pgeld
01-19-2008, 02:15 AM
Hey guys, just saw the "Old Timers check in..." thread and decided it was time to post up the story of my 1986 Honda Accord. For you new guys who I may not have had the opportunity to meet yet, I am one of the original 3geez members from back in the day - and I mean WAY back in the day, he he he.
I used to have a website dedicated to the 3rd Gen Accords, but had to take it down due to server constraints.
I am going to post the main info here to share with you guys...grab some popcorn, this is gonna be long, he he he.
The best compliment I ever got on my 3RD GEN:
Stranger: "Hey man, pretty nice car. What year is that anyway, '93, '94?"
Me: "Actually, it's a 1986 model (smiles)."
"Old School" meets "New School"
We've all been through it before, searching manufacture's sites on customizing our older Accords only to be disappointed by the lack of support our cars really get. I know it all too well...
I've had my 3RD GEN for almost 7 years and wanted to customize it way before the import scene ever really took off. I consider myself "Old School" (note the use of two words instead of "OldSchool" further proving that fact) being that I'm going to top 30 yrs old before the year is over (I'm now 37), and I also have the first year of the 3RD GEN (1986).
After reading the "How old is everyone??" post on the outstanding "3geez" message board, I couldn't believe how much of a following there was for the beloved 3RD GEN among the "New School". Most people, in today's day and age of supercharged/nitro'd/turbo'd Civic's can't even picture an older Accord being hooked up, let alone still on the road.
I disagree completely, and from the looks of the responses on the "3geez" message board, you do too. There's not many cars in today's custom scene that can look quite good without a body kit, wing and monochromatic moldings, let alone mud flaps, flip up headlights, etc. Just pic up a copy of any import mag. When's the last time you've seen a cover car with mud flaps or black door moldings? Yet, in any form, the 3RD GEN's still seem to capture the true spirit of their owners. I think the 3RD GEN is the sexiest damn piece of sheetmetal on the planet. Maybe it's the chiseled look of the front fenders with the slight flair over the wheel well, or the way the door handles fit ultra flush with the side of the body, oozing elegance. Either way, it doesn't take much to make this car look modern. It just doesn't feel old. That chiseled look is coming back, in concept cars, and real cars like the Ford Focus, the Mercury Cougar, etc. - they call it "New Edge" styling, but us 3RD GEN owners have had it all along...
INSIGHT
Everything was installed or made by me with the exception of the ragtop and paint work (although I helped install part of the ragtop and also volunteered to help sand the body to bare metal).
The car is really a hybrid of a whole bunch of styles. The top says "lowrider", the hammered stance says "sport compact", the wheels say "British Touring Car" and the interior says "Audiophile". For some strange reason, I think it came together pretty well, despite having no body kit and black moldings unlike like every other modern Honda.
EXTERIOR
Repainted with PPG (sanded to bare metal in 1995)
Paint rubbed out more times than I can count
Custom ragtop and matching nose bra made from Haartz Stayfast Canvas
Shaved rear emblems except for the Honda "H"
Body colored side mirrors
Body colored brake disk covers
Misc trim treated with SEM paint
Tinted Windows all around (20%)
INTERIOR
Re-upholstered rear deck
Re-upholstered grill covers in front doors for component system
Custom dash insert with Rays Engineering build out logo (material matched to grill covers)
Custom mounted voice activated head unit antenna in headliner
Custom amp rack behind rear seat
Custom built out for stereo components in trunk
Phantom fuse holder in place of clock
Shoulder pads (4)
PERFORMANCE
K&N Filter
Random Technologies high flow catalytic converter
Custom bent 2 1/4" piping coated with HPC's (High Performance Coatings) HiperCoat
Nakayama Dual DTM tip style Stainless Muffler
CHASSIS
Versus Sesto Turismo 17x7's (42mm offset) by Rays Engineering
Dunlop Sport W-10's 205/40/17's
Tokico shocks/struts
Ground Control coilovers w/ Eibach Springs custom wound 20% stiffer than the standard kit
Camber kit
Re-tooled inner fenders to allow for an ultra low ride height
AUDIOPHILE
Sony Mobile ES CDX-8850 CD receiver
Sony Mobile ES CDX - 828 10 Disc Changer
Polk Audio 6 1/2 Separates
Polk Audio 1" Tweeters
Rockford Fosgate Punch 10's (2 of them)
Rockford Fosgate Punch 100 DSM Amps (2 of them)
Rockford Fosgate Terminal Block
Autosound 1 Farad Capacitor
Flat type fuse and holder for battery terminal
ELECTRICS
Viper 500+ security system
AutoOptiks headlight conversion
Astra Ultra Hi Output (90/100) hyperwhite bulbs
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/605/carhouse1br9.jpg
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/9173/carhouse2in3.jpg
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/2033/carhouse3kx2.jpg
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/5959/carhouse4xm1.jpg
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/7500/carhouse6fp1.jpg
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/896/carhouse7kx7.jpg
http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/9643/carhouse8uz3.jpg
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/4820/carhouse10zb4.jpg
I used to have a website dedicated to the 3rd Gen Accords, but had to take it down due to server constraints.
