Oh God, My Coworker Just Bought This Half-Finished CB7 Project to be His Daily

"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
04/08/2016 at 20:30 • Filed to: HONDA ACCORD, PROJECT, CP, ENGINE SWAP, PROJECT DEATHTRAP

Look Ma, no windshield wipers!

Because he “needed something more reliable.” Paid $3000 to a guy who had it sitting around his shop and didn’t have time to deal with it.

The good: It has an H22 swap and it runs.

The bad: Pretty much everything else.

Things currently broken or missing that most normal people expect in a daily driver:

Seatbelts. There are none and the motorized upper points don’t work anyway.

Speedometer.

Horn.

Windshield wipers. Missing.

Climate control. The panel is laying in the back. Supposedly works. Cannot confirm.

Power steering. Removed.

AC. Removed.

Carpeting. There is none.

Battery box. It is just sitting loose in the back waiting to become a projectile under hard braking.

Back seat. Also, the front seats - from an S2000 - are each held in with only the two front bolts.

Other issues include some signs of fender rot covered with the PO’s “first ever try at a respray,” peeling tint on the two windows that are actually tinted, just about every warning light is illuminated while running, sketchy upholstery on the driver’s seat, and the very real possibility that even the most corrupt mechanics won’t take a bribe to put a windshield sticker on it.

Passenger footwell looks like someone disemboweled C3PO. Also note electrical connectors not actually connected to anything.

There is some good. Despite the cobbled together wiring and ECU that somehow haven’t burned the thing to the ground yet (did I mention this guy is an engineer we pay to design things that save people’s lives?), it does run. And it actually pulls pretty well as you might expect given the lack of accessories on the motor and low weight of the car. The suspension is pretty well sorted too. From the passenger seat, body roll feels controlled, and the ride isn’t too bad, especially compare to his other lowered CB7 that basically rides on bump stops (when it runs at all). Also, both power windows work. Tires are basically new too. Fortunately, Bexar county doesn’t do emissions testing.

The VTECs. Give me all of them. Only thing attached to the crank pulley is the alternator. Note random Crown Royal bag over brake fluid reservoir.

He plans to weld in a roll cage this weekend and put 4-point belts in to get the point where it can be driven on public roads without being a total death trap. At least when it isn’t raining.

This needs to be secured ASAP. Carpeting would be nice too. This may be the only car I’ve ever ridden in that is louder inside than outside.

Next step is the loose battery in the trunk/back seat area. Probably going to drill through the body and bolt down a battery box.

Pictured: Several things that don’t work. Inexplicably the aftermarket head unit and front door speakers actually function. But you can’t hear them over motor and exhaust anyway.

The front seats also need to be properly secured. Once again probably by drilling through the body.

Homebrew weatherproofing where the antenna used to be. Who knows what horror is lurking under the respray...

After that, the wipers need to go on, climate control needs to be put back in place to get defrosters working and it will basically be roadworthy. We need to come up with something to work as a speedometer - probably just a cheap GPS with a windshield mount. That’s if nothing breaks and/or catches fire in the interim. Despite owning a mostly-stock model of the same car that rarely works right, my esteemed colleague is convinced that this Frankenstein version is somehow going to be bulletproof because you can’t kill an H22. Or something. He also now owns 3 cars without AC in San Antonio where 100 degree weather runs from the start of May through the end of September.

Sweet fit on the plastic hood. Must have happened when the VTEC kicked in.

What prompted this purchase? The 2JZ from his SC300 is in pieces in his office. Again. The turbo he installed needed a better waste gate to get to full boost. Because if your project cars aren’t running it makes perfect sense to just buy someone else’s project, obviously.

Bonus screws!

Overall, it’s not very far from being a sweet autocross/track car, but it’s going to take a lot of work to turn this thing into a DD. The guy is a hero and can probably pull it off. Considering his two other cars barely run, though, this purchase seems pretty irrational. At least he lives within biking distance of work. And his bicylce isn’t rideable at the moment, because he broke a wheel taking it off of a jump last week.

