7/12/2025
After my aborted attempt to replace the blower motor on the heater, I needed to set some time aside to put the whole heating system back together.
I woke up feeling motivated today, so I moved the Honda out of the garage and put Emma in the middle.
Objectives:
- Heater core cover reinstall + put glovebox back together
- Fix the wiring on the fuse box
- Put the old steering wheel back on
- (Maybe) re-mount the radiator overflow container
Heater Core Cover:
I got the cover up to the core, and started trying to install the clips that hold it together, but the gap was way too large.
Asked my obliging wife to come push on it with her feet. We got *some* of the clips on, but not enough for my satisfaction. We came up with a lovely idea to drill a hole in both sides and put a zip tie in there.
I don’t usually half-ass these things, but for some functions I’m fine with it. This is one of those times.
So my wife started drilling with a proper drill but the profile was just too large to make good traction. Enter the Dremel.
The Dremel got the job done and maybe – maybe not – started a small fire. But… we have a hole, and now there’s a zip tie in the hole, and the cover is on!
I also used some PB Blaster on the door there at the right of the photo – They painted the hinges on it so they move like shit. Oh, I also took a rough pad sander (not sand paper – think kitchen scrubbers) to the paint over the whole cover. There was so much bubbling paint, that something had to be done. Maybe someday I’ll paint it. Or replace it. Or burn it ceremoniously. I dunno.
In the process, and to close off the repair(?) I put the janky-ass cardboard glovebox filler back in and properly mounted the glovebox door. NBD. Shitty, but functional.
Fuse Box
I had over-inflated goals for this one. I have the original cables clipped together with wire clips
I don’t hate these, but I genuinely don’t know how reliable they are. They seem solid, but I had aspirations of soldering and heat shinking the wires together – a more permanent…erm… solution?
The space to do so was way too small and there was no way to do it without constantly burning my mitts on the heat gun. So I left the clips for now (they make it super easy to work on). I also velcroed it to the side wall of the driver’s seat.
At least it’s not hanging down and getting hit by my feet every time I drive.
The Steering Wheel
I have to tell y’all, I hated that wooden steering wheel. I tried. I really did. I hate it. It’s janky as shit. And it makes the car feel like a lowered El Camino. Decided to go back to the original wheel.
There’s more to come about remounting the overflow for the radiator, but suffice to say it did not go well. One of the fan shroud mounts (to which the overflow tank mounts) snapped, so I have some more on the way. I tried this once before, but the mounts I got were WAYYYYY to small. I’m hoping these new ones will be the right size.
A frustrating, but overall fulfilling day. I’m also considering either rebuilding or replacing the carbuerator. When I turn the idle adjustment screws they only kinda make a difference. I’m sure that carb is all gummed up. The fella I bought it from used ethanol gas on it. I try not to.
More to come!
EDIT: This carbuerator is not super expensive, but it’s also not nominal… I may make an attempt to rebuild it. That’s cheaper.
Leave a Reply