79cord
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May 28, 2013 10:16:58 GMT
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Well I've just managed to remove the left sill trim/side skirt after attacking the stubborn plastic scrivets with knives, screwdrivers & pliers and I've got to say I'm actually relieved it doesn't look worse, given that the jacking point had collapsed from all the rusty metal within, with rusty & bent metal also visible under the front carpet in this corner... Will the other side be better? Thankfully any work I do do will also be covered by the trims & it will still involve plenty of cutting & welding since such areas would normally involve a few layers of metal & reinforcement, and these also have a reinforced lower firewall/floor area. No pictures since it's dark, & black. A bit of picking reveals the left rear w/arch is a bit worse than I thought, having been fillered before with more holes towards its front edge.. Better add a few more things to the missing /needed list too. The steel sunroofs outer seal is completely missing, hope a newer used one from some other model may be adapted to fit. Sunroof is going to need a major pull apart anyway since it's outer skin is typically very rusty, it's not working electrically & obviously Wayy out of adjustment having scratched plenty of paint off the roof in its travels. I'm still wishing I could fit the glass sunroof from my scrap '80 Prelude but know that is extremely unlikely since the Preludes traveled down within the roof, instead of up & out. It would light the interior nicely though. Rear hatch gas support strut has also failed, & when opened water came out from behind plastic trims as well, so I expect more mess under the Rear spoiler.. the Integra's were certainly prone to it. Internet & the 3g civic/1st CRX RedPepperRacing site has indicated the 3g Prelude seats will fit in the CR-X with some work.. Likely swapping in the CR-X lower seat structure, but also highlights their stylistic differences when side-by-side. ![]() sadly 2g Prelude would be easier but are far more scarce... makes me with I'd looked harder at some torn but wild red early 2g Preldue seats I'd seen at the local wrecker a year or so ago. |
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Last Edit: May 28, 2013 10:17:44 GMT by 79cord
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79cord
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Ok, some more pictures! Got the side skirts off and was actually relieved the sills weren't in a worse state. The right side looked perfect, no holes or rust in spite of the substantial amount of soil that came out when the lower edge of the front guard was unbolted. Inside a small hole was found a few inches behind the front wheelhouse though suggesting it may require attention regardless.  The left side was predictably worse. The back looked quite reasonable with a few small holes revealing themselves once attacked with the screwdriver, just above the jacking point & also ahead of the rear wheel.  (guy I got it from had also suggested it might need fuel-tank drain-plug washer replacing come to think of it) The front needs more work as already known due to its collapsed jacking point.  Perhaps even a little better than I expected, though still not desirable. Though it got scarier inside as I probed about inside with the rust extending along the bottom of the firewall towards the front torsion bar mountings.  Next I removed the foam rubber rear spoiler, its steel internal mountings thoroughly rusted, and revealing a number of holes in the rear hatch the biggest about 30mm across. though some are close to the rear window trim which might be difficult, really don't want to have to remove the rear glass to repair those. Thankfully the lower window trim seems to have some movement so it isn't bonded in firmly with the rear glass, even if it is beneath it, so hopefully I may be able to pop off the moldings end caps and slide it across and out from beneath the glass to clean up the area better. No pictures since it started to rain. Thoroughly. |
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Last Edit: May 16, 2020 10:52:47 GMT by 79cord
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79cord
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The morning revealed water was getting into the car from a number of locations, both front corners and the tail-lamp seals. I cleaned the leaves & muck from the water channel above the rear hatch and removed the rear rubber trim retaining the edge of the headlining... revealing dried leaves above inside the roof! How long has this thing been without its sunroof edge seal? Not a good sign. And the water in the rear wheelwell suggested I'd better remove the rear interior trims & give things a clean & investigation. Had to try out the rear seat first though... It's significantly worse than that of the 2nd gen CR-X, much narrower & with even less headroom. Anyway here's the rear wheelwell, complete with gravel & detritus :  Amazingly it is actually very good with no apparent holes found yet, even if I am a little worried about an area of the rear weld flange. The rear sunroof drain tubes upon the sides were a mess though, filled with crud, since although of a reasonably large diameter they end in a small rubber end piece to exit the body (behind the rear bumper at both corners), restricting their flow. Time to remove the rear bumper.  You can see the rear drain tube here in the middle of the panel, with plenty of rust around it from clogging so the water instead flows about inside the car. The right side was slightly better, but still a mess. A bit of picking revealed the rear wheelarch has also been fillered & painted before, so there are more holes there too, though not completely hideous. Yet. |
