Last fall, I had the opportunity to buy three gen II Civics for $100 each.

One is an '81 with a great body but bad engine.

The second is an '83 that was heavily vandalized but has a good
engine/automatic. Got it started and in spite of having a totally
broken windshield, it ran and all the instruments worked. Tranny is
strong as well.

The third is an '82 automatic that I've chosen to refurb for another
daily driver. It last ran in 1983. Didn't take take much to get it
running and then I set out to take care of the little things to make it
roadworthy. Replaced the front struts, alternator/regulator, tires and
attempted to bleed the brakes with minimal success but no replacement of
parts.

Got to drive it down a back road yesterday and it shifts great, has
plenti of stamina and rides nice 'n quiet. The drive revealed that one
of the front axles is noisy, but I scored a rebuilt pair on eBay for $50
including shipping yesterday. I also have all the parts to completely
rebuild the brakes and will set on that next week.

Damned... I now have six Civics!

Life is good.

JT

(Who's waiting for the price of gas to go to $5 per gallon!)

 

"Grumpy AuContraire" <Grumpy@ExtraGrumpyville.com> wrote:
> Damned... I now have six Civics!
>
> Life is good.
>
> JT
>
> (Who's waiting for the price of gas to go to $5 per gallon!)

Great story, but you must have a hangar for garage.
pj

 

On Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:41:43 +0000, Grumpy AuContraire wrote:

> Last fall, I had the opportunity to buy three gen II Civics for $100
> each.
>
> One is an '81 with a great body but bad engine.
>
> The second is an '83 that was heavily vandalized but has a good
> engine/automatic. Got it started and in spite of having a totally
> broken windshield, it ran and all the instruments worked. Tranny is
> strong as well.
>
> The third is an '82 automatic that I've chosen to refurb for another
> daily driver. It last ran in 1983. Didn't take take much to get it
> running and then I set out to take care of the little things to make it
> roadworthy. Replaced the front struts, alternator/regulator, tires and
> attempted to bleed the brakes with minimal success but no replacement of
> parts.
>
> Got to drive it down a back road yesterday and it shifts great, has
> plenti of stamina and rides nice 'n quiet. The drive revealed that one
> of the front axles is noisy, but I scored a rebuilt pair on eBay for $50
> including shipping yesterday. I also have all the parts to completely
> rebuild the brakes and will set on that next week.
>
> Damned... I now have six Civics!
>
> Life is good.
>
> JT
>
> (Who's waiting for the price of gas to go to $5 per gallon!)

and all this time, you could be have been driving an 88-91, getting better
mileage, a 4-speed auto transmission, much better handling, and the
reliability of fuel injection.

 

On Feb 12, 8:09 pm, jim beam <spamvor...@bad.example.net> wrote:
> On Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:41:43 +0000, Grumpy AuContraire wrote:
> > Last fall, I had the opportunity to buy three gen II Civics for $100
> > each.
>
> > One is an '81 with a great body but bad engine.
>
> > The second is an '83 that was heavily vandalized but has a good
> > engine/automatic. Got it started and in spite of having a totally
> > broken windshield, it ran and all the instruments worked. Tranny is
> > strong as well.
>
> > The third is an '82 automatic that I've chosen to refurb for another
> > daily driver. It last ran in 1983. Didn't take take much to get it
> > running and then I set out to take care of the little things to make it
> > roadworthy. Replaced the front struts, alternator/regulator, tires and
> > attempted to bleed the brakes with minimal success but no replacement of
> > parts.
>
> > Got to drive it down a back road yesterday and it shifts great, has
> > plenti of stamina and rides nice 'n quiet. The drive revealed that one
> > of the front axles is noisy, but I scored a rebuilt pair on eBay for $50
> > including shipping yesterday. I also have all the parts to completely
> > rebuild the brakes and will set on that next week.
>
> > Damned... I now have six Civics!
>
> > Life is good.
>
> > JT
>
> > (Who's waiting for the price of gas to go to $5 per gallon!)
>
> and all this time, you could be have been driving an 88-91, getting better
> mileage, a 4-speed auto transmission, much better handling, and the
> reliability of fuel injection.

I think the point is he has paid a mere $350 or so for a great car
with many spare parts that runs well, whereas he would pay around a
$1000 or more for a decently running 88-91 with no spare parts. It is
not clear that the 88-91 would be a better choice. Plus $350 is a
mighty cheap price for a love affair.

