blueracer
Part of things
Rover 220 FTW!
Posts: 135
|
|
Aug 23, 2011 15:40:38 GMT
|
Hello Dudes ''I've been lurking around this forum for a while'' and only 'taking enjoyment' from your projects and comments so I thought it was time to pay a bit back.... My story is, I have two old ish Rovers, a Rover Coupe and 220 GTi, both in very good nick and certainly way too good to trash through our miserable salt ridden winter roads.. So I wanted a bit of something interesting to put on the road and not worry how wet it got or where I parked it...within reason! Anyway, years ago (in the late 80's) I had a Honda Accord Coupe (1980 Pale Blue Met) that was a brilliant little car, albeit slightly got at by tin worm. Ideally I would have picked one of these up and done a bit of a rolling resto on it. But, as you chaps (and Ladies, know..) 1980 Honda anythings don't exactly grow on trees....not round here anyway. Plus they cost a bob or two and my budget for an on the road Honda was tops £1000. I started searching for a replacement and the most obvious fit was an early CRX, a car I had long liked the look and spec of. It also shares a lot of Engineering with my Rovers of a similar age. I wanted a tatty but solid motor and was happy to do some straightening of stuff as I go along - To this end I searched for about four months to find something 'not too nice to use' or too rotten to bother with.. After much E Bay / Gumtree / Auto Trading I ended up 'traipsing' from Worcester to Yorkshire to get a car I'd bought without sight of.......scary! For those who haven't gambled on the Bay let me tell you it is a risk as every one has a different idea of Mint / Untouched / Original. Anyway, I wasnt dissapointed...it had a dry lump and no visible rot....not yet anyway! After a beautifully smooth trip down the M6 I felt a lot bettr about my gambling habit...so here it is Sorry for the curse word phone pics... It is very tidy inside, complete, with amazingly little wear,and no sign of a chav attack anywhere. I quite like the alloys but have an alternative set of Rover BRM alloys in mint condition to try on. I also like the 'stance' and it currently rides comfortably.. I'd like to hear some of your astute comments....don't worry about hurting my feelings though....its love i'm afraid....and it makes you thick skinned.... P.s I know it aint 'that' retro but at 20 odd years old it certainly will be soon!
|
|
I've seen things.. you people would not believe...
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 23, 2011 15:44:11 GMT
|
Oh it's retro. Track down some Mugen alloys for it
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 23, 2011 15:51:49 GMT
|
I've always wanted one of these but I only know of two here and both are in siht state! Looks like you got yourself a good one. As for advice I wouldn't do too much but I would change the alloys for something more OEM....not too gone on the ones on it in the pic.
|
|
'86 E30. '86 E28. '92 E32. '97 Laguna. '98 March. '00 A4. '05 Focus.
|
|
|
|
Aug 23, 2011 15:59:24 GMT
|
|
|
|
|
j4mes
Part of things
Posts: 168
|
|
Aug 23, 2011 20:32:38 GMT
|
I love these! Off to have a look for one and insurance!!
Bookmarked!
|
|
|
|
blueracer
Part of things
Rover 220 FTW!
Posts: 135
|
|
Aug 23, 2011 22:12:46 GMT
|
Thanks for the comments Gents - Those Mugens are cool but well out of my price range - every thing Mugen is! I think the next items to get sorted are a pair of genuine rectangular yellow Cibie spots (£20 off this site - excellent!) to fit in the currently redundant fog lamp / air intake recesses. Also a hard days cutting and polishing and any other cost free activity I can find!
I also need to get it on a ramp and really be brave and thoroughly look for you know what (rot) on the underside and even under the body trims....wish me luck. Anyway that will be a couple of weeks yet as I am running out the tax on my other motor!
|
|
I've seen things.. you people would not believe...
|
|
blueracer
Part of things
Rover 220 FTW!