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Last Edit: May 16, 2020 10:58:02 GMT by 79cord
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79cord
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Time for the front panels next.  Light weight Japanese front bumper mountings, quite second hand. The bumper, if original, suggesting it had been manufactured November 1986 The plastic front guards really disintegrating as I removed them, fractured in many locations. The rusty sludge filled coolant overflow reservoir suggests I might want to order a new waterpump & timing belt given the state my Integras waterpump had been in through lack of proper coolant. Come to think of it @ 240,000km it might be due for a clutch like the Integra too. Thankfully the right side revealed no surprises, very nice. Wish the same could be said for the left side. Another shot of the left door post & jacking point  The front sunroof drain tube visible higher up, keep these clean! Because this was obviously also clogged and water was finding other ways... just above it.   So more rust in a highly undesirable location, including above the front door hinge. Definitely a dash out & door off proposition.. Overall it is still not horrific by some standards on here.. but highly demoralizing when you hope to repair it and already have a shed full of other projects. Always re-assuring to see examples of rust having been skillfully repaired here... Now I better figure out some way to get this project under cover before it dissolves further. |
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Last Edit: May 16, 2020 11:03:00 GMT by 79cord
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79cord
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Thought I'd show the rear hatch, between rear wiper holes, rear spoiler holes & rust holes that's at least 13 holes to weld up!  Still hoping I can avoid cutting off the rear glass to do so! Without the weight of rear spoiler & wiper motor the weak support struts can just about hold up the rear hatch. The hatch holes & unsealed sunroof opening now taped over to slow water ingress. A shot of the amazingly oxidized plastic pillar trims... once would have been gloss black! and rusty steel window seal/trims under disintegrated plastic coating..   Also bought a replacement g/stick knob; barely & temporarily mounted upon the 3mm of thread remaining on the g/stick from a previous owners handiwork. Somewhat more realistic carbon-effect on a simple knob that I thought suited the CR-X lightweight sports concept... even if it weighs a fair bit having been wrapped over cast alloy (Zinc?). Tempted by the idea of similar finish for the dash's textured black vent trims. Hope it wouldn't look too tacky as such things often can!?. I thought I might be able to do it without permanently sacrificing the trims by wrapping them first with alloy roof flashing tape to smooth over the original 'leather-grain' texture? Feels a little foolish yet though until I can do something about the rust!! I also ordered a pair of steering rack end gaiters; I had to get one for Accord so checked this car while at it, going for some listed for '87 Acura Integra since CR-X wouldn't have had power stering in many markets.. both shared same platform so hope that's correct. I spent today cleaning the debris from the rear wheelwell, unbolting rear seat, giving it an oil change and struggling to re-fit the radiator, that may well have to come out again if that really is the cause of the supposed water leaks mentioned by last owner.. though I'm thinking Waterpump (& timing belt) should be replaced after my Integra experience. The joys of a dis-assembled car, & tight packaging I had a jigsaw of bits to put together first figuring it out, before having to pull it apart again to actually fit it, removing (rusty) battery tray & un-mounting Air-con condenser to squeeze it in, followed by its fan, mounting supports, & bonnet latch. 30mm from the cam-cover to radiator support and bonnet latch, and an additional bonnet bulge is a reminder this car wasn't actually designed with this engine in mind! Optional accessories not helping either. I'm now sure I've got the bonnet release cable on the wrong side of things too, which will require diss-assembly, again to rectify (currently almost touching exhaust header heat shield), and not sure I have the location of a air-con refrigerant pipe right either, but will see what leaks first! Found a few more small rust holes in the member under the radiator too. A list of silly little missing items for me to remember to source. Jack, wheelbrace & spare tyre mounting. Under-dash coin tray. Left rear interior trim lamp access panel. Right front mudflap (helps retain side skirt). Right front corner plastic under-body trim. Drivers seat cloth thoroughly worn out. Also found a workshop note from 2009 suggesting distributor may be suspect?.. Also noticed the dash pad vinyl is just starting to crack up... |
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Last Edit: May 16, 2020 11:07:06 GMT by 79cord
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79cord
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Had a little excitement yesterday, taking the White Accord for in to work for a change. Almost at work & I noticed steam coming up from the bonnet & the temp gauge was very high. Made it to work & let it cool down before finding the top of the radiator was dry, so topped it up with water to find the water gushing from a split heater hose. Given that the temp sensor is directly above the outlet for the heater hose goodness knows how accurate its readings might have been.
