BillJSwartz's Project: 1995 Special Edition Integra

[BillJSwartz]

Hi there, I'm new on here, and I just bought an Integra yesterday for $1500. It's a 1995 Acura Integra Special Edition. I figured it would be a good idea to join the forum and start learning about my car.

It's not in the best shape, but I plan on spending some money on it and doing a lot of work on it in the next few months before I start college in August. This will be my progress thread. Here are pictures of what it looks like now.

Feel free to add any input, comments, ideas, or suggestions


The first item on my agenda is to give it a paint job. I'm thinking black, but maybe silver or a metallic blue.

The windows also need tinted, the driver's seat needs replaced, and there are a few other minor problems that need fixing right away. Also thinking about a headlight swap in the distant future. The engine and transmission are in great shape, but after I do all the cosmetic mods I can handle, I'll probably mess around under the hood.

Let me know what you think! I'm excited to start working on it!

 

[jcrabb13]

The first item on my agenda is to give it a paint job. I'm thinking black, but maybe silver or a metallic blue.

The windows also need tinted, the driver's seat needs replaced, and there are a few other minor problems that need fixing right away. Also thinking about a headlight swap in the distant future. The engine and transmission are in great shape, but after I do all the cosmetic mods I can handle, I'll probably mess around under the hood.

Let me know what you think! I'm excited to start working on it!

paint on an unfinished project is a waste to me. just rattle can/clear the hood black and rock that.
id fix that driver seat quick, tears are annoying
get some limo tint (cause its sexy)
HIDs, I prefer 6k, still looks pretty white with the slightest hint of that blue look most want, very clean
start with IHE as far as the engine goes, unless you are planning on going turbo...then don't waste your time.

oh, and SLAM THAT BISH! nice rims :thumbs up

 

[BillJSwartz]

why is paint on an unfinished project a waste of time? right now the clear coat is peeling on the entire car and it looks awful. im embarrassed to drive it like this.

 

[superhypered]

I didnt even notice the hood peels till you mentioned it.. Dont worry about that. Paint is usually the last step because if you have anger problems and you go to mod it with something, like, some sort of stabilizer bar, and you cant do it, and then you get pissed, and then you smack your quarter panel out of aggression, and then you look at it again to see a rather large dent and the paint is cracked where you hit it... Then you dont worry about it because you'll get a paint job later. I speak out of experience :lol:

 

[BillJSwartz]

haha, hopefully I won't go through something like that.^.

the thing is, I don't really think any of the mods I have in mind will affect that paint. Any major things I do to it will be in the long run. Right now, I just want to concentrate on the paint, window tint, headlights, driver's seat, sound system, wheels, and possibly lowering it a little. I want to go for a really sleek, clean look.

 

[jcrabb13]

I didnt even notice the hood peels till you mentioned it.. Dont worry about that. Paint is usually the last step because if you have anger problems and you go to mod it with something, like, some sort of stabilizer bar, and you cant do it, and then you get pissed, and then you smack your quarter panel out of aggression, and then you look at it again to see a rather large dent and the paint is cracked where you hit it... Then you dont worry about it because you'll get a paint job later. I speak out of experience :lol:

thats why IMO. the hood is the only thing noticeable...at least in the pics...do what makes you happy, but I'd wait on paint and fix things that need to be fixed first.

 

[superhypered]

Headlights.. Are you planning for a new set or what? Like the only aftermarket ones are halo lights, which I have a set with black housings, but idk what you mean by that, so 'm just saying

 

[BillJSwartz]

HIDs.

 

[superhypered]

AH! gotcha seems like you have this under control. May I suggest an ITR front lip and OEM optional side skirts? I'd say get the rear valances to match the side skirt, but they only go on the 98+ rear bumper because it has the little lip on it.. Which my 95 LS has somehow :shock:

 

[BillJSwartz]

yeah, I'm hoping to go for a front lip and side skirts at some point. I'll just have to wait and see how my finances pan out. possibly a new front bumper too. who knows.

I'm thinking that this car will look super clean as i get farther along with it. that's why i wanted to do that paint job, because the main reason it looks like crap right now is the paint. after that, i'll slowly add more and more to it. Thanks for your interest! haha.

 

[superhypered]

hm.. regardless, paint can wait. And I've already subscribed! So make her clean :thumbs up
What color were you thinking of? black? Would you ever convert to LEDs?

 

[TheNailGuy]

it!

Thumbs up for green tegs!

 

[mkl399]

looks like a steal for $1500 to me.
Personally, id suggest figuring out what you want to do to the body before painting. Like, it is pointless to paint your car black, and decide you want to invest in sideskirts. Now you have to go back and paint again. It sucks the first time, you dont wana do it more than once. Personally, id invest in a seat first, but thats me. Do what makes you happy man

 

[BillJSwartz]

hm.. regardless, paint can wait. And I've already subscribed! So make her clean :thumbs up
What color were you thinking of? black? Would you ever convert to LEDs?

yeah, black. seeing pictures of some of these other tegs though, blue and silver both look amazing. probably going to go with black though. LEDs might be a possibility though. might be a while though.

looks like a steal for $1500 to me.
Personally, id suggest figuring out what you want to do to the body before painting. Like, it is pointless to paint your car black, and decide you want to invest in sideskirts. Now you have to go back and paint again. It sucks the first time, you dont wana do it more than once. Personally, id invest in a seat first, but thats me. Do what makes you happy man

He wanted $1900 for it, but my dad and I managed to talk him down, because of the paint and the seat.

The way i see it, it'll be a while before i mess with side skirts, and i'd rather not drive around a car with a crappy paint job until that point. plus, when I do get side skirts, i'll just be painting them by themselves, then putting them on, it's not like I'll have to paint the entire car all over again. and i plan on getting a new seat before i paint it. I'll be doing both this month. I'm just trying to make it look as nice as i can in the next 2 months before i go to college.

but maybe I'm wrong who knows. this is my first project car, if i make mistakes, i guess i'll learn from them in the future.

 

[BillJSwartz]

Did some bodywork today! Sanded off and filled in a few dents. Prepping for the paint job. I also went and priced paint today. Looks like the full paint job will cost me about $500.

More to come in the following weeks!