My 76 and 77 accords

[bigallstar]

Hi, My name is Jeff in Raleigh NC and this is my first of a few posts to show my 77 Accord that I've "saved " and am restoring. I need 5 post before I can send pics so you will have to wait a bit to see.
The very first brand new car I ever bought was a 1976 gold 5-speed Accord.It was one of the first ones delivered in Raleigh and I paid a little over $3000 for it. I drove it home and within days of new I cut a hole in the roof and added a popup glass sunroof. I ordered and installed an air conditioner my-self as I could not get one with the car at the time. The head gasket went at around 90,000 miles and Honda paid for the rebuild including pistons etc. as a warranty! Sold the car with ~130,000 miles for just under $3000! Still the best car investment I have ever had. I have now had close to 50 vehicles by now and that car was always a favorite one. ( my current favorite is my NSX)
So about the current 77 accord story. It starts with too much time and Craigslist....

[2ndGenGuy]

Oh man! Welcome to the forum! I'm totally jealous of the NSX! Can't wait to see pics!

[bigallstar]

Jaxed.com Had a really good national search site that was easy to use and search. I started looking around for a nice first year model Accord and found one in Arizona with 157000 miles on it.
This what the owner told me: "This car was bought by my friend off the Honda lot in 1977 in Flagstaff, AZ. It was driven 80 miles to Grand Canyon National Park where she lived and the car didn't leave the park again until she died last year. It was only driven on paved roads around the park taking her to work and back, I am only the second owner and it hasn't left Flagstaff since I've had it."
She also had very good records and maintenance on this car. Over $2000 in recent service. From the pics she sent I knew the paint was faded and the drivers seat was a bit worn but the rest of the interior was in really nice shape.
I did some math and it would cost me $1500 for the car and $850 for shipping to NC. Hmmmmm...Need to think.
It was 5 months from the time I first saw the Craigs listing till i finally made the deal.

I meet the big rig shipper in a nearby shopping center at dark/thirty on 12/01/09.
It was dark out and not a lot of good light when I first saw it.
So what were my first impressions ?
Well.....

[2ndGenGuy]

Only 2 more posts until you can post a pic!!! I wish we didn't have that 'feature,' I think it does more harm than good. But oh well.

[obdriver6]

A 77 accord and an 01 NSX, I can't wait!

[Dr_Snooz]

One more post then picsssssssss!!! Welcome!

[bigallstar]

So I see the transport driver climb into my "new " car to drive it off the upper level of his big rig. He had a little trouble keeping it running as these cars are a little cold natured until they get warmed up well. It was a bit dusting with road dirt from the cross country trip that included a snow storm in Colorado.
Under the parking lot light it appears pretty much as expected fading paint nice interior and a bit of a running issue. I pay the man in cash "no checks"and he drives on to his next stop. . I have about 4 miles to drive home in the dark in an old car with no plates or registration. Could be interesting....
I needed a lot of choke to keep it running but otherwise it ran okay and no real drama getting home.
The next morning I start really getting to know what I really bought....

[bigallstar]

Help . I can not figure how to get images to post.....

[2ndGenGuy]

I'd just upload them to imgur.com. Once you get the photos on there, you will get a direct link. Just click the button, and paste that direct link into the box.

[bigallstar]

Sounds easy but...
I got the upload to imgur but what/where is the direct link ? And link to what? When I click the icon to insert a window pops up asking for the URL address.
Under my posting rules HTML code is off. Should it be? jeff

[2ndGenGuy]

Okay, so go to imgur.com and upload a picture.

When it's uploaded, you get to this screen:


You can use the URL that is in the "Direct Link" box and paste it into the dialog that comes up when you click on .

OR you can use the code that is in the "BBCode" box and just paste it directly into the box where you enter text.

[bigallstar]

Okay I have the pics upload figured out. Thanks the help.
Day one after washing the road grime off Paint fading ,a front end BOOBoo very little rust {Arizona car).
The interior was in very good condition and was a strong reason I bought this car.
More to come

[bigallstar]

I spent the next few months getting the car as clean and mechanically sound as I could. I got hooked up with an old school Honda mechanic named Thomas at TAO Auto in Raleigh to get it running smoother. A good tune up goes a long way...
There was a lot of fine dust throughout the interior from the 35 years of desert exposure. Behind all the interior panels ,inside the doors and vents etc. all had a fine gray layer dirt.
I took off all the exterior trim,grill taillights badges and bits to prep for a future paint job.
I found a set of period correct Enkie mini like wheels and put some wider rubber on them. I also scored some chrome trim rings for the "steelies" that came with the car ,so I now have 2 good looking wheel sets.The alloys with bigger tire weigh 2 pound less per wheel !
9 months later it went to paint..
All the little dents were fixed,the front valance was repaired as well as the passenger side door bottom which had some surface rust starting.
More to come.....

[bigallstar]

Correction,, The alloy wheels saved 5 pounds per corner.

[79cord]

NICE, can't wait to see the new wheels on it an amazing find.
Did you get a hatchback bonnet/hood for it too?

[2ndGenGuy]

Man sweet! Looks like you're going all out on it! Can't wait to see the outcome with the wheels on it! Love the Historic plates too! I did the same to my car and have period plates on my car. Matches nice!

[bigallstar]

A few more looks.......





[IMG][QUOTE][/QUOTE[/IMG][

[2ndGenGuy]

Hot damn! Those wheels look great on it. I saw a set of those for sale a bit ago, but the guy wanted about $1200 for them. Bit out of my price range for the time being. Found a set of the SE wheels for $300, but I don't think they'll look nearly as sharp!

[DBMaster]

It looks so much better without that weird "extra" skinny side-molding strip that Honda stuck on cars of this vintage. I guess I understand why they put it on there, but it always looked odd to me.

[Hazwan]

Oooh sexy. I want the rims

[1GCustomAccord]

Wow that car looks great! The wheels looks just perfect. Is there a misalignment on the pass side door or is just the lighting?

PS: I answered your PM about the required parts. I also have the front and trunk carpet if you need them.

Carl.

[bigallstar]

A few more pics.I have installed front and rear addco sway bars and put dynamatt sound proof throughout the car. Both make a big difference.

jeff


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[bigallstar]

[My car was blowing a little smoke in startup so i decided to open her up and fix it. New valve seals ,rings,rod bearings etc.were installed. Also the camshaft had a worn lobe. Rockauto had one for $67.00 so I snagged it.
I polished the camcover and put a bit of paint on it.
I should pick the finished car up tomorrow. Can't wait. It drove great before and should be as new now. Jeff[]http://i.imgur.com/hVQnq.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i.imgur.com/gZmU5.jpg[/IMG][IMG][/IMG]

[bigallstar]

[My car was blowing a little smoke in startup so i decided to open her up and fix it. New valve seals ,rings,rod bearings etc.were installed. Also the camshaft had a worn lobe. Rockauto had one for $67.00 so I snagged it.
I polished the camcover and put a bit of paint on it.
I should pick the finished car up tomorrow. Can't wait. It drove great before and should be as new now. Jeff[]http://i.imgur.com/hVQnq.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i.imgur.com/gZmU5.jpg[/IMG][IMG][/IMG]

[2ndGenGuy]

Aah! Sweet! Where did you get the swaybars??

That camshaft looks like mine did. Did you get a performance grind or stick with the stock one?