Britludes NSX story

[britlude]

Here’s my ‘build’ thread….

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4326/36012255255_d28b92845b_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShdQF)zKIF_0446800x600 (https://flic.kr/p/WShdQF) by jon (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

1992 Honda NSX
JDM
Charlotte (or Brooklands)
Green 3.0ltr automatic (i don't care, it's a NSX!)

I bought my car in September 2005 needing a little TLC. I’d seen it listed twice in the previous year on ebay, watching it work it’s way down the country before I bought it from an ad in Autotrader… the previous 2 owners only having it for 6 months each! I suspect the previous owner, a Ferrari fan, couldn’t get used to the concept of a car that would start and go without fuss, rather than the excitement of what would fail to work with the turn of the ignition key or if the timing belt would need changing after a week of use!! That and not being able to get the steering wheel comfortable for himself… It only tilts apparently… Strange that the column has 2 levers then… Anyway, back to the plot... When I got the car I started to sort the bits that needed doing…


- Drivers footwell/column cover… one of the forward locating pins had broken off, the other not located, so the panel bounced off the top of my feet when driving… always a good feeling, wondering of your foot would be stuck on the throttle, unable to lift up to get to the brake!!! Fixed that first

- when I got the car the drivers door handle had broken (the small cast aluminium bit that pulls the cable) which aided negotiations! On arrival home, and after sorting the footwell cover I stripped the handle, and carefully lumiwelded the broken pieces back together! £320 for a new handle saved! (Door fixit thingies were used later, once I’d found that they existed!)

- as part of the importing process a few tweaks were done to make it comply with UK regs… the first was the speedo, which was recalibrated with a small box of magic in the speed signal wiring, and a small ‘mph’ sticker on the speedo. However in their haste they had managed to lose the clear legend where the petrol light is. With the aid of the handbook dash layout a new legend was printed on clear acetate and the dash returned to original! They also managed to lose the trip reset button on the speedo, but I found that later under the carpet ( 7 years after import!)

- Boot release bodge in the door … When the car was imported, and tweaked for the UK roads, they obviously discovered the boot release button wasn’t working, so a power feed was hotwired from the remote alarm sensor in the door … Not realising it was the valet switch in the glove box turned off!!!

- Also to comply with UK regs a fog light was added by disconnecting the inner set of brake lamps (JDM have an extra pair) and wiring them to a switch in the centre console (an ugly switch that needed changing later). All well and good except my car didn’t have a brake warning light like every other NSX…. That’ll be because of the black tape over it! Sorted that, rewired the cente brake lights via a relay to function as both brake lights and fog when necessary. This is still dodgy in the world of regs, so was later changed, but did for the time being, the added bonus being the brake warning lamp on the dash reminding you when the fogs were on!

- TCS switch didn’t light up…. Does with a new bulb!

- aircon controller (ACC) had lamps out, again a couple of ‘grain of wheat’ bulbs sorted that, and gave me experience of getting the centre console out!

- traditional sticky slow windows…. Greased for the time being, until I knew better

- removed the hideously installed Bluetooth kit… well I didn’t have a Bluetooth phone anyway!

- front spoiler was reattached as it had been scraped once too often

- new gas rams for the engine hatch as they didn’t work, even the first time tha car was on ebay

- new gas rams for the boot lid (http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?900-boot-struts-(really-dull)&p=5816#post5816 )

- the electric aerial shaft was replaced as the old one was broken. Fortunately JDM has a half height option so it wasn’t too much of an issue, just it was broken!

- the car was suffering with the traditional split sun visors, fortunately I had some vinyl that was a perfect match for the originals… so pockets were sewn and the visors carefully sewn in!

- whilst I was up there I removed the headlining and repaired the back edge, someone previously had been trying to get the headlining out for some reason and had managed to break the back edge, so that it was bent and hung too low, reinforced and rectified it was back to how it should be!

- finally the bonnet catch/release was cleaned and oiled so that it worked properly!

- just to add to the mix, the aftermarket alarm on the car had a boot release button… so it might as well do what it was designed for, especially as the boot has a solenoid release! (guess how I found the boot release in the door bodge!!!!


So, now I had a car that basically did everything it was supposed to, everything that should have worked, did work, and all was well with the world :)

......except those wheels look a bit small

and the fog lights are a bit unsightly

and its got a cassette player...

....to be continued....


........... in the edit screen there's blank lines between the bullet points, making it somewhat easier to read. I did try, honest! :)... *edited, note to self, don't try to be flash and use bullet-points!!!*

[SILVER BULLET]

Fascinating as usual Jonathan, really enjoy reading your project posts, you have great skill and knowhow, keep up the good work,

Thank you for sharing,

Ian

[Problem Child]

Very interesting and gives me an insight into what I have let myself in for. I am not mechanically minded and had no intentions of getting my hands dirty but so far my list consists of:

1) Reattaching the front spoiler

2) Changing the gear knob

3) Changing the battery

4) Disconnecting the antenna

Number 5 will be installing a new Shark II antenna (when it finally arrives)

From little acorns do large oaks grow!

[nobby]

these JDM's require a little bit more tlc :)

interested to see what your thoughts are longer term re these

agreed, the f.l's do nothing for the car apart from making it look dated ... and as for the tape deck ... LOL ;)



and the fog lights are a bit unsightly

and its got a cassette player.......

to be continued.....

[Tokyo-Joe]

Excellent, I look forward to reading more :)

[scottg]

Next installment please, would love to see the wheels you have chosen

[britlude]

The continuing story…

Oh, I forgot, the towing eye cover in the front bumper was missing, sourced through honda UK, and supplied in the correct colour too!

When I got the car it had 68k miles showing, converted from km to miles at 48k when it came into the country in 1997. So once everything else was done a quick service of oil filter, air filter, oil, sparkplugs and antfreeze was done at 70k.

I did all the work myself, as
1. I can,
2. I enjoy it
3. the muppet who owned it before me lost pretty much all the paperwork except the receipt for a timing belt service when it first came to the UK. All it takes is a little folder!!!

So as there wasn’t any service history, and subsequently no need to maintain overpriced service stamps as such (really, how much do dealers want to change oil and wipe with a damp rag??!!) I started to keep a record of the bits I have done to the car, hence I can make this list! Some times I noted mileometer readings, or dates, but they are all in order!

Anyway, getting back to the plot…

I had to do something about the numberplate…. Before and after, now tucked more into the grill opening, not plonked on the outside!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4324/36012251345_b34e54fb24_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShcFg)numberplatebefore-after (https://flic.kr/p/WShcFg) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

and I did play with different methods to ‘hide’ the fog lights… tint film/tint spray….
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4330/35622959270_1708561a95_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WgSYGW)zKIF_0456800x600 (https://flic.kr/p/WgSYGW) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

I think I lasted about 6 months before the wheels got to me, and after some searching, and an ask on the forum, I soon got a set of 17/18 staggered split-rim wheels, in the correct offsets for the NSX, from a member here!, at a good price, and a style I liked! They are from a Belgium company, called Evox … http://www.evoxwheels.com/index2.html , bright silver centres and chromed rims!

Blingtastic!!

They looked like this….
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4291/35201547133_b127ed0f87_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD8yr)Image395 (https://flic.kr/p/VCD8yr) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


then I just ran the car for a while, enjoying it while I did a major update/respray/retrim on my hotrod

to be continued…… again……

[britlude]

a bit of boring maintenance next…

76647 miles… oil change plus new O2 sensors … not knowing if they had ever been changed/renewed, the O2 sensors came from sparkplugs.com in the good ‘ol U S of A…. http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?2523-Engine-Check-light&p=20827&highlight=number+plate#post20827

79000 miles.... braided brake lines from a member here, after they had bought them from another member here that also had failed to fit them to a car!! In the process of fitting, I did a brake fluid flush, and a nice set of new brake pads front and rear

83375 miles.... oil change and tappets adjusted (27/7/07) my first delve into the inner workings of this engine, turns out it's not that complicated after all, just a bit fiddly! having said that, my dad and i did a cambelt change on his Renault Avantime V6 last weekend, and that makes the NSX engine bay positively spacious! anyway, an engine pic from 2007....

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4305/35172631124_38092d9f1b_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VA5VQy)Image004 (https://flic.kr/p/VA5VQy) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

on a side note, the engine internals colour hadn’t got any worse in the subsequent 5 years between the above 2007 pic and the 2012 pic below….
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4300/36012252445_922c5468ba_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShd1e)WP_20160506_16_22_07_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/WShd1e) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

....if anything, with the frequent oil changes it’s actually got cleaner, so all good there then. The theory I have with timing my oil changes is this… when the oil is new, it shows 2 marks on the gauge at tickover when the oil is hot, as it degrades over time and the oil gets thinner, the hot idle reading on the gauge falls. When it starts to get near the single mark I change it! Its worked out an average of 6000 miles, and it’s cheap insurance!

July 2007 (or 83700 miles)
fit shiny new stainless exhaust headers, as i can't understand the reasoning behind fitting cast iron boat anchors as manifolds! I also got to replace hideously corroded exhaust fittings, the exhaust system makes perfectly good nuts and bolts dissolve!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4309/35201546963_7c7e7e14df_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD8vv)attachment-1 (https://flic.kr/p/VCD8vv) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

see this thread…. http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?3272-Delubozparts-Headers-on-Ebay/page3

[britlude]

84000 miles
I was getting a knocking/whining noise from the rear of the car when it was driven, and couldn’t pin it down. I pulled back the drive shaft boots both sides, and on one and the grease had been thrown out, leaving the coupling dry, and when I checked the other side I’m convinced a small amount of water came out.

Now I can’t be sure it came from inside the joint, but it wasn’t there before the gaitor was removed and it was after. It could have been a freaky coincidence, but I ordered a pair of low mileage replacement drive shafts from Dirk, and a pair of rear wheel bearing/hub units.

Fortunately this order coincided with Dirk making a trip to London, so that helped!

Note that the auto drive shafts and the manual drive shafts are different, just to be awkward! With the driveshafts out, the defective wheel bearing was identified and replaced at the same time.
The wheel bearing/hubs bolt on, so makes life easier!
While I was under there I replaced the transmission fluid. Simples!

April 2008… abs sensor went down, throwing up abs light and TCS lights on the dash, a quick short of the service connector showed the corner responsible and a replacement ordered. I did wonder what had happened….
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4300/35841488872_b6eac48e6c_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBbZWG)Image279 (https://flic.kr/p/WBbZWG) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

hmmm maybe those 2 broken wires poking out of the metal plate are supposed to go somewhere…??


Here’s the tread …. http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?4718-front-wheel-sensor-how-to!

[britlude]

September 2008 with the new headers on, and declared to the insurance that it had non standard exhaust, I had a play with the rest of the exhaust system! Well, it would be rude not to! as I mentioned earlier, the original box was showing some stress one end…. This was replaced with a custom system I knocked up over a weekend! I initially made with steel boxes, just to prove the concept, and later replaced with stainless boxes once I found some for a reasonable price in the ’muffled’ , rather than ‘chambered’, variety
Boxes mocked up
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4298/36012255135_85a85fc4e3_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShdNB)zImage618640x480 (https://flic.kr/p/WShdNB) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

basically 2 separate systems
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4301/35201551083_0e0e583b9c_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD9Jx)zImage626640x480-1 (https://flic.kr/p/VCD9Jx) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

that interlink
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4293/35622959220_acba495b1f_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WgSYG5)zImage627640x480 (https://flic.kr/p/WgSYG5) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

Here’s the full thread…. http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?5357-my-new-exhaust

to be continued........... once i write up the next bit!..........

[Senninha]

Excellent thread Jonathan ...

I didn't appreciate quite how much you've already done

Looking forward to the next updates ...

regards, Paul

[britlude]

neither did i! And another 4 years to go :)

[AR]

Great write up. Is amazing the amount of work that one can put into a car just sorting bits out.

[paulc]

You are a bloody genius, amazing!!!

[britlude]

the ongoing saga…….

After the excitement of the new exhausts, and subsequent change in tailpipes (2 simple slashcut round tips this time, instead of the 2 ‘halfords special’ twin tips) it was down to enjoying the car and doing the routine stuff….

90000 oil change (yawn!)

91000 HID head lights and sidelights! As part of a DTA special offer (and as Christmas present) I received a Hid kit, 6000k (blue/white colour) with matching side light leds. Fitted without too much issue, and the evenings were now bright and clear! No separate thread as it was quite boring!

5/1/09 sorted petrol flap spring… the petrol flap stopped springing out like it should, almost getting to the stage where a 2 person manoeuvre would be needed to open it, so the spring was refreshed! Well, replaced with a bit of spring steel, fashioned to be a little bit more robust!

15/2/09 ABS fluid change… the abs pump decided it wanted to run a bit more often than usual, so a quick fluid change was done, to give it a bit of a refresh, hoping it would sort it out….





… it didn’t!!!!

20/2/09 ABS pump service… the pump and abs system was given a flush, and the solenoids exercised, cycled a few times to clear any debris in the solenoids
(very short thread on the matter http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?6018-ALB-fluid-change&highlight= )

april 2009, 930800, refurbish wheels and new tyres… the problem with chromed aluminium wheels, and that’s ALL chromed aluminium wheels, is that chrome doesn’t really like aluminium! And that’s what had happened to mine! The rims were first copper plated, then the chroming process added on the top of that, unfortunately the corrosion had set in between the aluminium and copper layers, so it all had to come off!
After a lot of searching, a firm was found that could chemically strip the copper, and once the rims were clean, they were polished, and anodised. A far more durable finish. Curiously, by then Evox had dropped the chrome plating from their range, adding instead the anodised finish on their new wheels. shame they hadn’t done it sooner!

While the wheels were all stripped to their component parts, the centres were also repainted, in a dark grey metallic, paint code ‘dark grey metallic that looks nice’ … and all done just in time for Japfest

then i decided 'It’s the summer', so I had a rest!




(that post looks quite dull, i'll add some pics to the next one, jazz it up a bit :) )

... see even that smiley helps! :thumbsup:

really, there is some fun stuff coming up.....

[britlude]

Aug 09… the double din dash mod! Now it’s always been a source of irritation that, although there’s a CD changer in the boot, there’s a cassette player in the dash.

Now I know mine is a early car, so it is forgivable, but to still have it fitted on later ones is just odd! What that means is there’s no factory ‘steal it out of a later car upgrade’ option, so more radical solutions are needed!

My basic requirements were no motorised screen (not sure why, just didn’t want one!) a cd player, and GPS! I had a 7” screen thing in the hotrod, and wanted the GPS as the radio/CD screens are sooo boring!

Anyway, I found a unit that fitted the bill and chopped things up until they all fitted! (ok maybe a little more careful than just attacking it with a chainsaw!)

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4306/36012250645_4a8233cc06_q.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShctc)Image1238640x480 (https://flic.kr/p/WShctc) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on FlickrImage1238640x480 (https://flic.kr/p/WShctc) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4300/35841488932_15829a47df_q.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBbZXJ)Image1241640x480 (https://flic.kr/p/WBbZXJ) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

Anyway the upshot is NOOOO cassette ! hurrah! Ironically, as the unit has a SD card slot, I’ve not even used the CD player part!!!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4318/35201547213_ceeb4b00bf_q.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD8zP)Image1247640x480 (https://flic.kr/p/VCD8zP) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

Here’s the full lowdown! http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?6803-double-din-head-unit&highlight=


...see told you i'd jazz it up a bit :)

[britlude]

Sept 09… a whiff of steam under the engine cover glass gave me the clue that there was the need for a new milk bottle header tank, as a split had formed just above the flange for the outer 2 mounting bolts. A couple of failed attempts to rectify the problem weren’t doing the trick, but bought me enough time to get a new header tank ordered.

