Restoration Nismo's 1979 1200 Civic Engine Swap EN1 + Brakes

[nismo]

The Mrs bought me this wheel for my birthday last week.

Im also thinking of using mk1 Mazda MX5 seats too. Nice and slim and fairly retro looking and should hold me in a little better too.

[nismo]

Well after nearly two years in primer, this week i finally found the time to paint it.

Chose jaguar/land rover Firenza Red Pearl. Beautiful colour, should look nice with the gold centers on the braids and easy to match and blow in when it rusts again

Piled the clear coat on for some real depth once nibbed and buffed. Doors, tailgate etc done tomorrow. Good lord love it :-D

flatted and masked ready to go

Ground coat on

Colour on

Clear

and in the sun

It will now go back to its home at the side of my workshop and put back together over the next few months hopefully in time for a run out at crystal palace 8)

[nismo]

The re build has started full on now, need it done and out of my workshop to make way for the next job. First up was to get the underside sorted. It was really clean underneath with only a few areas of surface rust to be treated before under sealing and Waxoyl.

Next i fitted the rear coil overs

Then i had a bit of a challenge with the pedals. Mine was an auto and i didn't have a first gen manual pedal box for it. I had a second gen set of pedals so ended up using the brake and clutch pedal in the first gen auto pedal box. The brake pedal needed a bit of bending and the stop light switch bracket re locating to suit and the clutch pedal needed shortening at the top where cable hooks on and some more bending. All fits fine now .

Painted backing plates and 4x100 rear drums that jay sorted for me

since Honda supplied the car with such fine components its only right every single thing that goes back on the car are restored.

I also fitted the doors and just sat the front wings on so it resembles a car again. wings will be coming back off until the engine is back in and all under hood work is done.

Picked up a pair of Recaro speeds to go in but cant decide to go with them or a single drivers bucket yet.

Back on it Monday and jay is coming up later in the week to give me a hand. 8)

[nismo]

Got a few more bits done this week. Jay came up today to give me a hand fitting the deluxe gauges (thanks Ray and Slim ) and brought me some early rear lights and a few other bits of nos. Think we spent more time looking for screws and parts than we did putting bits back on though:D Got the rear brakes done and 4x100 drums on too.

Massive init racing chief mechanic at work

finished with nos lever springs, its the details that count 8)

looking a bit like a civic again.

Cheers for your help jay

[nismo]

Made a start on painting a few engine bits this morning. Quick sandblast, primer then paint.

And a special bit of nos from the big fella. Taa laa.

[Blackbullet]

A very pleasant Friday tinkering with Hondas

First up was to fit 1973-1977 tail lights to this 1979 car. Certainly being a UK car this was just a matter of cutting the plug of the original 1979 tail lights and joining it onto the 73-77 tail units. Even all the wire colours are the same so its an easy job. I only use heat shrink crimps for perfect joints that will last for years. A heat gun makes for speedy work.

Then i started to prepare the dash for fitting the deluxe gauges.

Still lots to do at the business end.

Started to get the interior together.

Rest of the time was spent eating pasties and pies Thanks for the pasties and pies Simon

[nismo]

Got a few more jobs done in the last couple of weeks. Engine and box are all painted and ready to go back in next week

Next up i got the rest of the interior in and fitted an omp bucket seat

Also trial fitted the braids to see how there going to look. Fitment and offset looks perfect

[nismo]

Got gearbox back on and dropped the engine in this morning

Hope to get most of it plumbed in next week.

[nismo]

Time for an update.

Got the wagon knuckles on and brakes sorted with 2nd gen Accord calipers and carriers and Honda Ballade vented disks.

Then time to swap the hinges from my facelift hood onto the early hood

next was to modify the 1500 grill to fit . Bit of trimming and fits great.

trial fitting a piece of prelude chrome trim i modified to finish off the lower part.

Tried the chin spoiler on too.

Then removed everything for final touches and blacked the front panel

Its getting finished now, need to drive it!

[nismo]

Well it's finally finished and ready for the road. Thanks to everyone who helped me with the build.