Been a while... so umm... sup?

[Doc_G]

Hiya folks how ya been?

Yeah I know it's been AGES since I've been here. Never really had any tech to share or glean, as I did not own a honda at the time. ^_^ Well I still don't have one but I am looking into one for my neice. It's a 92 honda prelude w/power everything, however the engine will need to be rebuilt or possibly replaced altogether. THIS is where you fine folk come into play. I've built old school hotrods, and new edge corner carvers, but I've never tried to rebuild/performance modify a honda motor. Not sure if its the h22 or h23 as yet, further more I'm not sure which one is the better of the two. So with that in mind I will be doing some research here and then I'll be asking any needed questions on what I can't find/don't understand.

To those of you who know me... Hi been a long time... "Where all the white women at???"

To those of you who don't know me... well just give me a chance... some times my "exuberance" is catchy... sometimes I'm just an asshole. OK OK in all honesty.. I'm always an asshole... just some times I try to use those things they tried to teach me in the nut house... what were they called... oh yeah... People Skills... that was what they said I didn't have... People Skills.

 

[AHHVTEC]

welcome back

 

[phunky.buddha]

Welcome back Doc.

I think the 92 was still the boxy body style with the horizontal taillights right? Never mind, it wasn't. Looks like the 190hp H22 setup wasn't available yet, according to this:

1992-1996 Honda Prelude: Overview - Consumer Guide Automotive

1992 Honda Prelude Pricing and Information

So you either had the 135hp F22 in the S or the 160hp H23 in the Si. It's a tossup as to which one is better depending on what you want to do. If the H23 has the same FRM cylinder liners as the H22 (I'm not sure), then it'll be more difficult to hone and put new pistons/rings in. It'll also be not such a great idea to put forged pistons in. The F blocks don't have the FRM liners (just iron sleeves), so you'll be able to hone and drop forged slugs into those.

As far as general rebuild- it shouldn't be much different in difficulty compared to your old school hotrods- you just have overhead cams. Neither block has VTEC to worry about.

 

[nootrac22]

Yep you're right on. The FRM sleeves are a PITA. They hasten ring wear and will result in burning some oil. It will take a while though. Also the H22 is an option as they were available in the 93, and it's the same car.

 

[92stoccord]

iron sleeves= madd boost yo!









welcome back btw.

 

[Doc_G]

lol... mad tyte boost yo!!!!! damn does this mean I need a 4 ft wing and lots of stickers...

seriously though I was hoping I wouldn't have to deal w/the vtech aspect since I don't fully understand it or it's workings yet I am seriously considering picking the car up given the asking price. The PO stated that the engine "broke a rod" so I'm guessing a new engine is whats going to happen just for my own piece of mind. I doubt I'll ever see a turbo on this thing... but then I've said the same about other cars I picked up initially to just buy cheap + fix + resale = profit and ended up modding them a good bit.

As stated for this car ALL I want out of it is reliability, decent fuel economy, and the ability to get out of its own way well enough to merge on the freeway. (just a bit of "giddy-yup")

Its an si which means I'm stuck w/the H23 huh. Okies... gotta look out for a F22. Just for the hell of it... lets say I did decide to give it a bit of a kick in the pants... nothing wild... options? Cost? Worth messing with since it's not going to be any kind of racing car?

 

[Battle Pope]

You could drop in a stock H22...

 

[Doc_G]

Update.

The car was sold and being trailered away when I got back to take a better look at it. So, I've found a 91 Mitsubishi Galant. I don't know anything about these cars other than they are 4 door and can look decent with minimal mods (rims, tires, paint/tasteful body kit)
This one runs like a top, shifts great, and has working ac/heat/windows/etc.

Not sure if anyone here cares for them, but I figure one of you might possibly point me in the right direction for these cars.

 

[AHHVTEC]

is it a vr4 galant

 

[95b16coupe]

what is your budget? there may be better cars out there in your price range that you haven't thought about?

 

[Doc_G]

is it a vr4 galant

Negative, just a run of the mill 4door 4banger. It's for my neice so I'm not sure I'd be putting her in a turbo awd car anyway. Not the way she drives anyway.

what is your budget? there may be better cars out there in your price range that you haven't thought about?

I can get this car for next to nothing, and its fairly clean as is, but I'm sure it'll get the usuals (rims/tires, body colored mirrors, new shocks/struts/lowering springs) As stated its for my neice and as long as it has working ac/heat thats about all she cares about. I don't mind cleaning it up a bit and doing some wrenching on the car, but I don't want to do un-necessary modifications to the car because I don't want her destroying something I've got 3K or more in. I figure I buy the car for 500.00 and maybe put another 1500.00 or so in it for the minimal mods I have in mind and bing, bang, bob's your uncle done.

