1st Gen Honda Civic Stock Cold Air Intake

[Black Tire]

Honda has had some great designs over the years, but not so much the cold air intake for the first generation of Civic. First, the intake was attached to the top of the wheel well. Now, presumably, there was originally a liner or some metal between the wheel and the intake, but these things rusted like bare mild steel. In my 1976 Honda Civic Wagon (gone now, RIP), this (or the poor design itself) resulted in sand, salt, pebbles and other things being sucked into the intake. I knew next to nothing about cars at that time, so I didn't realize how bad it was. I took the air filter out, and I could hear the debris in it — it sounded like a maraca. The dealer's solution was to not connect the air inlet tube to the intake, and just have it sit below where the intake was, directing any debris where it wasn't likely to get in the engine.

This is a photo of a 1979 Civic that has a similar design:

[roddy]

I love the first gens. My last one was a '78 hatchback with the 2-speed semi auto "Hondamatic". Damn...that was 20 years ago this year. Thanks for reminding me of my age. *sigh*