Back to Honda after too many years! (noob status again!)

[deejay_jinxd]

[WA] Hi All, after some years in the wilderness I spotted this poor little dejected fella at the pound (car dealership wholesale yard) full of neglect and disrespect (massive hail damage) and felt compelled to rescue him. I've started slowly so not to scare the little fella and put some new brakes in (original Honda pads were still in there to the metal!) and plan to go with some new shoes to replace the nasty cheapies on there now then progress onto the body work after that. Not sure how best to tackle that with the hail damage, is it best to try and panel beat or start sourcing replacement panels & doors from wrecked, sorry deceased Honda's?
Anywho, howdy all in OzHonda and hope to post some progress shots later in the forum as this little one is nursed back to full health.
1997 Civic EJ8
Deano

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/yy88/deejay_jinxd/Honda/HondaCivicCoupe.jpg

[ekcoupe]

Welcome:wave:

I'd say you would have to get new panels, those ones are very damaged an probably not repairable...

Wish you the best of luck bringing it back to life:thumbsup:

[mugen_ctr]

another ej8, nice to see more of em goin around :D hope repairs work out an all for ya

[Tegzieboi_BAR]

Whoa! thats a pretty poor quality pic but u can definitely tell that theres some serious hail damage done to this baby. Goodluck with it, n welcome back!

[deejay_jinxd]

Ok, new brakes in now (yay! it stopped squealing) and new muffler (old on had hole). Problem is when the exhaust centre fitted the new muffler, the disconnected the battery so now I have no radio / CD :(
As I bought the car without any books, I haven't got the radio security PIN. Can anyone suggest how to get this number or do I have to bite the bullet and pay $$$'s to a Honda dealer?

*note: I checked for the radio pin sticker: in the glovebox, armrest, console, under the fuse box lid in the engine bay... nada.

[deejay_jinxd]

Gave up looking for the radio PIN code, not even on the Honda Australia Database for crying out loud!! (spoke to Honda North who found my VIN on the Honda Aust system, no PIN code).

So I bought me some audio goodness with a Pioneer DEH-6250BT (http://www.pioneer.com.au/en/Products/Car%20Entertainment/CD%20DVD%20Players/DEH%206250BT.aspx) and a pair of Pioneer Splits TS-A1702C (http://www.pioneer.com.au/Products/Car%20Entertainment/Speakers/TS%20A1702C.aspx) which is getting installed next weekend.

Next on the agenda is sourcing some replacement body panels... anyone know if EK9 etc Hatch front guards / bonnet / doors fit an EJ8 coupe?

[Tegzieboi_BAR]

From what i gather all EK (sedan/coupe/hatch) front panels are directly interchangeable. Ocourse u cant mix and match prefacelift with facelift bonnet, guards, bumper.

[deejay_jinxd]

Cheers Tegzieboi_BAR! If I just look out for clean panels from 95-98 I should be ok then. 99-00 was the facelift I think.

[ekcoupe]

If you wanted you can always go for the 99-00 facelift, here is a diy i found on it - http://www.jdmuniverse.com/forums/how-tos-tutorials/48359-96-98-99-00-civic-front-end-conversion.html