Posts: 135
|
|
Aug 23, 2011 22:21:47 GMT
|
These are what I want from Santa this year to really make it look a little 'beast' Oh and a set of 2 1/2'' rivet on racing wheel arches... well i have been really good....
|
|
I've seen things.. you people would not believe...
|
|
blueracer
Part of things
Rover 220 FTW!
Posts: 135
|
|
Aug 23, 2011 22:23:53 GMT
|
P.s Hello Camerashy - it looks like you have my dream car - 240Z are and always will be auto-porn for car freaks...love them arches too....
|
|
I've seen things.. you people would not believe...
|
|
79cord
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,609
|
|
Aug 24, 2011 10:29:07 GMT
|
Congratulations, it looks very nice. Got to love them, the super low dashboard/cowl & deep windscreen is great isn't it. Speed bubble go-kart. Such a contrast to modern high-rise apartments Having been silly enough to go for a Vtec SiR with its overly close-ratio g/box & weighty options I must admit I eventually went back to to my '79 Accord hatch for daily use though! ( so mother drives my CR-X -still too much fun to let go of). I must try a 16V Dohc version one day.
|
|
Last Edit: Aug 24, 2011 10:30:53 GMT by 79cord
|
|
blueracer
Part of things
Rover 220 FTW!
Posts: 135
|
|
Aug 24, 2011 18:57:55 GMT
|
A 79 Accord! Very cool! Any pics? Had it long?
Yes I must admit that the VTEC option did cross my mind, and they look great and go great but me trying to be sensible thought the 1.6v Dohc was enough to drive the 7 miles there and back through daily traffic....plus they cost a bit more and have generally been flogged (well thats my excuse..)
Youre right about the styling contrast, though when you look about there do seem to be a few cars that carry the rear window and glass panel look over....
Anyway I have only had it about a week but I love Hondas and sure it'll become a keeper!
|
|
I've seen things.. you people would not believe...
|
|
|
blueracer
Part of things
Rover 220 FTW!
Posts: 135
|
|
Aug 24, 2011 19:14:27 GMT
|
A 79 Accord! Very cool! Any pics? Had it long?
Yes I must admit that the VTEC option did cross my mind, and they look great and go great but me trying to be sensible thought the 1.6v Dohc was enough to drive the 7 miles there and back through daily traffic....plus they cost a bit more and have generally been flogged (well thats my excuse..)
Youre right about the styling contrast, though when you look about there do seem to be a few cars that carry the rear window and glass panel look over....
Anyway I have only had it about a week but I love Hondas and sure it'll become a keeper!
|
|
I've seen things.. you people would not believe...
|
|
79cord
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,609
|
|
|
Even when first released the CAR roadtest of the Vtec CRX suggested that while fun it probably wasn't worth the price premium.. (click larger so as not to pollute your cars thread too much)Had the Accord roughly 20 years now, getting it from my aunt before I even got my driving license... It led to many more Honda: retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=readersrides&action=display&thread=36869but still serves me well. editI'd better add some crappy photos of my CRX too hadn't I !
|
|
Last Edit: Aug 25, 2011 8:04:35 GMT by 79cord
|
|
|
|
Aug 25, 2011 12:58:07 GMT
|
really nice car that love crx's. What are your plans for it? take a look at my build for any ideas
|
|
|
|
md
Part of things
Posts: 839
|
|
Aug 25, 2011 13:07:44 GMT
|
That looks mega clean mate! really good buy I'm a honda nut myself, had a CRX, a del sol, an EF, 2 EGs and 2EKs If you go with those wide wheels you're gonna need to drop it too
|
|
------------------------------------ ||-|| (()) ||\|| ||)) //-\\ (( || \\// || ((
|
|
blueracer
Part of things
Rover 220 FTW!
