by "Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
Published 09/21/2017 at 23:32
by "Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
Published 09/21/2017 at 23:32
No Tags
STARS: 0
I am looking at a 1994 Honda Del Sol tomorrow. It has an engine swap so who knows what sort of gremlins might be lurking in that project. But if it checks out good enough for short term ownership, I might be able to get a good deal on it. Anyways, I would like to know more about this model of car. The issues listed seem minor and something I could work on. If its rust free, I should be able to sell it without too much trouble.
VTEC YO
"Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever" (rustanddust)
09/21/2017 at 23:46, STARS: 1
Is it clean title? The front sheet metal is misaligned, and looks to be aftermarket (though the later model Civic lip looks good on a delivery Sol).
They’re fun cars, the body is a bit twisty over bumps (especially with the roof off), but it’s essentially a cut up Civic, that’ll happen.
They like to leak water. A lot. I kept beach towels in the storage boxes behind the seats when I owned mine.
"promoted by the color red" (whenindoubtflatout)
09/21/2017 at 23:47, STARS: 3
It’s pretty much an open-roof Civic and you can pretty much strip the whole car down with a 10mm socket.
Rust is a motherfucker, but this looks surprisingly legit for $2500. Didn’t recommend it to you because I think they’re really silly. :P
"Aremmes" (aremmes)
09/21/2017 at 23:52, STARS: 1
Well, they came with rather bendy chassis from the factory, more so than Miatas, so those lowering springs can only make their noodly constitution more pronounced.
Also, don’t trust that odo reading if the speedo doesn’t work.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
09/21/2017 at 23:55, STARS: 0
Well yeah I’m unconcerned about mileage on the odo. As long as it’s rust free, anything under $2k for a purchase price is a good deal. Even a rolling shell for a Honda is worth $1k easy. But if it runs decently, I’d be real interested.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
09/21/2017 at 23:57, STARS: 0
I’ll check tomorrow if it’s a clean title. The ad says so but I only made sure that he had a title at all, I’d gladly buy a salvage car, but it definitely would help lower the negotiation price.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
09/21/2017 at 23:59, STARS: 0
Yeah I’m not interested if it’s rusty. One rusty car is enough for me lol. But it depends, I’m keeping it short term so I just want it to be easier to sell. I don’t need to turn a profit but losing less money than a 3 week rental would cost is the goal.
I drive a Miata, silly is a plus!
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
09/22/2017 at 00:01, STARS: 0
I didn’t even realize the roof came off the del sol. Haha so it’s a convertible of sorts, even better! I don’t even have to give up top down adventures. Does the roof fit in the trunk or something like that?
"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
09/22/2017 at 00:34, STARS: 0
I have nothing to add other than I’ve been looking at these on CL recently. Seems like a decent project car that the wife wouldn’t hate if I can just find one that hasn’t been totally ruined by the current owner.
"Tohru" (tohrurokuno)
09/22/2017 at 01:33, STARS: 1
Despite appearances, it’s not actually mid-engined. Found that out by embarrassing myself in front of other people.
"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
09/22/2017 at 01:33, STARS: 1
d16 =/= a lot of power lol
Other than that, they really are stupid reliable, if maintained reasonably well. And 90% of the Integra and Civic parts swap. So if you wanna do rear disks, B-series swap etc, it’s all pretty straight forward.
"promoted by the color red" (whenindoubtflatout)
09/22/2017 at 02:57, STARS: 1
If it’s as good as it sounds, you can actually make a decent profit once you’re done, especially if you sell the wheels separately from the car. They’re worth a decent bit on their own.
"KnowsAboutCars" (knowsaboutcars)
09/22/2017 at 04:55, STARS: 0
Some of them (but not the American ones I believe) had interesting automatic t-top system.
