'79 Honda Acty (Pic heavy!) - Saxperience

jasonmayall · 15th July 2014, 17:56

Copied from another forum - i know some of you lot are into you're weird and wonderful motors so I thought I'd share on here.

Last Wednesday my mate and I picked up this little gem.
We don't really know too much history about it, but it does appear to have been very well looked after.

Back in 1983 (Long before my time!) it was owned by an ageing man who used it to transport his model train set to and from shows, When he hit 65 he called it a day and left the van in a garage.

30 years later he's still going, but in a worsening state. His family decided they would empty the garage out and the van was on offer for £0. We couldn't turn this down.

The garage had been locked shut, not even opened for 30 years. We had no idea what we were going to pick up - We didn't even know if it was a Honda Acty, if it was even there or not, but what we did expect was lots of rust.

If you know anything about these old little things, they do like to rust, quickly!

The surprises begun.

We were welcomed by this happy face.

Emptied the rest of the garage to get around and take the car out.

3 out of 4 of the tyres still had air in!
the handbrake wasn't on (it works though!)
We pushed the car forward, out of the garage and onto the other van.
Moved surprisingly easily, Nothing appeared to be ceased.

Once home (back at my mates) we got to work.
First things we did.

Removed all the outside sticky out bits so we could give it a good, proper wash and a thorough waxing. I cant remember what the wax was called but its been recommended by a few fellow petrol heads and is meant to be the dogs dangles in terms of preserving patina.
We want to keep the bodywork in the condition its in at the moment, covered in spots of surface rust all over. Remembering this car isn't a restoration. Its 100% original and we want to keep it that way.

All the bodywork is in very good, solid condition. There are no leaks believe it or not! But then its not British... :chop: All the seals, including all the rubber ones are in as new condition - I don't think this car ever saw the sun!
All the doors, hinges etc are in as new condition, freely moving.

Can it really get better - I hear you ask.

Well, Yes ... it does!

It has a bench seat!

Again, in amazing condition with only a tiny bit of damage to the beading on the driver side seat.

That takes us up until Thursday anyway.

jasonmayall · 15th July 2014, 17:56

Saturday we took the master cylinder off as it burst all over Tims foot when he pressed the brake pedal.
I haven't got a picture of this, but the brake fluid left inside has crystallised into a sugar type substance. Meaning we either need a new one, or to get this one fixed.
Cant find a new one, anywhere!
Quote for getting this one refurbished is £120. Its a stinger but we don't have a choice.

Bit more cleaning and taking bits off, lead us up to yesterday when it was time to get that HUGE lump out of the boot.

The engine.

Powered by a 550cc, 2 cylinder, 28bhp motorbike engine. Mounted for a 4 speed manual box.
Rounding that up to a 1100cc it would make 56bhp, which for its time is a very high powered little engine!
Did I mention it also revs to 8500rpm? Veeeetech

Here it is

just in front of the rear wheels.

Here it isn't!

In the back of the car

And in my garage, on its side.

That's up to date, pretty much.

I'm currently sourcing bits, so hopefully get to work on the engine tomorrow if things turn up.
I've left a few ml of diesel in the cylinder bores before we attempt to turn the engine over, So i'll see whats what in the next few days.

Progress should be quick with this one, In the next 4 weeks we want it to be on the road, MOT'd taxed and insured.
In 5 weeks I'm taking it to the Lake district for a few days with my lovely assistant. (She'll be pushing whilst I drive)
The end of August also see's the Retro Rides gathering. We plan to take this up shelsley walsh hill climb

Mickswan · 15th July 2014, 18:01

Cool as fuck!

Jizanthapus · 15th July 2014, 18:43

Haha awesome!

I was watching one of these on eBay a few months back - although it was the camper version!

jasonmayall · 15th July 2014, 18:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jizanthapus

Haha awesome!

I was watching one of these on eBay a few months back - although it was the camper version!

Any idea what year it was? I'm trying to dig out as much info I can about them
or even if the link is still active?.
I've never seen one of these before - the early ones.

Jizanthapus · 15th July 2014, 18:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonmayall

Any idea what year it was? I'm trying to dig out as much info I can about them
or even if the link is still active?.
I've never seen one of these before - the early ones.

Ended in May but here's the link if it works:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HONDA-CAMP...vip=true&rt=nc

If not let me know and I'll post the pics. It's like 6 years newer than yours.

Gandi699 · 15th July 2014, 20:03

Awesome! What's the plans? Please say standard and tidy

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MuZiZZle · 15th July 2014, 20:05

K20 it! #teenswag #yolo

jasonmayall · 15th July 2014, 21:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jizanthapus

Ended in May but here's the link if it works:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HONDA-CAMP...vip=true&rt=nc

If not let me know and I'll post the pics. It's like 6 years newer than yours.

That looks really nice! Someone had a bargain there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gandi699

Awesome! What's the plans? Please say standard and tidy

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Its staying completely standard, no messing with this one.
Its got enough power!

Quote:

Originally Posted by MuZiZZle

K20 it! #teenswag #yolo

My knees are the crumple zone... I like my knees.
I want to keep them as long as possible.

jasonmayall · 15th July 2014, 21:48

Tuesdays update!

I started stripping the bits down off the engine as I need to change all the consumables and what not.
Last night I left some diesel in the bores as its meant to help free the rings up.

Engine mount off and a few little bits left me with this.

The belt came off easily - It does need replacing (I would anyway) but it was triangular and very stiff.

That brings me to the cam belt.

Pain in the arse to get to, but I managed it without breaking anything which is very important with this project!

Now, this is where I'm looking for some information on this car (I don't expect anyone on here to know much as were all BRM owners, but you never know!)

The timing marks.

