Little Blue Wagon Build
TerminusVox
Senior Wagonist
My tale of woe starts with a now non-functional minivan. Things happened, mistakes were made (all mine as far as I know) and now it doesn't run. I need dependable affordable transportation for my >60 miles daily round trip commute.
My brother is bam-bam.
So as you might expect, I've been looking at Civics for weeks trying to find a fifth or sixth gen sedan with reasonable miles for a reasonable prices. Finally my funding falls into place and I wrangle bam into inspecting used civics this past Saturday. (Who would know better?) After a late start and not being able to get in touch with sellers (they do want to sell those things, right?) bam reloads the search on Craigslist at about 11:52AM. At the top of the list, posted at 11:46AM is an '89 Blue Wagon, Automatic, reasonable miles, reasonable money. He calls and we get on the road across town. First car we look at, I buy after bam says it worth what's being asked.
Today we reconvened at the BamTech Speedshop and start cleaning the old girl up. She had been parked out in somebody's yard for years while her owner when to Africa, apparently. Ah pinestraw. that dang stuff works its was into every crooked nanny, er, hookin granny, ah, nook and cranny! The things that need tending are common on these according to bam so I won't rehash them for you. You all can probably spot them in the pictures!
I gave her a pretty good wash without powertools but bam pointed out how much more effective the pressure washer is and then things really started getting clean!
Here bam's pulled out most of the interior so we can get both the seats and the carpet clean. Even Pebble's was helping and she's not directly related to me or nothing!
Bam tells me that this motor has been swapped in and is not original to the car. Who know when or why the valve cover got painted silver.
From the bam-bam collection we assembled the right number of uncracked lights, trim pieces, etc. The guy we bought it from had gotten the car running and it certainly ran highway speeds on the way home. The interior was mostly intact and accounted for so we are just going through and cleaning out twenty years of somebody else's dirt for a fresh start. Truthfully I probably could've driven it the way it was but if you know bam you know he does not leave things like that to chance. With him doing the hard work and me filling in with unskilled labor I expect to have what I've seen called a 'twenty year old new car' when he's done with it. You can't beat that for the money.
Right now she'll be rolling close to stock but on the future wishlist are:
manual transmission
stereo head unit
a rear speaker solution
tinted windows
roof rack
upgraded rolling stock
Bam has more pictures but I don't know if he'll post them or clue me in on where to find them so I can. He can certainly chime in on what he'll be doing under the hood or I can summarize. Of particular interest or environmental systems (AC & heat).
My brother is bam-bam.
So as you might expect, I've been looking at Civics for weeks trying to find a fifth or sixth gen sedan with reasonable miles for a reasonable prices. Finally my funding falls into place and I wrangle bam into inspecting used civics this past Saturday. (Who would know better?) After a late start and not being able to get in touch with sellers (they do want to sell those things, right?) bam reloads the search on Craigslist at about 11:52AM. At the top of the list, posted at 11:46AM is an '89 Blue Wagon, Automatic, reasonable miles, reasonable money. He calls and we get on the road across town. First car we look at, I buy after bam says it worth what's being asked.
Today we reconvened at the BamTech Speedshop and start cleaning the old girl up. She had been parked out in somebody's yard for years while her owner when to Africa, apparently. Ah pinestraw. that dang stuff works its was into every crooked nanny, er, hookin granny, ah, nook and cranny! The things that need tending are common on these according to bam so I won't rehash them for you. You all can probably spot them in the pictures!
I gave her a pretty good wash without powertools but bam pointed out how much more effective the pressure washer is and then things really started getting clean!
Here bam's pulled out most of the interior so we can get both the seats and the carpet clean. Even Pebble's was helping and she's not directly related to me or nothing!
Bam tells me that this motor has been swapped in and is not original to the car. Who know when or why the valve cover got painted silver.
From the bam-bam collection we assembled the right number of uncracked lights, trim pieces, etc. The guy we bought it from had gotten the car running and it certainly ran highway speeds on the way home. The interior was mostly intact and accounted for so we are just going through and cleaning out twenty years of somebody else's dirt for a fresh start. Truthfully I probably could've driven it the way it was but if you know bam you know he does not leave things like that to chance. With him doing the hard work and me filling in with unskilled labor I expect to have what I've seen called a 'twenty year old new car' when he's done with it. You can't beat that for the money.