 

honda.lioness@gmail.com wrote:
> On Feb 12, 8:09 pm, jim beam <spamvor...@bad.example.net> wrote:
>
>>On Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:41:43 +0000, Grumpy AuContraire wrote:
>>
>>>Last fall, I had the opportunity to buy three gen II Civics for $100
>>>each.
>>
>>>One is an '81 with a great body but bad engine.
>>
>>>The second is an '83 that was heavily vandalized but has a good
>>>engine/automatic. Got it started and in spite of having a totally
>>>broken windshield, it ran and all the instruments worked. Tranny is
>>>strong as well.
>>
>>>The third is an '82 automatic that I've chosen to refurb for another
>>>daily driver. It last ran in 1983. Didn't take take much to get it
>>>running and then I set out to take care of the little things to make it
>>>roadworthy. Replaced the front struts, alternator/regulator, tires and
>>>attempted to bleed the brakes with minimal success but no replacement of
>>>parts.
>>
>>>Got to drive it down a back road yesterday and it shifts great, has
>>>plenti of stamina and rides nice 'n quiet. The drive revealed that one
>>>of the front axles is noisy, but I scored a rebuilt pair on eBay for $50
>>>including shipping yesterday. I also have all the parts to completely
>>>rebuild the brakes and will set on that next week.
>>
>>>Damned... I now have six Civics!
>>
>>>Life is good.
>>
>>>JT
>>
>>>(Who's waiting for the price of gas to go to $5 per gallon!)
>>
>>and all this time, you could be have been driving an 88-91, getting better
>>mileage, a 4-speed auto transmission, much better handling, and the
>>reliability of fuel injection.
>
>
> I think the point is he has paid a mere $350 or so for a great car
> with many spare parts that runs well, whereas he would pay around a
> $1000 or more for a decently running 88-91 with no spare parts. It is
> not clear that the 88-91 would be a better choice. Plus $350 is a
> mighty cheap price for a love affair.


Pay no attention to beam. He is a wretched wannabe bully pedant whose
scope of view reflects such limitation.

That said, you are right in your assessment.

First, 1983 and older Hondas are "old school" in engineering and
function. If one has a strong background on how things used to be made,
they will be comfortable "doing-it-yourself" maintenance/repair on these
cars. They were superbly engineered with the result that most tasks are
simple and straight forward.

Work on the '82 is progressing nicely. The only work that remains is the
timing belt, brake bleed, (I did replace all major components), and
valve adjustment. Maybe a quickie paint job later in the spring.

beam's (lower case intentional), contention that a '92 handles better is
open to debate as my personal experience is that not many cars can
exceed the roadability of the Gen 1 and Gen II Civics as opposed to
their larger by more cumbersome Accords not to mention today's top heavy
designs.

Lastly, fuel injection requires a computer and IMNSHO such only belongs
on a desktop or lap. Big advantage here is that Gen II Civic parts are
dirt cheap and plentiful. The '82 with only 134K miles on it should
have be a of relatively trouble free service for the next ten years.

JT

 

Grumpy AuContraire wrote:
>
>
> honda.lioness@gmail.com wrote:
>> On Feb 12, 8:09 pm, jim beam <spamvor...@bad.example.net> wrote:
>>
>>> On Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:41:43 +0000, Grumpy AuContraire wrote:
>>>
>>>> Last fall, I had the opportunity to buy three gen II Civics for $100
>>>> each.
>>>
>>>> One is an '81 with a great body but bad engine.
>>>
>>>> The second is an '83 that was heavily vandalized but has a good
>>>> engine/automatic. Got it started and in spite of having a totally
>>>> broken windshield, it ran and all the instruments worked. Tranny is
>>>> strong as well.
>>>
>>>> The third is an '82 automatic that I've chosen to refurb for another
>>>> daily driver. It last ran in 1983. Didn't take take much to get it
>>>> running and then I set out to take care of the little things to make it
>>>> roadworthy. Replaced the front struts, alternator/regulator, tires and
>>>> attempted to bleed the brakes with minimal success but no
>>>> replacement of
>>>> parts.
>>>
>>>> Got to drive it down a back road yesterday and it shifts great, has
>>>> plenti of stamina and rides nice 'n quiet. The drive revealed that one
>>>> of the front axles is noisy, but I scored a rebuilt pair on eBay for
>>>> $50
>>>> including shipping yesterday. I also have all the parts to completely
>>>> rebuild the brakes and will set on that next week.
>>>
>>>> Damned... I now have six Civics!
>>>
>>>> Life is good.
>>>
>>>> JT
>>>
>>>> (Who's waiting for the price of gas to go to $5 per gallon!)
>>>
>>> and all this time, you could be have been driving an 88-91, getting
>>> better
>>> mileage, a 4-speed auto transmission, much better handling, and the
>>> reliability of fuel injection.
>>
>>
>> I think the point is he has paid a mere $350 or so for a great car
>> with many spare parts that runs well, whereas he would pay around a
>> $1000 or more for a decently running 88-91 with no spare parts. It is
>> not clear that the 88-91 would be a better choice. Plus $350 is a
>> mighty cheap price for a love affair.
>
>
> Pay no attention to beam. He is a wretched wannabe bully pedant whose
> scope of view reflects such limitation.

