On April 30, 2008, I sold my Evo. I had about $5000 leftover after the private party paid off my loan on the car. My intentions were to buy another daily driver to replace the 240sx, which I wanted to sell at the time.
4/30/08:
If my desires/needs necessitated, I would get another new-ish car with financing or something. Turns out, I really enjoyed not having a car payment, but I was still used to having 2 cars. Time to look for another car.
So I kind of started looking for cars when one of my GF's childhood friends (Ryan) told us he got a newish BMW 3 series. I suddenly asked "What did you do to your integra?!", and he said "I sold it, but its still at my house." Couple weeks go by, and I run into Ryan again, and ask "Is the teg still at your house?" and he goes "The buyer is laggin, you want to buy it?"
I say "I'll pick it up at your earliest convenience, I have the cash right now."
A few days later, I had a 1997 Acura Integra GS 5 Speed with about 162k miles on the odometer. Ryan sold the car to me for relatively cheap, not only because I'm a friend/family, but the car needed some much needed help. Also, the car had been in a couple of fender benders, but was not totalled/salvaged.
I really wish I took photos of the car in its original state in which I purchased it from Ryan, but I didnt have a camera on me and my phone was dead. The car had been sitting for a couple of months collected dirt and dust. I had to drive the car home, but I couldnt see through the windows so the first thing i did was rinse the car off with lots of water. Then I had to go to vegas the next day. so no pics.
Pic of virgin (to my hands/tools/cleaning supplies) engine bay. i think i may or may not have changed the battery at this point though.
I hadnt touched a thing on the car yet in this picture..stupid me didnt take pictures of the whole car.
Here's a few a couple days after one of its first car washes.
Once I settled back in after a crazy bachelor party weekend in Vegas, I was able to analyze the car a bit closer. All the functions of the car worked - windows rolled up and down, sunroof open/closed, power steering, abs, cruise control, and most importantly to me, AC was cold (for an integra at least). The replica ITR lip was held on by tap screws which had already ripped through the bumper, the front bumper corners werent held in place by anything. Various scratches and blemishes all over the car. most of the damage was to the front bumper though.
Things that had to be addressed immediately after I came back from Vegas:
Leaking Radiator, low tire pressures, dead battery, nasty exhaust leaks, grinding brakes, various fluids, abysmal interior condition, etc.
First things first (over the next few weeks of course):
Battery and Radiator - no pics of battery but who cares.
Here's the old radiator with patch fix
Ryan LOVED this car, but his 80-90 hour work week with a full time bank job and nighttime DJ at various popular LA clubs prevented him from being able to work on this car.
First Oil change:
You can see the completely torn CV boot. add another thing to address to the list of to-do's: Axles.
Brakes:
I dont think I pictured the rears, because they're just brakes, nothing special.
Thats it for part 1. I didnt realize making a build thread takes so much time. I'll post more really soon.