89 civic wagovan 5spd (very slow build: power + ecomods & lots of pics!)

[vrmouseyd15b]

Happy Wagon Wednesday, all! I haven't many miles on any of my cars in the past month, but it was time to change the oil in Skiddy. Changed the oil and filter, and did a little cleaning under the hood as well..

(edit - hit the wrong button, I'll be right back)

-Victor

[vrmouseyd15b]

So, after changing the oil, I like to clean and tire shine things under the hood. Oven cleaner is a good thing...




Eats the grease right up, it's been a little while. While I was cleaning things, I found that one of the spade connectors for the reverse lights had come loose.
Then I found the broken wire at the cooling fan temp sensor plug:



You can't really see it, but the red wire was broken off, and right after taking the pic, the other wire let go! Found another plug in my "doodads pile" and soldered / heat shrunk it in place..



After finding the broken wires, I decided to peek around and make sure there weren't going to be any more surprises - THERE WERE!

I don't remember what this one is for, but the wire broke off the connector. Couldn't find another similar connector in my goodie bag, and the damn thing wouldn't take any solder. I ended up brazing the connector onto a bit of speaker wire and heat shrinking it as well:




Not sure what that one was called, but it goes here on the head..



good times! gotta love playing around with 25 year old wires..NOT! but I think Skiddy's ready for now. This has me thinking the OBD1 conversion will require a new harness rather than trying to re-use these old wires...



wiring checks out for now, time to connect things again and secure wires..



Dizzy back in place, starting to hide the speaker wire...



From this angle, you'd never know, but I already showed you - don't tell anybody!




So, Skiddy's got a fresh bit of wiring love under the hood, and fresh oil. good for another 2,000 miles or until I get bored....

Thanks,
Victor

[OG VX]

Skiddy's looking good! Real fresh under the hood my friend.

[vrmouseyd15b]

Originally Posted by OG VX

Skiddy's looking good! Real fresh under the hood my friend.

Thanks dude! I got a lifetime supply of elbow grease. lol!

[vrmouseyd15b]

Got a "clicking" noise from the front right corner of the car while cruising the little one to school and back. I got Skiddy up on jackstands and did the old "wheel wiggle" test - she failed..

Looks like the EMUSA brand upper camber adjusters almost made it 6 months. almost. Ok, I wasn't shure what to expect out of them, but my expectations weren't high. stupid.
They were cheap add-ons to the coilover set, along with the rear camber adjusters (which are starting to slip on their bushings at the body side). stupid.

Stupid behind me, I spent some $$$ and got the skunk2 pro series camber kit on the way. Looks like this:


So, I'm going to have some colors going on under my Skiddy, Blue and now red as well! I'll have to see what I can find for the rear camber adjusters, and what color they will be!

-Also wanted to share a drawing my buddy OG VX made for me. It makes me want to take back all the things I said about no airdams, side skirts, and wings. The trick at that point is getting all the period correct, model specific goodies for Skiddy, NOT LAWN EDGING!! That means one thing and one thing only - $$$$. But look at this picture and tell me otherwise:



I think this is how Skiddy should look. OG, you hit the nail right on the head! ( I wish I could draw like this guy, my stick people are all deformed, even! ) So, more time will be needed to get stuff together to make this vision of Skiddy a reality...

Thanks,
Victor

[OG VX]

Alright! Do it. Don't worry about the "stupid". We learn from each mistake, and it looks like you have some really beefy stuff coming from Skunk2. I have your drawing hanging up on my desk here at work. Tax season is rough right now, but seeing it up makes me happy. I miss drawing, so thanks for the opp. to get some illustrations done.

Love your project! Keep it up bro.

[vrmouseyd15b]

Thanks dude! I'm trying to surround myself with people more educated on the subject than myself, for a better end result! Your drawing is a great help and inspiration, I'm going to make it happen.

Right now, I'm waiting for a call back from the people in Tennessee to see what's available and at what cost. They've got both fenders and a driver's door, still waiting to hear back on the seat upholstery and other stuff. I might try and go this weekend if the $ is right for the parts. It's only an 11 hour drive, I've gone further for less, and it's a guranteed win instead of coming home empty handed from the junkyard.

I'm dreaming of finding a mpfi wagon with a wiring harness. ..

Thanks,
Victor

[OG VX]

yikes! 11 hours? Have you checked the database at Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market to see if there are any closer yards with your parts than that?

[vrmouseyd15b]

Yup. Nobody's got fenders. I found a pair for $75 (one's not perfect) I'll make up the gas in savings on parts. Driver's door is $100. Waiting for word on a mpfi harness now, but there's enough savings and potential to make the trip worthwhile. I've driven to my local yards (1hr) and the not so local yards (2-3 hrs )and come home empty handed. This is a sure thing.

EBay fenders are about $100-150 plus shipping. I figure I'm already ahead.

I'll be heading out Thursday afternoon, can't let anybody else lay hands on my wagon parts! Friday morning, I'll wake up in the junkyard parking lot ready for action.

I got the old lady's blessing, so I'm going and II'll make the most of my trip. I'm so excited to see a "mostly honda" junkyard! !

Road trip! I'll share some pic's along the way..

Thanks,
Victor

[Xist]

Are eBay fenders painted?