Grifty's RT4WD Concerto

Its about time i started a build thread on here about my MA3 Concerto.

Well i have always wanted one of these but i never knew any where even in Australia untill a few weeks ago when one popped up on ebay. Waiting those 7 days for the auction to finish seemed like a very lonnnnnng time. A few weeks later it arrives at my doorstep Via a car carrier from VIC (interstate).

The car does need a fair bit of TLC since its been sitting for about 6 years and also has some front end damage :(, but its nothing that i shouldnt be able to tackle myself and with the help of a few people.

Plans are to get it looking nice and new again.

AFAIK this is the only one in Australia :O


Heres it is on the back of the tow truck arriving at my place

img20110725173402.jpg


Some of the goodies it came with

img20110725204713.jpg
p7070017mod.jpg

Electric drivers seat
img20110729085128.jpg

Flare holder
img20110729085145yjm.jpg

Folding mirrors
img20110729085153.jpg

Auto Airconditioning
img20110729085138.jpg

4WD mudflaps
img20110729165946.jpg

180km/h cluster
img20110729085217.jpg

Steering wheel
img20110726232440.jpg

Drivers visor
img20110726232519.jpg


only 2 pics of the car atm

img20110729165957.jpg

img20110729170007.jpg
«134

Comments

  • GriftyGrifty Wagonist
    Update

    I went out and got some fluids and parts. 2x brake fluid, 3xMTF, 1x P/S, 1x subaru upper engine cleaner, spark plugs, wheel cylinders, oil/fuel filter.

    img20110813114114.jpg


    I was wondering where all the brake fluid went!!!

    the rear right wheel cylinder was leaking badly, there was brake fluid on the inside of the rim lol.

    new vs old, the new is a touch different but it fits, cant complain for $17 each!!

    img20110813114213.jpg

    I started to work on the rear brakes a couple of days ago, this is what it looked like before.

    img20110803135928.jpg

    It was dirty and most of the paint had started to peel off due to the brake fluid, so i took off everything that i could and started to clean it up. Once its nic and clean i will hit it with some black caliper paint. I will also be doing this to the other side.

    img20110816095935.jpg

    I aslo cleaned the carpet and it came out very nice, all of the stains came out except for the one under the drives seat, but i dont mind since you cant see it.

    I used a Gerni, laundry detergent and a strong plastic brush to clean it. the water was coming out dark brown when i was using ther Gerni on it after brushing with laundry dertergent!!

    All i found when i took the carpet out was a NZ 5c lol

    Before:
    img20110726191208.jpg
    img20110726191220.jpg
    img20110802121036.jpg

    After:

    img20110816095833.jpg
    img20110816095847.jpg

    More updates when it decides to stop raining, i dont like the looks of the weather forecast for the next week....
  • GriftyGrifty Wagonist
    I got some new parts

    This arrived in the mail, Brand spankin new!!

    img20110819180020.jpg

    I also picked up a new rad today for a very good price since my one had a cracked top tank.

    img20110819193740.jpg

    I got the rear drum backing painted and the wheel cylinder installed,

    img20110818140628.jpg

    I took out the A/C Box and cleaned the inside cooler, getting ready for summer:cool: after shots coming soon.

    img20110818130846.jpg

    I also took off the hood cowl and decided it give it a clean under there, oh boy look what i found!!! that was about half of the stuff as the other half fell onto the ground through the drain holes when i was blasting them with water!!

    img20110818140242a.jpg

    and i also noticed this little sticker :D

    img20110818093237.jpg
  • GriftyGrifty Wagonist
    Got most of the interior back in, i still need a few small bits and also need to retrim the bottom carpet of the door trims.

    Before (at the wrecking yard):
    p7070009.jpg

    After:
    img20110829131617.jpg
    img20110829131654.jpg

    this arrived at my door, i wonder whats inside..........


    img20110902113505.jpg




    hmmm.........



    img20110902113539.jpg
    img20110902113548.jpg
    img20110902113653.jpg
    img20110902113800.jpg
    img20110902113934.jpg
    img20110902114335.jpg


    Its a Genuine OEM Honda Concerto BRAND NEW Air conditioning kit!! it comes with everything i mean it. Compressor, condensor, all lines, fan, wiring, relays, ac switch, bolts etc....

    all i paid was $150 including postage, talk about a bargain lol.
  • GriftyGrifty Wagonist
    Big update


    So i picked this up for cheap to use for parts. It had a really badly blown head gasket, when we first tried to start it water was coming out of the rad like a fountain!!! Also if we turned it off it took about 5mins constant of holding the key in crank to start it again lol. to top it off were drove it without a working temp gauge :O

    img20110901145955.jpg
    img20110901150059.jpg

    Most of the parts are stripped except for the radiator support, rims & mudflaps then off it goes to scrap metal.

    img20110903134529.jpg
    img20110903134551.jpg
    img20110903134615.jpg
    img20110903134626.jpg
    img20110903134644.jpg
  • GriftyGrifty Wagonist
    just picked up a few small pieces from Honda

    2 pedal rubbers (mine were missing)
    Handbrake button
    1 shifter bushing, honda decided to remake it for me :D
    and some IACV hoses and gaskets

    img20110831182936.jpg
    img20110906234843.jpg

    old vs new
    img20110907101313.jpg
  • GriftyGrifty Wagonist
    got this in the mail

    3 week wait from UK

    UKDM front grill, looks alot better than the Aus one imo. needs abit of trimming with a dremel to fit, no biggie.

    img20111010085609.jpg
  • GriftyGrifty Wagonist
    Just picked these up from a JDMST forum member for a good price.