goddamned pedants. just think how much cheaper it would to be to fly if
we didn't need to inspect planes. or rent condos if we didn't need to
inspect elevators. pharmacists? just pointlessly limited pedants.



>
> That said, you are right in your assessment.
>
> First, 1983 and older Hondas are "old school" in engineering and
> function. If one has a strong background on how things used to be made,
> they will be comfortable "doing-it-yourself" maintenance/repair on these
> cars.

why bother when you can have a computer do the job for you? and do it
better and more reliably?



> They were superbly engineered with the result that most tasks are
> simple and straight forward.
>
> Work on the '82 is progressing nicely. The only work that remains is the
> timing belt, brake bleed, (I did replace all major components), and
> valve adjustment. Maybe a quickie paint job later in the spring.
>
> beam's (lower case intentional), contention that a '92 handles better is
> open to debate as my personal experience is that not many cars can
> exceed the roadability of the Gen 1 and Gen II Civics as opposed to
> their larger by more cumbersome Accords not to mention today's top heavy
> designs.

don't read very closely do you?


>
> Lastly, fuel injection requires a computer and IMNSHO such only belongs
> on a desktop or lap. Big advantage here is that Gen II Civic parts are
> dirt cheap and plentiful. The '82 with only 134K miles on it should
> have be a of relatively trouble free service for the next ten years.

seems you have no clue just how ubiquitous computers are in modern life.
there's hardly a damned thing these days that doesn't contain one -
they're called microcontrollers. they are EVERYWHERE.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microcontroller

 

Grumpy AuContraire <Gru...@ExtraGrumpyville.com> wrote:
> 1983 and older Hondas are "old school" in engineering and
> function. If one has a strong background on how things used to be made,
> they will be comfortable "doing-it-yourself" maintenance/repair on these
> cars. They were superbly engineered with the result that most tasks are
> simple and straight forward.

This last point especially adds value, IMO. To the naysayers, there
are enough enthusiasts for this generation that honda-tech.com has a
well-attended forum dedicated to same.

> Big advantage here is that Gen II Civic parts are
> dirt cheap and plentiful.

Where are you buying them? Increasingly I see sites that do not go
back anywhere near this far.

> The '82 with only 134K miles on it should
> have be a of relatively trouble free service for the next ten years.

A steal.

Who will do your paint work?

 

honda.lioness@gmail.com wrote:
> Grumpy AuContraire <Gru...@ExtraGrumpyville.com> wrote:
>
>>1983 and older Hondas are "old school" in engineering and
>>function. If one has a strong background on how things used to be made,
>>they will be comfortable "doing-it-yourself" maintenance/repair on these
>>cars. They were superbly engineered with the result that most tasks are
>>simple and straight forward.
>
>
> This last point especially adds value, IMO. To the naysayers, there
> are enough enthusiasts for this generation that honda-tech.com has a
> well-attended forum dedicated to same.
>
>
>>Big advantage here is that Gen II Civic parts are
>>dirt cheap and plentiful.
>
>
> Where are you buying them? Increasingly I see sites that do not go
> back anywhere near this far.

Mostly on eBay. Northern Auto is a good source for after market stuff as
well. Even Rock Auto has a good supply of items through regular
suppliers and they are fast!


