Lude Generation

A month or so ago, in a yard next to the breakers I posted up recently with a few old Honda's in, I spotted a 'deck lurking at the back and promised @Nafemannathan I'd go in and make some enquiries about it. It's taken a while, but I went in yesterday.

So firstly, the 'deck;
Correct me if I'm wrong Nafe, but absolutely the right model for you ('85 2.0 EX ALB Manual)

With the injected engine


Photo's were difficult because it was crammed in and buried away at the back.
Aside from the front bumper and lights, it is complete.


There are 2 bits of glass broken, the tailgate window (as in first picture) and the rear window (the tailgate roof light is intact);


The drivers door window is there, it's just open (rather than broken)


So bad bits, aside from the 2 bits of missing glass, missing front bumper, grille and headlights and that it's been sat there for years. Damage to front sill (though it's solid/looks intact, just a bit bent);

Rust around the sunroof;


It is all straight and original, not really rusty aside from the sunroof surround and is absolutely repairable, but it's not a 5 minute job
Although the interior might look manky and has been open to the elements on one side for quite a while (that rear window has only been broken for a few weeks) I prodded and poked around and it's actually in really good nick and would just clean up.

As for 'how could I ever track down the missing bits' ? Well...

stop finding cars and find those headlights

I got chatting to the guy, unusually for this type of yard (buried away type place, nothing to give away what is going on, normally run by people who want to stay completely 'off the radar' etc and don't take kindly to strangers poking their heads in). He said they were Honda specialists.
I was not convinced and saw nothing to suggest that From what I could see they had a couple of old lorries around and were busy knocking up some RSJ's for something.

I said I had a lude and he said they had one in, so I asked to take a look. It was just the other side of the lorry. No pics, but it's a 2.0 auto, same colour and spec as the one that newkid had vandalised. Strangely it had cream carpet and lower dash panels, but was otherwise all black interior (with black leather seats/door cards etc.). Nice condition and a runner. It's not for breaking. He was using it recently.

So one deck and one lude do a not a Honda specialist make... He mentioned they had a ballade that someone had been down and stripped earlier today. I had a look - the thing was MINT, but now minus all bumpers, interior, engine etc The guy had run out of space in his van and was coming back the next day for the rest.

I asked if he might have any bumpers for a 3g lude. He said yep probably, you need to talk to my boss, he's the Honda man. Up comes this big carribean bloke mid 40's. I say I have 5 preludes and might be interested in some bits. "5 preludes?" (Massive beaming smile). Turns out his first car was a '90 3g So anyway, he asks what I'm after and I say maybe interested in some bumpers for a 3g. "come with me"...


I will let the pics do the talking from now on (in no particular order)...











(Under that 3g facelift front bumper is a brand new old stock 3g pre-face rear bumper)















(yes, that's a NOS 3g quarter panel)






I ran out of battery at that point

I only saw a 3rd of the yard, I didn't even get to the engines that are in a big unit.

It's not all Honda, there is some Nissan and Toyota in there too, but basically, if you want a panel, light etc. for a 80-90's Honda, they have it. Either NOS (OEM, not pattern!) or used.

I left there was this;

A 3g facelift rear bumper bar (different to a pre-face, which they also had ), NOS. It's grubby and one part of the very end is slightly twisted, but it's brand new and otherwise mine, it didn't cost £80 and it didn't have to come from the Philippines (due in stock in June)
I also left my number and a deposit on a 3g and 4g front end when they've found them for me next week.

And after all this, traipsing up to Manc last weekend to track down a bootlid... Where is this place? TEN MINUTES from my house!

Crickey

Wish there was a place like that near me

Thanks for your efforts Iain

It is an EXi, so the only model I'd consider, but unfortunately that's a little too far gone for the efforts I'd have to put into it to bring back at the moment

However I do have everything but the front bumper and glass, should anyone else be interested. I did have a front bumper as well until not that long ago, but I let @Monzta have it. So Glenn might still have a spare.

It'd probably be easier to find a complete tailgate to replace that one. That'd sort the rust on it as well depending on the one you find, but I'd imagine finding one would be difficult, they really don't come up for spares that often.

Thanks again though Iain + rep'd

NafemanNathan wrote: It'd probably be easier to find a complete tailgate to replace that one. That'd sort the rust on it as well depending on the one you find, but I'd imagine finding one would be difficult, they really don't come up for spares that often.

I probably know somewhere that has one

Scrapyard heaven!

That is amazing! And I can't believe you've only just discovered it being so close

Those rear quarter panels

It's one of those places though, you can turn up pretty much knowing they'll have what you want... Ya just gotta find it

wurlycorner wrote:

NafemanNathan wrote: It'd probably be easier to find a complete tailgate to replace that one. That'd sort the rust on it as well depending on the one you find, but I'd imagine finding one would be difficult, they really don't come up for spares that often.

I probably know somewhere that has one

I was going to say

Out of interest, had you asked how much they'd want for it?

What a treasure trove!

You are now duty bound to go back to find out what engines they have.

Sailor wrote:You are now duty bound to go back to find out what engines they have.

... And any other honda part for any other forum member for the rest of time!