When it arrived it was given a quick going over with a scotchpad, and painted to match the intake covers (dark met grey) with a masked off stripe to give an area to see the fluid level. Once refitted everything was fine (obviously!!! Pretty pointless doing it if didn’t fix it!)
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4325/35622958520_fa7f40fe0b_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WgSYu1)z2012-06-23-858800x600 (https://flic.kr/p/WgSYu1) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr
this pic was taken june 2012 so no worries about durability!

While I was tinkering, I removed the spare wheel, bracket and blower motor, and had a go at cleaning out the aircon evaporator as best as I could, and fitted a filter on the air intake to stop any more debris finding it’s way into the system…
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4301/36012250775_2c793acc5f_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShcvr)Image1404800x600 (https://flic.kr/p/WShcvr) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

Oct 09… all was well, but with a plume of steam, I was stopped at the side of the road, a stream of water running across the tarmac. Whilst waiting for the recovery truck I stripped the rad out to see just what had happened, and the plastic part of the radiator header tank had split.... not good. Once recovered home, a shot of jb weld was splodged on, and a replacement rad was ordered… so the new all aluminium replacement rad was duly delivered and fitted, and subsequent coolant/antifreeze refreshed!

Whilst waiting for the rad to arrive from afar, I made up some stone shields, just to offer some protection for the new matrix!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4323/35172631354_f493cc586f_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VA5VUw)Image1554800x600 (https://flic.kr/p/VA5VUw) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

More details here….http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?7121-radiator-tweaks!&highlight=

[britlude]

Nov 09… getting bored with the damp inside the screen! (http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?7122-cured-the-typical-screen-misting-i-hope!)! its still happening….

Feb 10… getting really fed up with the screen fogging up, so replaced the top door rubbers, to stop water getting in
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4301/35201547333_df77d393da_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD8BT)Image1697800x600 (https://flic.kr/p/VCD8BT) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr
All covered in this thread….http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?7122-cured-the-typical-screen-misting-i-hope!&p=69852#post69852

March 10…. finally got around to taking the climate control unit apart, and changed out the CCU electrolytic capacitors. These are notorious for leaking after years of service, so a check is in order. Lucky I had a look as there were 2 corroded tracks, so these were repaired and the unit put back together!!! While I was playing about with the car, I thought the brakes were a bit spongy, so bled the brakes!

April 10… even though I’d bled the brake system, it still didn’t feel right, so new brake master cylinder was ordered (rockauto.com), along with a calliper overhaul kit (bigg red brakes) with all the callipers stripped, old rubber parts replaced with new seals, and a new master cylinder fitted, I bled the brakes, now it all feels a lot better! (can’t find pics to bore you with, sorry)

On the screen condensation front, it was still ongoing, so new lower door seals were ordered and fitted, really getting fed up with scraping the inside and the outside of a frosty screen… i must be running out of water sources soon!!!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4314/36012250845_5e81211df0_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShcwD)Image1817640x480 (https://flic.kr/p/WShcwD) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

The abs pump seems to be working more often, so the fluid was changed and the solenoids exercised…. Again!!! I even asked for a replacement unit that I could service and swap in!!http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?8053-ABS-unit&highlight=

[britlude]

May 10…101k oil change! New battery and a set of floor mats (ebay special!)

June 10… another set of rear tyres! ....again!

July 10… definitely fed up with the ABS pump, so I ordered up a new accumulator
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4330/35201547383_c7b53eb25e_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD8CK)Image2282800x600 (https://flic.kr/p/VCD8CK) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

and gave the system a thorough going over, making up a little widget allowing me to backflush the solenoids.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4305/36012250935_f294c4d0ce_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShcyc)Image2290800x600 (https://flic.kr/p/WShcyc) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

If the ABS accumulator fails (its half gas/half fluid like citreon suspension systems), it allows more fluid in until the pump switches off when the set pressure is reached. This leads to the commonly reported problem (at least on prime) of the abs reservoir overflowing. Also once it activates, it needs to pump sooner to refresh the pressure, so the pump runs almost as soon as the ABS triggers. When the solenoids release the pressure when ABS is needed, the fluid goes back to the reservoir.

leaky solenoids will show as the pump running more often, accumulator on the way out will show as ABS pump starting almost as soon as the ABS is triggered, and reservoir overflowing, or very close to overflowing.

when i replaced mine, i filled to the max line and switched on the ignition, this activated the abs pump as the pressure is low. as per manual, i refilled to the max line and cycled the ABS a couple of times then refilled again to the max. when i got back home, i exercised the solenoids to release the pressure, and the expelled fluid doesn't reach the top of the reservoir! Hurrah!

another thing i did notice was when the ABS activated with the old accumulator, the fluid came back to the reservoir, fast at first (as expected) fading down to a slow 'dribble', whereas the new one came though fast at first, fading a little but to a definate 'stop'.

Anyway it did the trick, and here’s the full lowdown…
http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?8167-ABS-acumulator-replacement&highlight=


Aug 10... sub amp decided to give up the ghost, so a new sub amplifier was sourced from germany….
http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?8153-centre-speaker-amp

Another rest… playing with the hotrod…

to be continued! again....

[britlude]

Jan 11… winter project for this year was a quick retrim of the gearstick/steering wheel/armrest bits
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4292/35201551163_bd61f8f007_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD9KV)zImage2516640x480 (https://flic.kr/p/VCD9KV) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4328/36012250255_289f0590e2_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShcmt)a26122010031640x480-2 (https://flic.kr/p/WShcmt) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4321/35622958670_fd7c2f1b57_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WgSYwA)z03012011026640x480 (https://flic.kr/p/WgSYwA) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

here’s the lowdown on what I did.. http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?8624-interior-trim-tweaks

After several years of running the inside brake lights as fog lights, I finally got round to sorting this! Technically you shouldn’t use brake lights as fog lights, so I worked out a centre fog light mod, using the unused centre panel!
Here’s the thread… http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?8706-playing-with-foglights-(with-pics!)&highlight=

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4327/35201550723_09211df1e4_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD9Ck)z31012011104640x480 (https://flic.kr/p/VCD9Ck) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

ok, so the led look might not be to everyones taste, but the point is it’s a bright light to be seen from a distance! If they are close enough to make out led dots, then the light would be off anyway!!!

oh the days of the halford twin exhaust tips.....

[Problem Child]

Aug 09… the double din dash mod! Now it’s always been a source of irritation that, although there’s a CD changer in the boot, there’s a cassette player in the dash.

Now I know mine is a early car, so it is forgivable, but to still have it fitted on later ones is just odd! What that means is there’s no factory ‘steal it out of a later car upgrade’ option, so more radical solutions are needed!

My basic requirements were no motorised screen (not sure why, just didn’t want one!) a cd player, and GPS! I had a 7” screen thing in the hotrod, and wanted the GPS as the radio/CD screens are sooo boring!

Anyway, I found a unit that fitted the bill and chopped things up until they all fitted! (ok maybe a little more careful than just attacking it with a chainsaw!)

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/nsx hu/Image1238640x480.jpg

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/nsx hu/Image1241640x480.jpg

Anyway the upshot is NOOOO cassette ! hurrah! Ironically, as the unit has a SD card slot, I’ve not even used the CD player part!!!
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/nsx hu/Image1247640x480.jpg
Here’s the full lowdown! http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?6803-double-din-head-unit&highlight=


...see told you i'd jazz it up a bit :)

Very nice...who did all the cutting of the centre console. Was this the original or did you buy another one to chop up?

[britlude]

i did all the chopping up, and on the original console... it was already broken when i got the car, just above the ashtray one side, by some hamfisted muppet in its earlier years!

.... finding another rhd centre console proves quite difficult, and/or expensive!

the second pic shows the bottom half fitted without the head unit and ACC surrounds on.

[britlude]

More playing….

Inspired by the hugabuga thread on prime (prime can be a dangerous place at times) I made my own window regulator wheel mod, certainly makes a difference, as proven by the popularity of hugabuga’s kits, and his international tours fitting them!!!! see the prime thread here fpr the original idea... http://www.nsxprime.com/forum/showthread.php?t=135277&highlight=

Feb11.. just to be annoying, my dash cracked! Typically a hot climate fault, it was surprising to happen in february! Oh well, a quick patch sorted it out for the time being….
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4327/35622958840_eef8ab9dd5_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WgSYzw)z22022011020640x480 (https://flic.kr/p/WgSYzw) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr
more details of both of these tweaks…. http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?8780-playing-again-window-regulator-mod-and-a-californian-fault!&highlight=

107060miles… Fitted a K&N air filter, because I could….

March 11… cleaned greased aerial! As I made an aerodynamic tweak to my aerial, I like to keep it greased, just to stop any water getting places it shouldn’t!
I always felt the original sticking up spoiled the lines of the wing, and not taken by the shark-fin type things, so made a new ferrule and sunk it down flush… mine also benefits from the JDM half-height option, so doesn't look quite so much like a bumper car!

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4321/35622958580_c0a09964aa_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WgSYv3)z2012-06-23-860800x600 (https://flic.kr/p/WgSYv3) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

(i actually made 2 ferrules, the first beautifully carved in aluminium, which beautifully earthed the aerial and beautifully killed the received signal!!! ... oops, should have thought of that earlier!)

[britlude]

May 11…as my spare wheel was the best part of 20 years old, and looking quite cracked and unpleasant I decided to do something about it. So I set about getting my spare tyre replaced. Various methods had been suggested, but after managing to source a tyre, this was fitted (even though it’s not supposed to be possible!!!)
Before
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4306/35622958680_cc161e5989_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WgSYwL)z11052011529800x600 (https://flic.kr/p/WgSYwL) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

after…

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4329/36012254645_d82ee25be0_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShdEa)z18052011604800x600 (https://flic.kr/p/WShdEa) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

here’s the writeup….http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?9109-spare-tyre&highlight=

[britlude]

speedo died, so new speed sensor was fitted… fortunately I’d bought one in readiness as the speedo had died briefly once before.

All I can say is what a pain of a job! This is one of those things that’s fitted to the engine/gearbox/suspension assembly, then fitted into the car.. as getting to it with everything bolted in is a Mare of a job! Headers don’t help either! Needless to say it can be done in situ, just expect to waste a couple of hours getting 2 M6 bolts out, and another couple of hours to put them back in!

the offending article looks like this....
http://cdn2.autopartsnetwork.com/images/catalog/wp/full/W01331611273OEA.JPG

can you see it here??? the speed sensor is at the back of the engine, on the gearbox under the rear vtec solenoid (green connector)https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4300/36012254545_fc1698bac1_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShdCr)z12052011533800x600 (https://flic.kr/p/WShdCr) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

in this pic the bright screw in the middle of the pic is part of the unit that was replaced, but not the mounting bolts, these were deeper still! (in this pic imagine the units arrow shape to be pointing down!)
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4292/35201550573_fb889c4ea0_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD9zK)z12052011534800x600 (https://flic.kr/p/VCD9zK) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


just to add the the mix, the speed sensor has a shield around it making the bolts only really accessable from the top. when i reassembled it, i slotted the mounting holes in the shield so that i could at least start the bolts from under the car, fit/slide the shield into place, and tighten up from the top. not an easy job, you have been warned!!!

PS the engine is cleaner now!!!

[britlude]

thought i'd better write the next installment, at least it's something interesting this time!!!

As a treat to myself, and as the original seat covers were looking dated and feeling tired, I replaced leather seat covers/door trims!!! I managed to do this the week AFTER the NSX coffee-table book photoshoot! So missed out on them being immortalised with the rest of the car! Bum!

I got the covers from Leatherseats.com, made in my colours using their patterns. Apparently they stripped a set of OEM seat covers to get their patterns so they pretty much fit out of the box, just one tweak to the upper centre cushion on mine! Anyway, here’s how they looked for those that can’t remember!

Before and after
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4306/36012251085_0f363842f0_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShcAM)nsxseat27042011201800x600 (https://flic.kr/p/WShcAM) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

door inserts to match….
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4317/35201547593_ce66d6e518_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD8Gn)nsxseat26042011184800x600 (https://flic.kr/p/VCD8Gn) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

all installed
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4297/35201547643_5089f7b3c2_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD8He)nsxseat27042011214800x600 (https://flic.kr/p/VCD8He) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

it must have turned out ok as leatherseats are using my covers in their ‘look at what we do’ video, and my pics as an install example!!! They did give me a discount after I did a forum writeup… J

heres the nsxcb threadhttp://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?8994-The-interior-trim-overhaul-update-continues%85&highlight= (http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?8994-The-interior-trim-overhaul-update-continues%85&highlight=leatherseats.com)

and the nsxprime thread (pretty much the same thing, just with a red surround! http://www.nsxprime.com/forum/showthread.php?t=148022&highlight=

PS... the crease in the top panel of the green was from the leather being folded coming from italy to america... i could have steamed it out, but the natural heat in the car has flattened it out, so all good

[britlude]

boring one.....


while the door panels were off, I did the door panel tab repairs as some were broken,

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4324/35172631594_d15fde3c21_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VA5VYE)nsxseat26042011176800x600 (https://flic.kr/p/VA5VYE) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

see here for the lowdown! http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?9110-broken-tabs-on-door-panel&highlight=

Aug 11 new boot seal, (ebay find!), well would have been rude not to for £30, and as it was the only seal not changed on the boot…

Nov 11 oil change 110035…. Yawn again!


......see told you!!!

[britlude]

bit more fun......

Dec 11.. SOOO fed up with wet condensation screen, YES it was still doing it after the aircon was used, I bit the bullet and changed evaporator…

when you compare how much of the evaporator you can see here in Kaz’s photo ,
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4HycUnpU6rE/T0ocbBvFSaI/AAAAAAAAA2U/6_f7AwTvjYo/s400/IMG_0179.JPG

with how big it actually is,
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4298/36012254855_6fe048e467_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShdHM)z241220111939640x480 (https://flic.kr/p/WShdHM) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

then you realise if its heavily soiled AND damp, it’s never going to get clean!!! Anyway a Christmas eve well spent!!

it got a little involved...
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4292/35622958970_1d76861869_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WgSYBL)z241220111938640x480 (https://flic.kr/p/WgSYBL) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

the old and the replacement
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4314/35201550863_53b06f305b_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD9EK)z241220111940640x480 (https://flic.kr/p/VCD9EK) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

the full lowdown is here....
http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?9681-my-aircon-evaporator-overhaul&highlight= (http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?9681-my-aircon-evaporator-overhaul&highlight=)

I am glad to say there has been NO condensation since! None! Nowt! Zip! Zilch! Hurrah!!!!!

29 dec.... to go with the new evaporator, the air con had to be regassed, so a new aircon dryer was fitted (fortunatley the aircon guy had one on stock (fortunate as 91/92 are different to all the others!), and the aircon system refilled/upgraded to R134, with the appropriate new R134 compatible oil

[britlude]

And so begins what has become an epic year for my NSX, some planned, others unfortunately not…..


jan 2012 new handbake cover off ebay, as the rest of the interior leathers had been refreshed/updated/renewed the last bit left was the handbrake cover which was looking decidedly tired. So a replacement was sourced off ebay, and fitted, looks far better, but I might tweak and tighten it a little when I get a spare 20mins!


