The RamThis Accord Update Thread!!!

[RamThis]

Allright, things are moving along and I dont want to clutter up the board anymore with multiple threads, so I'm putting all updates here from now on.

As of tonight, I now have all my new front and rear window trim pieces ordered with the clips that are needed, and new cowl clips.

My carpet order is pending getting some samples to check that I'm gettin the right shade of Blue.

Im going to look for some bumper covers at a local body parts store because shipping on the two covers from PartsTrain.com was going to run close to a hundred dollars!! Yikes.

And soon I will be getting my paint and clearcoat and getting ready to paint the car.

And at the same time, I gotta finish pulling my wire harness and engine out, and start putting in the LXI harness and rebuild that engine. Then it gets painted and dropped in.

Yep, its all that simple, right? LOL :rockon:

[BITESIZE]

Dude, look on ebay, I got a front bumper new shipped for $85.

[forrest89sei]

BUMPER COVER honda ACCORD 88-89 rear primed lx ex auto
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BUMPER-COVER-honda-ACCORD-88-89-rear-primed-lx-ex-auto_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33640QQihZ014QQite mZ330033858844QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V



BUMPER COVER honda ACCORD 88-89 front primed lx ex car
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BUMPER-COVER-honda-ACCORD-88-89-front-primed-lx-ex-car_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33640QQihZ014QQitem Z330032240283QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V

[RamThis]

Time for Pics!!!
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4123.JPG
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4231.JPG
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4230.JPG
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4233.JPG
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4236.JPG
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4237.JPG
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4234.JPG
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4238.JPG
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4241.JPG
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4242.JPG

[RamThis]

And, WTF is this thing? It had some vacuum hoses going to it, I never knew it was there until I pulled the fenders and started pulling the vacuum crap off the driver side wheel well, then saw alot of hoses went to this box. One of the bolts is behind the headlight motor, so the box might stay lol.
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4240.JPG

[MessyHonda]

i wish i had the time to take my car apart.....the fun part is puting it back together....:lol:

[BITESIZE]

HOLY FLYING MONKEY SHIT! I thought my car was a mess.

[Pico]

Man I really need to get started on my parts car :)
Good job RamThis :D :thumbup:

[RamThis]

There is a body supply store not far from here that has great prices, Eagle Auto Body in Grand Prarie Tx. I can drive out there and save alot of shipping on the bumpers, and I'm sure their prices will be very competitive, the have been on a few other parts I've just priced out, plus a couple friends from my old job used them. I didnt even think about Eagle until I went to finish my order on PartsTrain and saw the shipping, then I rememberd that local place and wondered why I even thought about ordering such big pieces on line lol.

Even the eBay deals have some nasty shipping charges.....

[RamThis]

Man I really need to get started on my parts car :)
Good job RamThis :D :thumbup:



Parts Car???? That's not my Parts car, thats MY CAR LOL. My parts car, oddly enough, still runs and drives LMAO. How depressing is that??? :Owned:

[RamThis]

This is what the Parts Car looks like right now.....

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4121_2_.JPG

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4120_2_.JPG

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4119_2_.JPG

[Pico]

Parts Car???? That's not my Parts car, thats MY CAR LOL. My parts car, oddly enough, still runs and drives LMAO. How depressing is that??? :Owned:
:uh: Sorry :rolleyes: lol

[snoopyloopy]

hahahaha at the parts car running and driving. should bolt some seats in and take it for a spin like that. lmao.....your local city doesn't object to you disassembling a vehicle in your driveway like that? well anyway, looks like you're going really good with your project. reminds me of when i had my eclipse stripped down. well, just the dash out. that was a pain. hope to see the finished product soon.

[Vanilla Sky]

remember to use carbed exhaust valves when you rebuild the head. clay the cylinders to make sure there's no contact with the piston. the carb exhaust valves are marginally longer from what i've been reading.

[A18A]

lol yeah u shud drive the parts car, it should be pretty quick without all that weight ::)

and maybe im used to our NZ roads cause i laughed when i saw this:
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d106/89accord/untitled-1.jpg

[jigga225]

Man i'm sorry but is it even possible to get all that shyt back together? lol

[BITESIZE]

Send me the parts car turn signal harnesses.

[Legend_master]

Man you got that thing torn down. Make sure to pull the sway bars and bigger brakes to put onto your car. You will like the added performance. Good luck with everything. I believe that box is for the carb, but I am really not sure.

[RamThis]

You laugh, but I HAVE driven it that way!!!! Not far, just around the block. but I have to kneel down on one knee and drive with the other foot, and hang on to the steering wheel for dear life LOL. You would not believe the laughs I got from some of the neighbors..... :rofl:

[MessyHonda]

You laugh, but I HAVE driven it that way!!!! Not far, just around the block. but I have to kneel down on one knee and drive with the other foot, and hang on to the steering wheel for dear life LOL. You would not believe the laughs I got from some of the neighbors..... :rofl:

tell your wife to record you like that you can post it...lol i bet its fast as hell..i bet you stiped at least 1/3of of the weight.....you should make it a convertable b4 you get rid of it..lol

[A18A]

o man all the things u can do!!! hahahahhaha id love to see vids of that driving

[RamThis]

I'll see what I can do. :)

[RamThis]

Well, took my first trip to a couple wrecking yards today. Man, what a mess those places are lol. Did see a few useful parts, like doors and interior pieces, tail lights, LOTS of sunroofs. Found a car just like mine, same color, with beautiful new looking seats, EXCEPT, the rear seat upper part was totally sun eaten, you could just put your finger right through the damn fabric. I was SOOO dissapointed when I saw that. Oh well. I might go back for the front seats and the rear lower part though.

But I did score this for ten bucks..... :cool:

(no not the damn cat!!!)

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/Visor1.jpg

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/Visor3.jpg

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/Visor2.jpg

[Pico]

Damm I HATE YOU...:D j/k lol

[MessyHonda]

damn you got jiped...i paid 5 bucks for 3 rainguards for the window....i wish i can find a sunroof one but then i want m car to look sleak.

[RamThis]

I may or may not use it. It was just sort of a boost of confidence to start working on the sunroof in my car, knowing I have a sunroof specific part for it to try out. Only thing I dont like about it is the fact that it sets on the paint. I will probalby put some trim adhesive under it so it wont move around and scratch the paint while I see if I like it or not.

Do all of them just have those two little metal clips that go under the roof skin to hold the visor down? Seemed a bit cheesy to me but I guess if it works......:dunno:

[RamThis]

Man i'm sorry but is it even possible to get all that shyt back together? lol


Damn straight it's possible!! I've had worse taken apart and put back together so this wont be that bad. I have every part labeled, and each part's fasteners are individually taped on with the part.

I've split John Deere cab tractors to put in new clutches and do differential gears in the rear cases, this is just hobby stuff here lol.

[RamThis]

Send me the parts car turn signal harnesses.

Will do. :beer:

[88Accord-DX]

You painting the car in the garage? I bet your neighbors are thinking "When is he going to get rid of that damn torn up eyesore"? LOL

[BITESIZE]

Will do. :beer:


PM SENT

[RamThis]

Ok I started figuring out some of my bracketry that will be needed for the sunroof grafting. Looks like it will be doable, just a bit tedious. I have two of the rear brackets made, and I'm about to go out and cut the rear support from under the roof of the donor car and use the whole rear support in my car.

Anyway here we go....

The brackets are just made with some cut out pieces of some C-Purling (sp?) from the building my buddy and I built. It's fairly thick steel, plenty strong enough to do the job, yet not so thick that I can't work with it. A Die Cutter is all I need to cut the bracket pieces out.
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4280.JPG

Underside of the donor car roof skin, rear. Attach points outlined.
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4282_outlines.JPG

And the underside of my car's roof skin, rear.
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4283.JPG

Underside of the donor car roof skin, front. Attach points outlined.
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4285_outlines.JPG

And the underside of my car's roof skin, front
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4284.JPG

And one of my brackets I've started on. Once I get them all made and in place with magnets, I will take alot of cross-measurements to get everything aligned perfectly before welding the nuts to the backside of the brackets and then welding the brackets in permanently. I'd thought about making a thin metal template of the sunroof bolt pattern to hold the brackets in place while I weld them in.

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4286.JPG

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4288.JPG

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4287.JPG

And finally, the relationship between the bracket I made, and where the factory attach point is....

Factory
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4291.JPG

Mine
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4290.JPG

[BITESIZE]

That's pretty sweet. Make a template or extra set. I would like a stock sunroof in my hatch before I get the body work and paint all done.

