Restoration: 1978 Honda Civic (1200) Part 1

[Randy]

Not much time lately but managed to get a cable hoist put up on a beam that I can slide it back and forth, thank goodness as I could not get the car back in the garage without it. I am a weakling.

Scraped a bunch more sticky tar off the floor and found more holes. I can't finish until I pull the heater box and the pedals.

[amifsud]

Looking good.

[Randy]

It works

Your Instagram photos can now be posted in the forum. Just copy and paste the link


The cable hoist in action. I pick up anther one (400lbs)to put up in the loft to heavy lift things and save my back.
Anyone need some 1992 Civic EG Doors?

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVh8VAbDWqF ... stgenhonda

Stills

After removing the tar off the front driver side I found some gnarly holes, not a big surprise.
However while looking at the 1" round hole in the bottom front of the drivers door pillar to see if I could use this to stiffen the body with pipe front to back. I discovered where I wanted it to exit in the rear wheel wheel just fell to rusty bits when I tried to scrape the under coating off.
My intention was to also use the pipe to attach new jacking points and to also use it to rotate the body on its side during restoration. :(

[runningman48103]

Rust is insidious! That's why I have been buying cars in the southwest and driving them home since 1972: I can fix anything mechanical (engine, trans, suspension, etc.) but I can't fix rust!

Good luck!

[Randy]

I was at a British car show on Saturday and noticed that the older Mini has a simple j type molding that goes over the rain gutter.

MT632_t__77481.jpg (5.35 KiB) Viewed 2905 times

For my car I will most likely destroy the chrome rain gutters as they are very fragile.
Has anyone come up with a replacement solution.
I may consider to blacken the chrome but really don't want to.

I also like this bullet mirror.

This is actually a Japanese Mini imported to Canada, It in not metric.


The alternator I am told on this one is 45amps for a tractor. I will get more details later as it's already known this will fit a Civic.

[Randy]

A little more done tonight, come to realize the older you get the harder it is to be folded up inside the car pulling bits off.

Found more holes in the floor

[Randy]

Tiny bit more done, I had hoped to have it stripped by now but because of my training for Duathlon and running races oh and family.

It never ends, I almost wish I never started.

I found more rust in the engine bay, not too nasty but more to deal with. Depending how much rust I have found I might out source the blasting rather than doing it my self.

[bob78cvcc]

The rust is just ubiquitous.
I remember freaking out when I pulled my engine,
dropped down the front cross member and exposed
newly discovered rust on the bottom of the inner fender where the cross member bolts up to.
Thankfully, the car was heading back to the bodyshop to refinish the engine bay.

[Thor]

The alternator fitted to the mini is a LUCAS 45 ACR and was used on most UK-made cars, light vans, etc. particularly BMC/Austin/MG/ Rover/ Jaguar etc.
Its regulator is piggy-backed under the black plastic cover.
When looking at the fitments, the figures quote its regulated max output.
However, my Bedford Camper [rv] is now fitted with a 70 ACR. For some reason, I do not have much trouble with electrical requirements.
It is the same size as the 35, 45 and 50 ACRs, so is a straight fit.

Talking of fit, the ACR alternators MUST be supported at both ends, not just one as on the Civic, otherwise the front bracket will shear.
The tube in the rear mount is designed to allow the bracket distance to vary by around 1/4'', subject to application.
When I get a chance, I will dummy one up on a Civic, if anyone is interested.
My cars, having EN4 engines use the 2ndgen alternator and I find this perfectly adequate, even with all the spots and headlights on.

PS - want to get rid of a Civic alternator?
Flog it to a 60's Mustang owner, it fits perfectly in place of the iffy Autolite generator originally supplied, even the wiring needs no alteration, both using a 5-wire regulator box, just swap them over .
I did this on my Sunbeam Tiger, it dropped the engine temp as an added bonus, because the airflow around the engine bay was easier.
Never looked at a Tiger? You should, a real beast, used to beat 289 and 302 cobras in the day, more civilised and less scuttle-shake to boot.

[Thor]

As for the gutter trim, I have been looking into this recently, but hav enot yet bought any.
There is a section extruded for Ford Escort mark 1 [UK, europe] that looks to be closer match.

I will pick up the cudgel and come to a conclusion soon.