Magnolia shorty: Official 2007 project thread

[SQ is the SQUAD]

Magnolia Shorty is her name
1989 Honda Accord lxi coupe

i have quite a few threads floating around with alot of my ideas a half finished projects. i havent really worked on the car since last summer. now that i accquired my sisters garage i got somewhere to work during the cold winters and hot sunny summers. plus i dont have to worry about leaving tools laying around outside. i spent the last 2 weeks setting up everything in the garage. so all my progress with the car ill take pics and post them up here.

set up my welding table and mock up engine on stand so i can start mapping out my manifold
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/1673/Picture60.jpg

here my tool box next to my tig welder. this baby can weld up some nice things, but i need lots of pratice. it a miller syncrowave 200
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/4660/Picture59.jpg

i am putting the actuall engine build off for last, still doingg some research on a few things that could drastically change everything again

i am focusing on the body. cleanging up the small rust spots, shaving the engine bay, wire tuck, ect.

Projects:
obd1 conversion
B-Series cable tranny -> a20a adapter plate
B-series cable tranny rebuild
Wire tuck
Enging bay shave
Custon sun roof and atenna (the same ones from my hatch)
Carbon Fiber Roof cap (cosmetic mod)
Misc carbonfiber trim piece
Re-wrap sei leather seats black leather with either swade inserts or LV
Custom front traction bar (emilinate stick torstion bars and crossmember)
Top mount turbo manifold ( i think i am going with a gt30r turbo this time)
Powder coating suspension
Rebuilding/powder coating calipers
fiberglassing stock blower motor to windsheild ducts

right now i currently have 85% of the supplies and tools for these projects, i just gotta do a little by little

Current Stock
4 new drilled/slotted rotors
stainless brakelines
caliper rebuild kits
new ball joints
new tie rods
blox extended wheel studs
new front and rear upper control arms
integra short shifter with poly bushings
h4 headlights
jdm corners
custom painter red/black tails
CCA intercooler
intercooler piping
bov
couplers
oil line kit
exhaust flex section
ca sounds (magnaflow) high flow cat
apex-i ws2 muffler
msd sci ingition
modified odb1 93 accord distributor w/ msd external coil cap
2x2 carbonfiber material for various overlays
dual slim push/pull fans. i only need one now that i got rid of ac
oil catch can
odb1 chipped po6 ecu


Needed

black interior door sills (may try to paint mine
black coupe door panels
black coupe front seatbelts
someone to come help me hide my wireing
polyurathane suspension bushings (have new rubber ones)
lightweight b series cable flywheel
b series cable clutch
vaccume log
battery relocate kit
firewall mount battery terminals
misc aluminum for tranny adapter
new leather seat covers (autoaccessoriesrus said they can replicate the sei leather seats in black for around $550)
materials for roll cage
vairous stainless lines and fittings (water hoses, powersteering lines vacumme lines ect)
amulinum dual core civic half radiator
civic odb0 to odb1 harness
engine damper

Current Goal
to have a complete painted, shaved engine bay, rebuilt rolling chasis by the end of july. this includes having all the suspension work done, all the brakes, all the interior and the roll cage.

[SQ is the SQUAD]

2-16-07

well all i did today was start taking apart everything i did last year. i took off the doors,(space is tight and i cannot work on/inside the car with the doors halfway open) i striped out all the plastics in the trunk and started emilinatin alot of things in the ending bay that i wont need

this is my bay before i started stripping
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/9459/Picture70.jpg

ill take a pic of my progress tomarrow. once i get everything removed ill start degreasing and perperation for welding up all the unneeded holes for the bay shave

stripped trunk
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/9728/Picture056.jpg

http://img246.imageshack.us/my.php?image=Picture61.jpg

i will be putting the rear saeats back when they get redone
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/298/Picture057.jpg

[cubert]

definetly a hell of a project...lots of work, but you have the tools and resources to do it. GOnna be a sick ass car in the end. I def. wanna see it. Next time i go to the JY ill see if there are any coupes there with the black sills and seatbelts if youd like

[SQ is the SQUAD]

you sohlud come down some time. i can always use a hand. it gets boaring doing things by myself. not to many local 3geez people. once it gets warm ill drive up and hit the jy with you

[cubert]

sounds good to me...my girlfriend lives about 20 mins outside of boston so im down and around there quite a bit anyway

[SQ is the SQUAD]

2-17-07

dident work much on the car today. i removed the rest of the interior including the dash, seats and carpet. i also uninstalled my viper alarm and removed all the system wires. i got most of the automatic shifter out, but there must be some screws underneath.ill check next week while i am removing the sub frame. i got a mess allover the garage so ill spend the rest of the day putting all the interior in the attic. i forgot my camera back at my house so no pics for today.