The before and after
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4301/35172630854_ba94e014c7_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VA5VKU)311220111965 (https://flic.kr/p/VA5VKU) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


new front tyres, as you do


regreased p/s idler pulley as it was sounding very dry all of a sudden. Whilst it was off, I noted the number so I could order up a replacement bearing. No point replacing the entire pulley assembly when it’s an £8 bearing! (this was changed when I fitted the cambelt, but I’ll put it here!!

Before
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4322/35201549783_16fa1d6ef1_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD9m8)z2012-04-05-152800x600 (https://flic.kr/p/VCD9m8) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


the bearing
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4301/36012254015_3570e86ef0_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShdti)z2012-04-05-153800x600 (https://flic.kr/p/WShdti) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


and with a bit of a cleanup
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4296/36012254045_c793f64544_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShdtP)z2012-04-05-154800x600 (https://flic.kr/p/WShdtP) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

[britlude]

3 feb 12... clean/service ignition switch as the engine starter motor wasn’t quite as ‘instant’ as it should have been... If its happened to you, you know what I mean! So the various bits of dash removed and the ignition electronics block removed, stripped, cleaned, and everything reassembled.
I always see it as a challenge when there are ‘no user serviceable parts inside’!

I forgot to take pics, but they would have been much the same as Kaz has posted on his blog on this subject!


new battery as although it was only a couple of years old, it was getting a bit low sometimes, so a replacement sourced just as a precaution!


Then there was the ‘simple green’ controversy..

after doing some research and prompted by NSXPrime threads, I got hold of some of the simple green precision (specially formulated for aluminium) cleaner and tried it… judge for yourself…
Before..
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4321/35622956890_f33756d581_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WgSXZU)WP_20160503_19_46_26_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/WgSXZU) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


After..
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4314/35172632614_6aacecbf49_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VA5Whf)WP_20160503_19_55_03_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/VA5Whf) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


I think it works! to do it properly would require a complete strip-down, but i think it's a vast improvement for surprisingly little effort!

Anyway, here’s the thread…. http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?9781-simple-green-extreme-cleaner&highlight=

[britlude]

24 feb… new fog lights and stone shields! On my NSX, the fog lights were useless! I was lucky if I could actually notice when they were actually on or not, maybe the kerb had a slight glow to it about 4ft in front of the car when driving, but they were hopeless, so something had to be done!

Now I decided, as there’s a fog light switch, then fog lights should remain, but what ones? The originals were rusting and the reflectors inside were also corroding, so nothing I could do there, but also looked heavy in design, so replacements were needed,! They were also heavy in weight too, so anyone wanting to shave some weight should look there!!!

I found some nice Hella Micro Xenon Fog lights with HID bulbs, but thought £2600+ was a little excessive, so some Ring Micro Fog lights were sourced!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4300/36012254755_66e55ed07f_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShdG4)z240220122173800x600 (https://flic.kr/p/WShdG4) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

to go with the smaller lights, and the now more exposed AC radiators, I made up some stone guards, out of the same stainless mesh I used to protect the aluminium radiator matrix, making sure the install looked clean and secure

the bent up mesh for my application
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4292/35201550963_c28d8a94b7_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD9Gt)z250220122182800x600 (https://flic.kr/p/VCD9Gt) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

installed
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4320/36012254925_0db2d415f3_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShdJZ)z250220122178800x600 (https://flic.kr/p/WShdJZ) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

the overall effect…
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4305/36012255045_d02e22c925_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShdM4)z250220122185800x600 (https://flic.kr/p/WShdM4) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

here's the thread.... http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?9835-NSX-fog-light-mods!-(with-pics!)&highlight=

[britlude]

27 Feb.. I decided the give the NSX a treat, and have a decent alignment done! As I had just fitted new front tyres, I thought I might as well get it done before they got worn! So a search for Hunter alignment was done, and I found one 20 miles away (Elite in Rainham, Essex, a bit boy racery, but has 4 hunter systems, and no booking required ) the second reason to go there was that new track rod ends were fitted for the MOT so tracking had to be done anyway!

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4323/36012250135_772f969979_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShcjp)270220122205 (https://flic.kr/p/WShcjp) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4305/35201546873_10bec12254_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD8tX)270220122204 (https://flic.kr/p/VCD8tX) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

looking at the before printout, it Definitely needed doing! Well at least one is green….
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4292/35841488792_1361b08b80_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBbZVj)hunterbefore (https://flic.kr/p/WBbZVj) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

As is now traditional with the NSX, my caster adjusters are seized… when I get a chance, I’ll free them up and get it all set up properly again!

The after, somewhat better
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4313/35172631014_a7f2b1a8be_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VA5VNE)hunterafter (https://flic.kr/p/VA5VNE) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr
the eagle eyed amongst you may have noticed the 4th generation of exhaust tips on the car....

1st... oem oval slatted things
2nd.. Halfords twin round
3rd.. 3 inch round with the new exhaust system
...3 1/2 halfords twin make a reappearance when the exhaust boxes changed to stainless
4th.. stainless vauxhall VRX style ones mounted upside down, as the halfords ones rotted out! (the stainless tips remained lovely, but the 'y' piece joining them was made of steel that rusted like an old nail!)

[britlude]

March 2012…. finally fitted Teflon window guides (Hugabuga on Prime makes these), I’d only had them in the car since Japfest 2011!!!! Stripped the doors, extracted the window regulators, fitted the guides, and reassemble….

It worked that easily on the passenger side, but the drivers was somewhat more awkward as the ‘lift carriage’ that slides up and down the guide has somehow got twisted. No idea how, but it was bent!

Here’s a pic of a similar one off NSXPrime… the leg on the left is bent, but mine was twisted along it's length too, so one end the 2 guides were 10-15 degrees to the other!!!! very odd!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4313/36012250445_42b332e5e7_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShcpK)auto20120128-050246 (https://flic.kr/p/WShcpK) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


very gentle persuasion and careful trimming of the guides got it all working as it should! PHEW!


april was the time of the EPIC cambelt, lma, waterpump refresh!

The tappet ticking had finally got to me and action was needed, so a large shopping list was mailed to the USA, and a pile of Honda packets returned! Everything except LMAs (lost motion assemblies, the bits that keep the 3 rocker arm under control!) which were cheaper in the UK! No idea why, but cheaper they were!!


So I had........
cam belt
tensioner,
tensioner spring,
main pulley
main pulley bolt
air con belt
alternator belt
LMAs
Water pump (new style)
Bottom cover to suit new style water pump!
Cam seals
Cam cover gaskets
spark plug seals
Figure 8 o-ring
A couple of o rings
And a tube of Hondabond!


Following the service manual instructions, Danoland writeup, Aurodata printout, and making it up (especially the LMA bit!) all the bits were removed, cleaned and replaced! It all went well, and seemed a ‘tight for space’ job until I helped my dad do the cam belt on his Avantime…. Now that was tight!!!


A couple of pics for the flavour…


https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4322/36012253945_e8e9d10087_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShds6)z2012-04-05-148800x600 (https://flic.kr/p/WShds6) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4319/35201549903_6fd70b87d2_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD9oc)z2012-04-07-198800x600 (https://flic.kr/p/VCD9oc) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4297/35622958280_5624885587_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WgSYpS)z2012-04-07-200800x600 (https://flic.kr/p/WgSYpS) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


here’s the whole writeup…. http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?9995-My-epic-engine-service!!!-Picture-heavy!!!&highlight=

[Tokyo-Joe]

It is really cool you do your own tough mechanical jobs. Kudos to you :)

Did his lot quieten down your tappets?

[britlude]

it keeps me amused!!!

The tappets are usually quiet, but there was an additional clatter at times, the LMA's getting sticky!! not surprising when you get them out and see just how complicated and over engineered they are, and especially when you see just how simple the update was!

[britlude]

April 2012 came around, and after being corrupted by a thread on NSXPrime, the centre console mod began! With the lack of storage space, and a bit of lateral thinking by Hugabuga a tweak was devised…. well in theory as no-one had actually completed the mod...!

Unfortunately I get bored easily, and so a quick trawl through Ebay meant I sourced the bits I needed and I was off!

The before… the original and the new
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4318/35622958430_d24a8bdc7e_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WgSYss)z2012-04-20-283800x600 (https://flic.kr/p/WgSYss) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

no going back, both centre consoles chopped up..
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4302/35201550053_5f0f14f4a2_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD9qM)z2012-04-20-297800x600 (https://flic.kr/p/VCD9qM) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

getting there, repositioning the centre speaker...
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4297/36012254175_5422b5052b_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShdw4)z2012-04-21-307800x600 (https://flic.kr/p/WShdw4) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

all done!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4323/35622958390_82f5f5ff66_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WgSYrL)z2012-04-21-325800x600 (https://flic.kr/p/WgSYrL) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

read the full story here…..
http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?10043-Yet-another-NSX-interior-mod-(ok-I-was-bored-)&highlight=

[britlude]

May 2012… NSXPrime struck again, with a thread highlighting a possible, simple tweak for emissions… http://www.nsxprime.com/forum/showthread.php?t=159564

My car had struggled thru the mot this year, mainly because they insist on testing it based on the import date on the DVLA system as opposed to the actual year of the car, and LEV changes happened between the 2 years!!

However something had changed as it’s usually very clean, so investigation was needed… and this tweak popped up at the right time! Basically you clean the Air intake temp sensor! Firstly you locate it on the intake manifold above the front bank beside the fuel line…
Here it is with the injector cover removed, and the sensor unbolted…
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4301/36012254265_80008fbdd0_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShdxB)z2012-05-17-521800x600 (https://flic.kr/p/WShdxB) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

Close up…. Just a bit grubby!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4328/35201550223_a74280a9e0_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD9tH)z2012-05-17-522800x600 (https://flic.kr/p/VCD9tH) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

and cleaned! Not difficult really, and it might make a difference!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4295/35622958450_2ab87eb3d3_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WgSYsN)z2012-05-17-526800x600 (https://flic.kr/p/WgSYsN) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

while I was there I did the same to the PCV valve, figuring if the inlet tract was that grubby, I should go to the first item in the system
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4325/36012254375_3117046270_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShdzv)z2012-06-22-854800x600 (https://flic.kr/p/WShdzv) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

yup, grubby! This was cleaned to go with the cleaning the inlet/throttle body got with the LMA/cam/water pump/etc change. Resisting the urge to completely remove the inlet manifold to give it all a good flush through!

… you can’t read this anywhere else, it’s a ‘NSX Builds’ exclusive..

[britlude]

June 2012 fitted a new front spoiler….. as mine was tatty when I got the car and not got any better over the last 6 ½ years! So the bits were duly ordered with the 13 sets of bolts/speed nuts from the U S… Honda UK still cannot touch the pricing the other side of the Atlantic, even with shipping and the now seemingly guaranteed customs intervention.

Off with the old…
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4316/35841484102_0c843bcc61_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYws)2012-06-13-727 (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYws) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

sooo glad I got new speed nuts and bolts as there was no way these were going to come apart

the new spoiler…
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4320/35841484262_00603a3889_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYzd)2012-06-13-728 (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYzd) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

this is the newer style, as the original ‘same depth all the way across’ is discontinued, replaced with the curvier profile…

and the expensive metal bits!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4309/35201536813_88eba76914_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD5uv)2012-06-13-729 (https://flic.kr/p/VCD5uv) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

needless to say, plenty of copper-slip was used on assembly to preserve them a bit longer!

The finished article!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4314/35841484172_bd76426941_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYxE)2012-06-13-730 (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYxE) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

[britlude]

comparing the before and after, the new one follows the bumper line better than the old, where the old had been scuffed a few times too many!

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4319/35878891831_40a4344f9a_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WEuGxi)2012-06-13-726 (https://flic.kr/p/WEuGxi) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4313/35841484252_17d3aaef3e_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYz3)2012-06-13-731 (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYz3) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

read about it here… no, really scroll up a bit, it’s just above this sentence….

[paulc]

Hi Jonathan, looks good can I ask who from and how much. Mine is also looking a little battered

[kingsley]

Hi Jonathan, I too would be interested in the price shipped ....Does it come well packed ...these seem very easy to damage

Kingsley

[britlude]

the spoiler and fitting kit was $254 shipped from US of A... with the additional parcelfarce ransom demand it was still WAYYYY cheaper than HUK!!!

try SOS, Dali, oemacuraparts.com or your preferred US supplier... all around the same price!

as far as mine, it was packed in the honda box it comes in!

[paulc]

Many thanks, sounds like my next purchase!!

[britlude]

anyway, back to the plot....

also on NSXPrime were warnings of the effects of time on the injector seals. As mine are 20 years old, and seeing how time had affected the bounciness of some of the rubber components at the LMA/cam/water pump/etc change, I wanted to change them anyway.

Now, to kill 2 birds with one stone, and all that, in addition to changing the rubber seals, I thought, with the emission change seen at the last MOT, I’d service the injectors, so started searching companies that had the injector servicing/calibrating facilities.

I found a couple locally, but they wanted £££ for the service, and timescales meant the car would be out of action for 4/5 days with sending/servicing times and return delivery! So I looked at sourcing a spare set of injectors, eventually finding a full set in the good ‘ol U S of A, that had already been cleaned/calibrated, and all rubbers renewed, and all cheaper with delivery than getting mine cleaned!!! Upshot is I have a cleaned set of injectors, and a spare set should I need them (which can be sent anywhere to be serviced as there won’t be the urgency!)

Anyway…. Nice and clean to start off! You can see the connector for the intake air temp sensor beside the fuel line banjo bolt. (Just above the 'H')
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4324/35878891951_26db6acb9f_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WEuGzn)2012-06-22-846 (https://flic.kr/p/WEuGzn) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

Off with the top cover and the injector covers again!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4326/35841484312_252bdc9045_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYA5)2012-06-22-847 (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYA5) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

injector rails off, and the injectors carefully removed… they just push in, but as the rubbers have been sitting there for 20 years, some moved easily, some were a little more ‘set’…. the most awkward bit was working out how the electrical connectors were latched on....

Anyway here’s how they looked..
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4320/35878892031_21c02f3fc7_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WEuGAK)2012-06-22-853 (https://flic.kr/p/WEuGAK) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

(the end ones had already been wiped before the pic!) The grubby build-up was as expected after seeing the intake temp sensor….

The new and the old… not a lot of difference! shiny and fresh with the all important new rubbers
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4297/35841484342_12413ffbfc_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYAA)2012-06-22-850 (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYAA) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

refitting them was nice and simple, just making sure the seats were clean, and everything fitted together smoothly. After these were changed, I can report fuel consumption has improved, the run to Goodwood festival of speed was definitely less juicy!








… then the gearbox broke……now if that were only 4 or 5 days



.

[Tokyo-Joe]

Oh bummer, what happened to your box? Was it the snap ring?

[britlude]

automatic gearbox deciding it didn't want to play with 2nd or 4th after years of faithful service!


here's the lowdown on the whole sorry saga....

http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?10491-My-automatic-gearbox-the-story!-lots-of-pics-too

[britlude]

Whilst the car was playing host to a dead gearbox, I took the opportunity to do a coolant hose refresh! well i had to find something to do!

