|
Threadjack, lets get back on track.
If the body is in good shape, and the tranny is ok, and you have an engine to put into it, it can be a nice car. The engine that came with the car is the 13b. Now this engine is harder to port out than the old 12a engine. A street port on a 12a is supposedly worth about 180 or so hp, which is really good for a car that size. If you are going with the 13b, you may as well see if you can get an imported jdm engine. They did make a turbo for that model in Japan. If a later 13b turbo will fit, an 86-88 model is rated at 182 and the 89-91 is rated at I think 200 hp. Of course, a boost control, fuel cut defencer, and a new chip will add some hp on top.
They are neat engines, and will respond well to exhaust, headers and air intake. They get really noisy if you do this, and they drink a lot of gas for such a small engine. My 86 2nd gen with the same engine as yours gets about 18 mpg with no mods.
The engines are very tough, but they need regular oil checks, about a quart of oil every 1000 miles, and annual coolant and thermostat checks. They burn oil as part of the design process. They are sensitive to overheating. The cooling will not give you any problems, just take care of it. A good engine should last 150 to 200,000 miles.
They are lightweight and have pretty good handling. They also have a distinct look and sound that will seperate you from the pack.
|