Thankfully despite an inch long split in the heater hose there was just enough hose to stretch back to the engine once the split section was cut off. So I could gingerly drive it home & buy some new hose on the way.
All good so far... Might have to replace some more hoses now too...
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79cord
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Jun 17, 2013 10:35:14 GMT
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A friend offered to swap seats with some intact ones he had had repaired a few years ago. I'm now afraid that might not have been such a good idea since my passenger seat had actually been very good, and the colour match of these seats isn't that great being a noticeably lighter shade of grey against the off black of the interior. I might even be better off with black seats if I do eventually replace the door trims with the earlier style without the cloth insert. Grey just doesn't look right.  He also had an early center console between the seats without the ashtray & cassette storage incorporated under the dash. Mine is missing its little opening door & just clutters up the space for me, so I think this suits the cars simple, spartan & purposeful image better... Then I removed everything again & pulled out the carpets, revealing some more holes in the seam at the rear edge of the floor behind the drivers seat, and another two that look to have been drilled under the passenger. Also recharged a battery & started the Prelude for the first time in several months, it's got me depressed with its rust, hail damage & smokey engine so I haven't been giving it much attention. Then some gardening to move a Hibiscus & eliminate a bit of raised garden bed along the drive for a more discrete parking space.. |
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Last Edit: Jun 17, 2013 10:44:52 GMT by 79cord
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79cord
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Not much progress from me on my own car scene, but thought I should throw this one up anyway.  A friend bought this 151,000km '85 prelude 5-speed very cheaply via Ebay & needed someone to look after it for a few weeks while he was overseas. So it spent some time with my '81. A suave sophisticate by comparison, with a more expensive upbringing giving it many new features & fewer hand-me-downs from its siblings. Resulting in a bigger, heavier car. Sadly this one also needed potentially expensive maintenance such as brakes, cv-joints, pwr steering, ball-joints putting its future at great risk, having already suffered a very roughly sanded repaint in some areas for what were probably relatively minor scrapes and worn through its seat covers, lost its spare wheel & other details so it was sad to hear he was deliberating whether to scrap or save it. I reminded him that in buying a cheap old car you aren't buying transport, you're buying an adventure. We'd already wandered about some wreckers seeking bits for it, & spotted a ex-UK Reliant Rialto 3-wheeler on the road as testament; not a 'car' that was sold here, proving the enjoyment of automotive enthusiasm. |
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79cord
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Aug 16, 2013 11:26:01 GMT
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Had a visit from the Prelude again last weekend, my friend having spent the serious money getting it road-worthy at a local w/shop including frt brakes, rebuilt power steering rack, frt driver-shafts, so was ready to put it back on the road with classic/historic plates. We bought some oil to give it an oil change but ran out of time before a club meeting...
But only got a few km down the road before noticing a rising temperature gauge. We pulled over to check the cooling fans were switching on properly & by-pass their thermo-switch if necessary but found a waterleak & once we dared try it, found the radiator cooler than it should have been & very low on rusty water so we filled it with water & returned home buying proper coolant & radiator flush on the way. Stickers revealed the radiator had been replaced a few years ago, Sealant suggesting the water pump had had attention also, so I assume that shouldn't have dis-integrated like my Integra's. Removed & refitted radiator hose @ engine so hopefully that has resealed it. Fitted the frt badge we had bought a few weeks ago from wecker, the mounting clips on it clearly Prelude specific.
Still jealous of its nice short gearstick mounted nice & close to the steering wheel, really has me tempted to attack the floor of Intgra with angle grinder & welder to mount its gearstick properly.