[88Accord-DX]

Looking good, knew all it took was some fabing up to make it work. Looks like you hold the copyrights to that patent. lol

[Legend_master]

:lol: I guess this turned out to be more of a job then just an EFI-swap huh?

[RamThis]

You painting the car in the garage? I bet your neighbors are thinking "When is he going to get rid of that damn torn up eyesore"? LOL

Yep, garage paint job. Neighbors dont see it much, as I keep both cars in the garage when I'm not working on them. Neighbors are very good about my mechanic habit though lol. I try not to make much noise after about 9PM, so if I'm running the grinder or the air compressor is running or whatever, I just close the garage door until Im done making alot of noise after that time. I'm a night owl anyways. I guess as much work as I put into my yard and landscaping and keeping my house looking beautiful, they dont seem to mind my noisy habits. Could be worse, I could let my yard and house go to hell, and leave crap everywhere. At least I try to keep the image of my place very nice, so it kinda covers up the occasional torn down car in the driveway LOL.

[RamThis]

:lol: I guess this turned out to be more of a job then just an EFI-swap huh?

Somehow, it always does, dont know how, but it does..... :dunno:

[RamThis]

That's pretty sweet. Make a template or extra set. I would like a stock sunroof in my hatch before I get the body work and paint all done.

If'n I makes me a template, I'll make some copies and you can have one. I'll try to take a few measurements of how far from the roof skin the brackets need to be and such.

But, I'm not sure this type of sunroof will fit a hatch, will it? This thing goes damn near from the front to the back of the roof. Didnt someone mention the hatches had an easier sunroof to swap out? Like it was put in after the cars were built?

[Legend_master]

Somehow, it always does, dont know how, but it does..... :dunno:


I call it the 3gee Ebola Virus. My warped rotors turned into an 11" rotor swap and full suspension rebuild :violin: .

[A18A]

Well, took my first trip to a couple wrecking yards today. Man, what a mess those places are lol. Did see a few useful parts, like doors and interior pieces, tail lights, LOTS of sunroofs. Found a car just like mine, same color, with beautiful new looking seats, EXCEPT, the rear seat upper part was totally sun eaten, you could just put your finger right through the damn fabric. I was SOOO dissapointed when I saw that. Oh well. I might go back for the front seats and the rear lower part though.
But I did score this for ten bucks..... :cool:
(no not the damn cat!!!)
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/Visor1.jpg
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/Visor3.jpg
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/Visor2.jpg
can u tell me please how the hell you get them off the doors?

[RamThis]

I call it the 3gee Ebola Virus. My warped rotors turned into an 11" rotor swap and full suspension rebuild :violin: .


Well, at some point, I'm gonna have to put an end to the madness. I've decided to let it get this out of hand, but I'm not getting into any other major body mods, this is my one major mod above and beyond the EFI swap that Im allowing myself. I just have this thing about, if I think it can be done, I will go out all to prove to myself that I can indeed do it. This one may bite me in the ass, but the vision I have on how to get it finished sure seems straightforward. Let's see if it really works like I think it will.... :help:

[RamThis]

can u tell me please how the hell you get them off the doors?

Umm, that's not off the door lol. That's the sunroof visor. Two clips, has a nut and a phillips head screw, takes about two minutes at most to remove this one.

Dont know how the door ones work, never seen em.....

[88Accord-DX]

Write all the demension on paper with brackets, spacing, so forth. Then make a how to on it on here & sell it. Seems like the American way to me. (knew it could be done with fab work)

[BITESIZE]

If'n I makes me a template, I'll make some copies and you can have one. I'll try to take a few measurements of how far from the roof skin the brackets need to be and such.
But, I'm not sure this type of sunroof will fit a hatch, will it? This thing goes damn near from the front to the back of the roof. Didnt someone mention the hatches had an easier sunroof to swap out? Like it was put in after the cars were built?


If that's the case, it'd be nice to be able to put one in alot easier.

[RamThis]

Write all the demension on paper with brackets, spacing, so forth. Then make a how to on it on here & sell it. Seems like the American way to me. (knew it could be done with fab work)


Well, with the age of these cars, the difficulty of the work to make one of these sunroofs fit, and the proliferation of aftermarket sunroofs, I dont think many people are as hard headed as me to actually tackle this project LOL. I'm probably going about putting in a sunroof in my car about the hardest way possible, making it to match the factory's setup. When the easy way would be to use a universal sunroof and be done with it lol.

I'm definitely going to get measurements and such and help with what I can if someone needs help tackling this job, though as I said before, I dont think many would want to do such a tedious job....:bong:

[88Accord-DX]

Good point RamThis. That is some serious work into messing with the sunroof. BTW, excellent job tackling such a complicated task. :thumbup:

[RamThis]

Good point RamThis. That is some serious work into messing with the sunroof. BTW, excellent job tackling such a complicated task. :thumbup:
Biggest reason I'm doing it is, just because I wound up with a sunroof in my donor car. That's it lol. Had this donor car not had a sunroof, the idea would have never crossed my mind, and I'd be much farther ahead with my EFI swap..... :uh:
Thanks for the props!! Hope it all works out in the end....:ugh2:

[BITESIZE]

You might as well go for it!! It's all free!

[RamThis]

You might as well go for it!! It's all free!


Yeah, but sometimes I wish I could just leave shit alone, ya know?? LOL :slap:

[RamThis]

Oh, and both rear side brackets are made now. I have them just about dead nuts on center. Now I got what, a dozen more??? LOL.

[BITESIZE]

Yeah, but sometimes I wish I could just leave shit alone, ya know?? LOL :slap:


I'm the same way, if it's not broken, I still fuck with it!

[RamThis]

Well, got both rear side mounts made and measured out, and cut the rear sub-structure mount from the donor car, fit in my car perfectly with no other cutting or adjustments, man did I feel good!!

I borrowed a small 110 MIG welder from my buddy. He told me the tank had enough gas to do at least what I was going to be doing. I got the two nuts welded on the backside of the brackets I made, and ran out of gas. Damnit. So, Im screwed tonight. Had hoped to weld in the back brackets tonight, mock up the rest using the sunroof as an "oklahoma blueprint" and make the rest of my mounts, and possibly have the hole cut tonight in the roof. Well, without being able to sure up the rear mounts, I cant do anything else now. Bummer.

Guess I gotta wait till tomorrow night after I get the tank filled so I can weld up the back mounts and continue on....

A couple or so pics to come later.....

[RamThis]

Ok, it's pix-o-rama night!!
Got ALOT done with the sunroof conversion. I realized too late I had been going about this all wrong, but was able to save some work tonight after I figured out how I should have done this in the first place. Oh well, live and learn huh.
I started by cutting the substructure in a way that It would fit past the body of the car inside if I were to pull it straight down. I used the forward edges of the front cross pillar as guides as to where to cut those webs, and the two holes for the sunvisor clip screws gave me a reference point for the middle web's line. After I cut it and left it still attached to the skin around the sunroof opening, I then made a compass and marked an even 1" line around the opening on the roof skin. I then cut through the roof skin only. Using a pneumatic scraper, I released the adhesive between the skin past the cutout part, and the substructure I had cut loose earlier. The unit came out as a whole piece! I used the template that I made of the location of the original hole to mark and cut a location hole in my car, and once I get the substructure aligned, I will cut the hole an inch bigger so the two skins will butt up to eachother, not overlap, because overlapping the skins would mean the sunroof would be recessed a bit and we dont want that. So, the point Im at now is, measure all the attach points, cut my roof out an inch bigger to facilitate the skins, tack weld it in with the little MIG welder, then put the sunroof in for a test fitting and make sure nothing binds. If all goes well, I will then load the car on a trailer, take it to a friend's house, and we will TIG the whole thing up really, really solid. Once that's done, it's paint and body time baby!!!! Yeah!!
Anyways, heres the pix of what I have done so far....
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4346.JPG
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4349.JPG
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4353.JPG
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4350.JPG
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4357.JPG
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4359.JPG
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4358.JPG
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4362.JPG
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4361.JPG
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4363.JPG

[RamThis]

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4365.JPG

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4366.JPG

The Gaping hole in the donor car lol....
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/medium/100_4367.JPG

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4368.JPG

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4369.JPG

[BITESIZE]

Looks good, and a damn lot of worky! SWEET!

[Listen2myBASS]

thats my one wanna-do to-do...what did u use to cut the hole?

[RamThis]

thats my one wanna-do to-do...what did u use to cut the hole?

