
- 9/10/19 Front license plate holder
- 9/13/19 Backup light switch replaced and bulbs
- 9/30/19 Restored CRX Carpets
- 11/19/19 Restored Ebrake Color
- 12/07/19 recovered arm rest
- 12/04/19 replaced starter with oem to fix grinding on start
- 12/14/19 replaced all wipers
- 12/14/19 repaired arm rest prop
- 12/14/19 Alarm plus ignition kill and trunk release and door unlock and switch
- 12/11/19 bought Greddy Sp2 and Injen CAI
- 1/7/20 Cap It purchased
- 5/16/20 bought Rota Grid Bronze wheels 15x7 +38 arrived on 5/21
- 5/21/20 purchased CRX Windshield
- 6/07/20 bought From Japan on EBay fuel pump relay aka main relay
- Rear quarter glass mouldings set
- Roof moulding set
- Rear washer nozzle
- 6/27/20 purchased on eBay new Koni Yellows front and Ground Control Coilover Sleeves arrived on July 1, 350# front and 250# rear.
- 7/9/20 Purchased and installed Nitto Neo Gens on wheels $446.12
- 7/24/20 replaced main fuel relay with new one from Japan
- 7/24/20 Installed MOMO steering wheel with red Honda horn button
- 7/28/20 Exhaust modify and install at Muffler Man
- 8/7/20 R12 evacuated. Recharged and AC blowing cold. After running AC for a few days noticed clicking or tapping from from compressor when on. AC oil dripping below it. Purchased new Matsushita compressor on eBay with clutch. Didn’t include PAG oil.
- Also replaced clutch neutral plug that pushes the neutral safety switch. Original one crumbled. Bought from Amazon because softer material than ones from ebay. Also solved clutch squeak caused by spring located at top of clutch mechanism near the replaced pad. Shot WD40 lithium grease there.
- Purchased new Matsushita AC Compressor, PAG 46 Oil, AC Flush kit, Expansion Valve, Drier(previously) O-Rings
- New Koni Yellow Rear Struts arrived today 8/13/20
- New Timing belt and water pump and tensioner bearing
- Valve Cover Gasket Kit
- Since AC was working but began to fail, purchased new Matsushita AC Compressor which needs PAG 46 oil. Also purchased flush kit and tool. Will flush and replace compressor, expansion valve, and drier. Must drain freon again. Also will install ground control coilovers on new Koni Yellow struts. Since wheels will come off, will do timing belt and water pump replacement. Since valve cover needs to come off, will also powder coat it and do valve adjustment. Will replace Crankshaft Seal as well. Purchased SRP Racing Pedals in black and silver.
- 8/27/20 Replaced front and back speakers with JBL Harman Concert speakers
- 11/05/20 Replaced Cat at Muffler Man Placentia. They cleaned up previous welds.
- 11/06/20 Replaced oxygen sensor with Denso
- 12/18/20 passed smog at Smog Tech in Yorba Linda
I spent the first year restoring my CRX to stock configuration. Then I changed the exhaust, CAI, wheels, replaced the CAT to pass smog, and fixed the AC. Now it just awaits me to repaint it.
About the owners
ShowCar is a small family owned and run business. Richard & Gillian May Lin are a match made in heaven, both passionate car enthusiasts, who support each other in thick and thin. Richard’s role is to run the shop and handle the day to day duties of staying on schedule, while Gillian May provides a supportive role as well as the primary role in ensuring our BlackWow products are made, filled, packed, and shipped properly.
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