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Last Edit: Aug 16, 2013 11:31:31 GMT by 79cord
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79cord
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Aug 25, 2013 12:07:44 GMT
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. Well finally managed to give the '79 some minor attention between its daily duties dragging me to work & back. Last week I rather desperately changed its transaxle oil starting at 10:30pm, concerned about its possible oil level and fairly constant gear noise that I had at first been attributing to an aftermarket alloy gearknob that always seemed to be coming slightly loose allowing it to 'sizzle' with vibration upon the gearstick but the noise was just too constant & the oil probably needed changing anyway, compounded by a regular slight weep from the driveshaft outputs. Though this doesn't seem to have made much difference unfortunately. Not sure what to do about it yet though with such vintage Accord & Prelude manual gearboxes not easily found to replace mine. If it is only the final drive portion maybe I could use parts from the Hondamatic removed from Prelude for a manual conversion.
Today I finally got around to replacing one of its rubber steering rack gaitors/bellows which was nice & easy, though will have have to do timing belt soon with it rapidly approaching 300,000km, if not refresh the engine to eliminate oil consumption.
Thinking I should also get around to replacing clutch on '88 Integra & preparing it for road use now that it has had its 25 th birthday to qualify for cheaper 'occasional-use' classic/historic registration. Though its paint is looking more faded than ever & some of the areas I had repainted before have developed tiny condensation blisters
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79cord
Posted a lot
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Some more pictures for you. For shock value here's Accord with 2013 Opel Astra: New Accord arguably not even in the same category.  Though last week it was misbehaving a little, occasionally coughing & farting badly under light acceleration, was low on fuel at the time, so considering dirt in/from fuel at carburetor.. or ignition? Should replace fuel filter anyway I guess.  Friends Prelude on a recent club run so here it is; 1st, 2nd & 3rd generation Prelude Door latch plastic facings on '79 needed replacing, not latching properly once worn, & mine had become thoroughly chewed.  so now it shuts with its proper solid thunk once again... though I also managed to break the interior door release cable to the latch, & I still have not yet replaced the cable, so the doors interior trims are still off so I can get out! Never-less it is still working hard daily:  Here it is unexpectedly hauling home a Chinese 125cc mini dirt bike to provide parts ($5!)for Honda S90 basket case custom. Have to love the versatility of a Hatchback. It has now passed 300,000km though, with gearbox starting to complain & timing belt & minor oil leaks need attending to soon so I would like to give it a little rest, or at least a temporary heart transplant as soon as I can until those issues can be addressed properly (soon to be out of work again). I also stumbled across a garage sale down the road yielding some cheap 15" low profile tyres (last used on boat trailer), so I could justify the frivolity of possibly using some of the 15" wheels I didn't have tyres for; including these mid '90's Mugen RNR wheels I had managed to get cheaply, the black one had to be bought & brought from Japan by a friend to complete the set. So I dug them out of storage to consider repainting the black.  and some of the other wheels I have in the size, some with over Dia/profile tyres.  Mugen RNR & Speedy holo type-R wheels it has worn previously still favorites for Accord despite their modern designs, with soft lines matching those of the car, especially the solid Speedy wheels, and their extra inch being much more impressive upon it. But also considering repainting the Mazda Mx-3 wheels (first in line) with darker spokes & polished center (for old fashioned small hubcap look {1g prelude above}), once centre hole bore has been enlarged to fit Hondas. |
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Last Edit: Nov 3, 2013 13:50:03 GMT by 79cord
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79cord
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Another fantasy was the purchase of some cheap new D16 sohc stainless headers for the Integra via Ebay & USA (unless CR-X gets them)  Upper apparently fits the DOHC D16 with minor filing/grinding of header, though lower bolts to it at a bit of an angle so two tubes may not sit properly horizontal (cross car) once installed, and it does not include the flexible section to the rear that Integra has, so I may retain/adapt its original lower portion. But on a more practical note I have to get serious preparing the Integra of the road again; including replacing its sliping clutch So I gave it a long overdue wash & started dismantling.  Space once battery tray & Honda's long resonance/pulse tuning intake ducting to air filter is removed, space CRX never had room for.   Bumper fascia also removed again for easier access & because I also need to straighten flimsy (non-North American) reinforcements that were not allowing fog/indicator lamps to mount properly... Reminds me that I really don't like Honda's big bumpers, distracting from the Integras chiselled & gently rounded nose.. Always imagine more appropriate & complimentary shapes when seeing it without. And that I should probably clean surface rust from frt brakes... Front underbody tray proved a pain to remove as a steep driveway/speed bump had obviously clouted & ground a mounting bolt & broken free its captive nut.. so bolt head had to be cut off. Didn't achieve much with other distractions. Next have to drain transmission, remove driveshaft & unbolt transaxle for clutch access.. |
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79cord
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Only a little more progress upon the Integra.