A 90* Pneumatic Die Grinder with a 3" cutoff wheel. Makes alot of noise and dust/sparks, but it's about the most precise, cleanest cut you can make.

Had I been smart, I woulda cut the WHOLE understructure out as one piece, instead of messing with trying to make my own rear mounts. Hindsight is 20/20 they say.....

Knowing what I know now, I think I could do the swap in a couple evenings.

[RamThis]

Allright, another big milestone in the Honda!! The sunroof is OFFICIALLY IN!! All the welding is not done and what not, but it fits, opens, and closes perfect. I now have one of the few LX models with a sunroof!!! Kick Ass!!

Now I gotta get it to my friends house this weekend to TIG it all up solid, then I can do the body work. Until then, I will continue with the LXI swap. WooHoo!!!

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4370.JPG

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4375.JPG

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4373.JPG

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4372.JPG


And to make today all that much better, about two or three minutes after I crawled out of the car from bolting the sunroof in and closing it the first time, the FedEx truck showed up, with my new front and rear window trim!!

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4374.jpg

[Legend_master]

You paid a pretty penny for that window trim dident you? As for the sunroof, all I can say is WOW thats fucking awsome. Make sure to run the drain plugs properly so you dont get any water dumping in the car.

[BITESIZE]

Neato, now for lots of bondo and fiberglassn!

[RamThis]

You paid a pretty penny for that window trim dident you? As for the sunroof, all I can say is WOW thats fucking awsome. Make sure to run the drain plugs properly so you dont get any water dumping in the car.

Nah it wasnt that much, about $160 for the upper front, all the rear trim, upper rear corner piece clips, and all the black pop in clips for the cowl cover.

Yep, that's on the list too, going to pull the drain lines and duckbills out of the donor car and put them in mine.

[2oodoor]

youve done this type of work before I hope, its a little more delicate than splitting tractors,, lol
and foresight is very important. your a brave fer shure.... I hope you can keep up with all the bolts, diff lengths and crap like that.... and warning, large projects where your making major changes in more than one area can get very frustrating and getting burned out is risky... stay focused, keep your eyeon the ball.

[RamThis]

Nope this is my first time tearing down a car this far. And, my first time cutting and welding body panels. But I'm a fast learner and a self-teacher on most of what I do. I can watch it done and usually have most of it figured out and learn as I go with my own project until I master it. What better car to hone my skills on than a 17 year old import huh LOL.

But yeah, burnout is always a possibility. That's why the thing sat for about 10 months after I initially got it running, because the timing belt slipped a few teeth when I was test starting it, and it pissed me off so bad that I didnt even touch the car for nearly a year LOL. But for some reason, this project is different. I dont dread going out to work on it, I enjoy it. Hope it stays that way lol.

[BITESIZE]

Ramthis = supastaw!

[88Accord-DX]

Nice, you putting a bead between the tacks or filling it in?

[Cheeseburger]

sick bro! cant wait till its all done!

[Pico]

That is some FANTASTIC work you did there RamThis :rockon:

[MessyHonda]

That is some FANTASTIC work you did there RamThis :rockon:

pico lets do it on my dx...LOL

[forrest89sei]

CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!

I think we have a Future AOM here!

[Pico]

pico lets do it on my dx...LOL
Ummmmm Ya Know that just doesnt sound right if ya read over a couple of times. :( lol j/k
But Ya we take the one out of my donor car and drive over to RamThis house and see if he will install it for us :D

[Cheeseburger]

Ummmmm Ya Know that just doesnt sound right if ya read over a couple of times. :( lol j/k
But Ya we take the one out of my donor car and drive over to RamThis house and see if he will install it for us :D


lol..... i love the moon roofs:rockon:

[MessyHonda]

Ummmmm Ya Know that just doesnt sound right if ya read over a couple of times. :( lol j/k
But Ya we take the one out of my donor car and drive over to RamThis house and see if he will install it for us :D

LOL you are dirty.....no more porn watching...lol yeah...lets just UPS RamThis...overnight....should cost less than a airplane ticket.

[RamThis]

At least cut some holes in the box for me..... :slap:


Yeah, the rest of the seam will get welded up, just not going to do it with the wire welder. You cant leave the open gap like that anyway, it will flex and any filler you put in there will crack and chip out and all kinds of crap lol. I just have it stitched together to hold it steady for the final TIG'ing, then I get to use some Fibre-Fill and some fine grain skim coat to finalize the shape, then alot of block sanding and buildup primer.

I sincerely hope after all this work, once it's all done, SOMEONE nominates me for AOM LOL. Though it doesnt matter, I'm doing this just because I enjoy it and want a nice newer looking car but dont have the money for a new car, so I'll make the blue wonder as new as I can!!

[BITESIZE]

You will be AOM sometime down the ride...
























































Maybe in 5 years.

[MessyHonda]

You will be AOM sometime down the ride...
Maybe in 5 years.

dont be mean.....maybe 2 or 3...lol:bandance:

[RamThis]

Ye of little faith. I can have it done in a year and a half LMAO. :rockon:

[88Accord-DX]

Shit, at that rate, you should be good to go next fall if sooner.

[RamThis]

Actually, the plan is to have it done by Xmas lol.

[2oodoor]

At least cut some holes in the box for me..... :slap:
Yeah, the rest of the seam will get welded up, just not going to do it with the wire welder. You cant leave the open gap like that anyway, it will flex and any filler you put in there will crack and chip out and all kinds of crap lol. I just have it stitched together to hold it steady for the final TIG'ing, then I get to use some Fibre-Fill and some fine grain skim coat to finalize the shape, then alot of block sanding and buildup primer.
I sincerely hope after all this work, once it's all done, SOMEONE nominates me for AOM LOL. Though it doesnt matter, I'm doing this just because I enjoy it and want a nice newer looking car but dont have the money for a new car, so I'll make the blue wonder as new as I can!!
The factorys, Im sure Honda of America is doing this as well as other manufactors and bodyshops use a special epoxy glue gun that mixes when you pull the trigger, for glueing the braces on the inside of flat panels. No welding or tacking required. This glue is the real thing, Kent Automotive sells it . look Kent on the www.

[RamThis]

Yeah I had planned to use some body sealant/adhesive to pookie up around the roof cross braces, otherwise the roof will rattle and all kinds of crap. The welding I plan to do is where I cut the sections out and have to stitch them back together in my car.

That stuff you mentioned sounds like some good adhesive. I will keep it in mind if I ever do anything like this again, have it on hand before I start the project so I can just glue the panels in place first, and weld the ends up afterwards.

[RamThis]

Allright MORE stuff done.....

Could not get the car moved this weekend to TIG up the sunroof grafting. Oh well, next weekend I guess. So, I spent the day finishing up pulling my engine and starting to clean up my engine bay.

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4392.JPG

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4393.JPG

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4391.JPG

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4390.JPG

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4398.JPG


See that crappy old window trim, I got brand new trim to replace it!!!!

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4396.JPG


The worst dent on the car that I have to fix, other than the bodywork I have to do around the sunroof....

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4400.JPG

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4407.JPG


Engine Bay after being soaked with degreaser spray for a couple hours, and pressure washed with my 3500 PSI pressure washer. Still did not get rid of areas of this white film in places. So I soaked it down in some engine detailer, and I'll hook up the hot water and pressure wash it with hot water later.

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4412.JPG

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4413.JPG

[RamThis]

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4416.JPG

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4421.JPG


And, my Carpet came in!!!!!

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4383.JPG

Carotman was right on, the two small samples they sent me, vs a cutout of my old carpet. Ocean blue is the lighter square sample, it would have definitely been wrong.

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4380.JPG

[Legend_master]

WOW that looks clean, I absolutely cannot wait to see what that's going to look like when you are done. I hope you use those alloy wheels when it is all said and done. They will look much better then the hubs.

[RamThis]

I'm going to use the stockers for a while until I can get some nice aftermarket 15's. Really will suck though since I JUST put brand new tires all the way around, Toyo's, and bought new OEM style wheel covers. At least what I have will look super clean and OEM for now anyway. I really want some 5 point star rims of some design, not sure what yet. Thinking of a dark metallic grey with polished outer rim, I LOVE that look on the 3G's. Should look great on a monochrome Laurel Blue car too.

