The $500 needs TLC Auto DA9 weekend project
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Joined: May 2003
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From: Columbia, SC, US
The $500 needs TLC Auto DA9 weekend project
So as some people may have read I wrecked my DA as noted in this thread
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=2340025
I really like that car so I am still torn on weather or not to get the frame pulled professionally, in the mean time I needed a car and I needed it cheap. I found this $500 bone stock Integra GS in need of lots of TLC. I just need a car that doesnt look completely horrible and is reliable till I get my other DA back on the road. So the end result of this thread might not be what some people are expecting but its ok with me.
The pluses, 3 brand new tires, new non-oem radiator (i thought this was a plus), new dizzy from Acura with receipts of all the work every done to this single owner car.
The minuses, Well, its an auto for one, a supposid bad tranny, oil leaks like crazy, no AC (yes, i love cars with AC), big dent in drivers quarter panel, new unpainted hood that rusted over, sun roof doesnt work, cracked windshield, and trash and smelly stuff inside and out.
Picked up the car, checked the fluids before i drove it home and everything was at levels. Car made it to my neighborhood 20 miles later before the tranny decided to endlessly start slipping. Noticed the fluid was all the way out, I was thinking, ok the tranny is fine but prolly a hole in the housing, this would be why it was advertised with a bad tranny. Do some looking around and it appears the fluid is coming from a line. I make a notice of things I need to get at junk yard and get them.
The tranny leaked turned out to be the crappy replacement radiator sat too low and the line connector rubbed the crossmember, before i put $28 worth of fluid in I decided to drain my girls accord wagon and use the fluid from it, worked like a charm, no bad tranny. And it was a good thing i picked up the radiator from the junkyard because it fixed the problem of the line connector touching the crossmember.
The body work, I have never done body work before so my bondo job stinks but its better than what it was, i spent like 5 hours on my crappy job, oh well, still looks better than when it started. The hood i sanded out all the rust, primered it and spray painted it as well, it came out decent.
On to the AC. I noticed the belt was missing so i went out and bought a belt, before i put it on i made sure the compressor was not seized. it felt good so i put the belt on and it started smoking, cut the car off and noticed the belt was already starting to melt to the tensioner. Good thing I just had one laying around.
Oil leaks wernt as bad as I initially thought, just the valve cover gaskets had turned into stone they had been on there so long. Replaced them with new oem replacements i had laying around from my last DA and replaced the plugs with NGK standard plugs. The rear main seal or the oil pan gasket isnt leaking yet thankfully. Change the oil to mobil drive clean and put a new honda filter on.
Sunroof worked going back but not forward so i figured it was a switch and it was.
Just had to get the stink out of the car, good vacume and shampoo and the car was ready to drive. Everything works great and the car runs smooth. All in all, it was a fun project. Just too hot out to be working on a car for the weekend.
I ended up finding an auto radiator with fans and lines from junkyard for $40
Sunroof switch $3
Trim piece for rear quarter panel $5 for two of em in case i messed up.
Bought some bondo, sand paper, and spray paint from walmart for $30
New AC belt $9
and had a AC tensioner pulley laying around from a grab bag o parts ebay action that i paid $10 for the whole auction.
New auto tranny fluid from acura $28 for 4 quarts
$125 in parts total
Before
After
Line connector rubbing against crossmember
Where tensioner started to get belt melted to it after seconds of running
Old plugs and gaskets
Modified by crxstylin at 6:36 PM 7/28/2008
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=2340025
I really like that car so I am still torn on weather or not to get the frame pulled professionally, in the mean time I needed a car and I needed it cheap. I found this $500 bone stock Integra GS in need of lots of TLC. I just need a car that doesnt look completely horrible and is reliable till I get my other DA back on the road. So the end result of this thread might not be what some people are expecting but its ok with me.
The pluses, 3 brand new tires, new non-oem radiator (i thought this was a plus), new dizzy from Acura with receipts of all the work every done to this single owner car.
The minuses, Well, its an auto for one, a supposid bad tranny, oil leaks like crazy, no AC (yes, i love cars with AC), big dent in drivers quarter panel, new unpainted hood that rusted over, sun roof doesnt work, cracked windshield, and trash and smelly stuff inside and out.
Picked up the car, checked the fluids before i drove it home and everything was at levels. Car made it to my neighborhood 20 miles later before the tranny decided to endlessly start slipping. Noticed the fluid was all the way out, I was thinking, ok the tranny is fine but prolly a hole in the housing, this would be why it was advertised with a bad tranny. Do some looking around and it appears the fluid is coming from a line. I make a notice of things I need to get at junk yard and get them.
The tranny leaked turned out to be the crappy replacement radiator sat too low and the line connector rubbed the crossmember, before i put $28 worth of fluid in I decided to drain my girls accord wagon and use the fluid from it, worked like a charm, no bad tranny. And it was a good thing i picked up the radiator from the junkyard because it fixed the problem of the line connector touching the crossmember.
The body work, I have never done body work before so my bondo job stinks but its better than what it was, i spent like 5 hours on my crappy job, oh well, still looks better than when it started. The hood i sanded out all the rust, primered it and spray painted it as well, it came out decent.
On to the AC. I noticed the belt was missing so i went out and bought a belt, before i put it on i made sure the compressor was not seized. it felt good so i put the belt on and it started smoking, cut the car off and noticed the belt was already starting to melt to the tensioner. Good thing I just had one laying around.
Oil leaks wernt as bad as I initially thought, just the valve cover gaskets had turned into stone they had been on there so long. Replaced them with new oem replacements i had laying around from my last DA and replaced the plugs with NGK standard plugs. The rear main seal or the oil pan gasket isnt leaking yet thankfully. Change the oil to mobil drive clean and put a new honda filter on.
Sunroof worked going back but not forward so i figured it was a switch and it was.
Just had to get the stink out of the car, good vacume and shampoo and the car was ready to drive. Everything works great and the car runs smooth. All in all, it was a fun project. Just too hot out to be working on a car for the weekend.
I ended up finding an auto radiator with fans and lines from junkyard for $40
Sunroof switch $3
Trim piece for rear quarter panel $5 for two of em in case i messed up.
Bought some bondo, sand paper, and spray paint from walmart for $30
New AC belt $9
and had a AC tensioner pulley laying around from a grab bag o parts ebay action that i paid $10 for the whole auction.
New auto tranny fluid from acura $28 for 4 quarts
$125 in parts total
Before
After
Line connector rubbing against crossmember
Where tensioner started to get belt melted to it after seconds of running
Old plugs and gaskets
Modified by crxstylin at 6:36 PM 7/28/2008
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