On the top pulley, it says 'up'. I'm unsure if this is meant to line up with anything as there's no corresponding indicators. If its meant to be just vertical, Does this mean it needs to be pointing towards the rocker cover, or 'up' as if it were situated in the car?

On the lower pulley, its got a cutout (see pictures) this 'nearly' corresponds with the top 'up' but is out by a good few mm when facing towards the top of the rocker cover.

Annnddd I cant find diddly on the interweb about it!

I've also removed the Alternator which was ceased solid, understandably after 30 years. However a good soak in penetrating fluid free'd this off nicely - I'm yet to test if this works. Any suggestions on how to test before its in the car?

Starter motor has also been removed and does appear to move reasonably freely too, Although with a fair amount of resistance. I'm yet to test also.
Any ideas on how best to test this before it goes in the car too?

I need to try to minimalize any teething issues I have once the engine goes back in, I wont have the time to fix them.

Tom5190 · 16th July 2014, 22:01

I've got the belt info for that. Apparently it also requires minimum 98Ron wtf!

Pm me your e-mail address i'll send you an .XPS

jasonmayall · 16th July 2014, 22:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom5190

I've got the belt info for that. Apparently it also requires minimum 98Ron wtf!

Pm me your e-mail address i'll send you an .XPS

Legend! Thankyou.

But you've also annoyed me a little by telling me it needs 98ron fuel lol.

jasonmayall · 16th July 2014, 22:30

Wednesdays update.

I've worked out the timing on this. The 'up' is to state its the upper half of the pulley. Either side are 2 very small notches which need to be level with the head, the notch in the lower pulley needs to be vertical.

Easy, huh?

Anyway, After work I went over to my mates to give him a hand... This is what happened!

Still looks surprised.

Couldn't be happier with that! There is absolutely no welding needed, whatsoever! Its in better condition than my BRM, probably my golf too!
We tipped it over so we could thoroughly clean the underside up and properly underseal it. Its got no rot now and it never, ever will by the time we're done with it.

So I'm going to leave Tim to that for a couple of days, until Saturday when the barstool goes on holiday and leaves me to finish it off.

I went home and carried on playing with the engine.

Started by cutting the Aux belt so I could measure that - Ordered a new one!

Took the cam belt off and counted the teeth - ordered a new one of these!

I'm not going to be ordering the water pump or idler pulley as these will top our budget by a fair amount and they're both in very good condition.

I took the carb off to give it a good clean and oil up all the joints. I haven't taken it apart as I don't have a rebuild kit and quite frankly - I know sod all about carbs. Especially bike carbs! Of which this has one.

This is the housing the carb sits in. I'm not entirely sure of its purpose so I cleaned it anyway.

I also wanted to try and preserve the exhaust as best I can. Its got a lot of surface rust so I wire brushed it off and give it a coat of engine paint. You cant but these exhausts anymore and there are none left as 'new old stock' so it will be a custom one if it ever needed replacing.

(I think at some point when it does give up, it will be getting a bike can)

I've also bought a 5 trumpet air horn for her.

MartinObviously · 16th July 2014, 23:26

hahahaa good ol Honda!

Gandi699 · 16th July 2014, 23:42

Looks awesome. Remember my dad having a 1979 civic in a lovely shade of brown and him saying he had to replace the wing mirror base after it got smashed. He was thinking this is going to be stuck solid and corroded but found that the factory had copper greased all the fittings. Probably would be worth something now that car

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m4tt274 · 17th July 2014, 09:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonmayall

Starter motor has also been removed and does appear to move reasonably freely too, Although with a fair amount of resistance. I'm yet to test also.
Any ideas on how best to test this before it goes in the car too?

test it with a battery and some jump leads.

Car looks cool! certainly a rare project.

jasonmayall · 17th July 2014, 09:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gandi699

Looks awesome. Remember my dad having a 1979 civic in a lovely shade of brown and him saying he had to replace the wing mirror base after it got smashed. He was thinking this is going to be stuck solid and corroded but found that the factory had copper greased all the fittings. Probably would be worth something now that car

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

We've been soaking everything in penetrative fluid the day before attacking them, so far I've only had 1 screw which doesn't want to unscrew but I've managed to get around that easily enough.

They're SO basic!

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4tt274

test it with a battery and some jump leads.

Car looks cool! certainly a rare project.

That's what I was thinking, I tried it quickly on Tuesday but the terminals need a good clean first I think. I'll get on that tonight.

With the alternator, will spinning it and testing the flow prove that I works?

JoeHindle · 19th July 2014, 17:11

This is awesome!!

jasonmayall · 21st July 2014, 22:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeHindle

This is awesome!!

Thanks

jasonmayall · 21st July 2014, 22:21

Another big update!

Started to treat the underside, Grind down to bare metal and a couple coats of zinc primer.

Then some normal paint - literally used whatever I had in my garage - Never going to be seen again.

Then out come the underseal. I had a can of the stuff I planned on painting on, but I done about 1sq foot and gave up after about half an hour, Popped down to Halfords and bought a squirty gun for it.

Made life so much easier!

I've also gone for a new battery, I measured the battery tray and bought the biggest one possible... as you do. see the difference!

Gave the Master cylinder to a friend to strip down and see about refurbing it for us. It was full of caramalised gunk and the pedal went to the floor.

Looks like we need a couple of new seals.

(notice how it bolts on... very odd)

Going to send Tim over to Pirtek on Thursday to get some new seals and hopefully get some brake lines etc... made up.

Also managed to fit the cam belt which came today.

Easiest belt to fit ever!

All assembled.

The starter motor was ceased but I've managed to free it off and test it off the car, it all works fine so that's already been bolted back on.

The alternator I'm unable to test so I've fitted it and hoping for the best. So far everything seems to be going as planned, which is scary!