1979 Honda Civic Restoration and Modification

koosjer55 · Post by **koosjer55** » January 20th, 2008, 9:32 am

Hello...is this thing on?

Yesterday I made a start with my project. It's a 1979 Civic 1200. I'm the second owner and I have the car for about 3 years now. It run approx. 95.000 km so far and runs still pretty smooth.

First of all I'm stripping the car down. Next week I'm taking the dash out and hopefully the engine as well. Since the car is at my grandpa's garage I'm not able to work on it through the week, but I'm not in a hurry.

Plans are:

- Restoring the engine (new high compression pistons, faster camshaft, RS exhaust manifold). Have a 5-speed transmission of a sec.gen. Civic and changing all the bearings and stuff like that.

- Welding some body-parts (have already new front fenders).

- Stiffer suspension (have CRX shocks, hopefully they work out right after some welding). Have Superpro poly bushings as well. Lower the car with a couple of centimeters, etc.

- Sanding the whole car and get it ready for paint. Not quite sure if I'll go for RS-orange or olive green..

Be right back.

koosjer55 · Post by **koosjer55** » January 20th, 2008, 11:51 am

since it's metallic silver and the front fenders have to be replaced and painted, it's necessary to paint to whole side of the car (left and right). that's why I've decided to paint the whole car and go for another color.

koosjer55 · Post by **koosjer55** » January 29th, 2008, 3:02 pm

Couple of pics..

koosjer55 · Post by **koosjer55** » February 3rd, 2008, 8:31 am

Day 4 and the engine is out! Welding and sanding can be done soon, I hope (depends on my welder). What I want now is another tailgate, without rust. The one I have is reparable, but a rustfree one would safe me some time.

Update: next week

koosjer55 · Post by **koosjer55** » November 27th, 2008, 2:39 pm

It's been way too long since my last update. As we say it over here in Holland: I haven't been sitting still

Let these pics do the talking.

koosjer55 · Post by **koosjer55** » November 27th, 2008, 3:04 pm

and some more pics

koosjer55 · Post by **koosjer55** » November 27th, 2008, 6:25 pm

I did indeed replace all the bearings (in the 5-speed transmission as well). I buy almost everything via cmsnl.com. Engine parts are easy to get. The radiator paint is heat resistant paint from Motip. Should do the job. The fan has just been cleaned. I bought a standard used camshaft from somebody in Rotterdam. One day I'll probably replace it for a racing camshaft.

koosjer55 · Post by **koosjer55** » November 28th, 2008, 3:16 am

thanks! I'm going for this kinda retro green btw. I also have the original striping (black)

koosjer55 · Post by **koosjer55** » November 28th, 2008, 10:41 am

Just a bit (2") lower and stiffer. If it'll work with the CRX shocks and springs I don't know right now, but my buddy Dennis is pretty positive about that. The underside of the car will be left black (thick rust protection).

koosjer55 · Post by **koosjer55** » December 8th, 2008, 2:55 pm

here a couple of pics with the RS carburetor installed

1StGenOfDurham

1StGenOfDurham

1979 Honda Civic Restoration and Modification

1979 Honda Civic Restoration and Modification

day 3...and here we have some rust...

day 4