Nafeman's UKDM '89 EX-2.0i Aerodeck

[Nafeman]

Let me know if this is frowned upon or if I should locate it else where, but unfortunately I can't justify full membership to create a project profile at the moment, but I did figure pretty much everything I plan to do to her is going to be appearance related

Anyway, here she is! My new family member "Betsy" ... The new "new family" wagon (Me and my girlfriend are expecting our first baby ).

I made a promise to her previous owner (the chattiest woman in the world ) that I'd keep her name and take good care of her. So I can't let her down... In so many words, she actually told me she'd hunt me down otherwise lol.

Apologies for the pictures. I only had a small window between showers the day after I bought her and it was getting dark already. I'll get some better ones soon as these don't do her any justice...

[Nafeman]

She's an '89 12 valve EX-2.0i Accord Aerodeck running the A20a4 engine (122bhp non-cat version) in what I think I'm right in saying is a rather rare Monterey Green? With 4wALB (Now that's old skool ), cruise control, electric windows, electric sunroof, poppy-uppy lights and "coolness" 8)

My first impressions were... I love her! She's obviously got a few issues being nearly 22 years old, but they are minor. The downpipe flexi is blowing quite badly, but I ordered a new one as soon as I got home on day one (for £55 delivered Might not mean anything to you, but that's cheap compared to the Prelude prices I'm used to paying ). The "ALB" light is on pretty much permanently, but hopefully that shouldn't take too long to track down. The nearside (I think) CV joint has just started knocking, but I'll get that sorted out in the next MOT in April, and the aerial isn't extending or retracting on command, but again that shouldn't take much to sort. And that's pretty much it mechanically. Other than pulling away a bit sluggish due to the blowing down pipe, she really goes! And the engine is smooth as you like and purs amazingly. You can tell it's had a FSH.

Bodywork wise, there's a few more issues than expected, but again there's nothing serious...

Both rear clusters have condensation, but that should be a simple case of removing them and drying them out. Maybe resealing them if they need it...





There's some surface specs of rust just starting to develop below the tailgate...



There's some paint-wear along the window trims...

[Nafeman]

Of course there's rust on the rear arches But it's not too far along to cause too much concern...





The front bumper has dropped on the nearside, but it's simply missing a fixing...



The rear bumper has obviously dropped a fixing as well, and it's been tied back with a nice screw (Which is quite literally the only de-facing of the otherwise completely standard car)...



And finally the passenger door has a very subtle crease in it...



The lot I intend to put back right

Modification wise, I don't intend to do a great deal... I have Patch (the lude) for that, and being so rare, remaining as OEM as possible only adds to her charm.

I do however want to fill in those wheel arches some what...

[Nafeman]

... but don't feel I'd be detracting too much from it's original style if I lower it as I'd be following the original release pictures ...



I also think they look pretty with tinted rear windows 8) which was also an optional extra. Not quite as dark as this though...





And the only other mod will possibly be some pretty deep dish retro rims :roll: But we'll see ... They to will have to be just as rare, so we'll see what wonders ebay has to offer in time

Anyway, that's Betsy. Hope you like her

[Nafeman]

First job... Fit the new downpipe...



I was a bit apprehensive about the 2 to 1 section at first as it's not quite a mandrel bend ...



But it's exactly the same as the existing one (OEM or not) so I thought what the hell...



The existing one was blowing pretty bad and I was losing a lot of power, and here's why...





As always I was dubious about undoing the downpipe nuts, not knowing what condition they were in and when they were removed last. So off I popped to Tool Station to get some penetrating oil after the second nut refused to budge. Gave them all a good spritz and had a cuppa. By the time I returned they all pretty much just span out

Next task was to make a couple gaskets. I had some left over gasket from another job so I cut it to shape...



Gaskets and new pipe in and voila!





I took the car for a spin to check all was well and the difference is amazing! The car really has some go!... And purs beautifully.

[Nafeman]

After I returned, the next job on the cards was fitting the towbar. Bumper had to come off first. Not quite as obvious to remove as a Prelude bumper, but I figured it out in the end...



Whilst removing the bumper, a slight issue became apparent. The Offside arch under the bumper kinda looks like this...



I knew there was a hint of rust there as with the bumper on it looked like this...



So I'm glad I've found it, as as it didn't look that bad I was going to leave it a while as there's other things I should be doing :roll: Anyway, the sun went down so I've left Betsy bumperless under the watchful eye of Harriet for the night...














...

Next time on Nafeman's UKDM '89 EX-2.0i Aerodeck I'll be bringing out the wire brush.