Have now drained transmission, unbolted frt hubs from struts to give some maneuvering room, so thankfully it looks like I won't have to undo lower ball joints to remove driveshafts as Factory w/shop manual proposed.
Removed starter motor and all the engine/transmission and mounting bolts I can see.
Probably have to unbolt the intermediate driveshaft & rear engine mount at there's an awkward bolt behind themt.
Also have to push out the invariably stubborn gearshift linkage roll pin.
Noticed I probably have to replace the oil seal at the camshaft angle sensor due to oil leak, and Left outboard CV joint rubber has deep surface cracks, so probably won't last long & might as well be replaced at the same time.. Machine flywheel?
Want to paint calipers & non-wearing areas of discs (silver), while I am at it if I'm going to fit those open wheels eventually. So tempting to try lowering via refitting torsion bars but better wait 'till its on the road.
Might as well get a rear main crankshaft seal too... Really haven't planned this all that well so will have to order those parts & add timing belt & water pump seal for the CR-X while I am at it (bought water pump for it last week).
'77'cord doesn't want to start (compounded by iffy battery) now so carburetor needs clean-out sooner rather than later.
Finally got around to repairing '79'cords door release cable, replaced with a length of Honda 90 throttle cable with new ends soldered on... Then locked the door & found I couldn't open the door even once unlocked. Glad trims were still off. Suspect something has become bent or worn within the door latch. Most frustrating.
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79cord
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Nov 24, 2013 12:54:21 GMT
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Well at least '77's sorted. Replaced the fuel filter & seems to be running fine...
Though of course I managed to make it more complicated. Measured '79's filter fuel lines as that was parked in front (filter behind/inboard of left rear wheel between tank & electric pump). 5/16 - 8mm. Bought filter. curse word '77's lines are smaller. First place closed. Buy another elsewhere (cheaper!). Car doesn't want to start, battery getting flat. Recharge (accidentally blow fuse in old charger). Car doesn't want to start, turns over fine though. Suspect ignition system still due to the way it was miss-behaving originally. Doesn't seem to be producing sparks from the coil except just as ignition is switched off again after trying. Wonder about ignition switch & find mounting screw bolts very loose (switch replaced by before by prior owner) retighten them & generally fiddle about with coil, distributor & surrounding wires. Doesn't seem to be producing spark at all now. Go away & come back another day!
Investigate distributor points & condenser, remove condenser to investigate if parts '77' has one (missing). '79cord & '81 preludes don't -Honda had adopted electronic ignition with different distributor. Give up & refit. Finally I find that in my fiddling investigations I have left off a wire from the aftermarket "silicon chip" magazine/ Dick Smith Electronic ignition kit that had been fitted to the car. Car starts.. Terrific, finally... Though I'm still not entirely sure what my problem was in the first place. I've bought a spare condenser just in case. Never regularly used/maintained a car with points before to know much there.. & unsure of the kit fitted to this one too.
Still fun to switch from '79 to '77. '77 probably healthier, and doesn't have '79's authority off the line with smaller flywheel & slightly closer spread of gears compensated for by less sound deadening giving plenty of induction noise and it just runs out so seamlessly to its redline, where despite a shorter stroke the '79 starts to get boomy and you can feel its power start to drop off well before the redline.
Still not finished Integra's clutch yet, the fact it's at the parents place not helping things.
If I have to do right driveshaft CV-joint gaiter/boot I have to undo hub end bolt. Invariably very tight, so had to bolt frt hubs, struts & wheels back on & put it back on its wheels to stop hub turning to undo nut. But despite standing on tip of extension bar more than 2-foot long still couldn't undo it. Might have to try heating or cutting it... Another day. After much hammering from under car I eventually manage to push out roll-pin connecting g-shift linkage to g-box. And have to remove rear engine mount to undo final engine/g-box bolt but find 14mm 1/2" drive socket is slipping off & rounding bolt heads so needs replacing. Buy a cheap impact driver socket set (1/2 price sale)- they should last! & provide a set to leave at parents. Separate G-box from engine.. but not enough to be able to move it out of the way Intermediate driveshaft mounting needs to be unbolted from back of engine. Oil filter in the way. Drain oil(well I probably should have done that before anyway), but oil filter does not want to budge. curse word. Eventually I finally manage to get it off! G-box finally out of the way! Oh, 10mm 12-point bolts retaining pressure plate. Don't have that socket here. Off to buy one. Oh drat, 17mm 12-point socket retaining flywheel, assuming that should be machined/surfaced? Don't have that socket either....