[MessyHonda]

wow what kind of degreaser did you use?....i wish i had a preasure washer....all i have is my thumb over the hose...lol

[MessyHonda]

I'm going to use the stockers for a while until I can get some nice aftermarket 15's. Really will suck though since I JUST put brand new tires all the way around, Toyo's, and bought new OEM style wheel covers. At least what I have will look super clean and OEM for now anyway. I really want some 5 point star rims of some design, not sure what yet. Thinking of a dark metallic grey with polished outer rim, I LOVE that look on the 3G's. Should look great on a monochrome Laurel Blue car too.

you are not going to transfer the front bigger lx-i brakes?...remember also do the sway bars.

[RamThis]

The degreaser I used was cheapo Awful Zone degreaser. Just soaked it down, let it set an hour or so, soaked it again, went and had dinner and such, then came back out and pressure washed it again. Not a spot of grease under there, you could almost eat off that frame!

As for the brakes, maybe when my car needs new pads in the front I will. I also just put brand new rotors and pads on the front end 13K miles ago LOL. I want to get some use out of the stuff I already put on new before I go "upgrading" LOL.

I did alot of this stuff not expecting to be restoring the car to near new condition. But, at the time, it HAD to have this stuff replaced anyway because I needed it running and safe. I also want to do a 2" drop with some new lowering coils and new struts but that will have to come later. I'm thinking next spring/summer I will have a suspension/brake/wheel frenzy........

[Pico]

I was showing my wife the pictures you have posted and she is very impressed,(we both are) with the quality of the work you have done.
:thumbup: for all the excellent work you are doing.

[RamThis]

Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Pop!!!!! :cheers:

I am hoping this car will turn out really, really clean when all is said and done. I never thought I'd be digging this deep into this car when I towed it home a couple years ago lol.

[RamThis]

Well, bodywork has started. Last night I took the car over to my friends house and we sured up everything. He told me that the stitch welds I did around the sunroof are all that a body tech ever does in that situation. So, hope he's right, cause it's getting bondo'ed over tomorrow. Woulda done it tonight but my tube of body filler from earlier this summer somehow hardened. That shit aint cheap either!!

Once I get the body repainted, I'll install the PGM-FI harness after I clean it up good and re-loom anything that needs it, and start re-installing the interor while I get started on the engine.

This stupid car is turning into one hell of a project!!!

I'll get some pics of the bodywork tomorrow.....

[Toneloc5145]

This is looking good. I wish I could do that to my car, but its my DD. I look forward to coming back here and seeing the progress you've made. Keep up the good work.

[87lxiaccord]

you're an inspiration man most people would just look for an lxi that's a lot of work you have done i feel like a lazy bum now and for the rims have you seen 88lxi68...those are really nice

[RamThis]

Thanks guys!

And do you have a pic of those rims? I'd like to see them. I'll search some too and see what I come up with.



I went and bought some short strand fiberglass filler for around the sunroof area, some finishing filler, and a fancy bondo board, which will be SOOO much nicer than having to cut a cardboard box flap off to mix up my bondo on LOL. I also got some body seam sealer to use on my roof spans to make the roof nice and solid and support it against the spanners while I re-establish the shape with some skim coats of filler. The welding warped it just a bit right around the seam, not bad, but it will take some filler about 1/16"-1/8" at most to bring up the low spots, and I hammered down the high spots to below surface a bit.

I also bought the paint today. 2 Quarts of Dupont ChromaBase Laurel Blue. They had two variations, one was a bit darker than the other. I chose the one that was a bit darker, and it was the exact same color code as mine anyway (after 17 years I think mine had just faded to a bit lighter blue)

I also moved my othe work bench and my big Snap-On box back from my buddy's shop where I was working, I now am unemployed, time to look for more work LOL. Maybe I will have time to get the majority of the paint done before I find another job though!!

Sorry havent taken any pics yet but I will get some up within the day......

[RamThis]

Allright, its picture time again amigos. :naughty:

Today I did away with the pesky seams on the roof in the back. After some roughing of the surface with some 80 grit and a good cleaning out of the channels, they got filled with fiberglass filler, smoothed over, and blended in. Still just a tad more blending to do in order to make it perfect though, but it's damn close. Cool thing is I could see where they brazed the body together right in that spot from the factory. I always wondered what was under that paint right there.

I also deleted the antenna on top, good riddance. I'm going to be using an internal antenna of some sort, still looking around. Any suggestions?


Ok so here are the seams, cleaned and ready to be filled. I know, to do it "right" it should have been bridged and welded in with some metal, but I'm just trying to get this done so that's why I used the fiberglass filler, should resist cracking out really well. If not, oh well I'll do it again later lol. But I'm really confident this will hold for a long long time.

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4485.JPG

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4484.JPG

Filled and ready to shape

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4497.JPG

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4495.JPG

Here is the filler I used. This is also the base filler around the sunroof opening, to resist flex and cracking. This stuff is great for deeper fills, it's almost more of a resin and cut up fiberglass cloth than anything, so it makes a super strong base fill for the thick areas or places that will flex, and then you blend on top of that with your blending filler. Should be no chance of any filler cracking down the road (literally LOL)

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4487.JPG

Easy sanding blending filler...

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4488.JPG

And this is the product I used to seal between the roof cross supports and the roof skin itself. Due to the warpage in a few places, there were a few areas that would "oilcan", and needed support. I injected this between the skin and subframe of the roof, not only for support, but it also will adhere the subframe to the skin making it that much stronger. This modified roof is one solid mofo now. Will be easier to re-establish it's shape too with it supported right.

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4500.JPG

Oh and can't forget the paint!! 2 quarts ran about $170. Hoping that will cover the car and the extras I plan to paint.....

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4489.JPG

Fiberglass filler knocked down and shaped, ready for the blending filler....

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4502.JPG

[RamThis]

First layer of blending filler on the other side, blended in, but I can feel a slighty high spot still that needs to be blended around, so I will hit it again with a bit more filler in some strategic places and re-block it out, should make my work invisible (which is the key to good body work!)

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4509.JPG

And finally, say bye bye rooftop antenna!!! We welded in a patch over the hole, and it got covered with f'glass filler. It'll be blended in later as well....

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4506.JPG

[Pico]

Beautiful work as always RamThis. :thumbup:

[RamThis]

Just need lots more of it lol.

[87lxiaccord]

http://www.3geez.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56097 86lxi68's pics

[MessyHonda]

yup starting to look good.....keep up the good work....i cant wait to see it painted :thumbup:

[BITESIZE]

I can appreciate the hard work you're doing, I've been block sanding and filling for a while now on my car and it takes alot of time! I can't wait to see your final projects outcome.

[RamThis]

http://www.3geez.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56097 86lxi68's pics

Ok yeah I seen them before, those are nice rims. Not exactly what I'm looking for though, I like five spoke rims best, with a fatter spoke. But those would take a close second!

[87lxiaccord]

yeah i know what ya mean i also like 5 spoke or mesh like the ls meshes and fat fives are my 2 choices but those gunmetal 6 spoke with polished lip look so sick...

[RamThis]

I can appreciate the hard work you're doing, I've been block sanding and filling for a while now on my car and it takes alot of time! I can't wait to see your final projects outcome.

Pics???

[ghettogeddy]

he has a thread somewere
http://www.3geez.com/forum/showthread.php?t=54142

[RamThis]

Oh yeah I remember that, just been so long since I seen that thread lol. Bitesize you gotta update that thing man!!

[RamThis]

Well I have more update pics but my pic host is down, probably will be down for a few more days. I'll just list what I've gotten done.

Roof is flattened out and skim coated where it needed to be raised a bit. The seams and thicker areas were brought up with Dyna-Fill, knocked down some, then skimmed with MetalWorks blending filler, which took about five or more applications, one full application, then some added in various spots as I sanded and blended until I got a really smooth, flat, waveless surface. The sunroof looks like it belongs there now, and the rear seams by the back doors should appear to have never been part of the car.

I fixed the door dings in the rear quarters, the dent below the passenger side tail light, and filled the body seams on both sides below the tail lights, the small vertical seam next to the LX/LX-i/SE-i badge that's also on the driver side.

I have cleaned all the old windshield adhesive off the faying surface, and brought it down to clean metal.

It is all masked off and ready to shoot some heavy solids buildup primer on, and poof, weather went from 80*F yesterday afternoon, to 29*F now, and I lost my short window of oppurtnity to mix and spray a coat of primer on it because my damn quart can of activator turned into a block of clear solidness sometime in the past six months, and by time I got back from the paint stores and NAPA, it was too late to spray. Now it's too cold to do a damn thing outside. Damnit.