Right now she'll be rolling close to stock but on the future wishlist are:
manual transmission
stereo head unit
a rear speaker solution
tinted windows
roof rack
upgraded rolling stock
Bam has more pictures but I don't know if he'll post them or clue me in on where to find them so I can. He can certainly chime in on what he'll be doing under the hood or I can summarize. Of particular interest or environmental systems (AC & heat).
Comments
If you need blue interior pieces don't worry about that.
Bam has my interior sitting in the back of the shop so I'll be donating my blue interior for the next person.
We are going to do an interior swap on mine.
I got the text yesterday with the picture of your wagon.
I was like oh hell he bought another one.
I knew he said you were looking.
Congrats on the wagon.
While you're in there, make sure that the condensate drain tube is clear.
Made a quick trip to get retro adapters and 134A
...and after letting the system stay in a deep vacuum for an hour and a half, charged about 30 oz. of refrigerant.
Seems to be working!
Also put the dash back in and did some more cleaning. Hopefully tomorrow we'll put it all back together. The seats are mostly dry, another day in the 96degree sun oughta finish the job!
Future wishlist:
manual transmission
stereo head unit
a rear speaker solution
tinted windows
roof rack
upgraded rolling stock (something in a 15" alloy Honda wheel)
center console armrest
cupholders
rear cargo cover
I had my evap in and out through the glove box.
lots easier with dash out but.
you can remove the glove box and the support bar that connects both sides of the dash that the glovebox mounts to.
that is how I cleaned mine.
^^They're right, just remove the glovebox and support. The evaporator is about the easiest one I've ever done, and I've done a mess of 'em...
Failed, but not too badly. High hydrocarbons and CO, but coded for O2 sensor as I pulled into the lot. Changed that and the ECT, plus plugs and wires, fuel filter, ANOTHER used starter, new battery.
Retest manana, wish us luck!
Reassembled the spare tire area with the standard things. It didn't come with a jack, jack handle, lug wrench, etc. We've assembled and almost complete set from bam's collection. Massaged the tire well lid closer to flat.
Correct, and also a larger brake booster.
No, I didn't make it to the emissions test Friday. I came home from work and started the car to warm it up (even jumpstarted the lawnmower with it!). Went in the house to baptize a teamster, and when I came back out it was no longer running!
Wouldn't restart, was flashing code 15 (ignition signal), so I replaced the distributor with a used one. That fixed 'er, but not in time to make it to the shop for my retest. Will do Monday, cross your fingers.
Yesterday I replaced the hood latch release cable...now I understand why they stay broken. Major PITA.
Also found that the oil pan/drain plug is stripped :evil: The ONLY leak this car had was a drip from the plug, NOW I know why. Oh well, if I can't fix it, I have spare sumps.
On the list for today: Left CV axle (yes, I have those laying around, too!), and whatever it takes to sort the oil drain.
Yesterday (Sunday) I managed to fix the oil leak. I replaced the plug and straightened the sealing area on the pan. I don't know how many drain cycles it will last, but it's dry for now...
Replaced the left CV axle with a used one I had.
Fixed the timing belt. You may remember that the previous owner had just replaced the headgasket- he had the belt off by one tooth. No wonder I couldn't get the timing set right!
While I was in there, adjusted the valves. It's MUCH quieter now.
I was shooting for having it ready for an emissions retest today. When I fired it up I noticed that the radiator hoses were warming at the same rate... CRAP, no thermostat! Cold running engine is a sure recipe for running rich/ high hydrocarbons. It was too late for parts by then, and I was fed up, so I went for a motorcycle ride!
So after work today I picked up a new tstat and gasket. Installed that, warmed 'er up, and passed the smog test.
Now AC is leaking, may require a compressor. Of course, it's a Matsushita and my spares are all Sandens
Once we get the AC cooling reliably, all that remains is radio installation. I'm short the DIN surround for the console.
Small pulley one or large pulley one.
If it is the small pulley one. I've got a spare.
Rich