Also noticed clutch looks like it may have been replaced before...& there's plenty of friction surface left.. so what was causing all my clutch slippage? And the fact cable seemed to be out of adjustment travel?... Continue onward regardless I guess. Also of some concern was the fact I was sure I had changed engine oil before I brought it up to the parents place last year.. & had only driven it up & down the drive a few times since. The oil looked pretty old & black ?!
As some compensation & visited a wrecker as they had a Red '87 integra & wanted to get a spare bonnet before they get too scarce. It had a minor dent so & left that.. but might still succumb to buying it.. & the pre-facelift frt bumper, but I did buy its drivers interior door & quarter trim tops as mine are really starting to disintegrate from sun exposure. While I helped my brother remove & buy a tailgate for his Camry station wagon.
I'm also frustratedly awaiting the possible purchase of yet more alloy wheels spotted upon Gumtree for $100, waaay over the other side of the city. Only 14" aftermarket wheels of unknown brand painted black from a terrible picture, so the size isn't going to be amazing but they looked like a design I admire with 8 delicate spokes so was interested & got excited enough to inquire availability... two weeks ago! Finally was asked if I was still interested.. then left hanging again... not even sure if there are 4 yet!
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Last Edit: Nov 24, 2013 13:01:41 GMT by 79cord
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Some more pictures for you. For shock value here's Accord with 2013 Opel Astra: New Accord arguably not even in the same category. I parked outside a few weeks ago (I go multideck unless I know I have to pop out during the day), and as I wandered up the carpark I thought to myself "they guy that owns the beige one must have a white one too". Then the last time I parked outside I wandered past and thought to myself "I'm sure I recognise that car from someplace". Now I know why  |
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1982 Mercedes 280TE
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79cord
Posted a lot
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Dec 10, 2013 13:21:42 GMT
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Well Beige needs a rest until I can give it the attention it deserves, so White will be taking its place for a little while. Only another week or so of work left.. with no new work on the horizon now that the rear lamps I was there for are (hopefully) sorted.
Bought pre-facelift front bumper for integra. $20 & correct colour far too tempting even if it took a whole morning to get it... Still looking for good (cheap) bonnet as 'insurance' as well (esp. after the struggle to find one for fathers Subaru) ... Should have been doing clutch!
Spotted '80 Accord at local wrecker so hope to grab its transmission soon too. Grabbed spare wheel trim rings & rare (dealer option here) Passenger side mirror. Removed its frt bumper knowing they tend to destroy them whilst moving cars with forklift, it was reasonable but not perfect so I put it in back of the car just in case anyone needs it.. though I was tempted..
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Last Edit: Dec 10, 2013 13:29:59 GMT by 79cord
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79cord
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Dec 31, 2013 10:34:03 GMT
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So perhaps white Accord isn't totally sorted yet...
Started misfiring & misbehaving before stalling on my way to parents Christmas eve, & wouldn't restart. Since I had bought a spare condenser but not fitted it when it was last misbehaving, I figured I might as well try that, noting that mtg screws were already loose as I swapped them (possible case on it's own). Started immediately so I proceeded on my way & stopped again to buy a gift for my niece (& a HotWheels Civic for me:) ).
Accord would not start again afterwards (cranked but would not fire) even with much patience & a number of tries. In desperation I re fitted the original condenser & it starts again immediately. Aaaaarggggg?!?!!
Have to re-seal joint between cast exhaust manifold & down pipe as it seems to have developed a noisy leak. Removed the stamped sheetmetal manifold heat shield for access which in disintegrating from rust.. but need some fairly long socket extensions to undo the exhaust mtg bolts from under the car, so that has been delayed.