Anyway, I'm trying to hide all masking lines either in a sharp body seam, or behind trim or seals. I want it to look new, so people are going to "know" it's been repainted if they know what to look for, but I dont want it "obvious" either for resale value. Though after putting all this time and work into a car I dont think I'd get rid of it now until it's used up and really beyond another restore.

So, pics will come, eventually. I'm not going to start another account somewhere to post pics so that's just gonna have to wait a while. I hope hope hope the weather warms up soon, I want to get this damn thing painted so I can start on the engine rebuild and finish the swap!!!!

[RamThis]

Ok here are the pics FINALLY. Our site went through a massive disc failure on our server and it's finally all worked out. Now I can finally upload my pics, hooray!!
These pics were taken about the 27th of November, some a few days before or so, as I was working on the roof and such.
Without further adue (sp??) here are the pics I have so far...
Smoothed out, and antenna gone.... hard to believe that the hole and sunroof structure was never a part of this car. And when it's all put back together, you'd never know it didnt originally come with this sunroof unless you pulled off the headliner or pulled up the VIN number.....
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4559.JPG.
Notice the channels on the rear of the roof gone.....
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4561.JPG
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4563.JPG
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4574.JPG
Never knew how wavy the trunk lid was. It had some nasty dents along the back corner where someone tried to slam the trunk shut and pushed so hard the dented the sheetmetal. Also I deleted the emblems like in the chopped pics since I loved the clean look so much.
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4575.JPG
And door dings fixed, dent under PS tail light fixed, and those seams under the tail lights are history too.
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4568.JPG
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4569.JPG
I should have it in primer in a few days. Weather is finally cooperating and I'm done with all the other friggin work I've been doing for family members, which has had me busier than if I actually had a job LOL. So finally I can get to priming this bitch!!!

[2ndGenGuy]

Damn dude! Looking good! That car is gonna look so good when you're done. Always good to see people taking everything apart and doing it right. Badass! The shaved emblems will look nice too. I should have shaved the H off of my car, but I just wound up taking off the "Honda", "Accord" and "LX" emblems off.

Amazing how many dents you find when you really go over your car. Makes you wonder how they got there sometimes.

[RamThis]

LOL yeah I hear ya on finding dents. I can understand the ones down the middle of the body from door dings (AKA bastards with no respect for other's property :gun: ) , but the tiny one above the fuel door, and the one in the C pillar on the driver side, have me clueless as to how they go there. I was thinking as I sanded the filler down "What kind of lifted monster parked next to my lil blue car to put a dent way up here??" lol.

[Ichiban]

Looks pretty good. I'm doing pretty much the same thing. Check it out in "the welding thread" It's in the 2g interior/exterior section.

[A18A]

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/100_4563.JPG
ahhhhhhhhhhhh that looks soo nice, i hate those dent thingys there, gets rusty easily in there too... that looks good :) :thumbup:

[BITESIZE]

Your roof looks like mine. Lots of filler!

[RamThis]

Your roof looks like mine. Lots of filler!


Looks like a holstein don't it LOL. Ricer Cow! :rockon:




Let's just say welding supports to the underside of the roof skin does not do it any favors lol.

[speedpenguin]

Damn! How did I miss this thread. I had no idea you were working on a project this big. :thumbup: This is awesome! I can't wait to see how it turns out.

PS. I'd be careful opening those doors in the rain now that those rain channels are gone.

[RamThis]

Damn! How did I miss this thread. I had no idea you were working on a project this big. :thumbup: This is awesome! I can't wait to see how it turns out.

PS. I'd be careful opening those doors in the rain now that those rain channels are gone.


You aint the only one looking forward to the finish of this project LOL. It's taken back burner status now because of other things we have going on, but I'm still working on it.

And those channels really weren't to drain water, it will still flow down over the rainguard seal above the door openings, and follow that guard down to about the rear door latch. The channel is just there because they needed a place to put both the roof panel and the C pillar/rear quarter panel together and also have it attach to the substructure for rigidity. So they pinch welded it all together there, added a couple trim pins, and stuck a piece of trim over it. Doing what I did only makes the job of a body repair harder later on really, by covering up the seam. But future body work is not a worry for me on this car. Once this is done, it's the last time I'll personally ever do any work to it that would ever involve the body up that high lol. If it gets that damaged, I'm gonna dump it and get something new. This will be the Honda's last hurrah unfortunately, but hopefully she'll shine like new for quite a while!!!

[RamThis]

Well, no updates really, it's been way too frigging cold to do anything. You cant paint unless it's over about 65F or so. Anything lower can cause curing problems. I missed my window of opportunity to prime the body by about an hour. Had my friggin activator for my primer not turned into a solid clear block, I would have made it before the first arctic blast hit. The trip to NAPA put me over on time and oh well, car's gotta set a while.

Plus the new job has me going 6 days a week. Good news is I've got money again. Bad news is, I got no time now LOL.

But other good news is I work like five minutes from the house, really a stroke of luck. So with such little travel time after work to get home, I will have more time int he evenings to knock this out once the weather warms up and the car thaws out!!

[forrest89sei]

Well, no updates really, it's been way too frigging cold to do anything. You cant paint unless it's over about 65F or so. Anything lower can cause curing problems. I missed my window of opportunity to prime the body by about an hour. Had my friggin activator for my primer not turned into a solid clear block, I would have made it before the first arctic blast hit. The trip to NAPA put me over on time and oh well, car's gotta set a while.
Plus the new job has me going 6 days a week. Good news is I've got money again. Bad news is, I got no time now LOL.
But other good news is I work like five minutes from the house, really a stroke of luck. So with such little travel time after work to get home, I will have more time int he evenings to knock this out once the weather warms up and the car thaws out!!


Glad to hear that!


Keep US UPDATED!

[MessyHonda]

well now that you are getting money you can pay some one do it professional job on it

[RamThis]

well now that you are getting money you can pay some one do it professional job on it


WTF man my work is BETTER'n some dumbass "professional" LOL :slap:

Just you wait. And not "looks good in pictures" either. Looks good up close and personal...... :cheers:

[MessyHonda]

il guess il be taking my car to the RAMTHis shop!

[Legend_master]

WTF man my work is BETTER'n some dumbass "professional" LOL :slap:
Just you wait. And not "looks good in pictures" either. Looks good up close and personal...... :cheers:


Actually it looks pretty damn good even in the pictures. I dont see any flaws so far.

[RamThis]

Actually it looks pretty damn good even in the pictures. I dont see any flaws so far.


You'll have to check it out some day. You still have some inner fenders to come get LOL. If you even still need them? Your old car is in my back yard under a tarp right now lol. The dog likes to lay in the floorboard of it. Damn animal thinks I put it back there for his lazy ass......

[Legend_master]

You'll have to check it out some day. You still have some inner fenders to come get LOL. If you even still need them? Your old car is in my back yard under a tarp right now lol. The dog likes to lay in the floorboard of it. Damn animal thinks I put it back there for his lazy ass......

Yeah I still need it, I just have SOOOO much shit going on. So the 4Dr turned into a kennel, after looking how dirty the inside of the car was I am not surprised a dog would feel comfortable in there :lol: .

[RamThis]

Yeah I still need it, I just have SOOOO much shit going on. So the 4Dr turned into a kennel, after looking how dirty the inside of the car was I am not surprised a dog would feel comfortable in there :lol: .


LMAO I had to clean it out first before the dog would go in it..... :eek:

[Cheeseburger]

looking good ram!!!

[RamThis]

Well only updates I have thus far is I got a full SE-I console (I guess that's what's it's from) it's a blue armrest back half and a blue cupholder/junk slot front half. Looks to be in pretty good condition. A little cleanup and some armor all and it'll go nicely in my lil blue bomb.

Other work going on is with the garage. I've been installing flourescents like a mutha in the garage in preperation for painting. I designed a floating mount to go UNDER the garage door to hold flourescent lights, or whatever, under the door instead of being attached to the cieling. This way, I have light with the door open or closed. Trick is getting the mount to go all the way across under the door, and still clear the big metal bracket that attaches to the door from the track that opens and closes the door, which sticks down about 6" below the underside of the door and the outer tracks. Some ingenious engineering of bracing around a U-shaped relief made a strong, self supporting center section that clears the door's lift bracket, and holds the lights up almost up as high as the inside of the door itself!

Weather is warming up here too, so in not too long I should be getting ready to spray some primer and get back to work on this bitch!!! :rockon:

[ICEMAN707]

WOW, Awesome job RAMTHIS! I haven't been on here in awhile ever since my 3gee's auto tranny finally went to shit and prompted me to start a 5 spd swap on it. But my EG Civic project had me going for months since July '06 so I had to put the 3gee aside for awhile since then. I will eventually get back to the 3gee, applying some performance tricks that I learned from the EG. Also, finish up the bodywork on the 3gee and redo my sideskirts and rear bumper to a new custom design I drew on paper.