If Oppo is interested I will post updates. Let me know.

DISCUSSION (21)

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
04/08/2016 at 20:38

It boggles my mind that anything with this much important stuff “not working” or missing is legally driveable anywhere...

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
04/08/2016 at 20:43

Off road use only! We’ve been driving it on private roads only so far. But you're right it seems like it could be impounded just for rolling across a cattle grazing field.

For Sweden > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
04/08/2016 at 20:53

This is peak oppo

interstate366, now In The Industry > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
04/08/2016 at 20:56

In for updates for another H-powered Honda on Oppo. I see it has a 5-lug swap done, which is something the Kids These Days who own CB/CD Accords and 4th gen Preludes like to do.

Also, is that a real red-top H22, or just a red valve cover on a garden variety one? The head stamp on a real one (usually around where the header bolts up) will be PDE, while on a regular one it’ll say P13. The transmission code might also shed some light on it.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > interstate366, now In The Industry
04/08/2016 at 20:59

You're right, I totally missed the 5-lug swap. The brakes are also aftermarket, but I don't know if they are any good. I'll have to take a look at the stamps on Monday, because we probably won't cross paths this weekend.

dogisbadob > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
04/08/2016 at 21:06

Yeah we’d like to see the updates!

The old Accord Coupes (thru 97) are much more awesome than the later ones because they were just 2-door versions of the sedans and they look much cooler. Same goes with the 3rd gen Camry coupe, E30 and E36, etc. When they started marketing the coupe and sedan as separate models, the coupes became fugly and an obvious sign of trying too hard.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
04/08/2016 at 21:06

3000 is a lot of coin

Birddog > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
04/08/2016 at 21:14

Having owned a few Mopar branded “Projects” in a similar state I absolutely would like to see updates.

Those days are way behind me but I can enjoy the action through others now.

interstate366, now In The Industry > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
04/08/2016 at 21:21

If it’s a legit red-top with an LSD trans, it’s a lot less CP than if it’s just a regular H22 and/or stock trans. But still absolutely CP either way.

I’m drawing a blank on what the brakes could be.

MonkeePuzzle > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
04/08/2016 at 21:22

there is a LOT to love. fix those seats ASAP and the rest can be done.

more power to him for a good dose of insanity. a lot can be learned from a prpject car

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
04/08/2016 at 21:30

Yes. There is a lot of money tied up in JDM parts here, but its a lot to pay for something that isn't ready to register. We are already giving this guy rides so that we don't have to fire him, because he does great work. But it's like outside of the office his brain just shuts down. You can get plenty of other decently fun cars with valid tags for $3k.

LongbowMkII > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
04/08/2016 at 21:46

Seat belt and tie down and you're good to go.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
04/08/2016 at 21:47

Or buy something not-fun but utilitarian for 1100-2000 and save the rest. But different strokes, I suppose...

sony1492 > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
04/08/2016 at 22:09

It runs and drives everything else is less of a problem and more of a detail.

shop-teacher > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
04/08/2016 at 22:36

Have your friend call me. I have some once in a lifetime real estate investment opportunities for him. Bridges and such.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
04/09/2016 at 02:14

I’m a sucker for red valve covers, and Suzuka Blue S2000 seats. And Apparently so is you coworker.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
04/09/2016 at 02:17

I used black RVT to plug up the hole where my antenna used to be. Some kid ripped it off before I bought the car.

Kinja'd!!!

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
04/09/2016 at 08:30

There's a lot of good things you can buy for $3000. CP, but kinda neat in a way.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > interstate366, now In The Industry
04/12/2016 at 18:16

Looks like a regular one with a red cover. Also here’s the other stamps on the block.

Kinja'd!!!

interstate366, now In The Industry > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
04/12/2016 at 18:34

Looks like it’s from a 4th gen Prelude. The M2B4 is the LSD transmission from one of them, and the serial number on the block is pretty low.

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
04/14/2016 at 10:49

There is no fail in this plan I love it!