So a set of hoses was ordered from our friends across the Atlantic, excluding the 6 main hoses that I’d already purchased in silicone.. lots of bags!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4296/35841484462_4d1ee5fe5b_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYCE)2012-08-02-1327 (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYCE) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

silicon set
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4300/35841484052_278e2d7224_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYvA)2012-04-06-184 (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYvA) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

tha car was jacked up on one side and axle stands placed, and the centre tunnel hoses could be swapped out.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4324/35201537213_c95f5e8b9f_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD5Bp)2012-08-02-1328 (https://flic.kr/p/VCD5Bp) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

draining…
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4298/35878892071_7ef8f03c56_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WEuGBr)2012-08-02-1330 (https://flic.kr/p/WEuGBr) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

ok a boring pic, but it's an action shot, honest!

[britlude]

After an inordinate amount of struggling and associated swearing, the decision was made to cut the hoses off. 19 years of sitting there was a hard habit to break, so a careful cut with a sharp blade and peeling the rubber back was the best option. Minutes later the old hoses were off.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4304/35841484602_2fdf6bdbba_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYF5)2012-08-02-1331 (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYF5) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

now, there wasn’t any ‘ballooning’ of the pipes, but they were definitely past their best. If I bent the hose, you could hear the individual strands of the reinforcing webbing snapping, almost like rice crispies ‘snap-crackle-and-pop’! By contrast, the new shiny fresh ones bent without distress!

fortunately the pipes were in good condition
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4293/35841484722_cbecd7097c_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYH9)2012-08-02-1335 (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYH9) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

with the aid of a couple of parts lists, the hoses were sorted, fitted and crossed off!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4305/35878892131_cda6354112_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WEuGCt)2012-08-02-1336 (https://flic.kr/p/WEuGCt) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

soon enough they were all changed (here’s most of them!)
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4311/35841484682_0afc068a27_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYGs)2012-08-02-1338 (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYGs) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr
note the extra length pliers, definitely helped in the more inaccessible areas!

Of special mention are the oil cooler connections. Many threads tell of what a pain these are, and yes they are! One hose is about 3 inches long and straight. The 2 pipes it fits to are a snug fit, and only have about half an inch between them, so be warned the oil filter unit HAS to come off. Cutting the old hoses off rather than trying to pull them off the pipe ends will save you a whole lot of swearing! Lol

[britlude]

whilst I was there I gave the rear suspension a good clean with the Simple Green precision (specially for aluminium) cleaner….
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4296/35878892161_b88b376b04_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WEuGCZ)2012-08-02-1340 (https://flic.kr/p/WEuGCZ) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

I also gave the steel bits a treatment with some rust stabiliser product, you know the type of stuff, turns rust into not rust!
Before
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4309/35622951510_c6edde9204_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WgSWp9)2012-08-07-1487 (https://flic.kr/p/WgSWp9) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

during
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4317/35878892211_070bd1a405_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WEuGDR)2012-08-07-1488 (https://flic.kr/p/WEuGDR) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

after
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4302/35970874666_7a18f4bd56_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WNC8Qf)2012-08-09-1497 (https://flic.kr/p/WNC8Qf) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

the steel parts are now a bit more rust resistant! ok, they don't look much different, but without the flash they are black!

[Senninha]

You had to go a ruine a perfectly good thread didn't you .... how dare you mention the un-mentionable 'Simple Green precision (specially for aluminium) cleaner….'

and as for the steel rust cleaner ... looks like you could do with some on the discs ;o)

[britlude]

in my defence, the car had been standing for about a month at that point!!!

but the rust on the braking surface was from washing the suspension the day before the rust treatment.... doesn't take long!!

[Senninha]

Just pulling your leg Jonathan ... I don't suppose you found the template for my little project while you were bored did you? I'm doing some odd jobs on mine and it would be stood time to install that part .... Fingers crossed

Regards, Paul

[britlude]

just to bulk out my hose order i got a main relay too... nothing wrong with mine (i've soldered it up already years ago) but thought i might as well!

the new and the old....
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4310/35878892261_537cbf5241_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WEuGEH)2012-08-21-1572 (https://flic.kr/p/WEuGEH) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

or was it the old and the new.......????

[britlude]

quick boring update...

118400... oil change !!

plus i dropped the exhaust box, and replaced the fixings for the box to cats, and the cat covers with stainless bolts and brass nuts.

i chose brass nuts as stainless nuts with stainless bolts can gaul and seize in extreme environments (copper slip can help, but doesn't guarantee they won't seize)... been there, done that, had to cut things apart!

apparently, if you mix the grade of stainless (ie. A2 nuts, A4 bolts) the problem doesn't happen, but it's easier to get brass nuts!

[britlude]

forgot to add the latest tweak/update...

Christmas 2012 saw very little action as the weather was foul, but i did tweak my DRL/indicator units (that i'd also forgot to mention here) and fit a set of fast HID lamps.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snzEH3VDFkk

full details in this thread..... http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?10791-my-DRL-s-are-done-(there-will-be-pics!)

[britlude]

for most of the NSX in this country, they are wrapped up in a nice warm garage, but alas mine is a daily driver so still being enjoyed!!! so with this in mind, just before the first lot of snow of the season (literally 3 days before!), i dug out the original 15/16 wheels, fitted winter tyres, and put them on the car.... OMG they look tiny after the 17/18 combo, and sooo far under the arches!

while the fat wheels were off i decided to give them a spruce up! so now I'm doing mods to mods that i have already modded!

the tyres let down, the 31 rim bolts on each wheel were removed and the centres popped out. i then sand blasted them and primed with etch primer....
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4326/35841484832_b3194e7003_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYK3)2013-02-22-2423 (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYK3) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

before being based in black
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4306/35878892311_030418f079_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WEuGFz)2013-02-22-2427 (https://flic.kr/p/WEuGFz) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

[sorepaws]

now you are wheely showing off ! (*grimace)

[NSX 2000]

now you are wheely showing off ! (*grimace)

Don't give up the day job Mike ;)

[britlude]

while the centres were out of the rims, i decided i was fed up with the inners always being dirty/stained, so a paint up was in order! i gave them an etch prime and tried some plastidip on them for a nice matt black finish....

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4301/35878892361_fd04b72084_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WEuGGr)2013-02-25-2434 (https://flic.kr/p/WEuGGr) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4317/35841484972_f1e6156caf_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYMs)2013-02-25-2435 (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYMs) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


then it was a case of finishing the paint, and putting them all back together, just the 31 bolts in each wheel!!

now that the weather has finally perked up it was time to take the '92 wheels with my winter tyres off the car and refit these....

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4317/35841484972_f1e6156caf_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYMs)2013-02-25-2435 (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYMs) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

hurrah, spring has finally sprung!

the colour i've gone for (couldn't be just black now could it) is maybe a bit too subtle, so might have to paint them a bit brighter next year.. maybe closer to the cube wheels in the background.... still, it's only paint!


but get the light at the right angle they come alive...

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4316/35970874706_ebdb59d680_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WNC8QW)2013-03-03-2452 (https://flic.kr/p/WNC8QW) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

[britlude]

with the nice shiny wheels back on and looking fabulous, this has obviously shown up just how icky the brake discs look, with their nice orange rusty centres and edges,

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4320/35622951630_956d7536b4_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WgSWrd)2013-04-14-2543 (https://flic.kr/p/WgSWrd) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

so a pot of high temp matt black is winging it's way to me, just to tidy things up a bit....

[Senninha]

Interesting choice for the centres Jonathan ... probably need to dress the tyres to help show them off once you've sorted those tired looking brakes (a job I've just completed too!)

[britlude]

as is typical i treated the tyres after looking at the pics! in reality the wheels are black with a hint of not black about them on the highlights :)

[britlude]

i got the little pot of heat resistant paint today,

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4304/35172627124_a08b07ba9a_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VA5UDA)2013-04-20-2572 (https://flic.kr/p/VA5UDA) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

heat resistant to 600 degrees centigrade and in brush on, as the aerosol sprays would have been too messy....

so here's the before...
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4298/35970874806_b2589fbc27_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WNC8SE)2013-04-20-2560 (https://flic.kr/p/WNC8SE) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

obviously no ideal behind the shiny refurbished wheels.... so the wheel was taken off and work could begin!

first up the raw disc! you can't even tell it's vented in the pic!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4297/35172627064_77b9c0e88a_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VA5UCy)2013-04-20-2564 (https://flic.kr/p/VA5UCy) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

this was wire brushed off to get rid of the loose stuff and clean it ready for paint...
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4314/35841485142_02c19a85ef_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYQo)2013-04-20-2565 (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYQo) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

looking better already! also the discs have the grooves cast into them... not sure if that makes them cheap or expensive as all the other discs i've seen have the grooves machined in afterwards!

[britlude]

so a single coat of black was applied to the edge and the centre hat...
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4294/35970874836_7d3a9447ba_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WNC8Tb)2013-04-20-2566 (https://flic.kr/p/WNC8Tb) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

the disc grooves were given a thinned 'wash' of paint to colour them up and provide a little protection to stop the rusting returning... obviously the braking faces were carefully cleaned of paint!! i only painted the edge of the hat, rather than make issues with the hub face having paint on it!

anyway, they look alot better....
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4306/35878892611_f1b9fa9d3c_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WEuGLK)2013-04-20-2568 (https://flic.kr/p/WEuGLK) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

so that was the fronts sorted! while the wheels were off the suspension arms got a wipe down with some Gibbs brand oil, ideal for protecting bare metals.

[Senninha]

.....while the wheels were off the suspension arms got a wipe down with some Gibbs brand oil, ideal for protecting bare metals.....

Do you simply wipe this over the suspension components Jonathan? As its also a penetrating oil, does it not harm any of the non metal components in the suspension?

I've finished cleaning mine and currently just treated it to a good coating of bodywork wax.

regards, Paul

[britlude]

the same was done to the rears, again the raw untouched disc...
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4291/35841485012_34efaa196c_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYN9)2013-04-20-2555 (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYN9) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

wirebrushed off to prep for paint....
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4304/35970874786_7f27801b95_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WNC8Sj)2013-04-20-2556 (https://flic.kr/p/WNC8Sj) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

and some paint applied...
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4327/35622951670_7c8d77b03f_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WgSWrU)2013-04-20-2557 (https://flic.kr/p/WgSWrU) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

and with the wheel back on...
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4314/35841485092_5a06dee388_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYPw)2013-04-20-2558 (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYPw) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

alot better! the paint air dries but is cured by heat ( it's designed for chimneys/ barbequeues/ exhausts and other hot stuff!) so once it was all basically dry, i took the car around the block, getting some heat into the discs and paint!

when back home, all was well, the paint cured to a nice satin black, and far far better than the rusty mess that was there before!

another job jobbed! hurrah!

[britlude]

Do you simply wipe this over the suspension components Jonathan? As its also a penetrating oil, does it not harm any of the non metal components in the suspension?

I've finished cleaning mine and currently just treated it to a good coating of bodywork wax.

regards, Paul


yup, i just gave the aluminium a spray and wipe over as the aluminium was dirty and/or a bit dry! it gets used too much to be immaculate!!!!

it'll get a simple green treatment later!

[Senninha]

Thanx ... overall effect looks good ... so whats next on the agenda? My widget perhaps ;o)

[britlude]

next on the 'get it ready for Japfest' was the interior, so the floormats were taken out and given a damn good pressure wash! the carpets hoovered and the seats given a glyptone clean and condition. the centre console was taken out and given a quick respray to sort the scratches from useage!

while i was there i decided to do something about the sill trim bits.. (the hockey stick shaped bits of plastic that finish the carpet edge)

quite scuffed when the plastic was given a panel-wipe clean
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4310/35970874906_0e51000752_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WNC8Uo)2013-04-27-2584 (https://flic.kr/p/WNC8Uo) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


so they were given a couple of coats of plasti-dip that i had left from doing the wheels....
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4301/35172627224_5aeae0a1fe_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VA5UFj)2013-04-27-2585 (https://flic.kr/p/VA5UFj) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

[britlude]

then it was a case of letting it dry....
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4294/35878892691_5c333eda46_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WEuGN8)2013-04-27-2586 (https://flic.kr/p/WEuGN8) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

came out nice :)

so before and after....
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4327/35841485212_9ecf240e06_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYRA)2013-04-27-2582 (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYRA) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4315/35841485292_3a5bb5b8f9_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYSY)2013-04-27-2587 (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYSY) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


and when they scuff up again it's just a case of peeling off the rubberised coating and re-applying!


.... one thing i have noticed with this plasti-dip is that the colour coverage is appalling! when i first tested it i thought they had sent me a can of 'smoke' coloured instead of 'black', the colour bulk was just not there... you'd think the wood i sprayed them on would have been a little blacker with the overspray!

[Papalazarou]

I've often wondered about the rejuvenating qualities of the plastidip.

Awesome job Jon.

Cheers.

[NSXGB]

Impressed with the Plasti-dipping. Black Plasti-Dip seems quite hard to get hold of unless you want to pay through the nose on eBay..

EDIT. Just wondering how close the colour match is to the OE centre console black?

[britlude]

http://www.plastidip.co.uk/eStore/index.cfm?Plastidip_Aerosol_Spray_-_400ml&stage=3&colour=Black,Blue,Clear,Yellow,White,Red,Green,Ora nge,Brown&pid=PDL-0009

going direct is sometimes cheaper!

did the ends of the sill pads too.... as the new trims made these look tatty. these needed a gentle flat off to reduce a couple of deep gouges...

before... (cleaned again with panel-wipe which removes any previous treatments and makes them look FAR worse!!!)

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4305/35172627314_ab893be418_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VA5UGS)2013-04-28-2588 (https://flic.kr/p/VA5UGS) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

and after....

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4291/35172627384_4ee4852413_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VA5UJ5)2013-04-28-2593 (https://flic.kr/p/VA5UJ5) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr2013-04-28-2588 (https://flic.kr/p/VA5UGS) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

somewhat better

[NSXGB]

That's the first time I've seen it in stock, thanks!

[britlude]

the last of the new bits i got for the car were a pair of front window sash triangle things... these...
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4301/35878892791_571b21d869_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WEuGPR)2013-04-28-2589 (https://flic.kr/p/WEuGPR) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

from our friends across the Atlantic, rather than the frankly ridiculous price HUK want!

anyway, doors stripped down to get to the mounting bolts and new units swapped in. (the old/new unit)
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4329/35841485342_37fa2e4fd0_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYTQ)2013-04-28-2590 (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYTQ) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

and the reason for the change... new and the old
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4319/35878892891_4dd562be91_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WEuGRz)2013-04-29-2594_1 (https://flic.kr/p/WEuGRz) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


while they were off i cleaned the window weather seals (top of the door, bottom of the glass)! these have lost their pliability over the last 20 years, so looking at replacing them later (the drivers side has shrunk in length too and i've had to 'fill' the gap) what i really want to do is replace just the flocked rubber piece that clips onto the aluminium extrusion! obviously the cheap rubber bit isn't listed seperately to the stupidly expensive extrusion!

lings list at....


11
PFKL785257
MOLDING ASSY., R. DOOR
£413.54
(€471.44)
($661.66)
001
contact us - coloured part
Add Wish List (http://www.lingshondaparts.com/customer.php?xCmd=wladd&xProd=785257&)




14
PFKL785623
MOLDING ASSY., L. DOOR
£413.54
(€471.44)
($661.66)
001
contact us - coloured part
Add Wish List (http://www.lingshondaparts.com/customer.php?xCmd=wladd&xProd=785623&)



so the hunt is on for some extruded rubber.... i shall have to investigate further, or adapt something like this....

http://www.cbsonline.co.uk/product/Flocked_Window_Trim_Drip_Seal_FWT (http://www.cbsonline.co.uk/product/Flocked_Window_Trim_Drip_Seal_FWT)

the original rubber has a double seal arrangement, BUT once the water is past the first seal what's the point of the second? it's already in the door itself and can only drain out the end of the channel into the door! ok, these only have the one seal, but i see the second as redundant anyway!

and these at less than a tenner a side it's more like it!

