Where to start

dixeykdixeyk Band Wagon
in General Civic Wagon Discussion
I think I need a bit of direction here. I have a stranded blue RT4WD wagon in the driveway. It was my wife's commuter while she went to school and the engine gave up the ghost. It doesn't run, has a broken rear hatch, has what appears to be moss growing inside it and needs a LOT of attention. Mechanically the rest of the car seems to be working reasonably well (or at least it was when the engine gave out last year).

I have taken on the task of getting a little blue RT4WD wagon back from it's very sad state into something that would be fun use and worth keeping. I apologize if I'm not coming into this with as much enthusiasm as most but I wouldn't consider myself a Honda fan. I have had six or so Civics (and currently have a Honda Fit) and with the exception of my first Honda, a silver 1980 Civic 1500GL (that was a great car) I never found any of my other Hondas all that exciting. They were reliable as all get out and always cheap to maintain but as my dad would have put it they were all about as exciting as a sister kiss. Now this blue RT4WD wagon in my driveway is a bit different and I find that I kinda like it.

So based on what I have to work with I am wondering is it better to fix the engine or get the body and such fixed and cleaned first. The car isn't driving more than a few hundred yards with the hatch busted (it won't close) the exhaust pipes right into the car making it driving it really difficult without a gas mask. I also know that I can do interior work, yank out seats, replace carpeting, replace mirrors and such. I can even install car audio (done it before) and do some electrical fixes. The engine is quite frankly beyond what I can do. I also figured finding an engine and getting it put it will take some time where as I can start tearing into the interior right away.

Is that a totally bass akwards way to approach this?

Comments

  • toys-n-joystoys-n-joys Wagonist
    for the rear hatch see if you can move that little arm where the latch is. i have to wiggle it over before i shut my hatch. but it holds it tight once you do it.


    id fix it up. the rt4wd has soo much potential. if not send it to me in ny. id glady take it off your hands
  • ragenasianragenasian Moderator
    Honestly there is no right or wrong way to fix a wagon as long as it gets fixed. The hatch has probably gummed itself up so it probably just needs the latch mechanism cleaned and lubed up again. As for the other stuff it all depends on if you want to drive it now or later. There are wagons on here that have been brought back from the dead to be magazine quality, to beat up ass wagons that are still nice wagons, being beat up just gives it character and a different story to tell. I think though in order for a good honest assessment a few pics need to be posted.
  • dixeykdixeyk Band Wagon
    toys-n-joys wrote: »
    for the rear hatch see if you can move that little arm where the latch is. i have to wiggle it over before i shut my hatch. but it holds it tight once you do it.

    id fix it up. the rt4wd has soo much potential. if not send it to me in ny. id glady take it off your hands

    I agree it has a lot of potential. I need to get in and look at the hatch but it looks like there is something broken. If could get it shut that would be something at leafs. I also noticed upon closer inspection this morning the dash has mold on it so I better dig out the respirator.

    ragenasian wrote: »
    Honestly there is no right or wrong way to fix a wagon as long as it gets fixed. The hatch has probably gummed itself up so it probably just needs the latch mechanism cleaned and lubed up again. As for the other stuff it all depends on if you want to drive it now or later. There are wagons on here that have been brought back from the dead to be magazine quality, to beat up ass wagons that are still nice wagons, being beat up just gives it character and a different story to tell. I think though in order for a good honest assessment a few pics need to be posted.

    Luckily I don't need it for transportation. We have the Fit for that. I'd like to get it running by Winter in case we see some snow. For the Summer I much prefer to walk or ride my bike instead of drive. i only live about 3 miles from work. I think mentally I just need to make it feel like something worth saving and I think getting the inside cleaned out and not smelling bad will help with that.

    Thanks for the input.
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