    Skunk 2 Pro SII coilovers and rear control arms.

    img20111026125605.jpg

    During installation
    img20111026154815.jpg

    Went from a 10 finger gap to a 3 finger gap lol.

    In this pic the rear left hasnt been changed yet. It should go abit lower after some driving but im happy with the height atm :D

    img20111026160941.jpg
  • GriftyGrifty Wagonist
    I took it to a weigh bridge today for registration purposes and it weighed in at 1120kg with about 20L of fuel. Although I think the weighbridge is abit dodgeyish since it wasn't digital lol, and................................ blueslip passed (safety inspection)!! Registration tomorrow!!




    The next day after i got the blueslip i headed of to the RTA (registration authority in my state) for rego but luck was not on my side. It turnes out that my VIN number is not on the national database called NEVDIS so i can't register the car. I gave Vic Roads (registration authority in another state) a call since it was previously registered there, so i asked what VIN number was attached to the vehicle and the reply i got was "the VIN number is not confirmed". So basically it was registered in VIC without a VIN number, wtf Vic Roads???

    After calling around and going around in circles a lovely lady at the Department of Infrastructure and Transport helped me out. So after a couple more days of screwing around NEVDIS loaded my VIN number to their database They should of done it in 1996 when it was issued import approval lol.

    I got some number plates and now my car is on the road :D
  • GriftyGrifty Wagonist
    So after registration more work on the car

    New fuel pump
    img20111130135656.jpg

    It had a really bad whine coming from the timing side, turned out to be the A/C tensioner pulley siezed. Lucky i had a new one from my A/C kit.

    New water pump, Timing belt & accessory belts, new seals

    img20111206094656.jpg

    img20111206095254.jpg

    I also installed the new compressor from my A/C kit, love how shiney it is!!

    img20111206101958.jpg
  • GriftyGrifty Wagonist
    Here is a photoshoot a fellow froum member took of my car and my friends car (Sp33 EF5 4WD) during the Ozhonda Dec 3rd meet.
    Hello Ozhonda.

    I went down to syd recently for the JDMyard meet and met up with Grifty and Ralph_ef9 while i was there. Was great to see these cars in person. Especially the Concerto, which i had tried buying myself a few months ago, great to see that it's getting the attention it well deserves!

    Piics:

    616.jpg

    617.jpg

    618.jpg

    619.jpg

    620.jpg

    621.jpg

    622.jpg

    623.jpg

    624.jpg

    Fwaaaark, these mirror covers are rare as fwarrrk:

    625.jpg

    626.jpg

    627.jpg

    628.jpg

    629.jpg

    630.jpg

    Also snapped a few shots of the Concertos interior before we had to leave, so mint...

    631.jpg

    632.jpg

    633.jpg

    634.jpg
  • GriftyGrifty Wagonist
    I also got this rareish Genuine rubber dash mat ofrom SP33, Thanks alot :D

    img20111217124541.jpg
  • GriftyGrifty Wagonist
    Update:

    i got the A/C system gassed up, so nice and cold. The guy who gassed it couldnt believe i scored the kit for only $150!

    Ive also got my hands on a DA6 integra armrest which fits nicely :)

    I picked up my freshly remade parts, straight of the production line in Japan since there was no stock. 1x rear diff mount & 3x shifter bushings :)

    329.jpg
  • GriftyGrifty Wagonist
    Quick test fit....... :)

    330.jpg

    i ended up selling these rims since i didnt think they suited my car, back to the Linea sport meshies :)
  • GriftyGrifty Wagonist
    I got myself a Vision strut bar, It fits wellish i need to use foam around 1 of the A/C pipes and the airbox, other than that not issues. Im a happy camper :)

    Heres a quick pic while i was installing it

    331.jpg

    its not on the car atm
  • GriftyGrifty Wagonist
    My parts from Honda America arrived :D


    332.jpg



    Finally got it back on the Ground after 6 weeks on stands.

    333.jpg

    during those weeks i replaced

    Lower ball joints
    Rack ends, tie rods, Rack boots
    Steering rack bushes
    Upper control arms
    Caster bushes
    Front camber bushes
    Front LCA bushes
    Front RHS Driveshaft
    Top & bottom rad hoses
    Thermostat with seal
    Ground cables
    Sway bar bushes and endlinks
    All 5 rear diff bushes
    Both rear driveshafts rebuilt

    Im sure i left out some other bits and pieces i forgot about.
  • GriftyGrifty Wagonist
    I got my Goodridge braided brake lines in the mail from the UK to replace my original ones which are starting to crack, got them for a good price too from Ebay.