I'm really impressed with your work. You remind me of myself. Wish you were closer, we could start a shop :deal:

Anyways, I have no doubt that car is gonna be one superb ride when it's done. Best of luck with it and keep the pics coming!


....Oh yeah, weren't you thinking about doing the side moldings too?

[ICEMAN707]

....and about a stealth antenna, the area below the front windshield under that plastic cover is a good place to hide an amplified antenna wire. If you take out that plastic cover (looks like you already have), you'll see how much room there is.

Another option is a nice BMW/BENZ shark fin antenna out the rear part of the roof. This is what I'm doing for both my cars.

[speedpenguin]

I bet you're pumped for painting! I'm pumped for pics! And alliteration apparently.

[ZackieDarko]

i read this whole thread this morning

very impressive work

makes me wana put in an OEM sunroof in my hatch :-p

[ICEMAN707]

also made me wonder why you didn't just transfer everything from your car to the donor car instead of from the donor car to yours? it looks to me that donor car is in excellent shape. would be easier just swapping out the suspension/brake stuff etc. than cutting out the roof....oh well, i guess it's too late now. awesome job nonetheless!

[RamThis]

also made me wonder why you didn't just transfer everything from your car to the donor car instead of from the donor car to yours? it looks to me that donor car is in excellent shape. would be easier just swapping out the suspension/brake stuff etc. than cutting out the roof....oh well, i guess it's too late now. awesome job nonetheless!


Thanks guys for the great props, really makes me feel good about what I've been doing and makes me want to keep the project going when the weather gets better!!

As for the swap, yeah I had thought about that to be honest. But, the paint on the other car was shot, as was the interior, and the engine needs to be rebuilt, and it's transmission is a loss as well. So, I would still end up tearing down both cars to make one good car. My car's body and paint, especially the jamb areas/underhood are much better condition, plus I like the laurel blue. So that's why I decided, about the only things extra I'd be doing to my blue car to keep using it would be to install the sunroof, and pull the wiring harness out to swap with the EFI harness. Had I swapped interiors and used the parts car, I would still have had to pull the dash out so not much further to just pull the harness out too.

Plus then I'd have to go register and plate the other car, switch out the insurance, etc. I just found it simpler to do all the work to my car and leave it at that.

Had this car been aesthetically cleaner, I might have done just what you said and swapped in some of my new parts, painted it, rebuilt the engine and tranny, and handle the paperwork BS.

Either way I like doing stuff the hard way LOL.

I'm also hoping that when we get our tax return finished that we end up getting something decent back so I can finally go buy a frigging welder. You have no idea how long and how many years I've been dreaming of having my own MIG welder...... Then the fun will really start :rockon:

[Legend_master]

It was warm today so I am expecting to see some finished pictures of the car by friday :gun: .

[RamThis]

It was warm today so I am expecting to see some finished pictures of the car by friday :gun: .

Spent all night last night cleaning out the garage and getting ready. Today the welding shop next to our shop was clearing out a buncha shit, and I snagged a really nice metal cutting chopsaw, and two 4.5'X2' platforms made of 2" heavy wall round tubing, with big industrial casters on each corner, for ten bucks each and fourty for the chopsaw!! Sooo, they fit perfectly under the sides of the car under the jack points. I'm going to put some 4X4 wood blocks under the jack points and set the car on these platforms so I can move it around during the painting easier and take off the wheels. These platforms are heavy freakin duty, I could park a dump truck on em.....

[BITESIZE]

Update? Update? Update? Update? Update? Update? Update?

[Civic Accord Honda]

Pics Pics Pics

[MessyHonda]

now now now!

[skycam_313]

/\/\ post......whore whore whore!:tongue:

[Pico]

I might as well join in .......
Any New http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v337/picopop/Icons/gotpics.gifhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v337/picopop/Icons/gotpics.gifhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v337/picopop/Icons/gotpics.gif

[MessyHonda]

yeah he has not been on in 3 days....i would kill my self if i let that much time go by....LOL...jp

[ottomatic]

good thing your neighbors dont mind all of the racket.:)

when the project is complete, you should meet up with the guys who
live in the area and let em check it out. ?


nice work.

[Civic Accord Honda]

pics pics pics pics pics update update update NOW! NOW ! NOW!!!!!!!!!!

[RamThis]

Sorry guys been busier than a three legged cat burying shit on a tile floor lately!!! Working 6 days a week, 9 hours a day (10 if you count lunch hour) I havent had time to stop to scratch my ass. I did, however, have my sister's 300M Special in the driveway today to replace some broken rear struts on it and got a couple pics of the Honda tonite. I have yet to touch the damn thing. I just dont have time at the moment. I'll be damned if either you got a good job making lots of money, but no time to do shit. Or, you get laid off, tons of time to work on stuff, and not a dime to do it with. WTF man!!! But anyway, with this newfound job I have some fun plans in store for the old Honda. Think you guys will approve!!!

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/Honda_Dubz.jpg

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/Honda_Dubz1.jpg

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/Honda_Dubz2.jpg

LOL I WISH!!! Well not really, but would look cool tubbed and majorly slammed tuckin these bad boys!!

Anyway, the wife is prego and baby is comin in two months and getting the baby room ready is priority number one now. Once thats out of the way, then I can get back to work on the car. Right now there's too much shit in the garage to work, because our spare bedroom has been a catch-all room for about ten years now. Meaning our only other storage place other than the attic, is now having to be cleared out. And the attic was stuffed. So, attic stuff came down, room stuff got drug out, still have tons more to move out of the room, and the garage has been catching it all lately.

Project is just kinda on hold, but not forgotten!!! There's a pimpin ride coming, I just dont know when.....

[Pico]

Congrats on the Baby on the way. And good to see ya around RamThis

[speedpenguin]

Yeah, at least pop around the site more often!

[RamThis]

I'll try to!! Kinda miss givin CAH hell...... :Owned:

[Cmac]

Hey Ram, I love the passenger seat but i don't advise anyone sitting in it when your running down the road ;)


-CMAC

[Civic Accord Honda]

I'll try to!! Kinda miss givin CAH hell...... :Owned:
:O:violin:

[RamThis]

Why? It's just as safe as a paper clip for a tie rod castle nut!! What could go wrong?? lol

[RamThis]

Wow, been a while since I posted here. STILL NOTHING to report unfortunately, other than the car has more dust on it than it did before, and more crap stacked in and around it. With trying to redo TWO rooms in our house, getting sick, and the new baby that was born May 21st, I still havent had time to touch it. Hell I still havent finished the baby room and she's been here almost a week!! Thank goodness we keep ours in a bassonet (sp?) for the first four to six weeks before we start putting them in their own room at night, so I really do have time to finish, just really wanted to have it done before she got here so the house would not be a mess still, with baby furniture and clothes and etc stacked up all in the dining room. Would have gotten it done had I not gotten sick about two weeks ago, which is getting really, really, really old.

But, I'm very near completing all the bullshit that's been making me put everything else on hold, so I can FINALLY get back to my car. At this rate, I'm thinking it may be a bit optimistic to expect to drive the car by this time next year!!! :hmph:

[Legend_master]

Wow, been a while since I posted here. STILL NOTHING to report unfortunately, other than the car has more dust on it than it did before, and more crap stacked in and around it. With trying to redo TWO rooms in our house, getting sick, and the new baby that was born May 21st, I still havent had time to touch it. Hell I still havent finished the baby room and she's been here almost a week!! Thank goodness we keep ours in a bassonet (sp?) for the first four to six weeks before we start putting them in their own room at night, so I really do have time to finish, just really wanted to have it done before she got here so the house would not be a mess still, with baby furniture and clothes and etc stacked up all in the dining room. Would have gotten it done had I not gotten sick about two weeks ago, which is getting really, really, really old.
But, I'm very near completing all the bullshit that's been making me put everything else on hold, so I can FINALLY get back to my car. At this rate, I'm thinking it may be a bit optimistic to expect to drive the car by this time next year!!! :hmph:

Woot woot, congradulations on the new baby :rockon: . It's to bad you have to hold off on the car, I was really looking forward to seeing the finished product. I understand certain things being more important then the car. Good luck with everything.

[BITESIZE]

Ramthis, I'm in the same boat as you. No time to work on the car between my daughter and work. But I always think.....I'm only 25, I'll probably live to 70 at least. So i have 45 years left to finish the damned thing.