[britlude]

the door moulding rubber saga is detailed here

http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?11148-Door-moulding-rubber-refresh (http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?11148-Door-moulding-rubber-refresh)

the upshot is it's possible to stretch the rubber back into length/position with a couple of dots of super-glue!

normal service will resume!



obviously this does go against my 'if it works tell the world, if it doesn't, bury the evidence and don't tell anybody' ethos, but it did come good in the end!

[britlude]

Big update, been busy!!!!


Post japfest play! Yup, I’ve been fiddling with the car again, sorting a couple of niggles that have been bugging me.


The bottom screen trim has always been iffy, an unfortunate consequence of the car living outside all year! So, knowing the clips for the screen trim will more than likely be broken, a new set was ordered from Lings, and duly delivered…
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4309/35841485462_9d8a73b303_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYVU)2013-05-17-2697 (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYVU) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


along with 4 new bumpers for the headlights to open against, to replace the 3(!) that had turned to black concrete…
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4313/35841485672_096e466a4b_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYZw)2013-05-17-2711 (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYZw) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


ok, lings weren’t the cheapest (obviously as they are UK based) but delivery was quick!


So with the screen clips in hand I could begin! This is what was bugging me….


Crusty corners
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4314/35970874956_5cfc12565e_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WNC8Vf)2013-05-17-2692 (https://flic.kr/p/WNC8Vf) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


and blotchy/stained/icky in the middle!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4327/35878893041_4443317c83_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WEuGUa)2013-05-17-2700 (https://flic.kr/p/WEuGUa) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

[britlude]

So once the trim had been treated to a good scrub with some panel wipe cleaner stuff, I armed myself with an aerosol can of plastidip and set to!!! A couple of coats and I was done. Some of the application was a little splattery, but I think that was because the can was getting a bit low, but the plastidip did smooth out, so all good! I’ll probably use plastidip from a pot with a proper spray gun when I find more stuff to coat!

Anyway… a before….
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4317/35970875006_b63f8d934f_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WNC8W7)2013-05-17-2698 (https://flic.kr/p/WNC8W7) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

and after….
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4323/35201541023_b7bc69652a_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD6K6)2013-05-17-2717 (https://flic.kr/p/VCD6K6) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


and just to complete it, the same fitted….
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4321/35172627464_16cb7aec2b_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VA5UKs)2013-05-17-2693 (https://flic.kr/p/VA5UKs) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4324/35878893521_56f5d58c5f_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WEuH3r)2013-05-17-2725-1 (https://flic.kr/p/WEuH3r) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

a vast improvement!!!!

[britlude]

***handy hint alert***

Whilst at Japfest, I noticed some stuff, as you do!... does this look familiar?

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4322/35878892951_427e9c7e19_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WEuGSB)2013-05-17-2695 (https://flic.kr/p/WEuGSB) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

the famous missing strut top cover grommet!
Now while the car was all apart I thought I’d take pics and share my solution…
You need an old piece of rubber hose (you’ll have plenty after servicing you NSX hoses!!!) Find one with the hose inside diameter just bigger than the hole in the scuttle trim..
Cut the hose so that it’s an angled wedge sorta thing, about 14mm on one side, and 25mm on the other….
A bit like this..
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4297/35841485512_3fdcf6c084_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYWL)2013-05-17-2702 (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYWL) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

and fits on the top of the strut…
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4307/35172627604_3b723f8ed4_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VA5UMS)2013-05-17-2703 (https://flic.kr/p/VA5UMS) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

so the top is flat to the scuttle trim…
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4314/35970875056_9481a6706f_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WNC8WY)2013-05-17-2705 (https://flic.kr/p/WNC8WY) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

[britlude]

excuse the dirt, I did clean it…..
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4312/35841485642_56eec27908_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYZ1)2013-05-17-2708 (https://flic.kr/p/WBbYZ1) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

now the scuttle can’t ‘bounce’ as you drive, which is what allowed the strut top to push the grommet out!

Quick aside…. **handy hint 2!***

in the above pic you can see that the filter for the heater intake is working fine!!! Another shot…
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4319/35201540873_c37f9e7155_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD6Gv)2013-05-17-2707 (https://flic.kr/p/VCD6Gv) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

Mentioned first on NSXPrime, and on here at http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?7122-cured-the-typical-screen-misting-i-hope! (http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?7122-cured-the-typical-screen-misting-i-hope!&highlight=fram)

Anyway back to the plot…
It’s now shiny behind the trim!!!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4306/35878893291_16cc788179_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WEuGYt)2013-05-17-2709 (https://flic.kr/p/WEuGYt) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

[britlude]

I managed to sneak a place at ‘supercar siege’ car show, so, whilst giving the car a once-over, I decided I was fed up with the green tinge to the top of the headlight hardware, the bit just under the bonnet/headlamp panel gap. Where the car lives outside, bits that can have water standing on them can get a hint of green.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4311/35622952250_e10414627c_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WgSWBU)2013-05-17-2712 (https://flic.kr/p/WgSWBU) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

Now I did consider some sort of micro organic production facility, but decided a clean up and paint would be easier, so, for the show, the offending parts were coloured in!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4322/35878893481_d13f7e4362_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WEuH2K)2013-05-17-2720 (https://flic.kr/p/WEuH2K) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

while the paint pot was out, I splashed a little on the ABS wiring bracket…
before…
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4305/35841485772_c101b0ab61_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBbZ2f)2013-05-17-2718 (https://flic.kr/p/WBbZ2f) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

after (obviously!)…
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4293/35970875216_b4b04b521c_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WNC8ZJ)2013-05-17-2721 (https://flic.kr/p/WNC8ZJ) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

[britlude]

And the radiator supports given a quick tart-up! I’d already polished the edges and bright zinc plated them ages ago, but it was starting to show it’s age!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4304/35878893381_10c4aebcfe_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WEuH12)2013-05-17-2715 (https://flic.kr/p/WEuH12) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

So a quick buff up, and quick slop of black!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4299/35841485732_9b324ce4bc_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBbZ1y)2013-05-17-2716 (https://flic.kr/p/WBbZ1y) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

post show (it was quite good! We should pencil in a club stand for 2014! https://www.facebook.com/Supercarsiege ) i finished the headlights, removing the covers and lights, to paint the steel frames
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4299/35201541363_d3dcbd3aa0_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD6QX)2013-05-20-2798 (https://flic.kr/p/VCD6QX) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4330/35878893601_daf6638529_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WEuH4P)2013-05-20-2799 (https://flic.kr/p/WEuH4P) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

see, said I’d been playing since Japfest!!!


then I finally decided to find a solution to something that’s always bugged me about the car….. to be continued ……!

[TheSebringOne]

Are the headlights frames steel or alu?

[britlude]

very definitely steel! ali doesn't rust!

[Senninha]

... post show (it was quite good! We should pencil in a club stand for 2014! https://www.facebook.com/Supercarsiege ) ...

Make it so Jonathan ... its either this or you are nominated for Japfest 2014 ...

Is Supercarsiege always at the same venue?

regards, Paul

[britlude]

So, apart from the annual new rear tyres, I’ve had a play at an irritating bit of the engine bay to me. Everything in the engine bay is painted/ powder-coated to keep it clean and pretty, except the alternator! So I decided to do something about it… so choices are… clean to aluminium, polish, paint, or something else!


… of course I went to for the ‘something else’ option. Well, I did try the clean to aluminium first, but to do it properly the alternator would need to be stripped as I wasn’t keen on using strong aluminium cleaner with the coils/contacts/electronics still inside! Painting would have been an option but I would have wanted to remove any corrosion first… see above!


I’ve decided to move the alternator to under the engine, driven off a drive shaft. No, not really!!! Here’s what I tried…..


The engine bay as we all know it….
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4297/36012247055_06eb9107ab_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShbpi)2013-05-21-2812 (https://flic.kr/p/WShbpi) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


the alternator standing out like a dull grey blob amongst a sea of painted bits!


Stage 1… see if I can make a cover that can fit, be easily mountable and do what I want without adverse effects..


https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4312/35970875256_36a1a6e678_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WNC91q)2013-05-20-2803 (https://flic.kr/p/WNC91q) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4325/35201541543_9fc65fba6d_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD6U4)2013-05-20-2804 (https://flic.kr/p/VCD6U4) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

note the random chrome ratchet accessorisation....

[britlude]

With the basic form sorted, it was a case of now making it look good, with a bit of a ‘return’ to the edges and some slots to mimic those in the injector covers. Obviously the slots would have been a whole lot easier if I’d cut them when the aluminium was flat!!!... anyway, that’s the point of a prototype!

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4303/35878893671_85ea0a26ac_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WEuH62)2013-05-20-2805 (https://flic.kr/p/WEuH62) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4330/35970875316_b7122c11b3_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WNC92s)2013-05-21-2806 (https://flic.kr/p/WNC92s) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4294/35201541773_fc3576b75a_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD6Y2)2013-05-21-2807 (https://flic.kr/p/VCD6Y2) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


the slots were a pain to get neat by hand!

[britlude]

then a bit of primer and paint…
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4330/35878893731_1965ee1373_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WEuH74)2013-05-21-2809 (https://flic.kr/p/WEuH74) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4299/35970875356_65c6d4db8f_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WNC939)2013-05-21-2810 (https://flic.kr/p/WNC939) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4318/35201541973_d7821df5e8_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD72t)2013-05-21-2811 (https://flic.kr/p/VCD72t) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

making sure to get a fabulously poor paint finish to mimic the finish on the surrounding black parts

[britlude]

then it was a case of fitting it on…

before..
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4297/36012247055_06eb9107ab_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShbpi)2013-05-21-2812 (https://flic.kr/p/WShbpi) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

after…
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4328/35970875416_9619cb4b68_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WNC94b)2013-05-21-2813 (https://flic.kr/p/WNC94b) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

and a couple of others…
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4299/36012247105_e211a6e0a8_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShbqa)2013-05-21-2815 (https://flic.kr/p/WShbqa) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4310/35201542163_bab484007e_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD75K)2013-05-21-2814 (https://flic.kr/p/VCD75K) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr2013-05-21-2816 (https://flic.kr/p/WNC94S) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

[britlude]

And finally coloured in the mounting bolts… none of the others on the engine are as bright and shiny!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4311/35970875456_fac65250b0_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WNC94S)2013-05-21-2816 (https://flic.kr/p/WNC94S) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

all done!




hmmm... might tie the cover into the pulley cover bracket.......
...just to close up the end a little more.....
...maybe a couple of other tweaks....

well it is a prototype :)

[Senninha]

Simple yet effective Jonathan, yet another part you could market ... Clever bu***r

[gumball]

I like my naked alternator. Just saying.

[Problem Child]

then a bit of primer and paint…
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/nsx%20stuff/trim%20and%20detail%20refresh/2013-05-21-2809.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/nsx%20stuff/trim%20and%20detail%20refresh/2013-05-21-2809.jpg.html)

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/nsx%20stuff/trim%20and%20detail%20refresh/2013-05-21-2810.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/nsx%20stuff/trim%20and%20detail%20refresh/2013-05-21-2810.jpg.html)

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/nsx%20stuff/trim%20and%20detail%20refresh/2013-05-21-2811.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/nsx%20stuff/trim%20and%20detail%20refresh/2013-05-21-2811.jpg.html)

making sure to get a fabulously poor paint finish to mimic the finish on the surrounding black parts Is there no end to your talents? Could you make me an O2 sensor??

[britlude]

O2 sensors.. try sparkplugs.com or rockauto.com!

[britlude]

back to the plot.....

If I’m not so sure about something, in this case the alternator cover, I leave it a couple of weeks, then have another look! That way I get to see it with fresh eyes, and get to see what , if anything, needs doing. so upon opening the engine cover did I like what I saw…. No!

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4310/35201542163_bab484007e_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD75K)2013-05-21-2814 (https://flic.kr/p/VCD75K) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

It is a prototype, so it’s allowed! But looking at it, it looks too ‘thin’. Like it’s made out of a thin piece of aluminium. Yes, I know it IS a thin piece of aluminium, but although doing it’s job, still looks out of place, so a tweak is required!

A bit of metal bashing later and I have a cap to add to the end, which was ‘welded’ on with lumiweld and a blow torch… and mocked up just to check!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4326/35878894011_bd482de53b_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WEuHbT)2013-06-24-3048 (https://flic.kr/p/WEuHbT) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

a shot of filler…..
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4298/35970875476_d5744b9123_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WNC95d)2013-06-24-3050 (https://flic.kr/p/WNC95d) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

and after a flat and paint up we get to this…
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4319/35878894061_3e889f55c6_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WEuHcK)2013-06-24-3055 (https://flic.kr/p/WEuHcK) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

the return giving a more ‘solid’ appearance, and the radiused end into the vertical face tie-ing in with the curves of the intake/injector covers….

blah blah blah! it just looks better!

[britlude]

the vertical face above the pulley cover is clear of the alternator, and shouldn’t affect any air-flow… I did a quick mock up to see if it needed trimming back any more..
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4317/36012247255_706c70afcd_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShbsK)2013-06-24-3053 (https://flic.kr/p/WShbsK) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr



and the final result

before…
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4310/35201542163_bab484007e_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD75K)2013-05-21-2814 (https://flic.kr/p/VCD75K) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

after
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4299/35970875526_7cc663d4bb_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WNC965)2013-06-24-3062 (https://flic.kr/p/WNC965) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

definitely looks more ‘complete’ now!

[Senninha]

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRGFzcrTpn43rry8L6pevH3zo5LsARPJ uqiGD1DlaA-rQp0ygRhAajVMQ:www.arrse.co.uk/attachment.php%3Fattachmentid%3D100813%26d%3D13549 93456 (http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.arrse.co.uk/attachment.php%3Fattachmentid%3D100813%26d%3D13549 93456&imgrefurl=http://www.arrse.co.uk/naafi-bar/191353-deserves-thread-its-own.html&usg=___ZBk_5CgYw2v8EMkMlnGLVVXwQc=&h=321&w=400&sz=28&hl=en&start=23&zoom=1&tbnid=mam5gOWdzNcIYM:&tbnh=100&tbnw=124&ei=S7rIUcLtGMLP0QWl-IHYCA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dwe%2527re%2Bnot%2Bworthy%26start%3D20 %26um%3D1%26sa%3DN%26hl%3Den%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disc h&um=1&itbs=1&sa=X&ved=0CDAQrQMwAjgU)

Completeness is yours, much more of an OEM look about it now ...

[TheSebringOne]

Nice cover! Is there anything you can't make! :)

[britlude]

car mats! that's why i bought some at Silverstone classic.....

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4319/36012247355_3e889f55c6_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShbut)2013-08-21-3805 (https://flic.kr/p/WShbut) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

more details here!
http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?11452-New-floor-mats

another little landmark in the life of my NSX, the odometer has just tripped over 123456.7! i noticed at 123451, thought i better get a pic next time out, forgot and remembered at 123458...bum

think i must be due another oil change about now....

[britlude]

Been playing again, just added gauge trim rings from Stacey on NSXprime....

here’s the before and after! it really brightens it up and reversible for the purists!

