1986 4WD WAGOVAN build!!

[wagovan4wd]

Today begins a new project. My baby blue '86 3rd gen Wagovan restore.

Will raise and stiffen suspension slightly.
Will have 15" aluminum American Racing 3-spoke wheels.
Will have mild off-road tread tires with raised white lettering.
Will paint white.
Will redo interior cloth to blue and burgundy, leave everything else stock.
Will simplify vacuum system.
Will add sunroof (70% sure on this one).
Will add luggage rack.

My long-term goals for this are to replace the 1.5L EW1 engine with a 1.3L from a 1986 Civic hatchback. The 1.3L has higher compression ratio and got 43mpg on the Civic. I'm hoping for at least 33mpg on the Wagovan. I have a spare 6-spd 4WD tranny that I'll modify the bell-housing on for this one. Will keep the original EW1 and tranny for backup.

I've never understood the draw or appeal to lowered vehicles, so I'll be raising this one slightly and stiffening the front suspension with coilovers, and the rear with air shocks. Giving it some good going-over-snow abilities. Do not intend to ever take it off-road, just like the style.

Goals are a solid daily driver with some visual sportiness. Would like to attend a meet somewhere around Indianapolis if there is such a thing. This is my 3rd Wagovan restore project. See details of previous one on page 23 of this thread: http://www.clubcivic.com/board/showthread.php?t=143676&page=23

Looking to complete this project by September 2010.

Will post pics ASAP.

 

[88CReXin]

6 Speed awd transimission? What is that off of?

 

[wagovan4wd]

6 Speed awd transimission? What is that off of?

3rd gen (1984-1987) Honda Civic Wagovan 4WD models. FWD models had 5-spd. 4WD had "SL" gear. I'll post a pic of the gear-shift later tonight after I'm finished with the day's build activites.

 

[Kensai]

I've never understood the draw or appeal to lowered vehicles, so I'll be raising this one slightly and stiffening the front suspension with coilovers, and the rear with air shocks. Giving it some good going-over-snow abilities. Do not intend to ever take it off-road, just like the style.

Lower center of gravity, less lateral weight transfer so therefore better handling? I also think it looks better, but if you're going offroading its a totally different story.

Should be a fun build though...

 

[wagovan4wd]

March 7, 2010

Day 1 - Got off to a decent start. Had decided to go ahead and remove the vacuum equipment before pulling the transmission because it frees up a lot of space.

Engine before:

Engine after:

The carb is off because the previous owner said he was having trouble with it at idle and starting. I have one from the doner car that will provide the wheels and air conditioning components:

The doner car also has the 1.3L engine I'll be installing at some point in the future after rebuilding and modifying my other 4WD tranny's bell housing to mount up.

The 1.5L EW1 engine is verified here:

The 4WD Wagovan dash display:

The 4WD Wagovan 6-spd transmission shift knob:

Interior fabric on seats is pretty trashed. Surprisingly everything else is in great condition. It works, no scratches, broken panels, or anything. The carpet and headliner will be replaced at some point, as they are typically things that go bad over time and through use.

The body all around needs some work.

Broken taillight, but lovely original Civic 4WD placard:

Under-body rust, some on crucial supports. Will need new metal:

All in all for day one, I did about half of what I had planned. Spent a lot of time looking over the car, figuring out the best path to get what I'm after. After seeing the condition of the under-body rust, I decided to go ahead and pull the engine next, clean out all the dirt everywhere, sandblast and paint everything that's just rusted, and put in new metal everywhere it's rusted through.

Right now I'll only be able to work on the mechanics of the car on weekends, however I will be able to go ahead and work on the upholstery during the week. This week I'll work out the pattern on the seats, figure out what color combinations I want and maybe even get some initial sewing done. Why am I doing the work myself? Because I want to.

Day 1 was a mild success. Did not do as much as I wanted, but the project is definitely on its way.

 

[wagovan4wd]

Here are my ideas for the seat colors. It's not exact, but close to what I'm after.

The blue would match the interior plastic. And the burgundy would be a little grayer than is pictured here. It's close though.

