By Jeff Glucker
It’s finally getting some love…
My 2000 Honda Civic Si has been sitting for a bit, collecting dust, dirt, and sadness. The battery is dead even though it’s a relatively new Optima unit, and the passenger side window has stopped working. The face is still bruised up, and the passenger side airbag still sits flapping in the cabin.
Regardless, when I do drive the Civic I have a massive smile on my face. It’s still such a joy to drive, even amongst the variable press car rotation specimens I have occupying my official parking spot (in fact, you can see the latest machine somewhere in that lede photo).
This Honda deserves some attention, and now it’s going to get it. Read on to find out what’s in store.
I received an email from a podcast listener who happens to be the main instructor for a high school shop class. He and his students would be happy to lend a hand with the Honda. In fact, they’d even come and get it from me. So last Saturday that’s exactly what happened. The Civic was lashed to the back of a trailer, and it’s now off to Norco High School to get automotive medical attention.
I consider this a win-win situation because a few car-loving students are going to have a new project to work on, and my Civic will start to come back to the life it used to know. Initial items that need addressing are the battery and alternator, that passenger side window, and the clutch. From there, I’m going to let the Norco team dive in and find anything then can so we can get it sorted.
After the mechanicals are good to go, we’ll see what can be done with the banged up bodywork. A new hood is easy, the grille and bumper should be no problem, but there are a few other issues that require attention. Still, it’s nothing monumental and it should get sorted.
Hell… I might even throw a few upgrades at the car while it’s out there (wheels, tires, and suspension perhaps?).
Along the way, I’ll be venturing out into the Inland Empire to check on the progress of the car. Also, I plan on chatting with the students to learn a bit more about the folks working on the car. This will be a coming-back-to-life tale filled with a group of young gearheads led by an older (but not that old) teacher. The car is the star, but the journey and the team are the heart of the matter.
So follow along as we bring the Honda Civic Si(gh) back to life… and eventually drop the (gh).
[Many thanks to Richard and his students for taking on this project!]