Posts: 135
|
|
Aug 25, 2011 15:57:16 GMT
|
@79 Accord - I already read your Accord build (and lusted over it...) but well worth re-viewing. Also what a beauty of an example it is, well done for having the extreme good taste & judgement to keep hold of it. Respect to you. Then you go and cap it all off by also having a corker of a CRX too...! How cool is that?...You have impressed me, therefore I doth my cap to you... @gettingjiggywiddit - If my car wnds up half as good as yours then three things will have come to pass 1) I will have acquired skills I do not currently possess! 2) I will be the owner of an awesome looking ride for sure and 3) I'll have ended up with another car I love too much to use! Anyway, again I doth my Top Hat to you Sir....an Automotive Tour de Force for sure md Thanks mate - I agree, it does look clean on the pics but in reality needs to be completely checked over and a cam belt fitted. On the cosmetics side I have just bought myself a rotary polisher and intend to hammer the paint first chance I get as it needs a heavy cut as a minimum...as for the drop, I reckon its down a bit already, still rides nice and I havent lost any teeht going over bumps yet, but how far down do you reckon, hard slam? Do they ride Ok when dropped any further as I like the look but with my back I reckon I'll suffer! Cheers all, most encouraging thank you, will post an interior shot and others when I get a chance.
|
|
I've seen things.. you people would not believe...
|
|
blueracer
Part of things
Rover 220 FTW!
Posts: 135
|
|
Aug 25, 2011 16:06:31 GMT
|
Sorry - as for my plans, here they are 1. Ramp it - i.e a bloody good check over top side and under neath 2. Cam Belt & Engine service 3. Fluids change - Brakes and Gearbox 4. Run it over winter and see how we get along 5. May add a slightly bigger spoiler 6. Add BRM wheeld for now (as I have some available with good rubber) 7. Hammer the inner wings, wheel arches and anywhere else susceptible to rot with a good dose of protection! 8. Drive it.
|
|
I've seen things.. you people would not believe...
|
|
md
Part of things
Posts: 839
|
|
Aug 25, 2011 16:23:32 GMT
|
yup cambelt is a must if you cant prove when it was last done, as is getting the archrs cleaned and treated with some kind of rust preventative- personally if you have a sunroof, i's say get the seals changed too - they're prone to perishing hence it's a common rust spot. with the lowering, no more than 60mm if you want to keep it comfy and useable as they are low anyway If you need a hand with anything and you're not a million miles from Reading then let me know
|
|
------------------------------------ ||-|| (()) ||\|| ||)) //-\\ (( || \\// || ((
|
|
blueracer
Part of things
Rover 220 FTW!
Posts: 135
|
|
Aug 25, 2011 18:29:25 GMT
|
Hello md - thats very good of you to offer - thank you very much. I'm actually in the outskirts of Brum so it wouldnt be a million miles! I'm afraid the one area you mention that appears too late already is the sunroof - it looks bit scary to me - very errr 'lumpy' - you never know though, but thanks for the seals tip, I'll keep an eye out for some. We see the cam belt thing the same way - they worry me - lots! Never happy till I know they'e been done...... under my ownership. I'll try and find the right wheels and then set the ride to suit - I even thought of a 'slight' rake towards the front end as that always seem to add drama to a car, but who knows..
|
|
I've seen things.. you people would not believe...
|
|
blueracer
Part of things
Rover 220 FTW!
Posts: 135
|
|
Aug 25, 2011 18:51:36 GMT
|
An inside shot - Like I say, the plan is to get the seats out and do a 'deep clean'and refresh the inside as much as possible - its pretty spot on all bar a side support in one set that has started to go, but luckily I reckon one of my spare Rover Coupe seats will fit exactly.....I'll do an update when I get that far. and another rear 3/4 view - love it....sorry!
|
|
I've seen things.. you people would not believe...
|
|
Speedle
Posted a lot
Need a Country Rock band in the Hampshire Area? https://www.facebook.com/DirtRoadDiaryUK
Posts: 2,221
|
|
Aug 26, 2011 10:56:39 GMT
|
Love these! Nice to see a clean example! Proper track weapons these!
|
|
|
|
|