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
09/22/2017 at 07:07, STARS: 1
That sounds unnecessary lol. I would plan to leave the roof off 24/7 unless it’s really too floppy like that
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
09/22/2017 at 07:09, STARS: 0
Yeah I planned to return it to stock aesthetically, or at least closer to stock. Miata wheels fit on it too which is nice. I’m assuming something is gonna be wrong with it though, Craigslist is always sketchy lol
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
09/22/2017 at 07:11, STARS: 0
Yeah I was really confused at that bit when I was looking up the motor. I was actually happy to find out it wasn’t some crazy build, that’s a pretty mundane swap so it might actually be reliable
"OPPOsaurus WRX" (opposaurus)
09/22/2017 at 07:51, STARS: 1
they came in the rare long wheelbase truck/el camino style.
"RacinBob" (racinbob)
09/22/2017 at 08:03, STARS: 0
D16Y6 if VTEC is maybe 125 hp. Not a rocket but adequate.
"ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)" (adabofoppo)
09/22/2017 at 08:19, STARS: 1
I love the Honda of The Sun! What a fantastic little car.
"Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever" (rustanddust)
09/22/2017 at 08:23, STARS: 1
There’s actually a really nice rack in the trunk that fastens the roof. The rack is hinged, just like the trunk, so you can still access stuff underneath it.
Keep an eye on the door glasses, they’re frameless. There’s a little square of rubber on the rear edge of the roof that the glass tucks under (or is supposed to). They really needed the intelligent frameless setup that BMW (and a few other use), the window drops 1/4" to tuck under the roof seal when door is opened, and automatically rolls back up when closed. It looks like it may be misaligned on that car and overlapping the rubber square, which will lead to your del Sol being a del Aqua.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
09/22/2017 at 08:37, STARS: 0
oh yeah, everywhere I have read said that they leak from the factory, that there is no hope of it not leaking. I mean I am used to convertible life but Miatas are actually pretty good at keeping water out once you adjust the latches. Hard top is probably harder to seal properly. Id certainly want to be wary of that! Although it doesnt rain much in the fall around here at least. Unless of course a hurricane rolls through..
Anything else to look out for other than your typical northeast rust and milkshake oil and stuff?
And is that roof actually good enough for a track day? Like I dont need a roll bar to pass an inspection for that? It has a 4x100 bolt pattern so it could be fun to take on a track assuming it doesnt fall apart or blow up haha
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
09/22/2017 at 08:39, STARS: 1
I love that the RCR video hates on the del sol for not being a CRX and how much he gave it a Miata vibe. Seems like it would be much more enjoyable than a “Nissan Versa or similar” that id be stuck with otherwise.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
09/22/2017 at 08:41, STARS: 0
VTEC YOOOOOO. So about the same as my Miata
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
09/22/2017 at 08:43, STARS: 0
That would drive uhh interestingly. As if it wasnt floppy enough stock!
"Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner" (gavinharter30)
09/22/2017 at 08:46, STARS: 0
basically a civic in roadster form. But that one looks like it would handle pretty decent
"If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent" (essextee)
09/22/2017 at 09:54, STARS: 0
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
There was a powered roof option called the TransTop that was available in the Japan and Euro markets. We didn’t get it in the U.S., ours are removed manually and stowed in the trunk
"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
09/22/2017 at 14:52, STARS: 1
One thing to be careful of if you go the modding route. Is that IIRC if you do too big of a rear anti-roll bar, you can crack the rear subframe if you don’t get a brace. Although I think all of the Honda OEM one’s will be fine. Although IIRC also the Integra was a beefer rear subframe.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
09/22/2017 at 15:13, STARS: 1
That car has a riceroni sway bar and rear control arms, bright blue and silly lol. The camber isnt too ricey, its actually kinda nice. Car is LOUD AS FUCK THOUGH. I WOULD HAVE TO DO LOTS OF SHOUTING WITH THAT THING.
"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
09/22/2017 at 17:09, STARS: 0
I’d measure it. I think it’s 22mm or something when it becomes a problem.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
09/22/2017 at 17:29, STARS: 0
haha he was talking about how people put an engine in the back. The trunk is HUGE