[kingofmyworld]

Update :

Vtec went for a quick detailing job + an active subwoofer install and here’s the output. Someone asked for a better shot and here they are!

[kingofmyworld]

Originally Posted by emkay.india

This is an excellent restoration! Thumbs up for your perseverance what about re-registering as you had changed the color? is it a straight-forward process?

That is still work in progress. I will let you know what the process is once its successfully done.

Originally Posted by autoholic

My first car was the OHC 1.3 so I can understand your love for the car. The car is just awesome. Power, handling, looks- everything about it is spot on. Really miss it.

Have you faced any issues with the Automech exhaust? I also had it on my car. The problem I faced was that the system had no flexible joint incorporated into the kit. After assembly it was like a solid piece of pipe from the engine to the exhaust tip. While revving a lot of vibrations were felt inside the cabin. I had a flexible joint added to the system just after the 4-2-1 headers and it solved the problem. Performance was good, but was too loud for the better half and she simply refused to sit in the car without reduction in sound levels. We reached a compromise and I had the mid-can changed for the sound to change to a low rumble, which she liked later on.

I do not have any such vibrations at this point. The headers are bolted to the body soon after the 4-2-1 joint. this is the case with both stock and automech headers. Do you have a picture of the flexible joint that you got added?

Originally Posted by arvindmanju

Its a beautiful looking car, restoration looks top notch. Your FNG has done a very good job.
If you dont mind, what did you do with the Vtec alloys?

thanks

My stock Vtec alloys are preserved. I'm in the process of getting hold of the right guy who can restore them without painting them. So far, I only have guys who are willing to paint it but I want the stock finish.

[autoholic]

Originally Posted by kingofmyworld

I do not have any such vibrations at this point. The headers are bolted to the body soon after the 4-2-1 joint. this is the case with both stock and automech headers. Do you have a picture of the flexible joint that you got added?

The flexible section looked like the pic below and was installed at a FNG exhaust specialist. If I remember correctly the original Honda exhaust either had this type of flexible pipe or ball type flanges which give required flex to it. Check the original exhaust which you may have preserved.

Imagine if you are backing up your car and your exhaust tip hits a big stone or the pavement, this flex joint will not let the shock go to your engine. Also, in a front wheel drive car the engine rocks back and forth while revving and specially during spirited driving. If the exhaust has no flex then it will cause metal fatigue at the weakest point and eventually it will break.

[karuvally]

Hi Very happy to see your project. That is one very slick looking ride you got there. By the way, I am currently staying in Kondapur and pass by Harsha toyota every single day. Hoping to see you and the car in person one day

[TwistOfFate!]

Hey King!

Heart congratulations on your latest acquisition! The mere fact that you moved from a Civic to a City VTec shows your immense love for the car!

That said, I'm so impressed with the work that went into the transformation of a regular City-esque car to an extremely subtle looking luxury sedan is mind-blowing. The paint job, the exhaust kit, those body skirts, the subtle use of chrome around windows, the key fob, those leather seats etc, all speak for the subtler version of you transforming into the car.

The only standing out or rather loud bit of the car (looks per say) would be the wheels and the amazing tread design in the tyres. Mighty mighty impressed.

Please keep this thread going. Might inspire a lot of other 90s kids to help bring back those amazing once-upon-a-time Hondas back to life and glory!

Regards,
Vinay

[Vikram Arya]

A fantastic restoration thread!

It takes a lot of passion & perseverance to actually attempt restoration of a relatively older car especially when the allure of buying the latest & greatest is always there. The paint shade that you’ve chosen for the car is absolutely fabulous.

The 3rd generation City, especially the V-Tec will always have a special place in my heart for it was the first Honda that we test drove back in 2001 at Prime Honda in Ghaziabad before settling for the more sedate regular City. I still remember the perennial smile on my face when the we took the delivery of the car and drove it back to Shimla.

In 2006 I moved overseas and have had a chance to own different cars such as the Honda Civic (close to my heart as well, Manual 2008, now sold) & the Dodge Charger (sold as well) however the City has a special place in my heart just as another 4X4 from the land of the rising Sun.




Over the years the paint has oxidized and the bodywork has some scratches & dings as the car was parked out in the open for some time however even today on my trip back home when I drive the car, the engine though under-powered by today’s standards puts a smile on my face when I put my foot down & it revs effortlessly way beyond what today's restricted motors are capable of. The car is still with my parents in Shimla and in last 18 years it has clocked all of 47,000 kms.

You thread gives me inspiration to restore it back to its former glory however paucity of time during my short back home is a hurdle that I would need to overcome.

