installing a rev limiter on a 1977 civic 1st gen

[he-tec]

hey guys,

Just wondering if anyone has installed a rev limiter on the 1st gen civics?
where to start etc..
any diys or write ups?
I've tried searching but nothing came up..

cheers

[dahondr98]

While I haven't installed a rev limiter on a 1st gen Civic, I can tell you that Silicon Chip magazine, an Aussie electronics mag, had an article on building an electronic rev limiter in the April 1999 edition. It's still available in Jaycar's range of kits - you need 2 kits to put it together. It works by reducing the coil output (ie the sparks to fire the spark plugs) by 50% when a pre-set rev limit is reached, and it also includes a 3 light rev indication for the dash, so that you can have a sequence of shift lights leading up to the redline. It works with Hall Effect, points, low voltage signal (ie computer) or reluctor ignitions. See http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=KC5265&keywords=KC-5265&form=KEYWORD The catalog numbers you need are:

Cat KC-5265 Rev limiter kit $34.95
Cat KC-5255 Car immobiliser kit (this is required to enable the limiter to work) $29.95
Cat HB-5970 Box to suit rev limiter $8.95
Cat HB-6013 Box to suit immobiliser $3.95
Total cost $77.80

You also need to build the electronic kits, so you have to be able to solder. If you haven't soldered before, it's quite easy - I taught myself when I was about 13 or 14, although I wasn't very good at the time (I've since worked in electronics, where I was trained how to do it properly!). I think Jaycar have a guide included with their kits explaining how to do it - it's also available on the web at http://www.jaycar.com.au/images_uploaded/Kit_Construction_Manual_BI-8200_v1-1.pdf . If you don't have any electronic tools, the only essential is a soldering iron, and (non-essential, but very handy) a multimeter. If you don't have those, Jaycar sell very cheap, but good, starter kits - the required catalog numbers are:

TS-1651 20/130W Soldering iron starter kit $24.95
QM-1500 Low cost digital multimeter $9.95

Everything else, including solder and instructions, is included with the kits, although you may possibly also need wire to hook them up - sometimes it's included.

Note that I don't work for Jaycar, and never have - I'm including the catalog numbers for your info only. The kits aren't currently available in Jaycar shops, as they are fairly old (11 and 12 years old, respectively) - they are only available by mail order from their back catalog of old kits, either online from http://www.jaycar.com.au , or by ringing their techstore, freecall 1800 022 888. If you don't feel confident enough to put the kits together, but know someone who is competent with electronics, such as, for instance, a radio or TV station tech/engineer, a Telstra tech/engineer, or a TV repair tech, then you may be able to induce them to help you, by offering suitable bribes! You can also have a look at the original Silicon Chip mag article, which should be available in public libraries, or from uni or perhaps tech college libraries (you can usually read magazines, and also photostat them, in most unis, even if you don't go to the uni - Silicon Chip will normally be in the science or engineering library). Hope that I've been of some help.