>>The '82 with only 134K miles on it should
>>have be a of relatively trouble free service for the next ten years.
>
>
> A steal.
>
> Who will do your paint work?

Me. In the backyard in a tent!

JT

 

jim beam wrote:

> Grumpy AuContraire wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> honda.lioness@gmail.com wrote:
>>
>>> On Feb 12, 8:09 pm, jim beam <spamvor...@bad.example.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:41:43 +0000, Grumpy AuContraire wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Last fall, I had the opportunity to buy three gen II Civics for $100
>>>>> each.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> One is an '81 with a great body but bad engine.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> The second is an '83 that was heavily vandalized but has a good
>>>>> engine/automatic. Got it started and in spite of having a totally
>>>>> broken windshield, it ran and all the instruments worked. Tranny is
>>>>> strong as well.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> The third is an '82 automatic that I've chosen to refurb for another
>>>>> daily driver. It last ran in 1983. Didn't take take much to get it
>>>>> running and then I set out to take care of the little things to
>>>>> make it
>>>>> roadworthy. Replaced the front struts, alternator/regulator, tires and
>>>>> attempted to bleed the brakes with minimal success but no
>>>>> replacement of
>>>>> parts.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Got to drive it down a back road yesterday and it shifts great, has
>>>>> plenti of stamina and rides nice 'n quiet. The drive revealed that one
>>>>> of the front axles is noisy, but I scored a rebuilt pair on eBay
>>>>> for $50
>>>>> including shipping yesterday. I also have all the parts to completely
>>>>> rebuild the brakes and will set on that next week.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Damned... I now have six Civics!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Life is good.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> JT
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> (Who's waiting for the price of gas to go to $5 per gallon!)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> and all this time, you could be have been driving an 88-91, getting
>>>> better
>>>> mileage, a 4-speed auto transmission, much better handling, and the
>>>> reliability of fuel injection.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I think the point is he has paid a mere $350 or so for a great car
>>> with many spare parts that runs well, whereas he would pay around a
>>> $1000 or more for a decently running 88-91 with no spare parts. It is
>>> not clear that the 88-91 would be a better choice. Plus $350 is a
>>> mighty cheap price for a love affair.
>>
>>
>>
>> Pay no attention to beam. He is a wretched wannabe bully pedant whose
>> scope of view reflects such limitation.
>
>
> goddamned pedants. just think how much cheaper it would to be to fly if
> we didn't need to inspect planes. or rent condos if we didn't need to
> inspect elevators. pharmacists? just pointlessly limited pedants.
>
>
>
>>
>> That said, you are right in your assessment.
>>
>> First, 1983 and older Hondas are "old school" in engineering and
>> function. If one has a strong background on how things used to be
>> made, they will be comfortable "doing-it-yourself" maintenance/repair
>> on these cars.
>
>
> why bother when you can have a computer do the job for you? and do it
> better and more reliably?
>
>
>
>> They were superbly engineered with the result that most tasks are
>> simple and straight forward.
>>
>> Work on the '82 is progressing nicely. The only work that remains is
>> the timing belt, brake bleed, (I did replace all major components),
>> and valve adjustment. Maybe a quickie paint job later in the spring.
>>
>> beam's (lower case intentional), contention that a '92 handles better
>> is open to debate as my personal experience is that not many cars can
>> exceed the roadability of the Gen 1 and Gen II Civics as opposed to
>> their larger by more cumbersome Accords not to mention today's top
>> heavy designs.
>
>
> don't read very closely do you?
>
>
>>
>> Lastly, fuel injection requires a computer and IMNSHO such only
>> belongs on a desktop or lap. Big advantage here is that Gen II Civic
>> parts are dirt cheap and plentiful. The '82 with only 134K miles on
>> it should have be a of relatively trouble free service for the next
>> ten years.
>
>
> seems you have no clue just how ubiquitous computers are in modern life.
> there's hardly a damned thing these days that doesn't contain one -
> they're called microcontrollers. they are EVERYWHERE.
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microcontroller
>


And here's beam tossing feces around like the chimp that he is.

You're laughable.

Keep drinking the koolaid and believe everything the marketers spout.

Yer a reel trip, yassah!

