nerofotia
n00b
Wow, I never would have imagined I'd be doing the forum thing and writing about my own build. I'll post this up in here with the applicable dates until it's current.
Ever since a series of unfortunate events that started with replacing a fuel filter on an '81 Chevy Malibu and ended with the engine in flames at a McD's drive-through (back in 1999) I was always intimidated by doing car "stuff" that was any more complicated than filling the gas tank or changing the oil. Mess something up, and it could cost your life, you know?
So now I'm 31. Active duty Marine, with not a lot of time and not a lot of budget. In February, I finally bought my dream car (the one I've wanted since I was old enough to drive). Having spent some time in Okinawa, I have learned that a Honda will basically run for a LONG time if it's maintained properly, which only cemented in my mind the notioni that I wanted this car. So I bought a 95 Civic Coupe, 5 speed. That's about as much as I knew about it when I bought it for $2k. At purchase, the car's got 4 new tires, a new, very cold AC, a new radiator, and a new water pump. The driver side door handle is broken from an unsuccessful break-in attempt. The hood has dents and rust. The front passenger fender has a big scratch/dent and some rust. Cracked plastic on the A/C control dash unit.
-Pics on the day I bought it:
If you look close, you can see the dent on the front fender.
I'd remove the tag #, except it doesn't matter...new tags.
Broken door handle
Interior
As stated, this hood needs...something. TLC, replacement...something.
On the hour+ drive home from buying the car, I started to notice the things that would need adjustment. Applying the brakes made the car shudder. Shifting was NOT smooth, and neither was the idle. I started to wonder if MAYBE, just maybe, I had bought a car that would turn out to be a complete waste of a perfectly good income tax return and a perfectly good weekend.
Took the car to a buddy's house and pulled the spark plugs to check them out- man they looked bad. My repair list is growing and I haven't even had the car a full 24 hours yet.
So, the following Monday I got online and started digging. I found a new door handle for the driver door, $13. I figured since I was replacing that one, I oughtta go ahead and replace the passenger side too, so they'd match, since the replacements come unpainted. Including shipping, I paid $52.13 for new door handles. They were at the house (FedEx) THE NEXT DAY. I went to AutoZone Wednesday and picked up 4 new spark plugs for a whopping $10.82. Stopped by my buddy's house and swapped out the plugs- WOW. What a difference. Such a smooth idle, and driving just became exponentially better. Turns out the shifting problems had nothing to do with the clutch or the tranny- the spark plugs were just bad. Since we were working, we went ahead and swapped out the driver side door handle. Done in about 30 minutes.
So later in the week, another guy I know stops by to check out my new toy. Turns out, I'm missing a lug nut. (Let's not get started with the OMG HOW DID YOU MISS THAT, because I get it, OK?) A quick stop at AutoZone and $3.25 later, I am not missing a lug nut anymore- and the brakes are incredibly smooth- comparatively speaking. Still a little shaky, but way better.
Work in the foreseeable future (as of February 19, 2010):
-Take the car to my almost-local Honda dealership for an "oil change" soon. Apparently they do a full service inspection when a Honda comes in, and they'll basically give me a list of everything that they recommend for the car. Oh, and a complimentary wash/wax/vacuum.
-Window tint. It's too hot in the desert to not do this on a black car. (Completed 10-15-2010)
-Power steering line work. I have a power steering fluid leak somewhere. (Completed 9-13-2010)
Ever since a series of unfortunate events that started with replacing a fuel filter on an '81 Chevy Malibu and ended with the engine in flames at a McD's drive-through (back in 1999) I was always intimidated by doing car "stuff" that was any more complicated than filling the gas tank or changing the oil. Mess something up, and it could cost your life, you know?
So now I'm 31. Active duty Marine, with not a lot of time and not a lot of budget. In February, I finally bought my dream car (the one I've wanted since I was old enough to drive). Having spent some time in Okinawa, I have learned that a Honda will basically run for a LONG time if it's maintained properly, which only cemented in my mind the notioni that I wanted this car. So I bought a 95 Civic Coupe, 5 speed. That's about as much as I knew about it when I bought it for $2k. At purchase, the car's got 4 new tires, a new, very cold AC, a new radiator, and a new water pump. The driver side door handle is broken from an unsuccessful break-in attempt. The hood has dents and rust. The front passenger fender has a big scratch/dent and some rust. Cracked plastic on the A/C control dash unit.
-Pics on the day I bought it:
If you look close, you can see the dent on the front fender.
On the hour+ drive home from buying the car, I started to notice the things that would need adjustment. Applying the brakes made the car shudder. Shifting was NOT smooth, and neither was the idle. I started to wonder if MAYBE, just maybe, I had bought a car that would turn out to be a complete waste of a perfectly good income tax return and a perfectly good weekend.
Took the car to a buddy's house and pulled the spark plugs to check them out- man they looked bad. My repair list is growing and I haven't even had the car a full 24 hours yet.
So, the following Monday I got online and started digging. I found a new door handle for the driver door, $13. I figured since I was replacing that one, I oughtta go ahead and replace the passenger side too, so they'd match, since the replacements come unpainted. Including shipping, I paid $52.13 for new door handles. They were at the house (FedEx) THE NEXT DAY. I went to AutoZone Wednesday and picked up 4 new spark plugs for a whopping $10.82. Stopped by my buddy's house and swapped out the plugs- WOW. What a difference. Such a smooth idle, and driving just became exponentially better. Turns out the shifting problems had nothing to do with the clutch or the tranny- the spark plugs were just bad. Since we were working, we went ahead and swapped out the driver side door handle. Done in about 30 minutes.
So later in the week, another guy I know stops by to check out my new toy. Turns out, I'm missing a lug nut. (Let's not get started with the OMG HOW DID YOU MISS THAT, because I get it, OK?) A quick stop at AutoZone and $3.25 later, I am not missing a lug nut anymore- and the brakes are incredibly smooth- comparatively speaking. Still a little shaky, but way better.
Work in the foreseeable future (as of February 19, 2010):
-Take the car to my almost-local Honda dealership for an "oil change" soon. Apparently they do a full service inspection when a Honda comes in, and they'll basically give me a list of everything that they recommend for the car. Oh, and a complimentary wash/wax/vacuum.
-Window tint. It's too hot in the desert to not do this on a black car. (Completed 10-15-2010)
-Power steering line work. I have a power steering fluid leak somewhere. (Completed 9-13-2010)
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