[RamThis]

Hey LM, congrats on the AOM!!! Just noticed. You sly devil you. :welcome:

And Bitesize, yeah I feel ya man. My Ram's been gone for three weeks now in the body shop fixing the hail damage, same damage that the Acura got which totaled it. I've been clearing out the garage but I need my truck so I can move a ton of shit to the storage building before I can do anything else, plus my sis/bro in law need their car back by this Thursday since they are trying to sell it and have scheduled someone to come see it that day. So I hope to hell my truck is back in my driveway sometime before Wednesday or I'm walkin to work..... :thumbdn:

[BITESIZE]

What do you have left on your accord?

[RamThis]

What do you have left on your accord?


LOL what do you mean, what's still attached, or what's left to do?

If you want to know what's left still attached, not a whole lot...

If you want to know what's left to do, a whole damn lot!! :lol:

[DDRaptor]

geez i want to live in a house, where i can do those things.

[forrest89sei]

Bump

Any Updates????

[RamThis]

Hey guys havent been around in freakin forever!! Life just got amazingly busy for me. If you think having one kid is time consuming, try having a 3 year old, and throw a newborn into the mix!!!! Yikes!! Our second is 5 months old now. Boy these little booger makers eat up every spare moment you have, until you are left with just the last few minutes of conciousness before you collapse in bed.

But oddly enough Forrest, you must be getting the 3Geez vibe from my garage, because for the first time in about a year, I did actually TOUCH my Honda!!! I spent a few hours Saturday clearing out crap that has re-accumulated in the garage, and cleared out all the boxes and various sundries that have accumulated in, on, and around the car, and moved it around to where I can touch up a few places and try to get some primer on it. I do have some work to do to my Ram first though that I've been trying to do for over a month LOL. All I need to do on it is blend in a roll pan I welded in over a month ago, and I just cant find an evening without a screaming kid or another pressing chore to sit down and get that done.

Wife, thankfully, understands about the car, seeing as she's half the reason I cant get time anymore to work on it (actually she's WAY more the reason but wont get into all that LOL) (some of you other dads will get the gist of that once you think about it.....)

Anyways though, not sure when I'll really get back to work on the car. Hopefully soon, as the new baby's getting to where she's not quite as constant of a burden, so I think the wife can handle her ok by herself more without going nuts in the process lol. Hoping the weather holds out so I can at least do a little work to it before it starts to get too cold. That's what stopped me last year really. Then shortly after that, I got the new job, and been too busy to really get back into it ever since.

Rest assured though, the RamThis Accord will be up and running one day, hopefully sometime next year. Just looks like life went and took a big turn and changed my plans for me. Really slowed EVERYTHING down I was working on, most everything I was doing has come to a standstill, and are slowly getting back in motion.

Anyone wanna come over and grab a sanding block and do some block sanding on my roof??? LMAO!!!!:cheers:

[BITESIZE]

I totally understand about the "wife nagging about not spending every damn minute with her instead of your car."

[forrest89sei]

Well I'm glad to hear your OK!

I can see how Two Young Kids Plus a Wife would Slow your project down! LOL

Well BEST of luck and keep us updated!

[2ndGenGuy]

Anyone wanna come over and grab a sanding block and do some block sanding on my roof??? LMAO!!!!:cheers:

Nothing I haven't done before with other members! :wave: Too bad Texas is a bit more than 8 hours away.

Glad to see you haven't forgotten the car! It's easy to do when it's in the garage. Out of sight - out of mind. Keep pluggin' away, you'll have it done before you know it!

[MessyHonda]

nice to see you back Robert

[RamThis]

Good to see I havent been forgotten in my hiatus lol. :wave::cheers:

[Civic Accord Honda]

id come and help if u where closer LOL

hope to see some more updates over the next year :P

[RamThis]

Sad thing is, all this year, about the only vehicle mod work I've had time to do, has been to weld on the roll pan on my 2000 Ram, and Harwood Industries sent me a THIRD hood for that truck, which I sure hope fits. They had to re-mold the hood because their hoods fit so badly, but they never got any complaints until I called them. They were dumbfounded as to why they never knew how far off their hoods were LOL. Soooo, I have that setting in the garage, partly finished and awaiting time to fit it to the truck had prep it for paint, I also have a Keystone bumper cover to go on that truck, and a Sir Michaels tailgate handle relocator to install. Then the truck goes back in to be totally repainted for free since the body shop ruined the whole paintjob from the body work they did fixing hail damage from earlier this year. Once I get that all straightened out, THEN I can really focus on the Honda.

Oh and sometime in all this, I have to pull the dash out of my Ram and replace it, since my original one is faulty and is cracked so bad whole chunks of it are falling out on top.

Here's a couple pics of what I've done to the Ram.....

3G is on the right of the pics lol.
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/Roll_Pan_3.jpg

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/Roll_Pan_2.jpg

Not painted, just welds ground down, and some flat black sprayed over it to keep it from rusting, and cut off the way too long exhaust tips.....
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/Roll_Pan_5.jpg

The new hood. I have the inlets molded in pretty well, still have a bit more work to do before I can prep it for paint....this is fresh out of the box..... Oh and I have two more of these hoods stacked on top of my Honda parts car in the back yard LOL!! Neither one fit the truck.
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/Harwood_1.jpg

[BITESIZE]

Hella nice!!! Let's see the hood on the pickup now!

[RamThis]

Hopefully in the next couple or so weeks I'll get a chance to finish up the hood and do the filler/blending work on the roll pan. I want to try and have the Honda cleaned up and ready again for primer so I can just mix up a large batch of primer and shoot the truck parts and the honda's unibody structure all at once. Just to save some gun cleanup time lol. Im not lazy really, just that it takes forever to properly clean a paint gun!!! I tear mine pretty much all the way down to clean it. Paid alot of money for it from Snap-On, dont want to ruin it lol.

[Civic Accord Honda]

Cool

[RamThis]

haha, there is SOME primer on the car now LOL. Basically leftover that was in the paint cup of my sprayer when i was priming the roll pan on the truck. Guess that's my big update for now on the 3G.

Someday.......

[Cheeseburger]

pics pics pics pics pics pics pics!

[fogged]

Really good pics of the work on the sunroof. :cheers: I know the fab work wont be to hard. Just due to the fact I work in metal fab. Now on the other hand the body work is going to really suck ass. :wave:

[RamThis]

Revived from the dead once again!!!

New year, new purpose. I'm finishing this mofo!!! Had a talk with the wife, and she agrees that she will not get mad if I am out in the garage for weeks on end when the weather permits, to finish this car once and for all. The baby's almost 8 months old now, and the other one's three, so I think she can handle them. Otherwise, I'd never get this thing finished!!!

So, today, with amazing weather for the middle of winter, I got to crackin on the car again finally. Spent the previous two nights just clearing the garage out again. It seems to be a recurring theme with my garage LOL.

Anyway, rolled the car over, cleaned it up, hit it with a layer of heavy solids primer, and wet-blocked it out with 220, and hit it again with another couple layers of primer. After a final blocking with 400, that part's ready for paint and clear. Tomorrow, I think I'll re-mount the doors temporarily, so I can start working on the trim area and finalize my idea and get it done. Dont know how long it will be until I get all the paint and body work done though, it all depends on how cold it is outside and how many warm enough days we have for a while.

Hope to have more updates soon!!

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/Honda_Primer1.jpg

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/Honda_Primer2.JPG

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/Honda_Primer3.jpg

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/Honda_Primer4.jpg

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/Honda_Primer5.jpg

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/Honda_Primer6.jpg

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/Honda_Primer7.jpg

[forrest89sei]

Looking Good :thumbup:

[labeledsk8r]

oh snap! looks sweet man, the body work really shows... nice clean lines no imperfections, top notch

[RamThis]

Not too shabby for a noob eh? LOL

I had a good shell to start with anyway. Only a few door dings, one dent under the passenger side tail light, and of course, the huge gaping hole I cut in the roof to put in my scavenged sunroof!

[87roach]

I went through the whole thread and your doing some really nice work! Glad to see you are finally getting some paint laid on it, looks soo nice compared the the patches huh. The shaved bits are a very nice touch too, can't wait for the finish!! :D

Keep up the good work!

[RamThis]

can't wait for the finish!! :D



You and me both, man.... :beer:

Thanks for the compliments!

[Civic Accord Honda]

damn that looks damn good
mad rep points to you!

