new 1g owner

[klubvintage]

Hi everyone! Thanks to those on Honda tech who turned me onto this forum...

For close to 5 years I have been looking all over for the cleanest 1st Gen Accord I could find....why you ask? Because my father had a 78' Accord when he and my mother got married and I've always had a picture of them with his Accord, and I've always wanted on.

I've had many classic cars over the years, but thks one is sentimental.

I finally came across this wonderful and completely stock 1980 Accord lx with only 72k original miles and I had to have it. So far she's got a few kinks to work out but is wonderful to drive. My plan is stay JDM and firstly get it clean enough to eat off, then I want to do fender mirrors, frenched high's, Weber upgrade (32/37 or maybe a 40 I have lying around) header back custom exhaust, wheel and tires, re-upholster the seats and rip off that terrible tint.


Here are a few pics I took after a light detail:









After driving around for a couple of days i realized the shuddering i was experiencing was nt from tierods as i originally assumed and which are also badly worn. After getting under the car a bit i noticed the passenger half shaft was clunkingand the boot was completely severed...

[2ndGenGuy]

Sweet car man! That is damn clean. And I'm totally jelly of the LX interior! The cargo cover, and "velour" door panels are sure nice looking. I can't wait until my paint is that shiny! And loving the 5 speed!

[klubvintage]

Sweet car man! That is damn clean. And I'm totally jelly of the LX interior! The cargo cover, and "velour" door panels are sure nice looking. I can't wait until my paint is that shiny! And loving the 5 speed!

Thanks! My main goal is just to achieve and keep it as clean as possible. Is there a picture thread started anywhere of 1g accords?

Id like to swap n the early model cvcc mesh grille, its a direct swap correct, no difference in fitment between early 1g and later 1g like my 1980??

[2ndGenGuy]

Actually... the other grilles are really close, but no they don't quite fit right. There isn't actually a part on the whole front end that is the same between the earlier and later cars... What you should be able to do though is snag one off of a 4 door from 80 or 81 and that should drop right in there. And I am pretty sure they look like the older grilles.

[klubvintage]

Oh gotcha, thanks 2ndgenguy!

Heres a night shot...

[2ndGenGuy]

Awesome! Shiny chrome! Kinda reminds me of this pic I took:


Accord Sunset by jgturk, on Flickr

[klubvintage]

Thats a nice pic man, good vibes!!

So heres the main source of my vibration (shuddering)under braking...



OUCH!!

So figure ill rebuild the front end first. I ordered the following from RockAuto:
-new axle half shafts for both sides,
-new inner and outer tie rods for both sides
-front rotors and pads and rebuild kit
-sway bar bushings

And i think ill also order new control arms and all new bearings for the front...recommendations on the latter?

While im in there anything else you can think of i may as well be replacing?

[Hazwan]

I think you've got that covered, I'd check/replace the radius rod bushings up front too.

You gonna need to replace the hub bearings when you replace the rotors anyway.

And yeah stupidly mint car you got there!

edit: Why does it have an early cluster if its an '80?

[klubvintage]

I think you've got that covered, I'd check/replace the radius rod bushings up front too.

You gonna need to replace the hub bearings when you replace the rotors anyway.

And yeah stupidly mint car you got there!

edit: Why does it have an early cluster if its an '80?

Thanks Hazwan!

As for the cluster, im not sure what the cluster that shjould be there would look like..??

Im definitely new to these cars, most of my expertise is with vintage BMW, as can be seen on my website

Home - Klub Vintage

But im very excited to dive into these JDM examples ive always admired. Still hunting for a 1gen celica btw.

[klubvintage]

So heres been my inspiration to own a 1g...

My parents on their wedding day with my Fathers OG 1g...



They didnt make it too far, split before i was even 2 y/o, and the ol Accord rusted out long before its time shouldve come.

[79cord]

Congratulations upon the new toy, it really looks beautiful.
I had wondered about fitment of the older grille. The deeper, later headlight mounting buckets might be a factor since they move the lamps further forwards. (One of mine had an older headlight mtg fitted by panel-repairer).

[klubvintage]

Thanks 79cord!

If its a matter of a little fab work i may still go for it, i really like the look of the early grilles and I'd love to make it work.

On another note, im pretty stocked, i was originally going to go with fender mirrors but prefer the look of chrome mirrors. Found a near mint chrome drivers door mirror thats heading my way!

[Hazwan]

I realized something else in your interior pic too! Your middle hump is lower too, I thought its a 76-79 thing and 80-81 have higher middle hump? Or maybe I had myself confused with all the little changes by Honda haha

[79cord]

Your middle hump is lower too, I thought its a 76-79 thing and 80-81 have higher middle hump?

'81 thing, they got so many little changes for it's amazing.

[2ndGenGuy]

He's got the same cluster that I have in my car.

[Dr_Snooz]

Welcome from California! Your car is great! I like the front fence in your cargo area. I didn't have that on my '76 and my mom didn't have it on her '81 either. Very nice!

[2ndGenGuy]

Oooohhhh! That's why they attached it to the seat like that! That's rad!

[klubvintage]

Welcome from California! Your car is great! I like the front fence in your cargo area. I didn't have that on my '76 and my mom didn't have it on her '81 either. Very nice!

Thanks! Yeah its a pretty cool feature...one i hadn't realized its function until you so whimsically pointed it out...lol...now I'm glad I have it though!

[klubvintage]

He's got the same cluster that I have in my car.

What year is yours? I wonder if mine was originally the color of yours, the door jambs are just ever so slightly lighter than the exterior, but the paint job looks pretty darn good.

[Hazwan]

He's got the same cluster that I have in my car.

Whaaa I thought 81 came with pictorial idiot lights instead of texts? And it has no 'pilot light' or whatever that is above the DOOR warning lamp?!

[2ndGenGuy]

What year is yours? I wonder if mine was originally the color of yours, the door jambs are just ever so slightly lighter than the exterior, but the paint job looks pretty darn good.

Mine is an 81. Your color does look different from what I expected. Does it have any metallic in it? I think for my car, the color is "Tudor Red Metallic" not sure if it was different in 80, they did have a few colors that looked similar but were slightly different.

Whaaa I thought 81 came with pictorial idiot lights instead of texts? And it has no 'pilot light' or whatever that is above the DOOR warning lamp?!

Oh yeah, you're right. I was just looking at the speedo and tach. On the older set of gauges that I had pulled at one point, they had different gauge faces from mine. That has the same gauge faces, but the older indicator lights. Maybe someone swapped out bits and pieces of it...

[klubvintage]

I dont think it has any metallic in it, and the aftermarket paint is very flat looking.

Hers a pic with my DD in the background

[Hazwan]

oooh more pics of that E34!

[klubvintage]

oooh more pics of that E34!

A pic with the latest cafe racer I'm building for a client



It needs lowering and wheels at some point soon



My e30 vert I'm building



And a pic or two of the 1986 civic dx third gen im picking up this weekend!

[2ndGenGuy]

Wow man! Awesome rides! Love that 3g Civic too!