y87bird00

Hey guys, my name is Nick I'm just getting into the Honda seen coming over from the ls1tech forum. (Not leaving just dipping into both) I have a friend looking to unload a 1981 Honda Accord sedan. The car has 4,336 original miles, the original tires and oil filter are on the car. All the rubber and plastics are great, not to concerned about the mechanics of the car. It's been indoors all its life. However the car has been in storage because it was rolled on its side when new. The damage is not bad, the roof is wrinkled and pushed over an inch, there are a few dents on the back, and the front clip is from a salvage yard car with damage on the new fender. It comes with a new roof panel, and parts left over from the local dealer when they stopped warrantying these cars. There are enough parts to take up a mall storage shed alone. Enough for two cars I'm sure. My question is what are these cars worth? If all it takes is body work (I want to learn how to do the work, I figured this makes good practice) how much is a first gen accord worth or sought after? I am not trying to sell it, make money off it, or make it perfect. I would like to fix it myself and enjoy it to my likings. What are some of yalls opinions?

ej1995

Neat cars, but as with 99% of older Honda products, they just aren't worth a ton of money.

y87bird00

I went ahead and brought it home. I think it was too cool to not save. I found the original owners information from when the car was bought. It has the window sticker, order build sheet, key rings and owners manual. It has the tool set, and many many new pieces from dealerships and donor cars

xci_ed6

Pfft, it's now a classic! Almost vintage!

It's gotta be worth a ton!

A ton of pennies, like $100

I wish it was worth a decent amount, it's gotta be sweet!

y87bird00

I know it's not worth anything in money, I think it's just neat. That's a lot coming from a non Honda person! I put a few pictures in my album, but they don't do it justice. It just looks like a 300,000 mile beater because of the dents. I'll see what I can turn her into.

testify

It's been rolled, its totalled and unfixable short of spending a small fortune on.

Furthermore, if the title stamped salvage, you will not be able to register it until it is fixed to new condition, the entire process documented, and the car inspected.

Im really not sure why or how you could think any of this would be a good idea.

xci_ed6

rolled :.(

I guess the roof is dented, can't even fix it...

...remove it. Make it a 'vert!

y87bird00

The damage is not bad at all. They told me it was rolled, it looks like a fat person jumped on the roof.

testify

Where are you planning to get a new roof skin for a 1981 Accord sedan?

Are all the pillars straight?

If you can't do this work yourself, you are looking at spending many thousands of dollarbucks to end up with a horrible car.

y87bird00

It already has an extra roof from a donor car cut off halfway down the pillars. The current pillars are all straight. All work will be done by myself, I am not taking it anywhere for anything lol. I'm not spending money on this car, only time.

y87bird00

I already worked on the rear quarter. http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j1...psddkc0n7p.jpg http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j1...psfgb5wpcr.jpg

ej1995

There WERE 1st gen Prelude 'verts...just throwing that out there.

y87bird00

I got the rear quarters smoothed out. http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j1...psmewuplrc.jpg http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j1...ps6vcufmq1.jpg http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j1...psxa456x0w.jpg

dquizten

Wow! Night and day difference! Welcome to the forum and that's some excellent work you've been doing!
Doug

y87bird00

I've gotten the body hammer and dollied out. I will use fillers and get it smooth after it runs, and I do something with the roof.

I was able to clean the gas tank out, to my surprise. I thought it needed to be replaced because it looked like a 34 year old bbq pit in there. And of course nobody near me had any first gen accords. But a few rinses with different solvents and a pressure washer got it spotless. It's reinstalled with a new filter and a few feet of new rubber hose.

I replaced the slave cylinder, and flushed the master and lines. The clutch system works now.

I bled the brakes, enough to get a pedal but they may need more cleaning before its road worthy.

I also replaced the trans oil and radiator fluid.

Neen

I am sooooo glad you decided to save this beaut....
Fantastic work on the body!

y87bird00

Thanks! I got the front clip lined up well.

I wasn't getting 12v to the fuel pump wiring, and with a jumper wire on the cutoff relay it would blow the fuse. A 12v to the pump would turn it on, but it doesn't sound good. So I ordered a new fuel pump.

NW Classic Honda

For sure save it! Best color ever!

jollyhonda

That is really cool! Love the classic stuff.

y87bird00

Had a carb issue. Rebuilt it and it didn't help. I'll be adding a weber carb soon.

jfreakofkorn

cool looking wheel(s) =0)

you don't see many of them around ( if they are any around ) and yes, save it ..

95eggsr66

wow, in for this one. nice work! cant wait to see it done

GrumpyOne

Good work! You'll love the Weber and be driving virtually a new car for peanuts.

Oldskoolhondas

Nice 81 accord man. I'm restoring a 81 accord hatchback. Unfortunately I live in California which of course means smog.... Once I get the engine dialed in, I'll start with the body and interior. Right now I'm going thru the dreaded black boxes, the cat, the egr and one shot valve.

testify

You can just buy one that hasn't been crashed for a few hundred dollarbucks...




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