On 06:18 AM 07/18/02 -0600, D Wakefield said... >As said in my intro message, my 91 HF was in a >fender-bender and I'm in the early stages of trying to >figure out how to put the car back together. > >First and foremost, where can I get a Helms body manual? >This looks to be an absolute must for this project. > >Let me put it this way....neither my bud or I have much >experience in this department, and the Chilton/Hayes >manuals just don't have the detail of information that >we're going to need for this project. I've tried to access >their website, but I have an older computer and it doesn't >like their interface. Thus, a place I could call and order >it over the phone would be preferred.
You can try calling Helm at (800) 782-4356 When you say "neither my bud or I have much experience in this department," are you saying that you don't have much body work/repair experience? The Helm manuals, in general, are very technical in that [they] assume that you are somewhat above the average DIY shade tree mechanic. Basically if you know the basics and fundamentals then you should be OK. The Helm manual is a very good compliment to the existing Chilton,Haynes and other similar repair manuals available. But I like the Helm because of the nice technical drawings (very easy to read and understand) and it's "direct to the point". >Part issues...my apologies, but this gets long. > >There are two CRX HF's at the salvage yard where we bought >this car. Both are polar white/blue just like mine >(coincidence??) They've offered us a fairly good deal on >most of the parts we need (ie, about $300 so far, but I'm >going to be adding some items to my shopping list - things >I noticed after I got the car home). > >One is a 88 and the other is a 90. Unfortunately, the 90 >(the most compatable) has the most probs. The only parts I >can pull from that one is the right front corner light >assembly (which has a cracked lens), right door trim >(mine's missing), along with the A/C control unit (mine has >a crack around the temperature knob/switch) and glove box >(mine needs the right side hinge). > >That leaves pulling the hood, right fender, right headlight >assembly, bumper (w/marker light assemblies) from this car. >Another part is what my friend call's a k-frame. I don't >know what to call it, but it's a structural member behind >the bumper that the front motor mount connects to. The one >in my HF was bent badly enough that he believes we need to >replace it with the one from the 88 HF. We may also have to >cut off the front clip (term ??) from the 88. IOW, the part >that runs across the front of the car where the hood latch >is located. If so, this is going to be the big cost of >refurbishing the car (local body shops have quoted me about >$800 to cut mine off and weld the new one in place). It's >doubtful we're going to be able to straighten the on on my >car out. $800 sounds kind of a lot to me. Does the $800 include them cutting out the section from the donor car as well? Have you checked to see if the frame can actually be pulled straight? IMHO, for $800 and a few hundred more, you can almost get another CRX. I just went to http://www.autotrader.com and did a quick search for a Honda CRX (1988-1991) with a selling price range of $100 to $1000 in my zip code area and it returned 3 CRX's (two private sellers and one dealer). They weren't Si's but neither are your donor cars. :^) Just a thought... Again, this also depends on the are in which you live. CRX's seem to be more in abundance here in California (the only problem is the prices that some of their owners are asking are often times ridiculous) . Anyways, I would be interested to learn what that $800 buys you.... >The BIG question I have here is whether these parts from >the 88 will work on my 91, or is there enough difference >that I'm going to have to find these from a 90-91 car. > >The rear bumper on the driver's side is loose. I don't >believe this is related to the accident. It appears that >the clip mounted on the front part of the inside of the >bumper is broken (the clip on the body of the car looks to >be intact). Will I need to replace the entire bumper, or >can that clip be pulled from one of these junk cars? > >The part that I need that is alluding me is a radiator. >There isn't one in the 90 HF, and the one in the 88 HF is >broken at the top. Any suggestions where I might look for >one, or could a radiator from a similar model honda work? I would take the radiator to a local radiator shoppe and see if it can be repaired. If it can be repaired, ask how much to have it rebuilt (which usually includes them replacing or cleaning up the internal core). >Same goes for the lens for the right corner light. The one >on the 88 is toast, and the one on the 90 has a hole in it >(while the assembly is intact). How big is the hole? Depending on how large it is, it can be filled and polished. >Please keep in mind I'm having to work this project >paycheck by paycheck. Until we stumbled upon this car, my >plan had been to save up $4,000 by the end of the year and >find an intact running car. Now, it's a case of do what I >can each paycheck (re: slow boat method, much to my >chagrin). So long as I get it done by the end of the year >it doesn't matter. > >Sorry for the long post. Thanks in advance for any >help/advice I can get on this issue. > >Derek Wakefield >[EMAIL PROTECTED] $4000?!? I must have missed your intro message but for that kind of money, why are you wasting your time trying to resurrect a CRX from the bone yard? If *MY* CRX was involved in an accident where I found that the frame was bent and the total cost to repair was more than $1000 (USD), not including paint, I would most likely strip what I could off of it and look into another CRX. I purchased my CRX for around $2000 (USD) and maybe dropped in an additional $2000 to $3000 or so getting it to where it is now (over a 4 year period). And I'm not 100% sure I would rebuild it the same. BOL! Robert K. Kuhn CRX Owners Group President (http://www.crx.org/southcal) 1990 Honda CRXsi (http://drive.to/jiggy) ICQ # 3714283 (nickname: godzilla)