[A20A1]

How much was the tig? It needs gas too right? or no?

[SQ is the SQUAD]

it was somewhere around $1800. it takes argon. i got a back room deal on a filled tank and i mistakenly told the guy to give me 75%argon 25%co2 insted of the straight argon i needed for tig. this gas i have is actually the mix for mig, lol. its still a good deal once i get my mig welder. anyways the tig will get some use once i get another tank. i gotta start my manifold, traction bars and b series tranny mount

[speedpenguin]

I can see this is going to be quite the project... I'm looking forward to a lot of pics.

[SQ is the SQUAD]

2-22-07

today was just one of those days, well it started that way anyways. the last two days been pretty warn and sunny. i was tied up so i wasent able to work on the car. so anyways, i go to the garage today, of course it cold and cloudy, i get there and feel like turning around. once i started working it wasent sooo bad. i removed the passenger door and fender today. i put the seats and both doors in my sisters basemnt so ill have more room in the garage. anyways i started my passenger side wire tuck. it was actually pretty easy. all the wireing on the passengerside goes to the fuse box (besides the elimited black box wires, lights and popups) so i carved off at the covering off the wires. i seperated the wires that will run inside the fender to the front of the car for the lights. i was able to seperate the rest of the harness and pull them inside trhe car so that i can hide the fuse box. i also pulled out the heater core and the ac core. the car ill have neither heat or ac. i will fiberglass a fitting to mold the blower motor straight to the windsheild piping. this left alot of room to mount the fuse box. enjoy the pictures!!!!!

the harness seperated from whats going to the front and whats going inside
http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/8050/Picture089.jpg

this duct is on the opsite side of the popup motor. i am honna tuck the wires trough its opening
http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/4047/Picture086.jpg

this is a pic og the pop up motor and the wire i am going to hide throught the duct. i gotta check tomarrow where this duct goes to, i may be able to eliminate it
http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/1895/Picture087.jpg

this is when i pulled all the wires into the car to seperate the front and whats going to monut with the fuse box inside the car. i did have to clip only 4 wires and extend them about 4 feet back to the front.
http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/5744/Picture092.jpg

the fuse box is now ready to be mounted insode the car. i got a few feet of extrat wires to tuck away, but i have pleanty of space
http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/8914/Picture093.jpg




the next warm day we get i am going to scrub down the whole inside of the car from the engine bay, to the interior to the trunk and winse all this dirt out

[race12001]

dang looking good you got some great ideas keep the pics comming

[mkymonkey]

i too have always wondered what that duct is for. i thought it was connected to the air box....i wanted to take it off when i installed my intake for the first time. i just really wanted it out of there....actually it still bothers me...but not as much lol.

anyway, it looks pretty cool and i like your idea of putting the fuse box inside. i'd go crazy with all that wiring though. even though i dont mind it....it'd drive me nuts trying to remember where everything went. i hope youre taggin all the wires so YOU dont forget lol

good luck bud

[SQ is the SQUAD]

its impossable to forget there the wires go. i only had to unhook the 4 plugs under the fuse box and they can only fit back into there own spots the rest of the plugs go for the front lights, no way to mess up those.

the drivers side is going to be alot harder with all the engine plugs

[EricW]

I removed that duct, or didn't install it when i did my efi swap. I would just take it out unless you plan on using it to run wires in to keep them insullated.

[cubert]

looking good

[SQ is the SQUAD]

I removed that duct, or didn't install it when i did my efi swap. I would just take it out unless you plan on using it to run wires in to keep them insullated.

thats a good idea, ill prob just remove it. do you rember where the other end ran to? i dident even look

[speedpenguin]

Wire tuck FTW! I'm excited about following this build.

