FabricationLife
 
 

Behind the build: Aaron Weir’s CRX

Posted on

Share this on anywhere you want!

rolling

Aaron Weir has made one of the most insane cars we have ever posted.  I mean, it’s a Rear Wheel Drive Honda, made in the garage…

IMG_4135

When you think of the CRX you think of Honda’s hay-day in the market, a 1.6 liter fuel injected rocket on rails.  By far not a drag car but what a fun car to drive and own.  The lift hatch, the interior, the sounds, these were fun cars to own and became a cult favorite to many.  Aaron remembers the 1st sighting of the crx for him:

CRX Merge 1

I fell in love with the CRX when I had the opportunity to see one up close in 1994 when I was dating a girl who’s older brother had one.  It was a 1991 Tahitian green SI.  Even though I never even had the chance to sit in it, every time I saw it I always took time to admire how unique it was and how much the car was about the driver’s experience.  Looking at it, you realize it was intended to be more than just an A to B car.  It was designed to be fun to drive.  I was determined to own one and I bought a stock ’89 SI in 1996 as a gift to myself for my 23rd birthday.

188216_167557299982069_4937746_n IMG_0252 1378727_561307370607058_571105437_n

So let’s get back to this CRX, I mean, what exactly are we looking at?  This by far is much more different than what you would’ve purchased in 88-91 or used and rust filled from Craigslist.  That old 1.6 FWD has been chucked in favor for a 2.0 RWD set up.  This is like digging in the candy jar and taking all of the goodies you want.  Here is how Aaron Describes it:

I built this car to beat on it and to improve my own skill as a fabricator.  Having a unique street car that will see track duty on the weekends meant a great deal to me.  I hope to make 500rwhp or more, and to complete the Ontario1500 event or One Lap America event.  I want someone to walk away from this car and to say it is the most badass street CRX they have ever seen.  Part of the intent is for it to be a magazine cover car.

250014_146468715424261_4153720_n 230733_146469002090899_7075496_n 264667_154734411264358_6021807_n 298640_199078656829933_1435284283_n 392514_338486866222444_1295324336_n

We sat down with Aaron here at Vibrant Performance, also his daily grind, and we got to learn a bit about how he came to be a car head and a fabricator.  Let’s face it, just because you work at an automotive company doesn’t essentially make you an automatic car head.  I know that is absurd goes against the powers that be, working at a company which produces automotive products yet not being highly into cars but that is not the case for Aaron, with almost 20 years invested.

My automotive experience started somewhat later in life.  I was not influenced by a parent or mesmerized by a significant event as a child to spark my interest in cars early on in life.  I became really interested in cars when I bought my own and went to the track with a couple friends.  I met Racer Robb in 1996 at the drag strip shortly after I had purchased a 1989 Honda CRX si.  Around this time I had also started my apprenticeship as a Tool and Die Maker.  The smell of race gas exhaust combined with smoking tires, screaming engines, the intense competition and being surrounded by like minded friends is what got me interested in cars.

403677_247364658667999_1964839968_n

How did you start to modify your CRX, Aaron?

Within the first two years of owning my stock CRX it had been significantly modified with an intake, header, exhaust and a N2O system that I had built from used parts with my friend Robb.  He taught me most of what I know about getting more performance out of my car.  We had a good partnership: my youth and limited fabricating skill combined with his automotive building, racing experience and his “do it right the first time” approach helped our friendship to develop rapidly.  We would spend many weekends wrenching on both our cars and making little custom parts and competing at local autocross events.

1999:  I swapped out the tired D16 engine for a fresh B17A1 from an Acura Integra GSR with my own custom engine mounts.  This bumped horsepower from 108 to 160 without any other modifications.  With the Nitrous I was getting an extra 50hp.  Like most other gear heads though, it was not enough.

2001:  I fabricated my first turbo setup based around a T3/T4 hybrid turbo.  The following summer the setup was revised and upgraded from a log manifold to a top mount style manifold with a larger wastegate and Vibrant silicone couplers connecting all the piping.  This setup was making 280 wheel horsepower.

2006: I started my own business, Weir Tech, building custom fabricated parts and parked my CRX in a corner of the shop.  When I had spare time, it was spent converting the car to rear wheel drive.  In the beginning I only had a vague idea of how it was going to work.  I sold the drivetrain out of the car along with the turbo setup and bought a complete drivetrain out of a wrecked S2000.  I sold the rear end in favor of a Nissan S14 subframe assembly and started cutting up my CRX.  I knew it was going to be a good opportunity for me to learn and grow as a fabricator by attempting something different.  It was also a good way to promote my business.  I had no real plan, I just wanted to make it work.

999684_513404228730706_738321871_n 553169_296333427104455_1088350929_n 552200_365763610161436_1623626664_n 526051_420862797984850_1559157013_n 409024_250363858368079_1865354544_n

Things seemed to work well for you building the CRX while also becoming an amazing fabricator.   Most recently, you started working at Vibrant Performance.  How did that come about and what did it mean for your other work?

Over the next 7 years I learned a lot.  Unfortunately one of these lessons is that I am a good fabricator, but not an equally good businessman.  I was able to break even in the time I had my business, but with a very patient wife and 2 children, it was time to let go of my shop and start bringing home a regular paycheque.  I went back to my trade as a tool maker.  Less than a year had passed and I received a phone call from my most important supplier: Vibrant Performance.  I had used a great deal of Vibrant products on virtually every project that came in the door, or shipped out to my online customers.  Being one of the best fabrication component suppliers within the automotive performance aftermarket, they had grown their business to the point of requiring more people with a technical background.  I jumped at the chance to become part of the Vibrant family.

188216_167557303315402_3109686_n 229560_146468945424238_4193050_n 250720_146468972090902_6795670_n 529444_566922356712226_1535793596_n

While we have shown you some of Aaron’s background and thought behind the build of his CRX S2000 Robot, we have only scratched the surface.  Tuning is coming soon, along with more specs and information on what went into the build, the rear suspension explained, and more!  Below we have added a gallery to show you some of the build.  Make sure to check back to FabricationLife.com soon.  We are going in!

 

Ultimate Callout Challenge – Turbo Diesel Competition
February 5, 2016

If you haven’t heard, you probably aren’t in their league…the…

2015 PRI Show – Highlights
December 23, 2015

The Fabricationlife team witnessed this year’s crazy busy SEMA show…

2015 World Cup Finals – Import vs. Domestic
December 7, 2015

On the first weekend of November 2015, the Vibrant team…

Update: Aaron Weir’s RWD CRX Build
September 1, 2015

Race to the Ontario1500 With the upcoming event only weeks…

FormulaD Orlando June 4-6 2015
June 16, 2015

The FabricationLife media team got out to experience the recent FormulaD…

SEMA 2014 – Vibrant Coverage
November 11, 2014

Comments

Fall Nationals Prep: Chris Miller Racing/Prayoonto Racing Interview
September 24, 2014

Behind the scenes of one of the busiest teams in…

Man takes you inside Volcano with GoPro!
September 7, 2014

Standing at the base of a Volcano in a mix…

Super Strong Line-X Coating Put to Test
August 27, 2014

How strong would you think LineX would add to the…

Machine Tool Basics: Lathe Part 3
August 25, 2014

Cutting Tool selection on the Lathe, and why which cutting…

Machine Tool Basics: Lathe Part 2
August 22, 2014

Techniques and items used while setting up the lathe. Fabricationlife.com

Machine Tool Basics: Lathe Part 1
August 21, 2014

Lathe Basics on the Smithy Granite. Fabricationlife.com

Comments