Some Christmas Break Restoration

[MIK3]

Well here's a list of what I plan on doing over my x-mas break. This car has never been through this big of a 'tune' up.

-re done bumpers and clear coat them
-re done door pannels and clear coat them
-re done door window trim and clear coat them
-re done rear and front window trim and clear coat them
-new floor matts
-new NGK V-power sparkplugs
-new NGK spark plug wires
-good exterior wash
-good exterior wax
-good interior vacuum
-good interior viynl wipe down
-degrease and detail engine with cleaners
-flush and refill transmission fluid
-try and find 2 replacement stock hub caps in junkyard

After this. This car will be brand spaking new looking. I assure you. I'll post pics of it of course so you all can see my accomplishments. This probably doesn't seem like a lot to some of you, but as you know, I am planning on putting my accord back into 1988, fully stock looking. I can't wait. I have 2 weeks to accomplish the above list, think it'll happen? I hope so.

[Not like a rock]

Sounds do-able if you don't have to work. I wanted to get my car back up to stock during the break, but now I work every single day. The most I've managed to do in two months is paint my mud-guards.

edit: oh look! I'm dx now.

[MIK3]

Yeah. I've re-done those twice. Repainted and made the HONDA part white. I can't wait to start. I have no job, so I have 2 weeks, and 14 full days.

[NXRacer]

i find it hard to understand why you're so into making it totally stock looking but hey, its what you're into and thats cool. Show us some pics on your work. I may be convinced......

[MrBen]

I am into the stock look myself. Redoing the window trim makes the car look brand new, I can assure you that. Every once in a while I have to recoat them, but it's no big deal. It's better than the rubber coating that was on there before. FYI, they sell a black rubber coat (like what was on there out of the factory) and it works much better, even though I didn't use it.

[shane_lxi]

It's cool if you are into stock. But IMO, I think you should stop at a Schwab's or someplace else that sells used wheels, and try to get stock '88 honda wheels. It won't look too great if you restore it to stock DX exterior, try to paint the bumpers the same color as the rest of the car, it will look better. Of course, it's not my place, but there's my input on hte matter.

[Mike89Accordcom]

That will take a while, but good luck.

[Not like a rock]

I don't know about the rest of you, but when I said stock, I meant bringing it back from a less-than-stock (fender rust and beat up leather) state. The only redeeming feature on my car is the stock SE-i alloys. I don't know if they are the same for US and Canadian models.

When I painted the mud guards, I didn't do them black, but painted them the same color as my car instead. So now they are taupe.

[MIK3]

Alright. Here's the deal as to why I am looking to fully make my car stock looking once again. I plan on having the car only a year or 2 more at the max. By that time, I will need to look for another car. And, since it'll only be a year or two, there is no use in spending all that money on wheels, bodykits, engine enhancements, and such. It will only add to the depreciation factor of the car when I sell it. Making it look stock, I figure I might be able to get a little bit more for the car, being that there aren't going to be too many mint looking 16 year old stock accords out there in AZ anyway. So I figure I make it look as good as I can, as cheap as I can, so that I can get the most for it when the time comes to sell it. This way, when I get my next car (possibly a newer accord), I will be able to put money into it and all of this, for I will keep it for more than 1 or 2 years. Some may thing I'm pretty stupid or something for doing this, but it's the plan I'm sticking with. And for me, it's a project that has to deal with a car. And any project that has to do with a car, is deemed worthy of being cool in my book. So for all my supporters, thanks, and my non-supporters, I hope you realize now why I am doing this...

[MrBen]

That's cool. Pretty much the same reason I am doing that to my car. I also enjoy having all my friends tell me how clean and good condition my car is in.

[MIK3]

Yeah. That definately is a good payoff...I would have to agree there. I like the question, How do you do it? Haha.

[ICEMAN707]

"how do you do it?"

easy way is to pay honda alot of money to reassemble their old assembly plant and have you built another brand spanking new 3gee. :cool2:

[MIK3]

And the cheap way would be my way, haha.