[SQ is the SQUAD]

2-23-07

i dident work onthe car today but i did stop by the garage to look at that plastic tube. i guess i dident realize it must of went to the factory air box system and now has no purpose so i removed it.

goals for week fed 26
1. clean down entire car
2. start rear caliper rebuild
3. mount intercooler to bumper support
4. organize garage

this should be a very simple week. these golas can actually be dont all in 2 days work but i am planning on getting this dont next week. i will mostlikely get more done

[SQ is the SQUAD]

2-25-07

i went to the garage today because i was bored and i had some things to move/clean. well after my cleaning was done i got the urge to but the car up on the jack stands again and start working. once the car was fully secure i got underneath and removed the heat sheilds (they wont be going back on). this expose the bolts to the auto shifter that i wasent aware of. of course, just my luck the last bolt couldent come out. so i ended up prying the shifter off with a tire iron. then i got the urge to drop the front suspension. for some odd reason everything on my passenger side is rusted/seized to hell. so i am going to bring my air tools to the garage tomarrow to see if the help, if not out comes the angle grinder.

i am debating on making a diy sand blaster vs. buying one from a store. i prob end up buying one but i want to sand blast all my suspension parts, repaint them, put in all the new parts and have a fresh suspension.

i dident bring my camera seeing that i wasent plannig on worknig on the car today.

[russiankid]

Good luck with the air tools. When my brother and i replaced the axles on my Accord, the suspension was seized up and an impact wrench didn't help at all. We ended up using an angle grinder and cut off the bolts and ordered new ones.

[race12001]

tats why yall need what we call big blue its a 3/4in air gun we use it on petes and macks and trucks of that nature it will pull any bolt/nut off its the shit i love it

[SQ is the SQUAD]

and to think i would of sprayed it down with bp blaster to sit overnite. i forgot.

anyways if this dosent work then i am def cutting everythnig with the angle grinder. i already have extra bolts

[MessyHonda]

-sigh- makes me aprishiate my car more...nothing is rusted or seized ...most stuff comes out easy

[SQ is the SQUAD]

-sigh- makes me aprishiate my car more...nothing is rusted or seized ...most stuff comes out easy


i dont think my car was originally like this, but it sat on jackstands with no tires for 9 months so that really dosent help

[SQ is the SQUAD]

2-27-07
so i got the intercooler ready to be bolted on. i am not exactly ser ohw i am going to do this. ill prob drill the pattern out of an l bracket on the top pf thintercooler tabs and the bottom of the bumper suport so that i can put some screws in there with a wrench.
this is when i first had some of the lip cut off the bumper support with a plasma cutter. it was messy and still need to be cleaned up.
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/5148/Picture096.jpg
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/4603/Picture095.jpg
i grined the ruff parts down with the angle grinder can cut the intercooler tabs to match the bumper support. before i mount it i will wire brush, prime and paint the bumper support
intercooler zippy tied into position ready for mounting mock up
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/5193/Picture105.jpg
i also droped the front suspension today. i had a problem with the passenger side lca bolt not comming out, it was actually expanding the bracket.
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/4724/Picture097.jpg
so i decided that i had enough space to cut it with the angle grinder and get the rest of the screw out with some vice grips. well it dident quite work out that way. i ended up cutting too close and now i have to try to tap the crew out or replace the whole unit that holds the rack.

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/2896/Picture100.jpg

i also had to cut the bolt off from the other side of the lca to the shock forlk

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/192/Picture107.jpg

here is the old rusty, seized front suspension on the ground

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/4724/Picture098.jpg

i am sure my front driver side shock is blown, its all loily at the top
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/504/Picture099.jpg

the stock fromt crossmember so i can take measurements for mt custom front traction bar

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/8640/Picture101.jpg

and lastly i removed the bottom brace that held the stock radiator. it will be replace with a new custom brace that will allow my new civic dual core aluminum radiator to fit properly and also add lower support to my intercooler

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/1361/Picture104.jpg

[cubert]

damn man..making lots of progress in not alotta time...i need to make my way there and see this damn thing...

[SQ is the SQUAD]

its comming around, i still have alot of things i need to buy and no job, so i am just working on the stuff that dosent really require alot of money or the stuff i can use the parts i already have

[SQ is the SQUAD]

the front traction bar will be something like this one

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f161/weirtech/DSC05659.jpg

[hotdoghogie]

god damn rx7!

i love your build... makes all happy inside

[cubert]

god damn rx7!
i love your build... makes all happy inside

lmao..mazda tourretes syndrome?

[SQ is the SQUAD]

i was looking around honda tech and found the perfect pic. this is what i removed today and what i am replacing it with when i am done building it

http://img367.imageshack.us/img367/5655/dsc00302qa8.jpg

[MessyHonda]

eww rust.....but yeah looks like you have been working for the last couple days...keep up the good work

[teck]

keep up the good work. looking forward to this thread

[A20A1]

So which is better, square tubing or round?