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4324/35878894101_d2d551af26_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WEuHdr)2013-09-06-3885 (https://flic.kr/p/WEuHdr) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4318/35970875586_2a5ea2133a_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WNC977)2013-09-06-3900 (https://flic.kr/p/WNC977) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

full details here... http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?11509-been-playing-again!-dash-mods!&p=104930&posted=1#post104930

[Senninha]

Whilst the car was playing host to a dead gearbox, I took the opportunity to do a coolant hose refresh! well i had to find something to do!

So a set of hoses was ordered from our friends across the Atlantic, excluding the 6 main hoses that I’d already purchased in silicone.. lots of bags!


silicon set
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/nsx%20stuff/nsx%20coolant%20hoses/2012-04-06-184.jpg



Hi Jonathan,

Question for you, more out of curiosity as I've been reading stuff and there was reference to the fact that silicone hoses can 'release' fluid through the composition of the hoses as compared to the OEM manufacture. The discussion recognised that they are great for withstanding higher temperatures for short periods, ie competition use, but questioned the rational of using them for daily drivers.

Were you aware? I guess you simply swap out one lunchtime between sandwiches if they do 'leak' ;o)

regards, Paul

[britlude]

hi Paul, not heard that one before, but as with pretty much everything, for the expert that says something is great, there will always be another expert to say it's the worst thing ever, and we're all doomed!

i was always under the impression silicone hoses were an improvement/progression over the old rubber hoses so will now monitor them! or just check the water level as usual! :)

i'm sure the issues referenced in your reading would involve tiny amounts over a long period of time!

much the same as i once read that GRP fibreglass was not waterproof and as such is no good for boats... ironic that most small boats are GRP!

[Senninha]

I should have said that the information was provided by a manufacturer of both silicone and OEM hoses, so no real bias either way as far as I could tell.

Certainly do keep your usual eye on the levels and as you were not aware I'm pleased I commented.

regards, Paul

[britlude]

time for another boring oil change update...


124767.... changed the oil!

once again i used the '1-bar-on-the-gauge-at-idle-with-hot-oil' indicator of when to change... so works out about 6k miles again!


.. and used the last of my original long filters :( however it does mean i'll have more room to make less mess when the shorter version goes on next time



on a more interesting note, i have completed 1 relatively big project on the NSX, and working on a small obvious one that i'm surprised no-one in the world has done yet!

:)

[Senninha]

Such a tease....

[britlude]

so here's the latest big (well sort of) NSX project... http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?11778-Mats%85-the-wonderful-world-of-mats!

just to keep me amused, and give a little refresh....the carpet overhaul!!!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4309/35172628594_680a0fd2f3_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VA5V5W)2013-10-04-4007 (https://flic.kr/p/VA5V5W) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

now all nice and new! still Simons fault!!! :)

while i'm at it, i gave the bonnet hook a spruce up! after a good wire-brush off it got a couple of coats of satin black and baked on!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4327/35878894201_56a17beeda_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WEuHfa)2013-11-29-4204 (https://flic.kr/p/WEuHfa) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4319/35970875646_1759cb2219_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WNC989)2013-11-29-4205 (https://flic.kr/p/WNC989) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

a shot of copper-slip on the threads to keep the bolts fresh, all somewhat tidier!

[britlude]

as a boxing day treat and between storms, i gave the throttle body, idle valve and EACV (electronic air control valve) a spruce up.... first up was the throttle body, removed and given a good going over....

before and after
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4304/35970875736_6454d67c25_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WNC99G)2013-12-26-4329 (https://flic.kr/p/WNC99G) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4302/35878894311_0b6c95401e_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WEuHh4)2013-12-26-4330 (https://flic.kr/p/WEuHh4) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

and on the car....
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4320/35878894271_0224b50cdb_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WEuHgn)2013-12-26-4328 (https://flic.kr/p/WEuHgn) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4318/35878894361_b2841170a9_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WEuHhV)2013-12-26-4344 (https://flic.kr/p/WEuHhV) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

[britlude]

occasionally the car would die for no reason when it was started, so i gave the idle valve and EACV a clean-up. the EACV has a filter too, so after reading about possible cloggage,

i ordered some small bits from Lings...
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4319/36012247515_69c1c2c56e_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShbxe)2013-12-26-4325 (https://flic.kr/p/WShbxe) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

and the idle valve left, and the EACV on the right, removed from the intake.... (they are upside down on the bench!!!)
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4324/35172628674_cb5af00332_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VA5V7j)2013-12-26-4332 (https://flic.kr/p/VA5V7j) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

the filter was removed! it's pushed in like a core-plug, so doesn't want to come out easily! hence just a bit bent, however, the difference is clear...
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4326/35970875816_d64ac3af8b_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WNC9b5)2013-12-26-4338 (https://flic.kr/p/WNC9b5) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

... or not so clear! bear in mind it had already had a carb-cleaner blast before the pic was taken!

the rubber seals had taken on a bit of a set too (old left, new right obviously!)...
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4311/35878894331_fd598f8c95_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WEuHhp)2013-12-26-4336 (https://flic.kr/p/WEuHhp) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

[britlude]

after doing this, and restarting the car it stalled instantly, so went from occasional/rare to consistent every time! lol, typical!!

so, clock fuse removed, in for a drink, replace fuse, start up and let the car relearn how to run with nice clean inlet and EACV filter! after about 15 minutes of letting it do it's thing, switched off, and on again...

....all as it should be now!

[britlude]

a quick fog light dash lamp mod.. literally 5 minutes!!!!

see here for the lowdown! http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?11786-fog-light-dash-board-warning-mod!&p=106200#post106200

[britlude]

well nearly a month since my last post here...

xmas 2012 I bought Sarah a cheap and cheerful double din dvd sat/nav for her cube, turns out it made the one in the NSX look like dinosaur! Ok the NSX unit did what it was supposed to do, but it was plagued with being a budget unit. I went this way as the pioneer/alpine units at the time, apart from being ridiculously priced, were tied into particular maps/updates/etc, and I didn’t want to be tied into such things!

So fast forward 4 ½ years since i put the double din in (!) and I’ve finally found the unit the same as the one I got for Sarah! The place I got hers didn’t list them anymore, and I really liked the layout, it fitted my requirements and it was far better all round! (3 ½ years of progress will do that!) so after a year of trying to find the same unit I finally managed to order a one for my car! Obviously another year of tweaking the software (or companies changing/selling designs) has progressed the software a little more, so not all bad!

This is how it started….
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4327/35172631694_021960590c_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VA5W1o)nsxstereo2 (https://flic.kr/p/VA5W1o) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


‘how it started’… sounds ominous huh?

Well, of course, as it was wasn’t quite how I wanted it for in my car, the knobs are a bit too bling, and the lighting is blue… who wants blue lighting when the NSX is gloriously orange??? So first things first, a couple of knob covers were turned up on the lathe, shaped to compliment the CCU knobs, and once painted, were fitted…

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4301/35878894411_21fe5cd97c_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WEuHiM)2014-01-16-4368 (https://flic.kr/p/WEuHiM) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4328/35970875906_9e8ceb4869_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WNC9cC)2014-01-16-4369 (https://flic.kr/p/WNC9cC) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

[britlude]

The blue was more of an issue, so the unit was stripped to identify the LEDs required, teeny-tiny 0603 LEDs… when I say teeny-tiny, I mean teeny-tiny!!! (second from left!)
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4308/35201547043_982cdb7b1a_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD8wT)ay58rb (https://flic.kr/p/VCD8wT) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


So the blue leds were removed, and orange put in their place… certainly eye-strain putting them on!


https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4320/35172628754_15ff389884_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VA5V8G)2014-01-15-4365 (https://flic.kr/p/VA5V8G) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


Once all 10 had been swapped the unit was put back together ready for the next stage!!!!… think the warranty might be void now???

[britlude]

Of course, the new head unit was not the same size as the old… now the backs are standardised double din, all well and good, and means I can use the bracket I made for the first unit, but the front wasn’t the same size… 6mm wider and about 3 deeper! Knowing how weak the centre console will be at the bottom corners of the head unit, and knowing mine was already repaired, I cut 2 25mm (1 inch) strips of carbon fibre sheet and glued down each side before I started, dremmel grinding 2 slots in the previous work to them to slot it into….


Slot on the left side…
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4330/35172628814_a723938e07_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VA5V9J)2014-01-19-4376 (https://flic.kr/p/VA5V9J) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

Carbon keyed a little and q-bond glued in
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4312/35878894481_d6bcc55191_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WEuHjZ)2014-01-19-4378 (https://flic.kr/p/WEuHjZ) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4315/35970875996_f9904506bc_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WNC9eb)2014-01-19-4379 (https://flic.kr/p/WNC9eb) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


Now I had a stable base to resize the double din hole..
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4318/35878894551_d48d8b8db9_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WEuHmc)2014-01-20-4383 (https://flic.kr/p/WEuHmc) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

[britlude]

Which was then paint-stripped and primered…
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4326/35970876056_62d430757d_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WNC9fd)2014-01-24-4388 (https://flic.kr/p/WNC9fd) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4316/35172628904_e4d90c78fe_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VA5Vbh)2014-01-23-4387 (https://flic.kr/p/VA5Vbh) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


…..T’was then painted and lacquered, and I forgot to take a pic!


With the stereo now bolted in, the centre console was checked for fit, just to make sure
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4294/35878894591_a46c14005c_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WEuHmT)2014-01-27-4391 (https://flic.kr/p/WEuHmT) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


It still fits! Hurrah!

[britlude]

Previously the painted edges on the centre console have gripped the vinyl of the dash, so this time I ordered up some anti-vibration felt tape to replicate the oem stuff!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4328/35970876146_e3f168ce31_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WNC9gL)2014-01-27-4396 (https://flic.kr/p/WNC9gL) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4308/35878894661_7881d3c1e0_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WEuHo6)2014-01-27-4395 (https://flic.kr/p/WEuHo6) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


The eagle eyed will notice the lack of carbon fibre overhang down the side of the centre console. Turns out the centre console rests on a narrow lip on the dashboard, so it had to be trimmed back, not a big problem as it served its purpose with all the handling needed for paint prep, and it still has a carbon support, just reduced to 7mm-ish, still enough to support it when needed!

I also bought some open-cell adhesive backed 5mm foam. The only way to get this was from a camera bits supplier! It has to be open cell to be able to crush easily, most foam is closed cell, and, as such, is quite firm! Anyway I bought a A5 piece and rimmed it into strips and stuck it on in the OEM positions….

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4309/35172628964_22afd83c0d_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VA5Vcj)2014-01-27-4394 (https://flic.kr/p/VA5Vcj) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

[britlude]

Now it’s just a case of putting it all back in and calling it done!!!

A poor night shot (well it was dark when it went back in! i'd hazzard a guess around 8.03!)
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4313/35172629004_6ef2e758c5_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VA5Vd1)2014-01-27-4397 (https://flic.kr/p/VA5Vd1) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


And a nice orange stereo!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4302/35970876196_6701a12332_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WNC9hC)2014-01-27-4399 (https://flic.kr/p/WNC9hC) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


Hurrah! And the RCA outputs drive at Bose amp levels, which the old one stereo never did :D

[Senninha]

Hi Jonathan,

Yet more great work and this case its the 'teeny tiny' details that make the difference .... and interested to hear the lathe is up and working ;o)

A very personal observation is that for me the size of the unit makes it look more after market (despite the new knobs) .... I'd like to do something but simply havent yet found a unit or display that gives enough OEM look ... If do then I know how to install for a unique install ...

regards, Paul

[UnhuZ]

Hi,

i'm amazed with your work....simply amazed.

Nuno

[britlude]

not happy with the new stereo knobs....
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4328/35970875906_9e8ceb4869_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WNC9cC)2014-01-16-4369 (https://flic.kr/p/WNC9cC) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

so a bit of whittling on the lathe and mill and i end up with this.....

the new knobs with one of the old.... (the old covers needed a bit of destruction to remove from the plastic knobs...)
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4298/35878894761_1516867000_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WEuHpP)2014-02-14-4426 (https://flic.kr/p/WEuHpP) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

and on the stereo......
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4304/35970876316_3955b3db0d_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WNC9jG)2014-02-14-4432 (https://flic.kr/p/WNC9jG) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4321/35970876286_ceacc68152_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WNC9jb)2014-02-14-4429 (https://flic.kr/p/WNC9jb) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

alot better and far more appropriate to the overall effect!


hmmm. needs a dust!

[britlude]

car passed MOT today Hurrah!

engine running beautifully clean too! 0.1% CO (limit 3.5%) and 18ppm HC, limit 1200ppm! the joys of early car limits, not that it's anywhere close!! looks like that throttle body clean up was worth while :)

just gotta sort out an oil leak from the top... the usual cam covers/vtec type thing

[britlude]

latest mini-update! now with pics!

when i got the car, the roof had been polished through the lacquer, so shortly after i got it and i'd got fed up looking at it every time i opened the car i repainted the roof! flatted back, painted, and polished back to original. by 'original' i mean back to a nice black roof, with a polished through the lacquer bit in exactly the same place! bum!

so when i got fed up of looking at the shiny fresh polished through bit, i eventually painted it again, again flatting back, barrier coating, primer, black, lacquer, and once finished i had a glassy smooth lovely roof!

move on about 3 years, and the roof begins to have some micro-blistering, 3 yrs fine, then it decides to erupt. i put up with this for a year, then flat and polish, again i'm back to glassy, but know the problem is still there, and last year it worked its way through again, ending the year looking like a tiny bubbled pizza! just like this... no, it's not wet!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4319/35970876326_ec2a449e73_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WNC9jS)2014-03-07-4495 (https://flic.kr/p/WNC9jS) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

enough was enough, i had to bite the bullet and get on with it! with the hot spell recently, supplies were bought and the car set upon!

with micro blisters you have to flat down to find the source and remove it, unfortunately in my case, as suspected it was the barrier coat, so all the paint i had put on was removed..... the first coat of paint i has put on caused the problem! typical!

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4321/35622953580_b004806192_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WgSX1Q)2014-03-07-4499 (https://flic.kr/p/WgSX1Q) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

at the bottom of the pic the 'grey' is the lacquer, with black dots, where the black has been pushed up, next up is the black paint with beige dots, where the primer is erupting through the black!

moving along top left, you can just see where we have the grey of the barrier coat coming through the primer! bum!

so all stripped off! (before the trims/ b-pillars removed, and the roof edges finished, the trims/b-pillars were painted too!!)
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4324/35970876446_ee1c437131_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WNC9mW)2014-03-07-4501 (https://flic.kr/p/WNC9mW) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

[britlude]

anyway, fast forward a bit, and the roof is nice and smooth and black again! just as it should be!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4296/35970876526_6892c3e25e_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WNC9oj)2014-03-27-4529 (https://flic.kr/p/WNC9oj) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4317/35622953650_0cd11fedfa_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WgSX33)2014-03-27-4528 (https://flic.kr/p/WgSX33) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

on a quick sort of aside, Berlina black is just that, straight black with nothing added! the old term would be 'taxi black'!

anyway, with the shiny new roof, i also treated the car to a new top screen trim bits as mine had shrunk and suffered after 22yrs of use on 2 sides of the world!

here's a pic of the trim, cos you've never seen one before! it's not until you have a nice new pliable shiny trim that you realise just how past-it the one on the car was!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4301/35172629194_6a344c3dfd_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VA5Vgh)2014-03-27-4527 (https://flic.kr/p/VA5Vgh) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

i also put a new mast in the aerial, as mine wasn't playing as it should! this turned into a bit of a trial as there is a sleeve around the base of the mast, which stays stuck in the aerial housing when the old mast is taken out! ho hum, a lot of fiddling and disassembly and it's all as it should be again! hurrah!

