90 DA9 LS "Project Backup"

Novice

New Member
Hey all, I wanted to document my progress with my DA9 that I just picked up. I have some experience with these cars so I am looking forward to working on one again.

This all started because my main car was acting up on and I realized with a 3 person family if that vehicle were to break we would be up a creek. So I wanted to pick up a "Backup" car with project car potential 8)

I found the car on craiglist listed at $1500 dollars, High miles 241k but it's a 5spd and has working AC! Turns out the guy selling it is the original owner, He bought it brand new back in 1990 and has had it ever since. I really nice older gentleman who has taken care of it.

He came down on the price even more to $1200 by me just asking about what kind of offers he was getting. $1200 bucks for any car is cheap, plus it's a DA9 so I went and picked it up that evening.

Definitely building on a budget here, Most of my stuff is going to be bought used or ebay brand. Really would like to know what you guys think.

Here are some picks the first day I brought it home. Paint is pretty rough in some spots.





The Interior is pretty nice, Original floor mats and everything. The drivers seat has a tear in it so he put a seat cover over it after taping up the rips. Seat cover is like vinyl or something.





First order of business is to just get it cleaned up a bit, The engine bay is hilarious, Looks like this thing was sitting in a field or something. Just dust, dirt, and spider webs everywhere. The valve cover paint is peeling away and the battery brace is rusting









So that's it so far, I cleaned it up a bit today and wanted to share that also, Put in some work with a brush and hose with some mild degreaser to get the engine looking stock again. Then threw down a detail on the interior to finish it off











I'm really happy overall with the car, It's so untouched and can go any direction I want it too. I have to get my head around what needs to be done now that it's cleaned, The speedo cable does make a terrible grinding/whirring noise when driving, the sound comes right from the cluster. Not to mention I need a new drivers seat.

The factory steelies and hubcaps need an update too. Thinking about some other OEM options like fat fives or GSR blades.

Then performance mods, Probably stick with I/H/E then maybe some cams,Pulleys, and spray possibly??

So many ways to go, What do you guys think!?
 

1994 Integra

New Member
None of your pictures seem to be working. Sounds like you picked it up for a good price! Especially from the original owner. Id hold back on mods other i/h/e. Due to the high miles! She will treat you well :)
 

Charly[horse]

Name = John
Nice nice looks good :) I would highly suggest to get accounts on g2ic and honda-tech for used parts (if you haven't already).
 


Novice

New Member
Charly[horse];1134600 said:
Nice nice looks good :) I would highly suggest to get accounts on g2ic and honda-tech for used parts (if you haven't already).
Click to expand...

I've been lurking a bit on Honda-Tech but need to see whats up with g2ic.

I think tomorrow I may paint the heat shield and ditch the cruise control since it doesn't work. Will this throw any lights or codes??
 

Sammich

Active Member
wonder how minty those seats are. welcome
 


Novice

New Member
Front seat is gone for sure, Looked up the pricing at my local junkyard says 30 bucks for front seats. Have to got next weekend and check it out.
 

Novice

New Member
Messed with the car a little bit, Removed the cruise control and tucked the brake vacuum line so it's off the firewall.

Also painted the battery tie down and the support underneath got some paint too since it was rusting. Tossed the plastic battery box since it was just holding water.



Nice space now with the cruise gone, Trying to eliminate all the little brackets and such as well

 

Novice

New Member
Update,

Went to the Junkyard today, It was a total bust. Every DA9 I found was already torn apart, they took all the ODB1 stuff, All the drivers side seats too. Kinda bummed.

But yesterday, The family and I went to Wek-Fest in Austin TX. It was the best car show I have been too, A ton of cars and just a great atmosphere. What was crazier was the parking garage for the show was housing amazing cars also. Picked up some goodies and stickers for the teggy. Hard to see in the pic, One is the Wek-Fest bumper sticker and one is a JDM "Built not Bought" sticker.

Gotta love the Nismo shirt for my first love of Nissan




On a high note I picked up some Fat Fives today from craigslist. $160 for rims and tires, we had to swap for my steelies right in the parking lot.

Excuse the dirty car (still raining off and on here) but here is how they sit





I'm diggin it, Pretty much killed my whole budget for car stuff for a while with this purchase though, Back to cleaning the engine bay LoL
 
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