I inherited a 96 Honda Accord from a good friend who unfortunately passed away. The transmission is shot and needs replacing. I would like to honor him by tricking out the car he loved so much and keeping it going for as long as I can. I have never done anything like this before. Does anyone have any suggestions?

A few things he liked: driving fast, Guns and Roses, being a doctor, and a social beverage every now and again.

-a

 

i was about to buy one just as a daily once but dude sold befor i got to it, i had something like this in mind, maybe you get ideas from it

 

and a bolt-in engine swap
JDM Honda Prelude Type-S H22A Engine

 

Unless this person was renown enough to warrant a rolling personification of himself, there is only one person who you are going to have to satisfy; yourself. Built the car up as how you interpret him/remember him.

If it's a 4-cyl accord then the H22A/trans swap is kind of a given. That, or buy a fresh Accord manual trans, put a lsd in it, and turbo the stock engine. If you live where you can get 93 octane, you should be able to use the japanese ECU and keep everything OBD2.

 

It all depends on your budget...

But what comes to mind:

F23 SOHC Vtec Swap and boost it

or just swap the to a F23 SOHC Vtec w/o boost and mix that with a H23 transmission

Suspension - > H&R Race with Koni FSD Shocks

Exterior (Depo JDM Headlights and corners)

Stereo - Sky's the limit, again pending budget. Headunit (kenwood or Pioneer), Subs (Sundown, Alpine, Kenwood, ETC) and speakers (to many to list)

Other mods, may want to consider to a Rotor over hub conversion.

 

I pretty much disagree with everything listed here. I'm not sure why you would suggest an F23 swap over the current F22. Or why you wouldn't go H22 instead if you're going to go through the trouble of swapping...

The Depo headlights aren't terrible, but again, if you're going to do it, might as well do a retrofit.

RoH serves really no performance benefit and is simply a maintenance one. A 5-lug conversion or big-brake (NSX calipers or RL calipers) would be worthwhile.

OP, I've seen "memorial" cars and generally none have been tastefully done nor do they age well. The last one I can remember seeing was actually an Accord as well with a mirror under the hood, green bass boat paint, air brushing, etc. It honestly looked terrible.

I'd either suggest selling it and settling up with the estate or just keep it stock with all the maintenance done - like make it look brand new.

 

Ok, I know I shouldn't do this as others will use it against me....hate to say it but that is how things work here.

I have one of these. My oldest son was killed in a car accident - shortly after graduation from OCS USMC - was accepted into flight school for them, all tests passed, just waiting on papers.

He was a pass in another car. So his car is still in my/our driveway, we are not to the point of being able to let it go right now. How do I "memorialize" his car.....everything is kept up to date and taken care of....brakes, oils, suspension, ect. I do drive it every now and then, still hard to do, but when I do any any "sh@^, snob" wants to look at me funny for driving an 89 LXi Coupe 5 speed.....I just smile and think to myself, if you only knew, and you can kiss my a**.

My point, don't try to make it into something it wasn't. Keep it up to spec as it is and when you "roll" in it remember your friend in the car he had as it was when you rolled in it with him.....those are better memories.