1988 Accord Coupe Import Edition

[A18A]

Been a long time since I've posted on here, but here I am with another project thread.

This car was actually spotted on here about 13 years ago (https://www.3geez.com/forum/classic-...-coupe-nz.html) and just over a year ago I saw it pop up in an auction. Of course I wasn't going to turn down the chance to own possibly the only 3g coupe in NZ, so I won the auction, flew down to the car and drove it back home. it drove really nice, though the power steering was a bit notchy and it did lack power, but then again it's over 30 years old so I'd say I'm lucky those where the only issues I had.

No plans of going crazy with this car, I only want to do OEM-ish stuff to the car. basically a 2.0si conversion (like how it should've come from factory) and maybe some era correct stuff. anyway onto the pics






weird as hell getting used to driving a LHD, even after a ~1600km drive

never seen an inside this clean before

[A18A]

and then literally the day after I get back from its long trip this happens


burst heater hose, which soaked the dizzy and got the igniter? wet and made the car die.


so off i go to the parts car to get some bits

[A18A]

since i've already had the car for over a year, and I can't leave things alone, plus with the help of my hoard of cars & parts over the years, i can do most tings i want to it for free. first on the list is swapping in some digital climate controls.

first i'll need one donor car



then some wires


make it all work


and make it plug n play


and done

[A18A]

next up is a rear disc brake swap


even gave them a clean

[A18A]

now one of the main parts of a 2.0si conversion. a B20A! I have a manual gearbox for it, but I'm leaving it auto cause it actually works good and I really don't mind it. plus I don't have any LHD manual pedals.

[A18A]

and of course the mandatory clean of the engine & bay


even cleaning the spark plug leads makes a difference


degreased and waterblasted



in its hole


had to take the black box off the a20 for it because of the RHD & LHD differences. the A20 also has 2 extra solenoids in there which the B20A doesn't use (vacuum advance & evap), so those wires where repurposed for the solenoids on the auto gearbox (cause the A20 didn't have any) also had to run a pair of shielded wires for the crank? position sensor since the A20 didn't have one. i used the secondary o2 sensor wire for the B20As igniter since that also uses a shielded wire, but only 1 o2 sensor

[A18A]

speed sensor box thing also has to be swapped for the TCU to work properly (someone in the past has removed its "you're going too fast" beeper). I should've piggy backed that onto the other one because now the seat belt control box doesn't know when the speed is over 10mph. oh well

6500rpm redline tach swapped also, because 2.0si


installing TCU, also made to be plug n play


mugen shocks also installed. not sure how much of a difference these make


a20a vs b20a exhaust

and the b20a swap is about 95% done. runs and drives so that's the main thing


also comparing a US spec bumper to a JDM spec bumper, while installing a little oem lip

[A18A]

some folding mirrors. matches enough till the car can be resprayed

someone already hacked a sedan folding mirror on this side which will probably explain why its alignment was shit and I couldn't see out of it properly. oh well, they work. I need a coupe mirror base

some fog lights

a quick restore before the rust owns them

installed



and i gave it its first wash since i've had it




the paint is really bad which is why i never bothered before. I'd like to respray it some day.

now all the progress on this car is up to date

[Oldblueaccord]

Super nice write up. Thank you.

[Dr_Snooz]

Lotsa work done there. Very nice. You have a LHD coupe, with leather, an A20 and some red interior color I've never seen. Far out man.

[Blackgoldcoupe]

you literally have a car i'm trying to get all the import badges from nice tread by
the way