    334.jpg
  • GriftyGrifty Wagonist
    Just a pick from a few weeks back after i got all the RHS sussy bolted on.

    335.jpg

    Quick pic while i was at wholesale suspension getting a wheel alignment.

    336.jpg

    Also running abit rich lol (350kms full tank) need to change O2 sensor, the water in the exhaust made it look abit worse :p

    337.jpg
  • GriftyGrifty Wagonist
    The car is the same colour now since i managed to find one with the front end intact at the wreckers for a good price :)

    Thats all the updates I have so far (sorry for the massive dump lol). Sorry if some of the writing doesn't make sense i just copied and pasted from another forum :)

    Next on the list is RDA slotted rotors with Hawk HPS Pads. Pads have already arrived, just waiting for the rotors.

    Ive also got a N*power header ready to be modified with new O2 sensor & Magnaflow 2.25 inch high flow cat. Im just waiting on the Magnaflow 2.25 inch oval muffler to arrive then off to the exhaust shop to have it all welded on :)
  • GriftyGrifty Wagonist
    Just a few pics with my phone in a carpark after a wash (sorry about quality)

    Yes it also has the Bronze glass, im still looking for more JDM goodies from NZ (Clear indicators & visors)

    338.jpg
    339.jpg
  • driftin90driftin90 Senior Wagonist
    That's a cool car. Will you tell us what the part number is for the shifter bushing? Or would you be willing to get and ship them to us folks in the us?
  • GriftyGrifty Wagonist
    driftin90 wrote: »
    That's a cool car. Will you tell us what the part number is for the shifter bushing? Or would you be willing to get and ship them to us folks in the us?

    Hey,

    all the part numbers can be found here http://www.lingshondaparts.com/honda_car_parts_selection.php?block_01=18SH501&block_02=B__3501&block_03=9327

    I purchased parts 17,6 & 9. They were all remade by Honda Japan since there was no stock. Part number 10 Honda did not remake & it is discontinued.
  • RevmaynardRevmaynard Council Member
    Man, you have put in really great work so far! I freaking love these things, I'd love to have one, stupid US! :p
  • 87HCWGN87HCWGN Band Wagon
    Ive never seen one or heard about these before, its so sick, i want one of these now!
  • ragenasianragenasian Moderator
    Very very cool. We have the Concerto here but only the hatchback. I like the styling of the trunk more than the hatch. Never ever even heard of the 4wd version but I guess it makes sense considering they also had a 4wd Civic sedan.

    Looks good keep the updates coming, very interesting car.
  • NCxEE4NCxEE4 Wagonist
    Damn dude that is one crazy Honda. You are lucky.
  • CasiCasi Wagonist
    wow great car!!! i read here the first time that they exist with 4wd,in germany we also have a rare one aerodeck concerto

    33333oe4.jpg

    concertowagon1te7.png


    the rest on the roads here are all the one with the little trunk but your one is better i found!!

    398.jpg
  • GriftyGrifty Wagonist
    Casi wrote: »
    wow great car!!! i read here the first time that they exist with 4wd,in germany we also have a rare one aerodeck concerto

    the rest on the roads here are all the one with the little trunk but your one is better i found!!

    WOW i have never heard of or seen a aerodeck Concerto before!!

    My first concerto was a hatch, I sold it a few months before i bought my 4WD one

    here is a pic of it, it was all stock.

    411.jpg
  • GriftyGrifty Wagonist
    87HCWGN wrote: »
    Ive never seen one or heard about these before, its so sick, i want one of these now!
    ragenasian wrote: »
    Very very cool. We have the Concerto here but only the hatchback. I like the styling of the trunk more than the hatch. Never ever even heard of the 4wd version but I guess it makes sense considering they also had a 4wd Civic sedan.

    Looks good keep the updates coming, very interesting car.
    NCxEE4 wrote: »
    Damn dude that is one crazy Honda. You are lucky.

    Thanks for all the kind words guys, it has taken a fair bit of effort to get it where it is now, especially after sitting in storage for 6 years.

    Will promise to keep the updates coming :)
  • GriftyGrifty Wagonist
    Hopefully all of these parts should be going on the car in 1-2 weeks, it currently has about 4 seperate exhaust leaks atm :D

    Im going for a 2.25inch mandrel bend mild steel. I will get the exhaust shop to supply a resonator and stainless tips.

    412.jpg
    413.jpg
  • GriftyGrifty Wagonist
    A few pics from a article dated back i guess about 20 years+?

    Not my magazine but from a fellow members

    The Concerto featured the Intrac system before the civic

    487.jpg

    488.jpg

    489.jpg
Sign In or Register to comment.