Hello and welcome to the Del Sol Big Build Thread!!

This is going to be a thread focused around me chipping away at my Del Sol.

Currently I am stripping the front valance right back to metal and painting it. The previous owner thought hammer right was a good thing 🤣

 

So it begins

 

 

Hey it looks like a big project! Look forward to seeing your build!

 

It looks like a good project car to start with! I'm assuming it's a B16 engine. What do you have planned for it?

 

Thank you!

Hopefully my bank account can keep up.

 

Yes it's the B16A2 it's got about 11500 miles on it at the moment, but still pulls strong.

Eventually I will be rebuilding the engine, and a full respray.

However for the time being I'm just doing the front valance as it was really bad. I know of some other places that need welding ( nothing major ) and this will be where my focus is for the next few months.

 

So here are a few more pictures, I had to pickup some more wire wheels. It would be so much easier to shot blast this but I have to use what I have got for now.

 

The purple stuff is Loctite rust remedy


I use this in between days to make sure the bare metal does not rust. Also this seeps down in-between the gaps and crevices so I like to think that this can only help as the front end is sheet metal sandwiched and spot welded.

 

Great work! Keep it up! The VTEC Sols are getting rare in good condition.

 

Thank you.

 

So I forgot to mention some information.....

I have some pictures of the following work but will have to post them later this week as I am doing the work at a friend's house and kipping on the sofa atm.

I have owned the car for 2 years, over the past year the following has already been done;

• Front hub carriers and arms fully de-rusted in home made electrolysis tank and then painted
• New bushes for front arms
• New wheel bearings and hubs
• Rebuilt front and rear calipers with new seals and pistons ( again de-rusted in electrolysis tank and painted)
• New front copper nickel brake pipes
• ABS removed
• New front brake stone guards ( from Japan, and yes it was expensive £100 with import charges)
• New driveshafts
• New 3 piece clutch and master and slave cylinder
• New brakes all around
• New inner and outer track rods
• New ball joints
• New top arms

I'm sure I'm missing some more things.

So the front end is all sorted. The rear end however needs attention. Especially new brake lines.

 

It was so hot today, had to break out the umbrella to stay in the shade 🥵

 

So a quick update.

Today I had to remove the wings, turned out that to do that you need to remove the side skirts. So I started with the off side. To my complete lack of surprise ( I jynx myself ) I found some more welding work that needs to be done.






I will post an update later this evening....

 

After finding the rust on the sill it was a little disappointing, however after removing the nearside sill there was only surface rust to be found.

On the offside scrapping back it revealed that the rust has gone through the outer skin.




I spent a little time assessing it then went back to focus my efforts on the front again.



For now a few coats of primer have been put down on the "ready" parts.

 

Got any interests in being sponsored? I'm happy to help!

 

That would surely be a big help.

​​​​​​Is it better to speak through PM?

 

 

So it's been taking the last few days so not much work has been done.



It was also "cars in the park" over the weekend so I went to that and had a good look around. Only one Honda CRX to be found, never mind.

I have received some new silicone hoses.



That's all for now, hopefully the weather will improve soon.

 

So my emissions were out this MOT time...., High HC (Hydro carbons) ..... I had to replace the distributor, as it failed on me. I know the timing is out as a result... So as soon as I get the chance the timing will be sorted. Another reason I am doing this is I had an exhaust stud snapped off. I managed to use an extractor set ( thanks to a good friends dad) and successfully remove it, however upon inspection, the exhaust ports were clearly fouled with carbon ( a clear indication the ignition
timing is to far advanced.

 

This is very cool!
Was that a VIN tag on the front crossmember? What market are you in?
Disappointing to see the rust at the bottom of the A pillar.

 

Also very cool!!!

 

Got some stainless steel exhaust studs with copper nuts.



Finally had a good day with the weather so managed to get the whole mask in primer.

 

Yes it is a VIN, I'm in the UK....

I had a look at the other side and there is rust on the a pillar there also. I'm just going to treat with the loctite rust remedy for now and seal the holes temporarily. I will have to for now until I have the time to get it sorted. It looks like the screen will have to come out to do it properly.

 

Don't throw away the oem distributor