1983 Honda City
04-15-2009, 07:19 AM
#1
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1983 Honda City
I do have a video of the whole car inside and out, I will find it and post it ASAP
In 2007 I visited some family in Australia on a one year Visa. While I was there I found an '83 City for sale for $300 AUD. It had a blown headgasket but it came with everything needed to repair it. Long story short, I bought it and had it towed home.
The weather in AUS was great, so everyday I was outside tinkering with the car and putting it back together. I eventually got everything back together. Someone else (I shall leave them un-named) took upon the task of tightening the head bolts. The motor was carbureted so there was also a million hoses to be connected to a million different fittings.
On my maiden drive after everything was back together, just by chance I passed a house with a white City in the driveway. I pulled up, knocked on the door and politely asked if I could compare my vacuum hose layout to theirs. They obliged and even brought me a cold glass of water while I corrected my hoses. Turns out that I literally had EVERY hose connected to the wrong spot, but wouldn't you know it...it still ran.
I drove it for maybe 1 month when it started overheating.....blown headgasket. The coolant shot out of the rad about 6 feet everytime you poured coolant in. It was damn hot.
I later found out from the person who tightened the head bolts that 2 or 3 of the 10 head bolts had stripped threads. It was only a matter of time.
Overall, the car was a champ. IIRC it weighed about 700 KG (1500 LB) and even though it only had a 1200 CC powerplant, it was still quite peppy. During the time I was driving it, I got a flat tire, my windshield was cracked from a big rock on the highway, and my silicone exhaust gasket blew apart making my car sound like a freight train.
You can find many videos of these little cars on youtube. They even had their own race class in Japan. Honda also offered them in a convertible version and in a TURBO version. The turbo body style is absolutely stunning.
Anyhow, on to the pictures.
Sexiest grill of '83
Side view of it's square-ish good looks
The wheels that I wish I brought back to Canada with me
Flat
Flat
Lining up the timing marks
Timing mark on flywheel through transmission window
Engine being assembled
Enjoying the weather
Someones 2 dollar correction of some kind of brake light problem
Longest shifter I've ever used
In 2007 I visited some family in Australia on a one year Visa. While I was there I found an '83 City for sale for $300 AUD. It had a blown headgasket but it came with everything needed to repair it. Long story short, I bought it and had it towed home.
The weather in AUS was great, so everyday I was outside tinkering with the car and putting it back together. I eventually got everything back together. Someone else (I shall leave them un-named) took upon the task of tightening the head bolts. The motor was carbureted so there was also a million hoses to be connected to a million different fittings.
On my maiden drive after everything was back together, just by chance I passed a house with a white City in the driveway. I pulled up, knocked on the door and politely asked if I could compare my vacuum hose layout to theirs. They obliged and even brought me a cold glass of water while I corrected my hoses. Turns out that I literally had EVERY hose connected to the wrong spot, but wouldn't you know it...it still ran.
I drove it for maybe 1 month when it started overheating.....blown headgasket. The coolant shot out of the rad about 6 feet everytime you poured coolant in. It was damn hot.
I later found out from the person who tightened the head bolts that 2 or 3 of the 10 head bolts had stripped threads. It was only a matter of time.
Overall, the car was a champ. IIRC it weighed about 700 KG (1500 LB) and even though it only had a 1200 CC powerplant, it was still quite peppy. During the time I was driving it, I got a flat tire, my windshield was cracked from a big rock on the highway, and my silicone exhaust gasket blew apart making my car sound like a freight train.
You can find many videos of these little cars on youtube. They even had their own race class in Japan. Honda also offered them in a convertible version and in a TURBO version. The turbo body style is absolutely stunning.
Anyhow, on to the pictures.
Sexiest grill of '83
Side view of it's square-ish good looks
The wheels that I wish I brought back to Canada with me
Flat
Flat
Lining up the timing marks
Timing mark on flywheel through transmission window
Engine being assembled
Enjoying the weather
Someones 2 dollar correction of some kind of brake light problem
Longest shifter I've ever used
04-15-2009, 10:25 AM
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Re: 1983 Honda City
That is cool! What are your import laws up there? When the first City Turbo II models are old enough to import to the US, I'm soooo bringing one here. I love how mad they look with the flares. Definitely a bulldog!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2ocft48q8s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2ocft48q8s
04-16-2009, 03:47 PM
#7
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04-16-2009, 03:48 PM
#8
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Re: 1983 Honda City
Yeah man, they are wicked light and stupid fast. Pretty sure the one guy I met who had one said that factory boost is 7 psi.
04-17-2009, 04:24 AM
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Re: 1983 Honda City
04-20-2009, 09:25 PM
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Re: 1983 Honda City
How bad do you want it? I still have it, sitting in my garage.. It's actually for sale for $6500 USD.. I start it up every month or so, and other than needing a new battery, it drives just great.. It's an 86 City Turbo II..
If anyone is seriously interested, I could use the space in my garage for one of my other cars, so drop me a line.. joe@locashracing.com
If anyone is seriously interested, I could use the space in my garage for one of my other cars, so drop me a line.. joe@locashracing.com
04-21-2009, 05:56 AM
#16
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05-01-2009, 10:11 PM
#19
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Re: 1983 Honda City
aw man, the City is so badass, especially the Turbo. I was thinking of buying one when I go to Japan, I wonder how rare they are now...
05-01-2009, 10:27 PM
#20
Honda-Tech Member
Re: 1983 Honda City
That is cool! What are your import laws up there? When the first City Turbo II models are old enough to import to the US, I'm soooo bringing one here. I love how mad they look with the flares. Definitely a bulldog!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2ocft48q8s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2ocft48q8s
Tiny cars crashing all over the place hahahah