 

[K-N-2-EK]

seats need to go one color only..please

 

[Nebster66]

Wow, needs quite a bit of work...
But nothing impossible!!!

 

[Mr. Jollypants]

I think the Wagovan interior would look better if you used CRX seats, like these:

 

[ScratchNSniff]

Read through Dan's build...I have seen his car in person and it looks amazing...he did quite a bit of sourcing parts and really did a great job with it...

 

[wagovan4wd]

I think the Wagovan interior would look better if you used CRX seats

They might be better for my back too. I have the ones from the DX doner car that are actually in perfect condition. They don't have the sides that flare out though. One issue I've had with the previous Wagovans I've owned have been the seats. Not very comfortable for long drives.

I think I'm actually going to build a custom driver's side seat, and leave the rest stock. Remember, this will be my daily driver. My personal needs outweigh this small area of aesthetics.

 

[wagovan4wd]

Read through Dan's build...I have seen his car in person and it looks amazing...he did quite a bit of sourcing parts and really did a great job with it...

Dan's '87 was very impressive. The only issues I had with his build are personal preference:

1) Red stripe (not my thing).
2) Lowering the vehicle (reduces road (snow) clearance, travel and ride smoothness).

Also, I wasn't sure about the engine swap, though I intend to swap mine out as well. Not sure why he did it with the engine he used -- if it provided more power, more sport, more reliability, or what? Maybe it was just his personal preference.

My goals go toward fuel economy and ease of maintenance long-term. Having 4WD is a major want, as is the 1.3L engine's fuel economy. I intend this to be the last car I own, for daily driver or otherwise. So I'm willing to spend more time up front to get it to a very solid state for years to come.

Also, I saw where you were interested in buying his when he was finished. Did you ever make him a serious offer?

 

[ScratchNSniff]

He is still driving it...last I called him he wasn't interested in selling...

I need to call him again though...he really didn't have a need to have it at stock ride height...he lives in Charlotte, NC and they really don't get much snow...

 

[NYGraFFit1]

Subscribed gotta see where this heads.

 

[wagovan4wd]

Headrest test

Before the deer strike, I had taken the rear seat headrests off. They were in my garage. Because of this, I have some real-world materials to test on.

The headrest had a metal frame insert, glued to and surrounded by foam. The trim cover was pulled over foam before metal frame was inserted. This allowed deformation of the foam, and a taught trim cover when the frame was inserted. Final assembly was staples, which held front and back tight together between metal frame posts. Two screws affixed a plastic piece to hide the stapled area. It slide over the two posts and screwed into thin pieces of plastic sewed into the trim cover edges where the staples also went through.

 

[Kensai]

Lots of work ahead of you, good luck!

 

[wagovan4wd]

This week I bought some $1.49/yard material at Jo-Ann Fabrics to test basic color combinations. Have sewn two different sets to try various color combinations. Haven't really liked either one, nor any I've thought through without sewing. Managed to find where I'm buying material though:

http://www.midwestfabrics.com

Their NewPort Marine/Auto Vinyl products have the colors I've decided on:
Baby Blue
Chalk (white)
Silver Blue (dark blue)
Yellow
Ebony (black).

Material will be arriving sometime late next week or week after. Until then, will continue working on patterns, trying different stitching, etc.

Have to go trailer a pickup truck 2.5 hrs to Indianapolis this weekend. Will not work much on the Wagovan (if any). Will be taking one front seat out and re-covering it with the $1.49/yard material (just to see it on). Will settle on final pattern next week, and will begin making front, back and headrest trim covers.

Early pics will be up next Tuesday.

 

[NYGraFFit1]

Keep it clean man, don't go ball's out on the interior. clean man, clean is key

 

[jamsjordan123]

i cannot wait to see the finshed product... good luck man

 

[Witness]

Glad I found you guys, I bought a 4x4 wagovan yesterday for a grand in cherry condition 147k- minus a bent driver-side fender and busted signal cover, before that I didn't even know they existed. I think I'll follow along.- hey If anyone has those parts, I have money...