I am going to post the main info here to share with you guys...grab some popcorn, this is gonna be long, he he he.
The best compliment I ever got on my 3RD GEN:
Stranger: "Hey man, pretty nice car. What year is that anyway, '93, '94?"
Me: "Actually, it's a 1986 model (smiles)."
"Old School" meets "New School"
We've all been through it before, searching manufacture's sites on customizing our older Accords only to be disappointed by the lack of support our cars really get. I know it all too well...
I've had my 3RD GEN for almost 7 years and wanted to customize it way before the import scene ever really took off. I consider myself "Old School" (note the use of two words instead of "OldSchool" further proving that fact) being that I'm going to top 30 yrs old before the year is over (I'm now 37), and I also have the first year of the 3RD GEN (1986).
After reading the "How old is everyone??" post on the outstanding "3geez" message board, I couldn't believe how much of a following there was for the beloved 3RD GEN among the "New School". Most people, in today's day and age of supercharged/nitro'd/turbo'd Civic's can't even picture an older Accord being hooked up, let alone still on the road.
I disagree completely, and from the looks of the responses on the "3geez" message board, you do too. There's not many cars in today's custom scene that can look quite good without a body kit, wing and monochromatic moldings, let alone mud flaps, flip up headlights, etc. Just pic up a copy of any import mag. When's the last time you've seen a cover car with mud flaps or black door moldings? Yet, in any form, the 3RD GEN's still seem to capture the true spirit of their owners. I think the 3RD GEN is the sexiest damn piece of sheetmetal on the planet. Maybe it's the chiseled look of the front fenders with the slight flair over the wheel well, or the way the door handles fit ultra flush with the side of the body, oozing elegance. Either way, it doesn't take much to make this car look modern. It just doesn't feel old. That chiseled look is coming back, in concept cars, and real cars like the Ford Focus, the Mercury Cougar, etc. - they call it "New Edge" styling, but us 3RD GEN owners have had it all along...
INSIGHT
Everything was installed or made by me with the exception of the ragtop and paint work (although I helped install part of the ragtop and also volunteered to help sand the body to bare metal).
The car is really a hybrid of a whole bunch of styles. The top says "lowrider", the hammered stance says "sport compact", the wheels say "British Touring Car" and the interior says "Audiophile". For some strange reason, I think it came together pretty well, despite having no body kit and black moldings unlike like every other modern Honda.
EXTERIOR
Repainted with PPG (sanded to bare metal in 1995)
Paint rubbed out more times than I can count
Custom ragtop and matching nose bra made from Haartz Stayfast Canvas
Shaved rear emblems except for the Honda "H"
Body colored side mirrors
Body colored brake disk covers
Misc trim treated with SEM paint
Tinted Windows all around (20%)
INTERIOR
Re-upholstered rear deck
Re-upholstered grill covers in front doors for component system
Custom dash insert with Rays Engineering build out logo (material matched to grill covers)
Custom mounted voice activated head unit antenna in headliner
Custom amp rack behind rear seat
Custom built out for stereo components in trunk
Phantom fuse holder in place of clock
Shoulder pads (4)
PERFORMANCE
K&N Filter
Random Technologies high flow catalytic converter
Custom bent 2 1/4" piping coated with HPC's (High Performance Coatings) HiperCoat
Nakayama Dual DTM tip style Stainless Muffler
CHASSIS
Versus Sesto Turismo 17x7's (42mm offset) by Rays Engineering
Dunlop Sport W-10's 205/40/17's
Tokico shocks/struts
Ground Control coilovers w/ Eibach Springs custom wound 20% stiffer than the standard kit
Camber kit
Re-tooled inner fenders to allow for an ultra low ride height
AUDIOPHILE
Sony Mobile ES CDX-8850 CD receiver
Sony Mobile ES CDX - 828 10 Disc Changer
Polk Audio 6 1/2 Separates
Polk Audio 1" Tweeters
Rockford Fosgate Punch 10's (2 of them)
Rockford Fosgate Punch 100 DSM Amps (2 of them)
Rockford Fosgate Terminal Block
Autosound 1 Farad Capacitor
Flat type fuse and holder for battery terminal
ELECTRICS
Viper 500+ security system
AutoOptiks headlight conversion
Astra Ultra Hi Output (90/100) hyperwhite bulbs
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/605/carhouse1br9.jpg
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/9173/carhouse2in3.jpg
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/2033/carhouse3kx2.jpg
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/5959/carhouse4xm1.jpg
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/7500/carhouse6fp1.jpg
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/896/carhouse7kx7.jpg
http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/9643/carhouse8uz3.jpg
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/4820/carhouse10zb4.jpg