Thoughts?

 

[dveit]

I say go for it. Get the car for fairly cheap then clean her up a bit. Replace all the plugs / wires, change the air & fuel filter, change / fill all the fluids, put some decent shocks and springs sitting on some tasteful rota wheels. Give it a cheapo $200 maaco paint job and voila !

 

[Doc_G]

::UPDATE::

Have purchased the car and brought it home tonight, no pics of it as yet (hell it's bone stock mitsubishi you already know what it looks like) but I can say the interior is clean as hell, and that for the most part anything major that needs attention has been done. New CV axles, waterpump/timingchain, has new tires on it (complete w/Wally World hubcaps, chrome no less... bling bling yo) oil change and tranny flush 1K miles ago. All in all it is surprisingly clean minus some clear coat issues.

My next question is what are my options on body kits for these cars, the only one I'm bringing up is a "Cyber" body kit, and no way in HELL its going on this car. The side skirts are alright, hell I could go with a set of front and rear bumper lips to go with them and be good. But I don't know what/where to look for 'em.

Rims are pretty much covered as are tires. Nothing fancy, just 16 or 17's with good rubber. lowering springs and coil overs are a possibility as this thing rides a bit rough (I realize the lowering springs, and coil overs are not going to help but at least it'll look nice while being as rough)

options and opinions are requested and greatly appreciated (Hell I even welcome the trolls to stroll through)

 

[LSacuragirl90]

welcome back dude!

 

[reckedracing]

whats up doc

 

[Battle Pope]

I wouldn't put a body kit on a car going to a teen. First thing they're gonna do is plow it into a curb or something and then it's gonna look awful. Fix the clearcoat and leave the body alone, imo. I can tell you from experience, when my old car had body mods they sustained some damage even though I drove it carefully and mindfully. The way you talk about your niece's driving I'm not sure I'd even put brand new wheels on it.

 

[Doc_G]

I wouldn't put a body kit on a car going to a teen. First thing they're gonna do is plow it into a curb or something and then it's gonna look awful. Fix the clearcoat and leave the body alone, imo. I can tell you from experience, when my old car had body mods they sustained some damage even though I drove it carefully and mindfully. The way you talk about your niece's driving I'm not sure I'd even put brand new wheels on it.

Well to be completely honest, she taught her self to drive. In reality I'd have to say she isn't that bad. I'm just gonna have to take it to task and take her out driving some. The body kit, well... I just wanted her to have something fairly nice to drive. Mechanicly sound was my main intent, and I have satisfied myself in that respect. As for rims, they will be used rims off craigslist most likely and new tires simply because I hate nearly EVERY stock rim available for these cars.

 

[cjvictoria]

Hey~ welcome back dude... This is three returns within what. 2 days now? Pretty awesome..

Thats a good idea to just get some rims off of craigslist, rather than going with brand new ones.
At the very least go with something that doesn't hurt your wallet too bad.

I'm sorry if this part sounds sexist, because it's not really.

Most of my friends who let their girlfriends drive their cars, are always bitching about how they curbed the rims. Like I said, not sexist. Just generally speaking, women tend to curb rims pretty easily.

And yeah... Galants in that era came with some shit wheel options... I would look into getting some wheels from a 2nd gen eclipse gs-t... Those would look TYTE! lol

 

[Battle Pope]

Well to be completely honest, she taught her self to drive. In reality I'd have to say she isn't that bad. I'm just gonna have to take it to task and take her out driving some. The body kit, well... I just wanted her to have something fairly nice to drive. Mechanicly sound was my main intent, and I have satisfied myself in that respect. As for rims, they will be used rims off craigslist most likely and new tires simply because I hate nearly EVERY stock rim available for these cars.

Stock and clean will look just as nice as any body kit you may be able to find, and will hold up better under daily driving conditions, especially with a teen driving. I'm talking any teen here, not just yours. lol.

 

[Doc_G]

Thanks for the replies folks, and to those with the WB's, Thank you as well.

Yeah I'm thinking no body kit is possibly the order of the day. And the rims/tires will be either something off craigslist (used) or something cheap off ebay in the 16-17" variety. Tires will be new as will the brakes. I see the bolt pattern is 5x4.5 anyone know the backspacing by any chance?