Reno/Lake Tahoe Sierra Snow Transporter RT4WD Wagon
CIVEIL
New Wagonist
I have been researching and searching for a AWD wagon in my area for years. There are never any for sale here in Northern Nevada because of the heavy snow in the Sierra Nevada Mountains during the winter. I also researched in Northern California to no avail.
I finally found one for sale and purchased it right away. It had bad piston rings and a blown head gasket. No rust and nearly complete. I didn't care about the motor issues because I have been working on Honda's and Toyota's for years anyway. I found another good D16A6 motor, which took a few weeks to find and install. Now it runs perfect!!!
Interior and exterior are pretty complete. Its an automatic which I prefer as its my DD (may do a manual swap later in the future). I buy, fix and and sell Honda's and Toyota's all the time, however, this one is a keeper, because its the best of both worlds, being an AWD and a Honda!!!
Here are photo's the day after I purchased it...
I finally found one for sale and purchased it right away. It had bad piston rings and a blown head gasket. No rust and nearly complete. I didn't care about the motor issues because I have been working on Honda's and Toyota's for years anyway. I found another good D16A6 motor, which took a few weeks to find and install. Now it runs perfect!!!
Interior and exterior are pretty complete. Its an automatic which I prefer as its my DD (may do a manual swap later in the future). I buy, fix and and sell Honda's and Toyota's all the time, however, this one is a keeper, because its the best of both worlds, being an AWD and a Honda!!!
Here are photo's the day after I purchased it...
Comments
Also painted the tail lights with clear transparent red paint.
How to install an AWD badge....
Acquire a badge. I got mine for 5 bucks at the junkyard off a totaled Subaru Legacy. They are sold on Ebay for around the same price plus shipping.
Thoroughly clean surface area of the car where the badge is going to be applied. I used brake cleaner. Do not rub the brake cleaner in too deeply on the paint or it will take it off. I used brake cleaner and a razor blade to clean as much of the old faded RTAWD sticker on my car. The sticker was so old that I couldn't get it all off, so I cleaned off as much as I could. If you have a nice paint job or clear coat, don't use brake cleaner as it could remove your nice paint.
Use double sided adhesive tape. I purchased Scotch tape sold at Walmart for around $5 bucks.
Cut a small piece of tape. Remove one side of the tape cover and put your emblem on it.
Using a good amount of pressure, use the razor blade to cut through the sticky tape around the emblem. Cut very closely to the emblem to remove any excess tape.
Then, flip the badge over, cut a small angled edge of the tape from around the sides of the badge. This will insure that you can't see any of the tape once its applied to the vehicle.
Remove the other side of the tape cover.
Press onto the desired spot and hold for about 15 seconds.
This tape is super strong. Right after I put it on my wagon, I wanted to take it off and move it a little. It would not come off, so I had to leave it in place. Therefore, make sure you know exactly where you want to put it before applying.
I found the Celica, unbolted it off the car, found a 90 civic and put the front lip next to the bumper to see if the dimensions were close enough. Since they were close enough, I bought and installed it with a little modification.
A good way to find a front lip would be to visit a junk yard that lets you pull parts yourself. If you see one that looks good, take it off and match it up an 88-91 civic in the junk yard to see if its close enough to fit. If it isn't, you just discard it and try another lip.
This is how you decompress springs with a jack. Saves tons of time and super easy!
Another photo of using a jack to decompress springs.
These springs actually dropped the car in the rear way too low. Most likely because they can't handle the extra weight of the wagon rear. I had to order a set of cheapo ebay coilovers to use the adjustable base to raise the car back up. This was actually cheaper then buying the adjustables from Skunk2. It worked perfect!
Recent Upgrades:
Thule Ski Rack that I got from Dre1162 thanks
Skunk2 Lowering Springs
Projector Headlights with HID's
SI EL Glow guages
Dash Mat
Tinted Windows
Timing Belt/Water Pump
Alternator
Distributor
Kenwood Deck
Front Pioneer Speakers
CRV Rear Cargo Mat
Needed upgrades:
Rims/Tires
Rear Speakers
Hood and Drivers side doors
Motor Mounts
Installed SI El Glow Gauges. They look awesome at night. Only bad thing was that I broke the temp gauge needle when installing them because the center portion is once piece. Anyone have a write up for installing an aftermarket temps sensor?
This guy knows what he's doing.
You bet I do! I take this place and my wagon seriously so I've read up on the rules, regulations, and inner machinations of this fine forum. I hope to be able to make the most of this site and of the knowledge I gain from my fellow wagoneers. I'd also like to eventually have access to the marketplace as well, so I'm chiming in when I see fit so I can get my post count up to 20 and start looking for some additions for my little RT
Thanks, I emailed him but haven't heard back yet. I have 45 post, posted on the new user introductions and have been active since October of 2011. There are no wagons in the junk yards in Northern Nevada and there are hardly any parts on craigslist, makes it hard to restore the wagon.
Yes, I got the 2.5 in drop Skunk 2 Springs. The weight of the wagon on the rear springs made it way too low. I had to put adjustable bases in the rear right after I installed them to lift it back up. Yesterday I had to put the adjustable bases in the front to get enough clearance for the rims I bought, so its not slammed anymore
Pictures getting posted tomorrow.
http://reno.craigslist.org/cto/3007875396.html