My intentions with Aerocivic are, roughly:
1) Make it 100% mechanically sound again
2) Restore the interior
3) Repair or rebuild the exterior aeromods, taking some care to make the car... if not beautiful, at least polished
~
On my drive home, Aerocivic had some clear mechanical needs. While all of the added paneling and bodywork felt incredibly solid and sound, it was clear that many of the bushings and joints in the car were either broken, or beyond tired. I had told myself that, since I'm already restoring a 2nd Insight, Aerocivic would have to wait its turn, but immediately after arriving home I failed and started working on the car.
I was very reluctant to pull off the wheel covers, but it was necessary to get at the bones.
Some things I noticed, either on the drive or during my inspection:
-The front axles both have some play in them.
-The tie rod inner joints both have at least a quarter inch of play
-The upper and lower ball joints all have play
-The tires, while capable of delivering me home safely, are at the end of their life
-All of the bushings look like this:
The driver's seat has clearly seen some miles.
Otherwise, the carpet and interior, while a bit dirty and dusty, are remarkably intact. Nothing is loose or rattles. It's clearly a very well built car.
I don't expect the engine bay needs much of anything, besides maybe a tune-up.