[2drSE-i]

Wow. I've never seen a Monterrey green one, so I'd say its pretty rare. Quite a beauty you have there. Get a new door, fix that minor rust (its really not all that bad, especially for your location) and call it a day. BEAUTIFUL car my friend, and congrats on the baby!

[Nafeman]

Cheers bud

Getting a replacement door is easier said than done ... The very few I've seen for sale here are all being sold as reliable runners (obviously a good thing), so finding such a spare is going to prove to be difficult. That's why I thought I'd get to know a few of the UK members, for a few direction

[2drSE-i]

Id be willing to bet a decent body shop could take that crease out fairly easily

[Nafeman]

Id be willing to bet a decent body shop could take that crease out fairly easily

Yeah, that was the plan

[SkateK610]

Beautiful car, its good to keep it stock, i'd say keep the wheels and drop it like that pic.

[dacantu]

Wow, I wish there were aerodecks in the US. This one is purdy!

[MessyHonda]

looks like easy fixes...good luck on your beautiful car

[charliekuney]

You could import a coupe door from the US.

I'll have to say, though, the Monterey Green is sex on an Aerodeck.

[Vanilla Sky]

I am waiting for the 25 year rule to kick in for these cars.

[gp02a0083]

Id be willing to bet a decent body shop could take that crease out fairly easily

From the picture it doesn't look bad at all. Body work is so easy on these cars because of the straight panels. The rust on the other had will be annoying to get rid of but looks like its not too rotted away at all. Good find, never knew aerodecks were available in that color.

[Dr_Snooz]

Looking good! Looks like a lot of very manageable minor items. Keep her stock and keep her pristine.

[Nafeman]

You could import a coupe door from the US.

I'll have to say, though, the Monterey Green is sex on an Aerodeck.

From the picture it doesn't look bad at all. Body work is so easy on these cars because of the straight panels. The rust on the other had will be annoying to get rid of but looks like its not too rotted away at all. Good find, never knew aerodecks were available in that color.

Looking good! Looks like a lot of very manageable minor items. Keep her stock and keep her pristine.

Yeah the door crease is really shallow. It was difficult to get a decent picture where it'd actually show up. I recon a good buffin' will do wonders for it until I can get it tapped out

The rust on the OS (right hand side ) however, I think looks better in the pics than it actually is. There's a fair bit of rot there. But being none of it's structural and all the rot is completely covered by the bumper i think I'm simply going to have to cut most of it out. At least so as I can get in behind it to remove or treat the rest.

I am waiting for the 25 year rule to kick in for these cars.

25 year rule?... Is that some sort of import regulation or something?... You have to wait until they're at least 25 years old? That sucks

[phrenology]

Oooo Oooo Monterey Green on Aerodeck is the best!!! (like my coupe) Really not bad rust for England's countryside...looks so good that auto. 3 things for me to do: drink a pint of Bitters, buy an Aerodeck, and move to English countryside. I really like your front corner lights. They look clear from the sides and JDM on the front 3rd where they meet the "eyelids" I want to match my clears to look like those. I also like the EDM MOT mandated corner markers even though other European Aerodeck owners (Bryan) don't like them. I wonder if I put EDM corner markers in my fenders I'll be street legal here?

Keep up the nice restoration and maintenance. Congrats on the baby!

Cheers from foggy California.

[Nafeman]

Cheers on the baby congrats

Ask me anything about a 4th gen Prelude and I can tell you, but I'm yet to learn what all the JDM, UKDM, USDM, EUDM touches are regarding lights, gadgets, interior etc, so it's nice for you to point these things out And I'm glad everyone's so "envious(?)" of the colour

I was also going to say you look very much like a young Bruce Springsteen in your sig... But that is him right?

[A18A]

kewl project you got going on thar!

[Fedor B.]

I like her!
Hows the interior?

[bryan6732]

Your Aerodeck looks nice.. Really like the green color!!
Like to see some pics of the interior as well.

[Nafeman]

As requested, some interior pics...







Sorry they're not the best. I'll take some more when it's lighter.

I managed to start with the rust removable last weekend. It was cut short as I had other things to do though. But as it started...



I picked at it with a thin screwdriver and a wire brush to loosen all the flakey rust. I even found a bit of filler, so I removed that as well...



And then I proceeded to pull back the layers to get a better handle on the job...



This was how I left it, as I'll be treating it with this, and it requires I leave it 3 hours between coats and prime the same day...



So that'll be done this weekend along with the fitting of the towbar ...

[Fedor B.]

That towbar looks very skinny, looks more like a bike rack.
I have a (think original) towbar lying around from my first Aerodeck, and it's 10 times more heavy than yours, probably stronger too.
The interior looks clean, whats does the button below the 'antenna up/down' button do?