Restoration: 1978 Honda Civic (1200) Part 2

[Randy]

I had to re-weld layer 2 as I realized when I was shutting everything off last night that the gas was already off, bummer & the welds looked so good.

This bit needs patching before the big piece goes in plus I has to spot weld it to the inner frame rail skin.

Patch goes here.

Lined up for a taco or two with magnets.

Stitch magnets

I did a bunch of tac welds along the seam inside the engine compartment as there are only a couple of factory spot welds between the motor mount and headlight pot.

Hairy Magnet

The last layer goes on tomorrow if all goes well, I primed everything tonight so I can get started tomorrow.

[Randy]

Look what I found in my loft.

Rear arches.

I was looking for the rocker panels.

[Randy]

This 3rd and final layer was a real pain working from the top down, a quick tack here and there was ok, but it started blowing through the old metal all over the place.

Placement held by magnets

I used a family heritage iron to shape the metal to a body line, like who cares it’s going to be hidden right.

Old iron base, now a dolly

It took 3-4 passes to fill the pin holes and blow through’s, oh how I would have loved to had a modern mig welder.
The last image is a bit of touch up opposite on the inside.

[Randy]

Next up, clean up the garage and scrap metal bits & raise the car higher on jack stands.
I have marked out the next target where the voltage regulator was mounted it’s rusted through the back and looks nasty.
I also have some holes to weld up.

[Randy]

A little prep work tonight and another hidden hole, that’s no surprise.

I cut out the patch after pre-drilling out the spot welds, the tool I have for that from Princess Auto is crap, just use a drill bit and I whacked off the rest with a very sharp wood chisel.

Did the cleaning up of the frame behind with a drummel tool with a cut off disc, the same methods I used to cut out the patch being restricted by the small amount of space available.

[Randy]

An update, finished up welding in the hole where the voltage regulator was. I found another hole where the end of the front valance bolts on, the weld on nut is missing, and found a the left side had to be pulled out an additional 1/2 and the top pulled had to be pulled up to where the front of the fender bolts on.

Managed to get some filler on some of the low spots.

[Randy]

Or a whole lot done today, some disappointments. Good Guess. More holes and twisted metal.

It’s very difficult sanding in such tight quarters.
The Center post at the front valance has a hole rotted through and the is an extra ventilation hole at the bottom drivers side where the cross member attaches.

On the right side the front valance has some broken spot welds and there is more metal to straighten out if I can. I might be able to get the ironing board dolly in there and use my impact hammer head to make it straight and the re-attach the spot welds.

[Randy]

Finally got some paint on, grabbed the pictures from the security camera.

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Added an old head light I used for running to the helmet to help seeing while laying under the car.

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[Randy]

I, v placed it on the floor next to right taillight.
Spare tyre space is not high enough if you still got Your tyre

I am thinking to build a battery box into the floor where the jack goes, It should be just below the spare tire.
Did you go with a smaller battery?

[Randy]

Got some sanding done tonight, this is nasty work, I will take a quarter panel any day.

This is a better picture of last nights work.

What is this for? Cold air intake.