[oldschool3g]

wow man youve done an amazing job....looks awsome..keep it up.

[AccordB20A]

Yeah, Its looking good man

[Pico]

Yay!!!!
He's back :thumbup:

[RamThis]

Yay!!!!
He's back :thumbup:


Hey did you get your cam situation straightened out finally? If so what did you eventually find out was the cause??

[Cheeseburger]

looks great!

[Pico]

Hey did you get your cam situation straightened out finally? If so what did you eventually find out was the cause??

timing was way off :(
I redid the belt and readjusted the valves and it's been great since

[A18A]

yay good to see new pics of it, love how you got rid of those things in the roof by the rear doors :thumbup:

[RamThis]

So it was the timing. Man, that sucks, but great in a way, because it was an easy fix and nothing was broken or a wrong part sent, etc. Got any vids of it running??

I envy your 3Gee Pico, that thing is so, so, super clean it's unreal. I'm hoping mine will look half as clean as yours when Im done. Just wish my wife wasnt so prissy and could get out and help me too lol. Must be nice to have a helper. I have to do everything by myself. Oh well, at least I know it's done right :cheers:

Thanks for the cheers guys. :wave:

I decided to work on my Ram's hood tonight, finished the fiberglass work around the ram-air inlets, and laid down some primer on it too. Right now its flashing over and Im about to open the garage door so I can air it out, and clean up my paint equipment. Tomorrow or the next day Ima gettin the doors out to mount on the car and start working on the trim area and get it how I want it.

[fogged]

I love that car. Looks sweet as candy. :cheers: That roof line is the best.

[RamThis]

Thanks fogged. I wonder if anyone else will notice the subtle nuances Im putting into this car when I'm done. I hope so. Takes alot of work lol. Bad thing is, if I do it TOO good, no one will notice anything's been done at all LOL. Catch 22 I guess.

Anyways, here's a couple pix of the hood I just finished spraying with primer for my Ram. I've spent about four nights worth of work making those inlets open and functional, as they come as blocked off fake inlets. They dont even make the hood to where you could actually open it up unless you are ready for alot of work to make it look right. Oh well, the big work's done. Just gotta finish it now.

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/Hood_Primer1.jpg

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/Hood_Primer3.jpg

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/Hood_Primer4.jpg

[forrest89sei]

That Ram Hood Looks Great!

[mushroom_toy]

How did i MISS THIS THREAD! Car is looking friggen great! Bodywork looks top notch! When you gonna paint my car lol.

[2oodoor]

looks like a nice hood scoop coming along.. great job on the car !
I like the way the primer laid out, the paint is going to look nice on that. Our weather will not cooperate,I have so much to do and another Accord to boot.. lol
have fun

[Hazwan]

I don't care about your Ram, I want updates of your 3g!!!!

:lol:

[BITESIZE]

I don't care about your Ram, I want updates of your 3g!!!!

:lol:

I second that!!!

[2oodoor]

I don't care about your Ram, I want updates of your 3g!!!!

:lol:

dude he is demonstrating his bodywork fabbing skills on the guinea dodge, so we can see them at work on the HOnda.:)

[Cheeseburger]

hey ram where did u buy your rear window trim?

[RamThis]

Well, yesterday I worked on things around the house most of the day so didnt really "work" on the car, BUT, I did get the doors remounted yesterday! When the weather start cooperating again I'll start stripping the doors down of the interior panels, trim, handles, etc and start doing the body work and trim line work. With doors on it and the fenders hung, almost looks like a car again lol.

[RamThis]

hey ram where did u buy your rear window trim?


I'll have to look in the box later at the reciept. Some honda dealership online but cant remember the name.....

[Cheeseburger]

how much did u get it for?

[2oodoor]

wow, I thought that honda looked uber smooth, like a corvette fender... you took out the seams.
That is a new look, I like it. I hope it can handle the body flex. I had a hell of a time keeping good filler on a roof seams on a mustang, but that was RWD torque flexing the body, the Honda should only be turning flex and a rear tie bar should take care of that.

[RamThis]

wow, I thought that honda looked uber smooth, like a corvette fender... you took out the seams.
That is a new look, I like it. I hope it can handle the body flex. I had a hell of a time keeping good filler on a roof seams on a mustang, but that was RWD torque flexing the body, the Honda should only be turning flex and a rear tie bar should take care of that.

Thanks. I like smooth and clean body lines. Less is more in my book.

As for the filler holding, I think it should hold fine. It was a short fill area, plus it had the trim pins down in the seam to act as anchors in a way. PLUS, it's fiberglass filler, so it wont split or crack, only place it would come loose is at the bond area to the metal itself. So, hopefully, it's not going anywhere anytime soon.

[2oodoor]

good work, and to explain my previous post... I feel like a slughead, I did not even notice the first time and I even commented how smooth the primer laid out. That was partly why it looked so smooth. anyway.. duh
:wave:

[RamThis]

good work, and to explain my previous post... I feel like a slughead, I did not even notice the first time and I even commented how smooth the primer laid out. That was partly why it looked so smooth. anyway.. duh
:wave:


Yeah it's some of the best spraying primers I've used. I tried PPG Kondar and it SUCKED.

What I use, is Napa TecPrime with the 5155 hardener. I usually do it 4 parts primer, 2 parts reducer/activator, 1 part hardener. Lays down thick, but it's thin enough that the surace ends up uber smooth and doesnt take a whole lot of blocking to get rid of any orange peel left over, and dry shot, even overlapping a partly flashed over area, is so thin it also sands down super easy.

On my 68 Charger R/T, I plan to use some DuPont sealer and primer and really do it up right.

[labeledsk8r]

Looks good man, cant wait to see it finished.

btw, do you still have that integra lip i sold you?? love to see that restored and on there :D

[RamThis]

Looks good man, cant wait to see it finished.

btw, do you still have that integra lip i sold you?? love to see that restored and on there :D


Yep I still got it and the bag of spacers and hardware. It's going on the car no doubt.... :wave:

[RamThis]

Few pix of the doors bolted back on. Still have to finish aligning them though. Then comes the body work to get rid of the black trim and make it look factory. Sheesh. It'll be worth it when it's all done!!

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/Honda_Primer8.jpg

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/Honda_Primer9.jpg

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/Honda_Primer10.jpg

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/gallery/data/500/Honda_Primer11.jpg

[Cheeseburger]

hotness just hotness! keep it up bro!

[87roach]

Man I LOVE the no seams on the back, GJ again.

[MessyHonda]

now it looks like a car.

[Civic Accord Honda]

:D keep up the good work

[2oodoor]

you got dollys !!
the green bucket seat , hey now that is lightening up the car some!
What are you doing with the mouldings? That would be wild if you could use the strip mouldings like on new cars, go on the glass first then urethane the glass in the flange. no clips, just set blocks like a windsheild

[RamThis]

Yeah some strip mouldings like on new cars would sure be alot easer to deal with. but unfortunately they made the body shape around the windows so that the gap is so big it has to have the wide metal mouldings.

And the dollies help immensely with moving the car in and out of the corner when I get a little bit to work on it, then have to put it away so I can put momma's 4Runner inside so she can put the kids in the car without the nasty cold wind getting to them. During the summer and warmer weather it doesnt matter that much though.

[RamThis]

Well Im back at it again. Didnt really get much on the Honda done, but tomorrow night Im going to strip the driver side doors down and start working on the side moulding areas. I have a game plan in mind that I think will look awesome.

I adjusted the door seam along the top rear corner of the rear door, where I filled in the channel. I didnt have the door on when I did it so I made the curve too shallow and the corner of the door was awful close. So, with some careful measuring, I marked out an even body gap, and trimmed it back to match the outline of the door in the corner perfectly. NOW that area is like I want it.

Mostly spent the night wet blocking the 2000 Ram's tailgate getting it perfectly flat and smooth. Ahh the joy of body work lol.

[Hash_man_Se_i]

Car looks really good now ramthis... now, empty your PM box... its full.

Or if you could, can you post more pics of the carpet/floor mats you got? such as the underside of the carpet,... and how the floormats look like they fit?
does the drivers floor mat have a heel pad?

thanks.

[forrest89sei]

Any Updates?

[A18A]

last I remember was he was ditching the accord projects :(

[cubert]

last I remember was he was ditching the accord projects :(


Yea, he posted a while ago saying that he was done with them...

http://www.3geez.com/forum/showthread.php?t=74011

[MessyHonda]

yeah very very sad day :(

[Cheeseburger]

OH NOOO!!!!! sad to see this never getting finished! :(