[Cheeseburger]

sweet!

[LX-incredible]

2-27-07passenger side lca bolt not comming out, it was actually expanding the bracket.
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/4724/Picture097.jpg
[/IMG]

I had the same problem, what a bitch!:rant: Anyways, good job man, keep the pics coming.:)

[SQ is the SQUAD]

i hear that the square is les prone to bowing. i am going with square.1"h x 2"l

[Pico]

I had the same problem with my lca, I ended up doing what you did but I cut the arm in sections where the bolt goes thru and then used a air chisel to help break the rest of it off.
Not a fun job at all to do

[SQ is the SQUAD]

2-28-07
i dident feel like doing much today. i made a huge mess yesterday with all the debis from the angle grinder (dust everywhere, and its smells). i brough up my glass from the old aftermarket sunroof from my hatch. started taking measurements to put it into my coupe. ill have to wait untril i make a template and have my measurement tools to double check my measurements beforei start cutting

this is a pic of me removing the sunroof from my old hatch before they towed it away
http://img367.imageshack.us/img367/9366/junk36or.jpg

my old hatch for those who never seen it
http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/4128/bigrims9mo.jpg

today i remvoer the factory antenna. i have a newer small mount power antenna sorta like the one on the s2000 or newer vw's that will mount on the rear of my roof, so i gotta eliminate this one. if you take out the two 10mm screws holding the fuse box under the dash, and pull it down you should see the antenna motor and this clip. you have to remove the clip
http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/8311/Picture111.jpg

the remove the two screws on the top of the antenna and pull it out
http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/6066/Picture110.jpg

i started working on the drivers side wire tuck. i must say this must be the esiest wire tuck. there isent really that many wires to pull back into the car seeing that most of the wores are already hidden in the fender wall. these are the wires before the coating was removed
http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/5483/Picture109.jpg

dont rember what this wire goes to, can u id it?
http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/2038/Picture113.jpg

and this little harness. if i had my motor at the garage i am sure i could figure them out. pluse pauls site seems to be down with the manuals
http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/5125/Picture112.jpg

this is a pis of the motor wire harness being pulled back into the car so i can sneek it into the ending bay through a lower part of the firewall
http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/1341/Picture115.jpg




if anyone has the 88-89 service manuals saved on there computer shoot me a pm, i need them. pauls site is down.

[A20A1]

woah totally forgot that was you that had the baby blue.

[EricW]

That harness is the AC harness and if that four wire connector is on the drivers side its either for the cruise control or the headlight motor. What are the wire colors on the 4 wire plug and i can get you a definite answer.

[SQ is the SQUAD]

i will check the wire colors but i know i have all the headlight wires already. so if these are for cruise control i dont need them. and i dont need the ac harness. that is good.

anyone with a diagram of the engine wire harness, could u email me then

[email protected]

[SQ is the SQUAD]

dp

[SQ is the SQUAD]

3-1-07

i dident feel like doing much today, so i just removed the master cylender, brake lines, brake booster and little random stuff in the bay and degreased it. i will have to go iver it a few more times to get al lthe grit off

no pics, camera batteries died

[SQ is the SQUAD]

dident work on the car todat but i did find some old pics of my hatch with the sunroof and antenna i am putting on the coupe

http://www.3geez.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=1964&d=1041574798

http://www.3geez.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=1965&d=1041574863

[speedpenguin]

:bow:

[reanimator420]

i have the shop manual on cd if you need it

[SQ is the SQUAD]

can you compress it and send it via email?

[email protected]

or if it makes it easy just send the electrical section

[reanimator420]

yeah give me a few minutes to get it pulled up

[SQ is the SQUAD]

nice!

[$1accord]

Really good thread. I will be following closely. I purchase a 1989 5 speed lxi (for a whole 1 dollar) and I am thinking of doing a restoration on it.

[BITESIZE]

What is that aftermarket sunroof?

[thegreatdane]

Weird! For a long time I've been planning to do the excact same wire tuck and putting the fusebox inside the car, but I didnt want to say anything so I could be the first to do it. Darn it! lol. now you beat me to it. :rant: oh well that's easy to say now...

But your project lists looks very good, I hope you finish them all! Keep up the good work.

[A20A1]

bump