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79cord
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Dec 31, 2013 12:42:07 GMT
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Finally some more work upon Integra, last left disassembled in mothers garage. Since left driveshaft CV joint gaiter didn't look like it was going to last long I bought a cheap spare from the wrecker & painted the rusty brake discs  Oil had been leaking from the camshaft sensor & distributor mounts of the head so had to replace their O-ring seals, though had problems re-fitting the sensor & removed cam cover thinking that would help. Turned out I had accidentally rotated it 180deg. causing the poor fitment, hope the cam cover won't leak oil now as well! Replaced engines rear main seal while things were apart even though it had obviously been replaced before so probably would have been fine, but decided to scuff the flywheel with sandpaper rather than have it machined again since it seemed quite smooth. (A friend recently had an '86 Civic clutch fail right after replacement as the flywheel had been machined way beyond service limits by someone too eager to machine out scoring) Had to spend plenty of time scrubbing grease from the gearbox before re-installing it, & had to figure out what bolts fit where again, but finally have it all together... But couldn't test yet 'till I get a new oil filter, & hand pump to re-fill transmission (left at home) would make things a little easier too... Clutch had better not slip again !  Also painted up the calipers given the design of the wheels I have in mind for it (though their spokes will probably be painted a dark grey)  At 15" the wheels already make the brakes looks small... they were as big as Honda could fit within the 13" of lesser models, though this car usually had 14". Have to repaint the right frame rail soon too, obviously stripped by brake fluid over the years.  Also found I should have bought bumper mounting brackets when I bought that pre-facelift bumper.. doesn't fit the later ones.. & my original faded bumper needs some more attention to fit properly ( missing spacers or correct mounting bolts at some locations?). |
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Last Edit: Jan 10, 2014 6:38:47 GMT by 79cord
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79cord
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Well Integra runs again, up & down the drive way anyway... Had to buy more oil since I'd forgotten that it likes light 10W-30 for the engine (10W40 transmission), & local parts suppliers had the wrong oil filter listed for it, so that took two tries as well (use the other on Accord). Took some exterior photos but figured they didn't really show anything new apart from advanced fading of the paint, & where some tree sap took a splotch on the roof back to factory primer.
So whats left before it can go on the road?
Already had new tires & windscreen from the car yard. I re-sealed windscreen(!), replaced timing belt, spark plugs, thermostat & water pump, front Discs & pads, LHS driveshaft, clutch, rear muffler, rear hatch (minus rust & spoiler), seats for cleaner ones, slightly straighter rear bumper, removed filler bodge & welded rust under rear side windows.
Spent yesterday slopping rust converter & later paint into rear lower edge of hatch as I realized I'd forgotten that (to be followed by wax), & bashing around the steel front bumper 'reinforcement' mountings for better fit of the bumper & the indicators into it. Better, but still not perfect. At least I found I already have some pre-facelift frt bumper brackets as well, though don't have the matching original indicator lamps. I'd prefer to use some aftermarket LED ones but don't want to risk complaints that they aren't factory when I put it back on the road.. So that will wait. As will some other planned fun.. Also put the CR-X steering wheel, & standard basic steel wheels (in need of paint) back on. Replaced frt wiper blades that have disintegrated whilst parked at parents.
Plan to (re)fill/plug rear wiper hole with reinforced filler next as I never use them, but don't want it to be particularly hard to reverse like welding, & last effort of glueing in a steel 'plug' was already displaying rust. Should also replace LHS driveshaft/hub retaining nut as its 'hammer-down' locking flange was missing where required (advantage of castellated nut & split pin of old Accord).. I picked up another today.
Hopefully that's all it really needs to go on the road.. With fun, experimentation & eventually paint to follow.
I also replaced '77's exhaust/manifold gasket so it sounds much better now.. though must have split the inboard driveshaft CV-joint gaiter directly below it somehow... More work.
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Last Edit: Jan 9, 2014 11:23:40 GMT by 79cord
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79cord
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,617
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Spent today @ wrecker buying another set of 2g Prelude rear discs, calipers & associated bits as used to convert my '79 Accord to 4x100 wheel stud pattern with rear discs... Might have to get Rover/Honda Quintet or 2g Civic frt hubs now as well for the other end... Not sure if that might be cheaper than fitting new wheel-studs to '79-'80 1g Prelude hubs with their unique (for Honda) wheel bolts.. but they are also there currently & getting/now scarce whilst the (preferred/easy) later Civic frt discs & calipers should be available for longer.
Might have to get another Accord bonnet that's there soon too ('79's rusting about hinge reinforcements).. more '80-'81 Accord frt arch liners?.. & some good looking Integra door window trims..& rear hatch seal?...
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