Newb - possibly oldest accord still driving?

[kidcrash603]

Hi!

Stumbled across this site while searching for bits and pieces for my '76 accord. I've been reading posts on the site for the last hour straight and decided I better say hi.

My Accord is the '76 CVCC 5 speed. I found an article online about a guy with possibly the oldest accord in existence and it lists his VIN. Imagine my shock to realize my VIN is 4,023 cars EARLIER than his!

When I hit my 5 posts (and get some sleep), I'll get some pics up for you, but here is the next shocker.... I've only got 70,000 original, verified, miles on it!

It's very solid, but the interior is very dry and cracked. Paint is faded and peeling in some spots. I've got work to do to restore it right, but I'm excited to have found this site as a resource!

[obdriver6]

Sounds like you may have found a hidden treasure and definitely post pics when you can.

[RAZR]

Wow great find definatly post pics ASAP.

[kidcrash603]

The best part is, a friend of mine is into 80s vw rabbits, and I had found one for cheap that I was picking up for scrap, so I brought him along when I picked it up. On the way home from picking up the rabbit, we saw an old auto shop that had a couple of 2nd gen vw jettas parked outside, so we decided to pull in.

[kidcrash603]

As we pulled in, he says "hey, look at that old scirocco!!", but as we got closer we realized it was a Honda.

This mechanic got it from the original owner, and it's been parked at his shop for almost 2 years. He's done all repairs to the car for its whole life, except what the owner did himself, so he knows the car and mileage well.

[kidcrash603]

I fell in love with it instantly, and as I looked it over, my excitement only grew.

Surface rust along the front of the hood, surface rust along parts of the back hatch, and some punkyness at the bottom inside of the hatch (easily patched), and the bottom of the passenger front fender is rusted off, again an easy fix.

The floors and undercarriage are surprisingly solid, paying testament to how much time this car spent in the south and garages. The owner was in the military, and towed this car behind a motorhome when he travelled, as well as spending at least 2 tours in Virginia.

[kidcrash603]

It was last on the road in 1990, and when I bought it, it hadn't been run in just over a year. With a battery and some ether, it actually started right up, although I couldn't test the transmission due to having an empty clutch hydraulic system.

Plans are to restore/repaint, custom close to stock interior with newer materials, find some really great old wheels or send my steelies off to a company I found that makes custom 3pc wheels with your originals.

I'd also LOVE to find a roof rack and bumper overriders!

[kidcrash603]

Now for pics!

[-$MOKIN-]

super cool

[87roach]

Awesome, can't wait to see what you do with it.

Welcome to the site!

[gfrg88]

wow. looks in decent shape actually!! Can't wait to see more updates!

[Dr_Snooz]

Welcome from California!

[A18A]

hatchback version of hazwans car in the making

[bryan6732]

Welcome from The Netherlands.
Your car looks great for it's age!

[kidcrash603]

Thanks everybody for the welcome!

[charliekuney]

Wait, so how "low" is your vehicle identification number?

[kidcrash603]

Se-j1006991

[obdriver6]

Nice find! Body looks in good shape and it definitely needs a new interior but hope it turns out how you want it.

[mintygreen81]

Hi!

Stumbled across this site while searching for bits and pieces for my '76 accord. I've been reading posts on the site for the last hour straight and decided I better say hi.

My Accord is the '76 CVCC 5 speed. I found an article online about a guy with possibly the oldest accord in existence and it lists his VIN. Imagine my shock to realize my VIN is 4,023 cars EARLIER than his!

When I hit my 5 posts (and get some sleep), I'll get some pics up for you, but here is the next shocker.... I've only got 70,000 original, verified, miles on it!

It's very solid, but the interior is very dry and cracked. Paint is faded and peeling in some spots. I've got work to do to restore it right, but I'm excited to have found this site as a resource!

if we all wont by our 5 digit odometers i would win with 10,000 miles. lol but trust me there is at least 170k on your car just judging by the wear on the drivers seat and the break pedal. but none the less its a awesome find.

[kidcrash603]

If you read the rest of my posts in this thread you'll see how I know the mileage.... Not to mention the fact that most of the damage to the drivers seat happened when I sat in the car for the first time. Everything was so dry it instantly tore.

The car has been parked since 1990, and spent most of its registered life either towed behind a motor home or sitting in a driveway on a military base.

[kidcrash603]

Time to bring this thread back from the dead!

The accord has sat in storage as I recovered from a major back surgery on 1/17/12. Last week I was able to start getting into it.

Previous owner had told me there was a problem with one cylinder and that it would foul a plug, and he would just change it out and keep driving. So I knew I had to do a little investigating to see what was up with the car.

Here's a couple of posts with pics that I recently shared on a local enthusiasts forum.

Got the air cleaner off, then the valve cover.

Did a compression test, down the line from drivers side to passenger side.
Readings were: 120, 120, 5, 120

Did a leakdown test on the low cylinder, it won't build enough pressure to test, but I can feel the air coming out the tailpipe.

Checked the rockers and valve springs and everything LOOKED ok. Pulled the rocker assembly off to check the cam, and those lobes don't have any unusual marks or anything.

Next step is to pull the head I guess.

Here's a few pics:

[kidcrash603]

Went and worked on the Accord again today.

Got 6 gallons of varnish drained out of the gas tank, got the entire exhaust off, and pulled the carb off and the head.

I also found out what's wrong with it. The cylinder that had no compression has a busted exhaust valve. There's a chunk missing from the valve. It must have gotten blown out the exhaust because it isn't in the cylinder and it didn't mark up the cylinder or the piston. The cylinders still show factory cross hatching and the head gasket was original, so the 70,000 original miles claim is looking even stronger. Timing belt was also original.

I need to get a valve, a head gasket, and a carb kit to go further, plus about 200ft of new vacuum line.

First time I've had it on a lift. Underside is SOLID.


Front and rear struts look new.


Bottom end



Valves

[gfrg88]

Nice to see you getting work done on her! Shave the head down a bit while you're at it to gain some power

[Rendon LX-i]

Nice . Seems like a valve is chipped/burn thus losing your compression . Welcome an great work

[A18A]

wonder how the valve broke. the car looks in better condition than a lot of accords that's 20 years newer!