I bought a 1995 Accord EX last month as a project, and I am trying to decide what to do with it and if it'll be worth it.
I don't have the biggest budget, but I was thinking about doing a cheap turbo build. Only issue with that is that it would have to be a track car, because it doesn't have a title. The more I think about it, the more I want to find a Honda WITH a title instead of dumping money into this one.
Anyway, what I'd like others' opinions on are my other options. I wanted to make a thread here because you guys would know better than me what would be the better option.
I could sell the car as-is. The engine and transmission are good, just doesn't have a title. I've had it listed and it seems I won't be able to get more than $400-$500 for it. My other idea is to pull the motor (F22B1) and drop it into something else like this Prelude I'm looking at. If I do that, how much could I get for the motor and automatic transmission alone? Would it be worth pulling the motor or would it make more sense to sell the car whole? That's what I'd really like to know.

 

Depends on the condition of the car.
If it is 7/10 or better it may be worth while to get it bonded>inspected>titled, that way you can at least sell the car for a profit if you plan on going in a different direction/project, and in the intern drive it around.
If the car is low mileage it may be worth it just to get it re-titled and sell it for a profit. But again it depends on the condition of the car as is.

 

It only has 115k miles, and the overall condition isn't too bad. With a paint job and factory headlights, it would look really nice. Plus a clean(able) leather interior.
I'll have to talk with the DMV and see what can be done. I have a title in hand, but the problem is that the guy I bought it from filled it out, the person he bought it from signed over to him, but neither signature was notarized and the title was never transferred. Which means it's basically void.

 

So you have a title, but the PO just never registered it?
Since the title was signed over I would see if you can get the PO(too lazy to register) could come with you to the DMV and get it all done in one shot. Might be able to get a transfer of registration if you get the form and have the PO sign it. The only thing that would suck is if the car has not been registered will you get dinged for late fees. I've had luck with DMV and they waive late fees for the new owner. But I'm a charming ****, your results may differ.

 

That's what I might do. He's been a bit of a pain to get in contact with, but I'm going to try again. Maybe if I bring him to the DMV, they can do something to get the title into my name.

 

The previous owner was curbstoning that car, highly illegal.

Unless he's a total moron, it's unlikely he'll agree go to the DMV with you, as it could mean big trouble for him.

 

Hey, I don't want to discredit him... he very well could be a total moron!
I'm just debating on whether the cost and hassle is really necessary... I could pick up another Accord for dirt cheap with a title and swap in the good engine in mine and sell the rest of this one.
Mine is decent, but to the average individual, it looks like a total pile. Probably should have posted photos before, but here they are now...

 

If you sell that car, then it will be YOU who is curbstoning it.

 

What do you want me to do, keep it sitting? If I had the money, I'd clean her up a little bit, but right now I'd rather invest in a Honda with a good title. I mean, this car has a freaking hole in the trunk because the PO was too damn lazy to drop the gas tank to replace the fuel pump (which he never replaced, which is also part of the reason it doesn't currently run).
I'd rather not go through the hassle of getting a new title for the car, and I'd rather not get involved with the last person who had the title in his name. The car is rough on the outside, and I'd rather not sink money into a complete restoration on a '95 Accord... just doesn't seem worth it for a quick flip.

 

Until you get a new title, you don't own that car.

Nothing you can do with it.

 

you may have to sue the PO to have a judge to offically order the title over to you, I hope you have a bill of sale or you might be out all the money you spent

 

Never buy a car from a curb stoner.

 

You can pick up an Accord Shell for $500.

The interior looks ok, not great but ok.
From the pics, the front bumper cover most likely needs replaced, the front driver fender and who knows what other damage lurks behind the spray paint and areas not in the pics. The headlights and side skirts look like they could use replacing.
I would say just roughly $500 in parts, Bumper cover, fender, headlights, bumper lights side skirts. I whole lot of sanding, since its spray painted I'm sure they did not properly scuff the paint under the primer, you will need to take off all of the spray paint, smooth everything out. You can do a proper rattle can paint job for $100-$200. Primer/Paint/Clear it adds up fast, or get a cheap paint job at a shop, I would assume that would be $500-$1000.

Assuming you don't have any engine or other technical issues the car would be decent and sell for at the most $3000 but realistically $1500-$2500. That's not taking into account the title, you may be in $1000 just to get it registered and such.

I would say that the value on that car as is $500-$1500 with a good title. Without title its worth the sum of its parts, maybe $500

I personally would look for a cheap Shell in good condition and swap over anything that's better than the shell. If you can find a clean exterior shell, clean paint and no damage, the rest is just bolt on and easy. Body work and paint adds $$ fast. I think on my accord I have put more than the value of the car just in body panels paint and lights.

If you want to use this as a project, just as a toy, you may be able to slap on a turbo but its a 4 door, I have not been too impressed on the accords handling, It wont be much of a track car, without a title it wont be much of a street car. Most likely if you turbo it the thing will blow within a few months and it wont be anything then. lol. Once you blow that engine there wont be any value and the car will sit and eventually be scrapped.

So, get the title or buy a shell and swap over the engine/interior.

 

I also just bought a 96 accord 5 speed as a project but when I tried to change the transmission my mechanic told me the flywheel bolts where broken that he had never seen anything like it before and he also said that I'll have to replace the engine or the crank either way its hella money and not trying to spend that much any suggestions on what to do like anyway of taking out the broken bolts??

 

Weld sockets onto them and then use a wrench to remove them.

 

I was thinking about that too but I don't have experience in welding will this work for sure have you seen broken flywheel bolts?

 

Can't believe I missed your reply, but that's a great idea! I've been looking around, and I've found some cheap ones but most don't have titles either. It might even be worth going to the junkyard and buying an Accord shell since they keep titles.
You might be able to drill them out, but I couldn't tell you how well that would go.
That's not a horrible idea.

 

If the crank is damaged in any way where the flywheel broke off the engine will not last too long, the bottom end will grenade if its out of balance. I had flywheel bolts back out on one of my engines and damaged the crank slightly, not a good recipe for a healthy engine.

 

Yea just figured out its damaged so I guess I'll need a new engine Its wrecked im installing an f22 with 50k miles so that good

 

yea that looks familiar
You can threadlock it and bolt it back together but I wouldn't count on it going 50k+ miles more, it should run for a bit tho.

 

You really should start a new thread instead of posting in this one.

You can also try just welding nuts onto the threads, they don't have to be sockets. Worth a shot before throwing away an engine