You’re really lucky to live in the vicinity of a city (Bengaluru) that is an automotive heaven, be it the availability spares of the older cars, auto tuners, body work specialists or the specialist mechanics. Would it be possible for you to share contact details of a few auto parts dealers in Bengaluru who deal in the spare/body parts of the 3rd generation City; it would be highly appreciated.

Thank you once again for sharing this wonderful thread & wish you thousands of miles of safe & spirited driving!

[Desmosedici]

Originally Posted by Vikram Arya

however the City has a special place in my heart just as another 4X4 from the land of the rising Sun.

Your pic reminded me of this. Same combo I owned at some point in my life. Best of both worlds.

[Fury]

I have been addicted to this thread ever since it came out. The transformation of this beauty can hardly let me take my eyes of it!
Wonderful build kingofmyworld. I can only wish for such a dedicated team to work on the car. They are hard to come by these days. Not to mention, finding a stock Vtec is even harder! This will be a motivation for me to get down dirty on a similar build, maybe in a couple of years.
Thanks again for the thread. Hoping to see further updates

[sandeepravi]

Hello, Kingofmyworld, please post updates on this car. This is one beautiful transformation and I am looking forward to hearing more about it. I am also saving up for a similar project and on the lookout for a neat (well almost) Honda City VTEC.

[yuvarajk16]

Hey your VTEC looks so good! also, do you have performance mods too or just cosmetic?

[Freerevvingguy]

Originally Posted by GTO

Absolutely love the way you've done your Vtec up . Congratulations.

Hi GTO, have gone through all your threads and other senior TeamBhp members about the best oil for the OHC. Everyone was consistent and recommended Mobli1 0w40. However, when I asked my local mechanic even they agreed that fully synthetic oil such as Mobli1 will be better for the engine but since it's a pretty old car they said that the engine will burn the oil a lot more and we will have to keep on topping up the oil. Was it the same for you @GTO. Looking for your experience .

[akki5069]

Originally Posted by kingofmyworld

Things are a little more convenient for me since I have a couple of friends who run garages.

Hey Man
Wonderful Thread !!

And definitely gives me a lot of excitement to rebuild mine as well, I am in NCR hence driving vtec isnt possible here and since 2018 I have just parked my Vtec securely in basement parking but keeping it stand made a lot of things stiff and few lack of greasing issues.

While, I have been contemplating on rebuilding mine and taking it for outstation trips. I saw one guy put civic seats into the Vtec since the Vtec seats are very small for the back. I am contemplating to put racing seats if my budget allows.

Thanks for such a lovely thread, I hope it put up mine soon.

It would be super helpful if you share the parts list that you changed.

Originally Posted by kingofmyworld

Update :

Vtec went for a quick detailing job + an active subwoofer install and here’s the output.

I would suggest you cover the back of your seats with a black mat/ cloth as well, would look much better.

[akki5069]

Mod Note : Please use the EDIT or QUOTE+ (multi-quote) button instead of typing one post after another on the SAME THREAD!

To know how to multi-quote, click here.

Originally Posted by GTO

Absolutely love the way you've done your Vtec up . Congratulations. You did the exact opposite of what I did in moving from a Civic <-> City. Indisputably one of the most iconic cars to be sold in India. A mad, mad engine + a beautiful steering that's dripping with purity. Just a word of caution = she is amazingly fun <100 kmph, but very poor over that.

Would recommend you Mobil 1. I've seen what it did to an already revv-happy engine. My Vtec used to revv like crazy - check it out here:

I also completely agree with GTO here, I would also recommend Mobil 1, the engine felt so smooth on this oil. I was in Mumbai for work and one garage fellow recommended me Mobil 1 and insisted I put it on my Vtec, next day on my way back to Delhi, I made sure to call the chap mid way and thank him for the recommendation.

Originally Posted by autoholic

My first car was the OHC 1.3 so I can understand your love for the car. The car is just awesome. Power, handling, looks- everything about it is spot on. Really miss it.

Have you faced any issues with the Automech exhaust? I also had it on my car. The problem I faced was that the system had no flexible joint incorporated into the kit. After assembly it was like a solid piece of pipe from the engine to the exhaust tip. While revving a lot of vibrations were felt inside the cabin. I had a flexible joint added to the system just after the 4-2-1 headers and it solved the problem. Performance was good, but was too loud for the better half and she simply refused to sit in the car without reduction in sound levels. We reached a compromise and I had the mid-can changed for the sound to change to a low rumble, which she liked later on.

My first car was also 1.3, absolutely loved and cherished that car for about 7 years and in between I happened to buy a Vtec. While later on I decided to keep the Vtec, not that I didn't like the 1.3, it had its own charm of driving in the city.

I am completely in agreement with you on the relevance of expansion joints on the exhaust, most of the tuners/ exhaust makers don't put them and because of which they tend to either break in some time or mess with the hooks on which they hold.