JT

 

Grumpy AuContraire wrote:
>
>
> jim beam wrote:
>
>> Grumpy AuContraire wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> honda.lioness@gmail.com wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Feb 12, 8:09 pm, jim beam <spamvor...@bad.example.net> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> On Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:41:43 +0000, Grumpy AuContraire wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Last fall, I had the opportunity to buy three gen II Civics for $100
>>>>>> each.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> One is an '81 with a great body but bad engine.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> The second is an '83 that was heavily vandalized but has a good
>>>>>> engine/automatic. Got it started and in spite of having a totally
>>>>>> broken windshield, it ran and all the instruments worked. Tranny is
>>>>>> strong as well.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> The third is an '82 automatic that I've chosen to refurb for another
>>>>>> daily driver. It last ran in 1983. Didn't take take much to get it
>>>>>> running and then I set out to take care of the little things to
>>>>>> make it
>>>>>> roadworthy. Replaced the front struts, alternator/regulator, tires
>>>>>> and
>>>>>> attempted to bleed the brakes with minimal success but no
>>>>>> replacement of
>>>>>> parts.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Got to drive it down a back road yesterday and it shifts great, has
>>>>>> plenti of stamina and rides nice 'n quiet. The drive revealed that
>>>>>> one
>>>>>> of the front axles is noisy, but I scored a rebuilt pair on eBay
>>>>>> for $50
>>>>>> including shipping yesterday. I also have all the parts to completely
>>>>>> rebuild the brakes and will set on that next week.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Damned... I now have six Civics!
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Life is good.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> JT
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> (Who's waiting for the price of gas to go to $5 per gallon!)
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> and all this time, you could be have been driving an 88-91, getting
>>>>> better
>>>>> mileage, a 4-speed auto transmission, much better handling, and the
>>>>> reliability of fuel injection.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I think the point is he has paid a mere $350 or so for a great car
>>>> with many spare parts that runs well, whereas he would pay around a
>>>> $1000 or more for a decently running 88-91 with no spare parts. It is
>>>> not clear that the 88-91 would be a better choice. Plus $350 is a
>>>> mighty cheap price for a love affair.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Pay no attention to beam. He is a wretched wannabe bully pedant
>>> whose scope of view reflects such limitation.
>>
>>
>> goddamned pedants. just think how much cheaper it would to be to fly
>> if we didn't need to inspect planes. or rent condos if we didn't need
>> to inspect elevators. pharmacists? just pointlessly limited pedants.
>>
>>
>>
>>>
>>> That said, you are right in your assessment.
>>>
>>> First, 1983 and older Hondas are "old school" in engineering and
>>> function. If one has a strong background on how things used to be
>>> made, they will be comfortable "doing-it-yourself" maintenance/repair
>>> on these cars.
>>
>>
>> why bother when you can have a computer do the job for you? and do it
>> better and more reliably?
>>
>>
>>
>>> They were superbly engineered with the result that most tasks are
>>> simple and straight forward.
>>>
>>> Work on the '82 is progressing nicely. The only work that remains is
>>> the timing belt, brake bleed, (I did replace all major components),
>>> and valve adjustment. Maybe a quickie paint job later in the spring.
>>>
>>> beam's (lower case intentional), contention that a '92 handles better
>>> is open to debate as my personal experience is that not many cars can
>>> exceed the roadability of the Gen 1 and Gen II Civics as opposed to
>>> their larger by more cumbersome Accords not to mention today's top
>>> heavy designs.
>>
>>
>> don't read very closely do you?
>>
>>
>>>
>>> Lastly, fuel injection requires a computer and IMNSHO such only
>>> belongs on a desktop or lap. Big advantage here is that Gen II Civic
>>> parts are dirt cheap and plentiful. The '82 with only 134K miles on
>>> it should have be a of relatively trouble free service for the next
>>> ten years.
>>
>>
>> seems you have no clue just how ubiquitous computers are in modern
>> life. there's hardly a damned thing these days that doesn't contain
>> one - they're called microcontrollers. they are EVERYWHERE.
>>
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microcontroller
>>
>
>
> And here's beam tossing feces around like the chimp that he is.
>
> You're laughable.
>
> Keep drinking the koolaid and believe everything the marketers spout.

i'm not interested in marketers, i'm interested in machinery. and how
it works. fuel injection works better - if it didn't, i'd not say so.


>
> Yer a reel trip, yassah!
>
> JT
>