[britlude]

sorta boring update, mainly because there are no pictures!

occasionally i have been getting a 'knock' from the front suspension when i go over bumps. I have a particular bump on my way to work that i can't avoid if the traffic is wrong, so have been getting reminders on a regular basis!

The MOT didn't show any play in the suspension joints (although i had taken the precaution of sorting some bare uprights for new ball-joints that might be needed later) so i'd had anti-roll bar drop links ready since xmas! finally got a free minute to fit them!

before removing the drop links, the anti roll bar was given a firm wobbling, and a slight knock in the joint area found on the drivers side (always nice to find something!)

fitting was fairly straight forward after the old ones were removed, a combination of fighting with corroded threads and allen key sockets before employing an angle grinder!

no pics, but imagine a dirty black bit being replaced with a shiny new bit! with plenty of grease on the threads and allen socket!

i cleaned the front suspension at the same time, with the simple green precision cleaner stuff!

[Senninha]

i cleaned the front suspension at the same time, with the simple green precision cleaner stuff!

I'm sure you do it just to wind a few owners up .... LoL!

[britlude]

been doing a little preventative maintenance on the starter motor.....

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4315/35622953820_76e5796a92_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WgSX5Y)2014-05-06-4808Small (https://flic.kr/p/WgSX5Y) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

full story here.... http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?12102-starter-motor-service!!!

also my car had developed a 'knock' when turning the steering wheel, regular and always with the wheel in the same position, so after a quick upside down and backwards fumbling in the footwell, it was decided it was the bottom steering knuckle/UJ that was the culprit. lucky really, as if it were the top joint it would have meant a new column as the joint is not changeable!

anyway, a new joint was purchased and duly fitted! and the knock was gone!

this is the old one! it had a knock on the car which i couldn't replicate off the car! most odd!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4300/35970876556_14696266c0_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WNC9oQ)2014-05-01-4705Small (https://flic.kr/p/WNC9oQ) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

jolly sportingly Honda had designed the joint in such a way that the clamp bolts could be removed and the joint slid up the longer spline, releasing it from the short spline, allowing the joint to be swung out of the way and removed! nice as it means the column doesn't have to be touched! :)

[britlude]

also has a bit of a tidy up on the engine intake cover plate....

before..
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4307/35622953750_a2c23d3c3d_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WgSX4L)2014-05-03-4718Small (https://flic.kr/p/WgSX4L) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

after...
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4316/35172629314_4759c269a2_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VA5Vim)2014-05-03-4720Small (https://flic.kr/p/VA5Vim) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr



..........hmmm. wonder why i felt the need to tidy that up?????????

[Senninha]

..........hmmm. wonder why i felt the need to tidy that up?????????

Engine bay envy :)

[britlude]

read all about it here..... http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?12172-a-little-engine-tweak-with-pics!!!

a slight change to the rocker covers colour....
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4293/35970876616_03e3ee5f75_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WNC9pS)2014-05-05-4793Small (https://flic.kr/p/WNC9pS) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

had to be done!!!

[britlude]

latest tweak... well, been on 'test' for a couple of months..... 'rear coil pack rain deflector exotic drain thingy'....

basically a splash guard for the back of the engine!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4323/35970876626_cf4f75d268_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WNC9q3)2014-05-29-4901 (https://flic.kr/p/WNC9q3) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4323/35970876676_0d4ae8ca41_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WNC9qU)2014-05-29-4904 (https://flic.kr/p/WNC9qU) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


must sort a new pic of the finished version! and just noticed the painted rocker cover post above has the splash guard in it and no-one noticed!!!

full story, not that there's alot more to say... here http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?12264-failing-rear-coil-pack-solution (thread pix repaired!)

[britlude]

had a day off today, so finally got around to sorting a couple of bits on the NSX....

firstly, the door handles lacquer had 'gone off' with the effects of use and weather, after years of faithful service.... to the point that I wrapped the handle for Silverstone classic as an interim measure. i had sourced another handle from USA, my theory being the US version is the passenger side, and less used! this was all very well but the only ones i could find at something approaching reasonable cost needed painting. i know i could have just painted the one already on the car, but as mine is a daily driver, I didn't want down time whilst waiting for paint to dry!

anyway, a quick before, you can see the lacquer under where the nsx badge was has lost it's oomph! (i took advantage of a hot day and whipped the badge out!) (the handle is matt as i had flatted it back before applying the wrap, the lacquer was old and soft enough to scrape off with a finger nail!)

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4317/36012249885_0932699c6c_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShcf6)10847770_10204581372067301_3087203816975874 39_n (https://flic.kr/p/WShcf6) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

and after.... a lot better!

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4323/35172629844_3d0008544c_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VA5Vsu)10359405_10204581371667291_3221375161980559 966_n (https://flic.kr/p/VA5Vsu) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

now it's bolted on the car, I can give it a final polish :)

[britlude]

whilst i had the door apart, i wanted to repaint the door switch panels, so these were removed and given a blast to remove the previous paint layers... they had already suffered the wrinkle effect, and subsequent peeling off of the chrome layer...

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4318/35201545233_b698de77fd_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD7ZF)1907893_10204581356466911_92326132769866418 0_n (https://flic.kr/p/VCD7ZF) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

(i suspect the metallic (thick) plated layer was put on at the factory as the plastic seems to have air pockets in the structure, and small micro-blisters can form in the paint if it's been in the sun, the metal layer nicely preventing this until it finally gives up one day and ripples!)

anyway a good coat of 2 pack primer coupled with the sand blasted finish should keep this at bay for a while....

primered! (guide coated and camouflaged!)

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4309/35970876776_bb7e699a91_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WNC9sC)15866_10204581356426910_6013792182095774268 _n (https://flic.kr/p/WNC9sC) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

to be continued when paint drys!!!

(quick aside , I've decided my brakes are lacking, so just ordered myself a set of stoptech brake discs, so they will be going on when they arrive!)

[Senninha]

Where did you order the discs from please?

[britlude]

pounced!!!! lol....

i got them from here... http://www.balancemotorsport.co.uk/

you can order from amazon, but you have to order individually, and the ones that would ship from america were either hugely overpriced or on a 3-5 week lead time!!! plus shipping for a small heavy box!

ordered all 4 for £265.90 delivered...



Order Amount




Order Total (Incl Tax & Delivery)
£265.90



Net Total (Excl Tax & Delivery)
£211.63
Tax
£44.32
Delivery Costs
£9.95




Order Details




Part No
Description
Qty
Unit Cost
Cost (ex Tax)
Tax Rate


126.40029_372
NSX 3.0 1991-1996 SportStop REAR disc pair
1
£104.98
£104.98
20.00


126.40028_235
NSX 3.0 1991-1996 SportStop FRONT disc pair
1
£106.65
£106.65
20.00



somewhat more expensive for the NA2 spec ones tho....
http://www.balancemotorsport.co.uk/products.asp?recnumber=113809

balance motorsport rang this morning, rears in stock in UK, fronts coming from US, should get them by the weekend (typed on a monday!!!)

[britlude]

door switch panels repainted and back in!


https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4306/35201546723_1af7e0f952_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD8rn)10850315_10204581356666916_6823164236008150 546_n (https://flic.kr/p/VCD8rn) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


brake discs/pads are next on the list when they arrive....

[britlude]

oooo look what arrived today!!!

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4319/35841488372_fffa1d9d59_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBbZN5)10805758_10204581358026950_7807315755118893 201_n (https://flic.kr/p/WBbZN5) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

and in both flavours!

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4303/35841488182_319a5b30c8_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBbZJN)10689776_10204581358746968_7789094462418078 530_n (https://flic.kr/p/WBbZJN) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

purdy :)

[UnhuZ]

Hi,

282mm all arround, right??

i upgraded mine to 97+ sizes, 300mm all arround, and comparing prices with 91-96 is a pain.

Thanks,
Nuno

[britlude]

yup, stock 1992 sizes for the time being, just giving the brakes a good service!

[britlude]

thursday evening i removed the wheels, gave the suspension/wheel well a good shot of everyone's favourite cleaner, good 'ol simple green precision followed by a hose off, followed by a snow foam and a pressure wash just to make sure!!!!

just in case you've never seen the cleaning power of soap and a water....


https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4307/35201546653_0b94e36039_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD8qa)10845908_10204581360387009_3084867449316154 073_n (https://flic.kr/p/VCD8qa) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

[britlude]

then on friday, i wouldn't have to sit in a puddle while changing the discs!

the car was jacked up, and all the wheels removed
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4326/35841487792_8df3b534e6_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBbZC5)10616118_10203913734936790_7284821918196469 158_n (https://flic.kr/p/WBbZC5) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

then the discs were replaced at each corner (obviously!)
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4324/35172629884_0e3212c492_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VA5Vtb)10422039_10204581360787019_5263403416584057 49_n (https://flic.kr/p/VA5Vtb) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

and new OEM pads fitted at the same time
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4323/36012249265_0af50bc776_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShc4p)10653344_10203913735176796_4294663781145139 867_n (https://flic.kr/p/WShc4p) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

[britlude]

so we went from this
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4306/35172630114_b941a9839c_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VA5Vx9)10659155_10203913732256723_8736541205681486 27_n (https://flic.kr/p/VA5Vx9) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

to this
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4302/35201546413_6bde21a8f4_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD8m2)10690074_10203913732136720_6340045413956644 854_n (https://flic.kr/p/VCD8m2) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

(with a bit of a satin black on the disc splash guard and a wipe over of the caliper :) ) the red axle stand isn't holding anything up, it was there to support the caliper while everything was unbolted!

and the rear looking better too!....
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4300/36012249025_a4edfc36c0_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShbZg)10614109_10203913744937040_5800365161542752 674_n (https://flic.kr/p/WShbZg) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

when reseating the caliper pistons, they are corroding on the outside (noted when i overhauled them ages ago) so new pistons are be on the list! there was also evidence of the paint having brake fluid damage, and although dry obviously something was up at some point!

so i'm looking to source stainless steel pistons, as i don't like having to do a job twice if it can be helped!

[britlude]

stainless pistons done... thread is here.... http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?12411-stainless-brake-pistons

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4300/36012249025_a4edfc36c0_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShbZg)10614109_10203913744937040_5800365161542752 674_n (https://flic.kr/p/WShbZg) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

and a caliper paint up here.... http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?12434-Caliper-paint-overhaul%85

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4328/35201546123_dc2215d80e_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD8g2)10665198_10203965567392569_7419134704830502 802_n (https://flic.kr/p/VCD8g2) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

[britlude]

had an unexpected day off today, and with the weather being on side too, i thought i'd do a bit of pre-emptive maintenance and cleanup as a bonus too.... the bonnet was opened, and it was a case of take off a rusty bracket, give it a good wire brushing, bake on a bit of paint, and bolt it back in! that was the mission statement, and off i went!

first was the cruise control side of things.... bracket before
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4294/35201546293_b8c5f1f12f_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD8iX)10678770_10204078599498301_8484969858597881 18_n (https://flic.kr/p/VCD8iX) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

and after
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4330/35172629634_597bcdce6b_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VA5VoS)1932389_10204078599938312_18146835368081695 30_n_1 (https://flic.kr/p/VA5VoS) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4303/35201545613_64066656f5_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD87e)10403702_10204078599138292_8809180440225367 235_n (https://flic.kr/p/VCD87e) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

i separated the base plate from the cruise control, derusted and repainted. all back together with some pretty stainless washers
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4298/36012248805_e0e4f9e918_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShbVt)10398024_10204078600458325_9140423465820087 405_n (https://flic.kr/p/WShbVt) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

[britlude]

then to the other side..... removed the brackets from the fuse box, and relay boxes....

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4292/36012249555_b5b04e6229_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShc9p)10698609_10204081612253618_5552043440616159 265_n (https://flic.kr/p/WShc9p) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4322/35841488302_6f4ef755bb_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBbZLS)10712936_10204081617253743_2543991487457592 64_n (https://flic.kr/p/WBbZLS) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


the overall effect... before
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4300/35841488112_7ab7dd5c77_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBbZHA)10670216_10204081610413572_7430880218120510 212_n (https://flic.kr/p/WBbZHA) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

and after
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4321/36012248925_efb10fc032_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShbXx)10440751_10204081624173916_1836591250494275 192_n (https://flic.kr/p/WShbXx) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

[britlude]

it would be rude not to tidy up the spare wheel bracket....
the usual look
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4298/36012248695_0561db8037_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShbTz)10304496_10204081619173791_4978769151299990 801_n (https://flic.kr/p/WShbTz) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

after 10 mins with a scotch pad thing on the bench grinder!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4326/35172629744_6e42438f24_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VA5VqL)10155354_10204081621253843_3559524947768521 551_n (https://flic.kr/p/VA5VqL) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

(i know the top rubber is missing, i made one up when it was refitted with some sticky-backed high density foam)

such a nice satin/brushed finish it would be impolite to do the ABS guard too....

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4301/35841488262_eb2328f6a4_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBbZLb)10710986_10204081625973961_2665998361450298 247_n (https://flic.kr/p/WBbZLb) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

all done, re-did the radiator mounts too... now satin and black!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4324/35841487892_9f72f38077_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBbZDN)10653293_10204081632214117_6182230268277571 048_n (https://flic.kr/p/WBbZDN) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

while i was there, i gave all the unions on the brakes/abs unit a blast with Gibbs lubricant, magic elixir/snake oil metal preserver! (as were the bare aluminium spare wheel bracket and ABS guard)

[Pride]

Great attention to detail again Britlude, I wish I had the same mindset, well done.

[britlude]

ta, :)

while i was chasing a small oil leak (cam plugs are dry, no obvious leaks from the cam cover, dry all the way round, i think its the rear vtec solenoid seal, the one between the solenoid and vtec body and the only one that hasn't been replaced!) it gave easier access to remove the vacuum lines and a bit of plumbing.... of course these we stripped and repainted as they were chipped! tidied up the cross brace at the same time!

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4304/36012248455_172234a266_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShbPr)1620421_10204078597858260_13031113235186528 33_n (https://flic.kr/p/WShbPr) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

this will have to come out again once the seals arrive from rock auto (currently en route in Memphis!).... a pair of vtec body and solenoid seals are listed at £90.80 from Lings, rock auto have all 4 for £38.08 delivered, just search their site on the oem number!!

[Senninha]

The underbonnet brackets ... one of the jobs I did recently and well worth the effort ...

[Mistercorn]

I have currently got the front of my car in pieces to clean up the brackets. Does anybody know if the rubbers for the spare wheel holder are still available from Honda? One of my side ones and the top one are missing.

MC

[NSXGB]

Yep...You may want to search for your specific year model but doubt there were any changes.

http://www.lingshondaparts.com/honda_car_parts_selection_pfk.php?block_01=17SW001&block_02=B__5001&block_03=21550


I have currently got the front of my car in pieces to clean up the brackets. Does anybody know if the rubbers for the spare wheel holder are still available from Honda? One of my side ones and the top one are missing.

