My rare JDM RHD 1980 Prelude XR found in WV

[EM1 ADCT]

Found it in WV last week and bought it. A 1980 RHD JDM Prelude XR. Has roughly 152,000 kilometers and all original. She's gonna need alot of beautification this winter. Oh and hi everybody, I'm new to the forums.

[EM1 ADCT]

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs109.ash2/38800_472677766216_591041216_6935800_753691_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs213.snc4/38971_472677801216_591041216_6935803_772331_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs214.snc4/39044_472677866216_591041216_6935809_3114085_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs111.ash2/38877_472677706216_591041216_6935795_2796885_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs052.ash2/35963_472677721216_591041216_6935796_5460191_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs092.snc4/35963_472677731216_591041216_6935797_6915552_n.jpg

[A18A]

sweeeet!!!

[1GCustomAccord]

Welcome to the forum!! That car is amazing, i lo ve the sporty look of the first gen prelude. The wheels, perfect, even the white letters in the tires...just perfect!
Very nice ride, hope to see it restored soon.

[phrenology]

Very cool!

[EM1 ADCT]

Thanks so much guys, she's is a surely going to get restored to the fullest. And also guys, I know she's not exactly an accord but she shares alot with the first gen so I figured I'd post her up on her. Be interested if someone ever needed me to look at something on a JDM model prelude in comparison to their accord. Just saying. lol.

Also, just out of curiosity, I've been looking at the interior of the accords and the preludes and I'm seeing some similarities so I was wondering what is swappable from an interior stand point. If anyone knows.

[79cord]

Lots of potential there!
Love the red, sad we never got them that colour here, should simplify repaint too :D.
Judging from my '79 go for Red carpets with that black interior :D Like this one:http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?op=3&view=global&subj=306149893533&pid=1336959&id=1172517456&oid=306149893533

I imagine that boot seal flange will be as rusty as mine were.

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_images/2/3221/2181/20551090056_medium.jpg
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2055109

Not much of the interior trim is interchangeable:
window winders, door arm-rests, mirror, shift knob, pedal rubbers...

[88LXi68]

very nice, that should make a great resto project. Did you import it to the US originally?

[2ndGenGuy]

That car is freakin' wicked! I've seen it posted on a few other forums. It seems like it's passed through a few hands in the last year or two. It's definitely a unique car! Glad to at least see it in the hands of someone who really seems to like it!

[2ndGenGuy]

Very cool!

Holy shit! :) Where have you been all these years? I think you must have left just before I joined the site...

[EM1 ADCT]

Lots of potential there!
Love the red, sad we never got them that colour here, should simplify repaint too :D.
Judging from my '79 go for Red carpets with that black interior :D Like this one:http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?op=3&view=global&subj=306149893533&pid=1336959&id=1172517456&oid=306149893533

I imagine that boot seal flange will be as rusty as mine were.

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_images/2/3221/2181/20551090056_medium.jpg
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2055109

Not much of the interior trim is interchangeable:
window winders, door arm-rests, mirror, shift knob, pedal rubbers...

Thanks man for the link! I copied almost every picture on there as resourceful information when needed. Some good pics on there too!

I actually had thought for a little bit of putting a different colored carpet in her but I think I'm keeping her just black. Outside wise, I'm very much wanting to paint her (R81) Milano Red. I think the color would just work so well with this body style.

Interesting only a few small things fit her from an accord. I'm sure though engine wise she's highly compatible. :naughty:

[EM1 ADCT]

That car is freakin' wicked! I've seen it posted on a few other forums. It seems like it's passed through a few hands in the last year or two. It's definitely a unique car! Glad to at least see it in the hands of someone who really seems to like it!

Thanks man! She's been floating around on the forums quite a bit from what I've found. I'm just so glad I got her. She's certainly in great hands right now! :D

[EM1 ADCT]

Went out today at got a rust removal tool that attaches to the my drill. Went over a few spots and it really cleared up how far the rust has spread under the paint. I also got some 80 grit automotive sandpaper to start with. So what do you guys think?

Here is a shot of where (i'm guessing for us legalization reasons) they drilled two small holes to attach a rear side reflector light which had no seal behind it. Fucking idiots. This is before:
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs319.snc4/41275_10150227174300015_557670014_13985070_7856040 _n.jpg

This is after:
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs268.snc4/39731_10150227174560015_557670014_13985089_2889387 _n.jpg

I'm thinking it's spread a good bit but what are your takes on it? Also here are a few more shots of some small areas I tested out before I went to bed. So with this being grinded down, is it okay now to start smoothing body filler over and start primering? What else should I do. Don't hate me here as I'm learning, I've dealt with surface rust but not this kind of rust.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs314.snc4/41026_10150227174765015_557670014_13985092_1133808 _n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs147.ash2/40692_10150227175045015_557670014_13985106_4096880 _n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs132.ash2/39960_10150227175250015_557670014_13985118_5842238 _n.jpg

[79cord]

I'd give it a scrape with the coarse sandpaper as well, as the wire brushes can "polish up" the outer surface of the rust, and use some of the rust neutralizing/converter solutions on there just in case. And have a look at the rear of the panel where possible too.
Having one I would normally MIG weld /plate any holes though it could easily distort such a flat and highly visible area of the panel, making me wonder about slightly dubious fiberglass/filler to close the holes which may move about & mar the paint later... which might not matter so much if you were refitting rear side reflectors in the area (double sided mounting tape?) {shame Honda didn't mount them more discretely on/around the bumper end-caps like many newer cars do}.
Otherwise I can't think of much else to suggest before filler/etch primer/primer.

