98-0148 (From Rice to Nice)

[Vtecwreck]

So I’ve decided to start a thread to keep tabs on the progress/process of “de-ricing” 98-0148.

So after about 3 years of actively searching for a clean title 98 spec shell, I finally found the one on 11/13/17. I got a lead from my cousin and immediately purchase it. I saw some pictures of how it looked but I took the gamble. The car was nearly 1500 miles away and the seller was very helpful for most of the deal. There were definitely a few hurdles I had to overcome due to shipping brokers. Fast forward to the end of November, the shell finally arrives. I did not have a place to store it at the moment so my cousin allowed me to store it in his storage unit until I found something more local to me. After two weeks I had the car within 5 miles of me. Throughout the past 3.5 months I have been buying and piling up all the parts necessary to complete the shell and make it a caR again. I am finally at the point where I can start assembling it. ** DISCLAIMER; this is not like the more traditional restoration that include all brand new parts, I am restoring this car on a budget. That being said about 90% of the parts being put into the car will be USED and reconditioned. Hopefully later in life I could do a real restoration.**

Now on to some pictures (I apologize if some pictures are not oriented properly):

Listing:

IMG_1826.JPG (341.08 KiB) Viewed 4610 times

IMG_1825.JPG (279.8 KiB) Viewed 4610 times

Glory days:

IMG_1914.JPG (775.8 KiB) Viewed 4610 times

IMG_1915.JPG (736.25 KiB) Viewed 4610 times

IMG_1916.JPG (785.84 KiB) Viewed 4610 times

IMG_1917.JPG (828.36 KiB) Viewed 4610 times

I don’t have any of its current state since I can’t really work on it where it’s at now. I’ll snap some next time I go check up on it.

[ddwelch]

That interior makes me cringe. I am sure you will get it back to a respectable state.

[boostjunkie33]

wtf....like seriously wtf. In somebody's mind this was a good idea. I applaud you sir for undertaking the task of righting this attempted murder.

[AssPenny]

Dibs on lambo doors!

Craig - who can't wait to ghost his lambo door whip

[Sort of Fast]

Wouldn't it be spiteful if this car still passed you at the track? That's going to be a project man. Looks like a lot will need to be re-done. Interior I would just gut out and get a parts car with a nice OEM inerior. That's what I did for my 97. Still in the process of making it nicer actually. Best of luck on this.

[0249]

Good luck I wonder what the surprise will be on those quarter panels.

[Type R]

I think you should leave it as is. Preserve its modified glory. That dash is too dam sexy to bring back to stock

[Vtecwreck]

That interior makes me cringe. I am sure you will get it back to a respectable state.

As bad as it really seems, everything you see in white is leather wrapped. Under the adhesive there are very good condition panels, as for the red, they’re all painted and won’t be saved.

wtf....like seriously wtf. In somebody's mind this was a good idea. I applaud you sir for undertaking the task of righting this attempted murder.

Yeah I completely agree, but I can appreciate the workmanship and detail.

Dibs on lambo doors!

Craig - who can't wait to ghost his lambo door whip

Unfortunately for you they were removed and replaced with the stock hinges. Looks like you’ll have to wait a little longer haha.

Wouldn't it be spiteful if this car still passed you at the track? That's going to be a project man. Looks like a lot will need to be re-done. Interior I would just gut out and get a parts car with a nice OEM inerior. That's what I did for my 97. Still in the process of making it nicer actually. Best of luck on this.

Thanks for the advice, like I mentioned to ddwelch the leather helped preserve the panels Amazingly! Do you happen to own a PY too? I follow someone on IG that did the same exact thing you mentioned.

Good luck I wonder what the surprise will be on those quarter panels.

Thanks, they’re actually in great condition! The widebody was a fiberglass cast that went right over the original quarter panel (thankfully!).

I think you should leave it as is. Preserve its modified glory. That dash is too dam sexy to bring back to stock

Not even going to lie, I considered dropping a motor in it and driving like that. Good thing i decided otherwise! Lol

[Klasse]

It's already a massive improvment over it's old life. Good luck with the ongoing dericing!

[Cap]

Mind boggling amount of effort put in by the PO... Just curious, did somebody steal the engine, and leave behind the alarm system?