Just a quick note of thanks to the moderators and hosts of this forum. Special Howdy to Princess! :thmsup:
I found the forum while looking for info on converting an Accord auto to a manual transmission. This is something planned for my son's latest acquisition; a 1997 Honda Accord LX wagon. When done, this two-owner car with just over a hundo-grand, originally purchased by a 75YO grandmother and handed off to grand-daughter a couple years ago when G-ma passed at the youthful age of 91.
This is our seventh Honda in the family (first was a 1991 Accord Wagon with a 5spd....got more $ on the trade in than I paid for it... I should never have let that one go...
I am amazed at a few things here though; It is the paradigm of what is considered reliable. You see, I grew up in the 70's when we would change out a clutch in a couple hours, and wrenched on cars because we had to; to keep them running. I remember rotating tires, to earn the opportunity to drive Dad's Mustang. By the next summer, we had the motor out, and a replacement in as we rebuilt the original. She only had 172,000 miles...and that is what fascinates me most.... we have a 1998 Honda Accord that was purchased new that has 243,000 miles, has only had the timing belt and waterpump changed, a set of half-shafts, a starter and tranny rebuild (teenagers learning to drive...(read- Street race mom's car). The Mustang burned oil like a cook-stove, but the Accord only uses a couple quarts of Synthetic between the 5,000 mile oil changes.
I am fortunate to live within an hour of the Marysville Assembly facility and a half hour of the Anna Engine plant. I have supplied equipment to each facility since the late 80's, the first being parts-feeders for the door-latch assembly line for the 1990 Accord. I have worked with a variety of automotive companies, and have watched the Honda engineers calculate the exact needs of every process (when other manufacturers guessed at the answer due to RIFs & managment by bean-counters in Detroit), and realized that Hondas are an excellent product because they are well-engineered, built by folks with a solid, "Work-All-Day" work-ethic, and understanding anyone on the assembly line can shut down the line for any issue of imperfect quality. Hondas are consistent, and after owning and self-servicing each of the ones owned over the past 15 years, I am "Sold" on Hondas.
I look forward to finding a 1997 Accord EX with a 5speed that has been totaled in a rear-end collision (to use as a donor vehicle for son's upgrade). Oh, the reason for the wagon is for hauling music-equipment to gigs, etc.
If I can assist with any experience, I would be more than happy, just shoot me a personal question. I don't surf the net much, but will check messages, expecially from moderators.
Thanks again for the great site!!!:notworthy

dblugras, welcome to DA Forum, moderators and hosts are fairly quiet in background, always watching, and listening, all good folks. You have picked a big job in converting an Accord Auto to manual for your son. I am sure it can be done, and members of this Forum know a lot of in’s and out’s.

Having seven Honda’s in your family sure positions you as a person of knowledge, I grew up in 40s & 50s and in 50s would chop and channel a 1948 Mercury, add skirts, Centerline forged wheels, and cut out pipes. Those years were learning times.

Since you are close to Marysville Assembly facility and close to Anna Engine plant, you may certainly know more about Honda than most of us who are members on this Forum. I designed and built many plants in the Midwest, and have learned something about automotive engineers. Consistency is one of the most important issues in Midwest manufacturing.

My first Honda was a 1985 Accord Sedan which I used to travel from Orange County California up to LA and back daily (138 miles round trip). I wish that I still had that ’85 Accord, it hugged the road, had plenty of power, and muscled its way through 405 traffic.

You can certainly assist many members on this Forum, and you are most welcome, Regards

Richard

Richard,

Indeed, I have worked alongside many of the engineers in the EGA group as well as on the plant floor. I have bowl feeders delivering door-hinge bolts on the Marysville assembly lines, bearing races on the Anna Drive shaft assembly lines and have other leak-testing, seals, etc in place. I have been fortunate to watch the build of many cars through the years on the lines, and to work with some very fine engineers from Japan and Americans, here in Ohio.
Since the entire engine/trans-axle assembly is cradled and assembled as a unit to the cars at the plant, I figure the best way to upgrade is to swap-out the motor and trans in one move. Someone posted a list of all items needed, and I figure if I find a front clip with shifter and computer in-tact, it will be the easiest. Honda used to build about 30-40 vehicles a set in the late 90's, so the pans are very similar, and I intend to use the floor pan section from the stick, when making the change (along with the motor/trans mounts).
I get a kick out of the young guys complaining about how unreliable certain things are...with 150,000mi+, and think back to the day when I changed oil every 3,000 miles and still had to perform routine work to keep cars running; most of these cars had less than 100K mi and weren't hi-po vehicles...lol. We started driving the Hondas in the early 90's and haven't looked back (OK there was that POS '96 Plymouth Voyager Van that left us stranded (limp-mode tranny) in Charlotte, NC and I had to tow home behind a panel van on a car-hauler in 1997...LOL). We still have the 98 Accord (for sale $1750 w/243,000mi), the '03 Civic, the '07 Accord and of course, the '97 wagon just acquired.
The beauty of the 97 wagon with an EX VTEC motor and 5spd is; you couldn't buy one like it new....just a 5spd in the LX with the 130hp motor. I figure we have a year to plan this changeover, and should be able to get the parts together in advance to plan the changeover. We live in a modestly middle-class midwestern neighborhood, so I will have to find a garage that will allow us the room for the changeover. Son will get a great education on this one too!
Well, gotta get moving, new projects and customers to call on....someone has to keep this economy going, and I figure a few sales each week to manufacturing plants is the perfect cure and a self-starter's approach to stimulate the economy.:thmsup:
Dave

Welcome to the forums dblugras! I don't have an extensive background as you, but we appreciate you being here and the insight you have given us! I hope you enjoy your stay here!! Love classic cars, I wish I had one to work on!