Selling it? On the ledge.
frkrygow
Band Wagon
I'm in Northeast Ohio, the land of rust.
The car is a 1990 2wd Civic Wagon. I bought it in 1999 with 62,750 miles on it. It's now got 127,000, so only 4000 miles per year, and even less now that I'm retired. For example, only 2000 miles last year. It's hard to justify having two cars in the house.
I really like the car, and it runs really well. Heck, I've hypermiled it to over 40 mpg on occasion! I use it mostly on one-hour solo drives when my wife needs the other car.
Mechanical issues have been minor, the worst being a failed timing belt tensioner that caused the cam to skip a tooth. "Worst" only because I couldn't get the crank bolt loose (even broke a socket extension trying) and had to tow it to a mechanic, something I seldom do; but there were no bent valves or other problems. And I replaced the inner rear bumper a couple years ago when it rusted out. Also fabricated new gas tank hanger straps when those broke from rust.
Body's fair. Rust bubbling at the bottom of doors, but it's surely no embarrassment to drive.
I was just out in the cold garage to work on some minor annoyances: 1) left rear brake needs adjusted. 2) gasoline stink if the tank is not near empty 3) annoying buzz, probably a sheet metal heat shield, at 55 mph.
But in fussing with the rear brake (can't feel the adjuster wheel through the rubber plug hole, and the drum won't pull past the brake shoes) I noticed the rear crossmember is rusted out at the attachment point for the left lower control arm. I can poke a screwdriver through the crossmember.
I gather that getting the crossmember off is a real bear. I've had bad experiences trying to weld to rusted parts, and I can see myself chasing rust trying to find solid metal. Plus I'm not happy about welding near a potential gas leak.
I'm sure the car is restorable. I'm just not the guy to do it.
What would you do?
The car is a 1990 2wd Civic Wagon. I bought it in 1999 with 62,750 miles on it. It's now got 127,000, so only 4000 miles per year, and even less now that I'm retired. For example, only 2000 miles last year. It's hard to justify having two cars in the house.
I really like the car, and it runs really well. Heck, I've hypermiled it to over 40 mpg on occasion! I use it mostly on one-hour solo drives when my wife needs the other car.
Mechanical issues have been minor, the worst being a failed timing belt tensioner that caused the cam to skip a tooth. "Worst" only because I couldn't get the crank bolt loose (even broke a socket extension trying) and had to tow it to a mechanic, something I seldom do; but there were no bent valves or other problems. And I replaced the inner rear bumper a couple years ago when it rusted out. Also fabricated new gas tank hanger straps when those broke from rust.
Body's fair. Rust bubbling at the bottom of doors, but it's surely no embarrassment to drive.
I was just out in the cold garage to work on some minor annoyances: 1) left rear brake needs adjusted. 2) gasoline stink if the tank is not near empty 3) annoying buzz, probably a sheet metal heat shield, at 55 mph.
But in fussing with the rear brake (can't feel the adjuster wheel through the rubber plug hole, and the drum won't pull past the brake shoes) I noticed the rear crossmember is rusted out at the attachment point for the left lower control arm. I can poke a screwdriver through the crossmember.
I gather that getting the crossmember off is a real bear. I've had bad experiences trying to weld to rusted parts, and I can see myself chasing rust trying to find solid metal. Plus I'm not happy about welding near a potential gas leak.
I'm sure the car is restorable. I'm just not the guy to do it.
What would you do?
Comments
You're kidding, right? There's just my wife and myself in the house. I'm semi-retired (or unemployed, depends on who you ask). We currently have eight, all running, registered and insured (and paid off). Five are Civics including three RTs. Justification? If I'm leaving and one won't start, I just get in another. (It happens sometimes, dead battery from sitting too long.) If one needs to go to the shop, no problem. If we need to leave one at the bar (because, you know), no problem. I'm hoping to pare it down to six once my wife's physical problems are resolved. If not, no problem.
You need to get another one, then make the best from the two. They're cheap to own and operate, fun to drive, easy to work on and much cooler than a power-chair.
You sir are a God damn legend! When I grow up I wanna be just like you! Haha
Me personally, I'd learn to restore it. I didn't know anything about cars when I started working on them, just had to DIY some stuff was really stupid in hindsight, but you gotta start somewhere. It's a 2wd so not as precious as the 4wd, so if you mess up a bit on it, no biggie. Even if it were 4wd, you have some bubbling going on, fix it. Make a mess of it, try again?
But yeah, hard to justify two cars, sounds like a strange situation to me. I am having a bit of a time convincing the girlfriend to let me have a 6th vehicle, but that's because she wants me working on her MGB.
Do what you like, but it sounds like you have a perfect project there to learn some things on.