[EM1 ADCT]

I'd give it a scrape with the coarse sandpaper as well, as the wire brushes can "polish up" the outer surface of the rust, and use some of the rust neutralizing/converter solutions on there just in case. And have a look at the rear of the panel where possible too.
Having one I would normally MIG weld /plate any holes though it could easily distort such a flat and highly visible area of the panel, making me wonder about slightly dubious fiberglass/filler to close the holes which may move about & mar the paint later... which might not matter so much if you were refitting rear side reflectors in the area (double sided mounting tape?) {shame Honda didn't mount them more discretely on/around the bumper end-caps like many newer cars do}.
Otherwise I can't think of much else to suggest before filler/etch primer/primer.

Thank you for the helpful advice 79cord! I can see we might have a healthy relationship growing here! I've already started to grind down to the metal in alot of areas (being very mindful of flexing with too much heat) and starting to put some rust convertor on several of the spots. I think my next quest is to start putting just a little bit of body filler in there and smoother her out and than some primer! I considering starting to sand down the entire trunk later today if I find time!

Some other major news, I may have found 81 prelude (US model) for sale for $500 (if the guy is willing to let her go) and I might have some good looking bumpers, some quarter panels and rear speaker pods to work with! Not to mention the '81 EK1 with the revised head in her. He has an '82 (which I want badly) but is asking way too much for her. Damn if only I could get the revised-revised '82 head.

[EM1 ADCT]

Alright guys, I've started up an official build thread over on Honda-tech. Check me up for weekly updates and future plans!

http://www.honda-tech.com/showthread.php?p=43293073#post43293073

[NZAccord]

Nearly bought one of these last week, same color and everything, yours makes me regret not doing it lol.

[gfrg88]

any updates on this rare gem?

[lostscotiaguy]

Hmmmm....this EM1 Guy seems oddly familiar to me..... :rolleyes:
:cheers: :welcome:

[lostforawhile]

you can start a thread here too we also have a lude section and you are more then welcome here

[79cord]

honda-tech thread link still updated, though he has now also bought craigB's B18a1 swapped USmarket Prelude... and set up another website specifically for 1g prelude (http://www.g1preludes.com/)!

[EM1 ADCT]

Wow, didn't know I was semi famous ;) Thanks for the comments guys. Unfortunately the RHD is stored away until I can get the funds and garage to work on it in to do a proper restoration. I decided I just didn't have the time as of right now and that it will come very soon to start ripping into her. Here's a pic of it's current resting place with my warehouse of 1G Prelude parts!

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/461308_10151759841375015_518667890_o.jpg

And 79cord is correct, I did indeed buy CraigB's B18A1 Lude back in July after my Girlfriend talked me into it. Been having fun with it alongside some wiring woes but the car drives amazing and I'm planning to continue Crag's build. Here's my current fun project after hunting down why the car wouldn't start the other week! You can follow my thread on my site HERE (http://www.g1preludes.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=528)!

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/219179_10152104523165015_1354146593_o.jpg

[2ndGenGuy]

Man, as long as you're keeping her in a warm, dry place, she'll be happy! We know you will take good care of her. :)

[1GCustomAccord]

Wow RHD! Is legally driveable around there or just for showing? Here is forbidden to drive a RHD. I have a brand new brown LHD dash for sale (Just in case):devil:

[MessyHonda]

wow that is cool. its rare to see 1st gen prelude around here.

[EM1 ADCT]

Man, as long as you're keeping her in a warm, dry place, she'll be happy! We know you will take good care of her. :)

Exactly, beats sitting out in the hot sun for a few months like it did back last year. Sucks when you have no garage to store a rare classic in but she's finally under a roof now! :)

[EM1 ADCT]

Wow RHD! Is legally driveable around there or just for showing? Here is forbidden to drive a RHD. I have a brand new brown LHD dash for sale (Just in case):devil:

lol, it's not forbidden here in the US, just looked down upon by normal society because they all think your driving a postage car or something. I remember when I bought the car and was driving it home through some toll booths, I messaged my GF on the radio that I was going to have a difficult time paying the tollbooth so she should pay for me up front. lol, what a day! Love the reactions when you drive through a fast food restaurant and their like "Whaaaa...?"

[obdriver6]

WOW, that sure is a rare gem. Maker sure to update this thread when you start working on her.

[POS carb]

Nice find!
There are a lot of military people out here that import cars so it's not rare to see a rhd car.