Thursday, 18 May 2023 / Published in Restoration

Saving an Old Honda Civic 1.6i VTEC

We’ve just started works on this W reg (2000) Honda Civic. This is the MB chassis born out of collaboration with Rover at the time. This was built in the Swindon factory which Honda have recently closed. Based on the Domani, which in turn was mechanically similar to the fifth generation Civic, this version was marketed in Europe as the MA/MB/MC Civic and Civic Aerodeck. The car was mutually developed during Rover’s collaboration with Honda. Domani means tomorrow in Italian which is appropriate because the car failed the MOT and the garage advised the customer was best off scrapping the car. Somehow we came up on a web search, and now we have a customer very happy that we are saving her beloved car. The objective of this welding work was to achieve a strong, long lasting repair that didn’t cost the earth. If we were working on a more valuable classic, then each repair should look almost invisible. These areas were covered by plastic sill covers so many welds were not fully ground back. This saves time and cost.

honda civic mb resto — *Old cars get under peoples skin so it’s wise to not assume they would rather scrap and buy a new car*

There are a number of areas that need work, we decided to take on this project and attempt to complete in 1 week.

nearside rear sill where it meets wheel well — *Nearside rear sill where it meets wheel well, an area of significant corrosion and if you look closely you can see where a repair using fibreglass and filler has been carried out on the wheel arch.*

near side front sill where it meets wheel well — Near side front sill where it meets wheel well, some serious rot here (if you’re wondering my this didn’t get spotted on an MOT before it got this bad, it was due to plastic sill covers being fitted which hide and promote corrosion)

off side front sill repair also required — *Off side front sill repair also required, on the floor are the bits of iron oxide that will be replaced with fresh steel*

sparks flying as a section of steel is cut — *Sparks flying as a repair section of steel is cut*

near side front section ready to accept repair piece — *Near side front section ready to accept repair piece*

near side front repair section first test fit - nice when it fits right 1st time — *Near side front repair section first test fit – nice when it fits right first time*

inside the rusty sill before treatment — *Inside the nearside rusty sill before treatment, this picture shows how cars rust from the inside out*

rusty sill inner treated with Buzzweld Rust Encapsulator — *Rusty sill inner treated with Buzzweld Rust Encapsulator*

honda sill treated with more rust encapsulator towards front of the car — *Honda sill treated with more rust encapsulator towards front of the car*

repair section welded in to the front near side sill section — *Repair section welded in to the front near side sill section*

*near side rear section almost complete*

saving the worst until last — *Saving the worst until last – the front off side in the process of cutting back to good metal*

off side front repair progressing — *Off side front repair progressing*

*front off side from underneath showing the scale of work required here – this is the location of the jacking point as well*, *so that will need rebuilding*

Sills usually go nearer the wheel well and the jacking point, chiefly to do with the location to the wheel and spray thrown up from the road. Often the realisation your car needs serious work is when the jacking point moves upwards when a trolley jack is used.

off side front repair with lower part closed in — *Off side front repair with lower part closed in*

jacking point remade ready to weld in place — *Jacking point remade – ready to weld in place*

One of the real giveaways to indicate that a car has heavy corrosion, is where the jacking points have collapsed after years of having tyres changed using a jack where more load is placed on the reinforced lift point.

offside front repair with Gravitex first coat in grey — *Offside front repair with Gravitex first coat in grey*

near side front repair with first coat of grey Gravitex — *Near side front repair with first coat of grey Gravitex*

The next step when the primer has dried is to add seam sealer – this is a Polyurethane or PVC based product which is applied along and around the welds and seams. Designed to ensure the repair is effectively sealed to prevent the entry of water and more corrosion.

near side rear repair completed — *Near side rear repair completed*

near side front complete after seam sealer and black Gravitex — *Near side front complete after seam sealer and black Gravitex*

front off side finished from underneath showing the jacking point — *Front off side finished from underneath showing the jacking point*

near side rear repair finished after seam sealer and black Gravitex — *Offside front repair finished after seam sealer and black Gravitex* *– just the wing to go back on here and we’re done..*

near side rear from another angle showing where the trailing arm attaches — *Near side rear from another angle showing where the trailing arm attaches*

*Here is an image inside the sill after lanoguard treatment, this will ensure the repair lasts a long time with re-application every 18-24 months*

1 Comment to “ Saving an Old Honda Civic 1.6i VTEC”

Ann Dunbar says :Reply

May 25, 2023 at 11:54 pm

Hi,
I want to express my gratitude to Julian and Craig
They looked at my car and told me it could be “saved”
Hearing those words after the day I had previously, was so heart warming.

24 hours previous my garage of 23 years told me the car was old, rusty may last another year, start thinking about getting another car.

Hearing those words filled me with dread, thought of losing a loyal, reliable old friend, history built
together over 23 years.
As Julian so rightly said “old cars get under your skin” and “yes” they really do .
So, if your in despair about your old car when every one else has given up,
Give Julian and Craig a call you will not be disappointed. Their attention to detail is second to none they have great respect in the work they are commissioned.
If, you love your car as I do mine you will find no other that will look after you and your car as they do.
Truly five star +