MC

[britlude]

1992 lings listing


10
PFKL799891
CUSHION, SPACE SAVER TIRE
£11.83
(€0.00)
($0.00)
001

Add Wish List (http://www.lingshondaparts.com/customer.php?xCmd=wladd&xProd=799891&)


11
PFKL799911
CAP, SPACE SAVER TIRE HOLDER PIPE
£12.62
(€0.00)
($0.00)
002

Add Wish List (http://www.lingshondaparts.com/customer.php?xCmd=wladd&xProd=799911&)



2000 lings listing


13
PFKL799891
CUSHION, SPACE SAVER TIRE
£11.83
(€0.00)
($0.00)
001

Add Wish List (http://www.lingshondaparts.com/customer.php?xCmd=wladd&xProd=799891&)


14
PFKL799911
CAP, SPACE SAVER TIRE HOLDER PIPE
£12.62
(€0.00)
($0.00)
002

Add Wish List (http://www.lingshondaparts.com/customer.php?xCmd=wladd&xProd=799911&)




so probably the same beasts throughout!!!!


looking at mine, it probably only had 1 when i got it, as it looks like i've halved it to fit both sides.....

[Kaz-kzukNA1]

As always, nicely done, Jonathan.

On our NSX, one of the worst bracket to get corrosion is the one holding the four orange connectors for the ABS solenoid located just in front of the ABS modulator.
Quite often, I have problem releasing the connectors from the bracket in order to activate the solenoid manually. I think you already painted it in the past.


By the way, for the parts page on Lings website, once you reached the diagram showing the parts you want, just delete the text ' _pfk ' from the address bar (remember to delete the ' _ ' underscore as well) and you will get the proper Honda Parts No. instead of Lings in-house parts system no. PFK****.

Kaz

[NSXGB]

By the way, for the parts page on Lings website, once you reached the diagram showing the parts you want, just delete the text ' _pfk ' from the address bar (remember to delete the ' _ ' underscore as well) and you will get the proper Honda Parts No. instead of Lings in-house parts system no. PFK****.

Kaz


Like it: http://www.lingshondaparts.com/honda_car_parts_selection.php?block_01=17SW001&block_02=B__5001&block_03=21550

Saves having to add it to the shopping trolley to see the Honda part #.

[britlude]

i re-did the ABS connector bracket, just to complete the set...
before
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4326/35201545383_06b8059810_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD83g)10014555_10204150050444530_1688581361046977 662_n (https://flic.kr/p/VCD83g) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

and after a sand blast to remove the old paint and rust, etch prime and a coat of silver!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4312/36012248615_befa5aef44_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShbSc)1969334_10204150050124522_52470745925232677 56_n (https://flic.kr/p/WShbSc) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

whilst i was under the bonnet, i decided the abs pump bracket and motor cover need attention, so just wondered how much a new one is, just to save turn around time and keep the car on the road.... £213 for a piece of bent metal... i don't think so! so later i'll be removing it, blasting it and seeing how it looks! if it's too bad i'll make anew one out of stainless!

anyway, the replacement vtec seals arrived from rockauto, in a nice box......
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4306/35201545723_5e0db0e3d2_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD898)10458866_10204150060684786_8198668921644287 449_n (https://flic.kr/p/VCD898) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

nothing quite like a bit of overkill...
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4325/35172629944_5e59992450_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VA5Vud)10473776_10204150060764788_4061627140639176 246_n (https://flic.kr/p/VA5Vud) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

yes, that box for the 4 seals!

[britlude]

in turn, the vtec assemblies were removed and the solenoids unbolted from the housing....
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4308/35201545153_41b51263d2_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD7Yi)1521966_10204150060804789_67872876573543607 27_n (https://flic.kr/p/VCD7Yi) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

the small seal is shot as i've never touched it, the bigger seal is ok as i replaced that already and is still flexible and round in section, but i renewed all just to make sure!

the seals were prised out, the units given a blast of brake cleaner and new ones fitted (i forgot to do a before pic, but remembered for the second one!!!

anyway, here's the difference between old and new. the old was crushed flat, had the feeling of hard plastic, rather than nice new rubber!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4318/36012249405_05b862fc0f_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShc6P)10672430_10204150062444830_1440643851354264 743_n (https://flic.kr/p/WShc6P) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

here's the pic of the second unit, the rubber seal crushed and hardened, not a lot of sealing potential...
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4321/35201545493_d3027b4586_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD85a)10345534_10204150062124822_4116248232296292 85_n_1 (https://flic.kr/p/VCD85a) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

here's the new seal in place,quite obvious the difference now!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4301/35201546523_f7e85087b1_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD8nV)10712722_10204150063044845_5032379869548395 902_n (https://flic.kr/p/VCD8nV) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

[britlude]

anyway, fingers crossed i've found the oil leak!

another clue, i now realise, was that a void in the top if the vtec housing, under the solenoid flange, had oil in it when i removed the solenoid. obvious now as the void is outside the sealed area!

the square 'hole' at the bottom of this pic!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4309/35841487992_ab4c3265de_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBbZFw)10660179_10204150164407379_7924969667752402 233_n (https://flic.kr/p/WBbZFw) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

[britlude]

now the evenings have drawn in, and its cold dark and nasty, i finally got around to a mini-mod/addition to the NSX

i have (hopefully) a pretty engine, but it's a bit dark to show off in anything other than bright light, so i thought, to be a bit tarty AND make maintenance checks of a gloomy evening easier, i'd add a little light on the matter

using a DRL that i'd bought as a sample, i put a plan into action!

the DRL is a cob (chip-on-board) LED array, so is very thin and slightly flexible, and thinner when you take it out of its weather housing! i put in a little bend and stuck this to the underside of the engine cover at the back return edge, to keep it subtle and stealth!

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4319/35172629974_b8bc5ff330_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VA5VuJ)10639433_10204449972942405_1757407047545968 207_n (https://flic.kr/p/VA5VuJ) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

a bit closer....
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4314/36012248425_1a2a8c3cae_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShbNV)1506965_10204449972862403_32911694575237419 84_n (https://flic.kr/p/WShbNV) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr
(excuse the rough black edge, i've tidied that up!)

the wire was routed under the edge trim, around to the cover hinge area, and down into the engine bay near the air filter. a simple push on/off switch was mounted and the supply wire routed to the fuse box where a spare fuse position and a simple connection fashioned to provided fused power!

a press of the switch and it's on....
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4299/36012248545_9cc0daf45a_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShbQZ)1920399_10204449971782376_77589592471455167 01_n (https://flic.kr/p/WShbQZ) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

[britlude]

here's the before......
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4292/36012249175_3bf7c0aafa_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShc2R)10647147_10204449974302439_6893789400820042 991_n (https://flic.kr/p/WShc2R) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

and the after.....
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4324/36012249745_a0e7fefdaa_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShccF)10731084_10204449973662423_3592200371714347 73_n (https://flic.kr/p/WShccF) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

that works then!!! :)

[paulc]

Very nice, as usual!

[britlude]

might as well put the new screen in the build thread.....

132552 miles... a shiny brand new Honda screen with blue top tint fitted.... :)

oil change tomorrow....

[britlude]

132656 miles.... oil change!! exciting huh??? but it does show I did over 100 miles today and no-one spotted me!

[britlude]

when i treated all the little steel brackets under the bonnet, i wanted to do the ABS pump bracket, so today i got the chance to take it off and give it a treat!

here's the offending article (a new replacement is a bargain from Lings at just (57355-SL0-J00) BRACKET, PUMP £213.11 )
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4303/36012249985_8ffa0f8ce5_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShcgP)10881631_10204626923406056_8959335769346866 451_n (https://flic.kr/p/WShcgP) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

attack with a wire brush....
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4298/35938181131_40198f6dca_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WKJzbB)10391391_10204626923486058_7081525727300168 484_n (https://flic.kr/p/WKJzbB) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

a hit with some etch primer!
https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/t31.0-8/q86/p600x600/906599_10204626924246077_6096819848756345545_o.jpg

and a shot of black paint....
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4312/36030861936_a18a58991c_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WTVzXw)10458112_10204626924886093_7077452873949966 345_n (https://flic.kr/p/WTVzXw) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

to this i added a coat of plastidip, just to give it a bit of stone-chip resistance

[britlude]

here's the before.... mmm crusty!

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4325/35947001381_f8ec1f1590_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WLvM8T)10385478_10204626922606036_6783219688101327 85_n (https://flic.kr/p/WLvM8T) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

and the after bolted back in the car....
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4301/35841488502_f735cfb5ca_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBbZQj)10882230_10204626925006096_1018729114665882 040_n (https://flic.kr/p/WBbZQj) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

(the plasticoat 'twisted' as the bolts were nipped up!)

so that's another job jobbed...

... it must be winter, the original 15/16 inch wheels are back on with the winter tyres, and the tarty 17/18 3-piece wheels are broken down for a refurb :)

[Senninha]

... it must be winter, the original 15/16 inch wheels are back on with the winter tyres, and the tarty 17/18 3-piece wheels are broken down for a refurb :)

I'm looking for to next years colour ... my vote is for Charlotte Green with a sparkle finish!!

[britlude]

It'll be much the same I'm afraid, but hopefully with a little more colour on the highlights.... :)

[britlude]

quick fix on the boot gas struts... as they were getting a bit weak in the cold weather, so removed and sent to SGS engineering on monday, thursday i refitted them after their super efficient re-gas service :)

boot lid stays up now :)

[Mark N]

quick fix on the boot gas struts... as they were getting a bit weak in the cold weather, so removed and sent to SGS engineering on monday, thursday i refitted them after their super efficient re-gas service :)

boot lid stays up now :)

Hi Jonathan
How much do they charge for the service and are your struts OEM.

Many thanks
Mark

[britlude]

T'was £17.50 plus vat per strut plus £5.something postage back to me... Just over £48 total for the pair :) mine were shiny new OEM from Honda 7 or 8 years ago

[Kaz-kzukNA1]

As always, great support from SGS Engineering.

For your reference, they will first inspect your damper before proceeding with the re-gas.
Therefore, if your existing shaft is worn beyond the certain limit, they may refuse to re-gas it.
As this is Jonathan's build thread, don't want going off topic so please refer to the following link for further detail; http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/blog.php?1811-Today-at-Atelier-Kaz-NSX-Enthusiast&tag=sgs+engineering


Kaz

[britlude]

wheels are back together, rear tyres refitted, just waiting for the front tyres to arrive!

angled to the sun, they definitely got some bling going on!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4300/36080124415_b36d037a09_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WYh4YB)13377_10205458515755345_4287131983840047330 _n (https://flic.kr/p/WYh4YB) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

at normal angles it's more just a red highlight, a little more than before, but still subtle! and virtually black when it's overcast!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4299/35271910133_f75858df94_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VJRL2B)11081320_10205458515995351_8213292405185326 562_n (https://flic.kr/p/VJRL2B) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

:) now to finish the servo overhaul on the hotrod.....

[Pride]

latest tweak... well, been on 'test' for a couple of months..... 'rear coil pack rain deflector exotic drain thingy'....

basically a splash guard for the back of the engine!
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/nsx%20stuff/2014-05-29-4901.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/nsx%20stuff/2014-05-29-4901.jpg.html)

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/nsx%20stuff/2014-05-29-4904.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/nsx%20stuff/2014-05-29-4904.jpg.html)


must sort a new pic of the finished version! and just noticed the painted rocker cover post above has the splash guard in it and no-one noticed!!!

full story, not that there's alot more to say... here http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?12264-failing-rear-coil-pack-solution

Hi Britlude, just got round to installing the "rain guard thingy" today.

Fitted perfectly, any other bits and pieces you've invented that you think I could make use of.:)

I also fitted an SIS carbon fibre scoop bonnet with, (and you'll like this), an ultra bright white Philips DRL lighting kit shinning through the mesh bonnet grille, it looks fantastic, and as it came out of my shattered Siebon carbon lip spoiler so it was just cable tied out of the way under the bonnet so I thought it best to make use of it.

But I'm now in need of a couple of washer jets, Honda UK want over £80/pair!!!:(
I don't suppose you've got a couple kicking around have you???

Best regards
Pride

[lotusolly]

Hi Britlude, just got round to installing the "rain guard thingy" today.

Fitted perfectly, any other bits and pieces you've invented that you think I could make use of.:)

I also fitted an SIS carbon fibre scoop bonnet with, (and you'll like this), an ultra bright white Philips DRL lighting kit through shinning through the mesh bonnet grille, it looks fantastic, and as it came out of my shattered Siebon carbon lip spoiler it was just cable tied under the bonnet so I thought best to make use of it.

But I'm now in need of a couple of washer jets, Honda UK want oner £80/pair!!!:(
I don't suppose you've got a couple kicking around have you???

Best regards
Pride

I got that shock when I fitted my bonnet!
For some strange reason they vary in price depending on colour! I think silver were about £35 a pair. I just got the paintshop to paint mine black in the end.

Olly

[britlude]

summer must be on it's way as the original wheels/winter tyres are back in the shed!

the OEM shirt buttons....
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4307/36080430595_083e619699_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WYiCZz)11059497_10205458502635017_7235114461417947 906_n (https://flic.kr/p/WYiCZz) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

just before a quick spray of secret aluminium cleaner (simple green precision especially for aluminium)
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4300/36080430275_dc544f3e3e_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WYiCU4)11136752_10205458508755170_4726676848737888 488_n (https://flic.kr/p/WYiCU4) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

and after the pressure wash off
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4322/35690879240_bb0bfd6a98_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WnT5WU)11038376_10205458510075203_6072049405298994 521_n (https://flic.kr/p/WnT5WU) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

in the words of the No.7 advert... ta-dah!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4297/36080430135_d473944293_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WYiCRD)11137089_10205458512315259_7068818778515611 501_n (https://flic.kr/p/WYiCRD) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

[UnhuZ]

Hi,

can you give me some more details on that "simple green precision" ? :)

Thanks,
Nuno

[britlude]

its from the Simple Green Extreme range.... i'm pretty sure the 'aircraft precision' and 'motorsports' stuff is the same, just with a different label! it's specially developed for use with aluminium, and isn't an acid based cleaner like many others!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Extreme-Simple-Green-Aircraft-Precision-Cleaner-/180953625613

http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Green-13412-Aircraft-Precision/dp/B00627REY0

i got mine from ebay usa, but they do have a global network... http://simplegreen.com/global-partners/

[UnhuZ]

Hi,

some quick searchs for it within Europe came up empty.... incredible..

Nuno

[exiges1]

Use th global partners link above, appears to be distributers throughout Europe.

[Dragonlady]

Www.simplegreen.co.uk or .com

simples!

[UnhuZ]

Hi,

:D Thanks !!

found a spanish site that sells and ships to Portugal !!

I think i'll buy a 10L, as i have a LOT to clean.... like everything in my NSX !!

Thanks,
Nuno

[britlude]

just make sure its the extreme precision aircraft stuff! normal simple green isn't good for aluminium! and Spain has better supplies than UK, i had to get it from USA! :)

[UnhuZ]

Hi,

here is the link:

http://www.ferrer-dalmau.es/producto/extreme-aircraft-simple-green/

Nuno

[mjames75]

Some simple green is not good for rubber and bushes etc so hope this is ok!

[britlude]

post supercar siege and i have 2 problems....


1. Sarah likes driving the NSX, the whole 'being able to accelerate uphill' is a new novelty for her.... :)


2. following the NSX, apart from looking awesome on the road from front and rear, i spotted a problem with the nearside rear wheel inner edge... it had a wobble...


was it a buckled rim, missing lip, faulty tyre??? on closer inspection at home, it's the tyre. it had a blister on the inner edge, for about half the circumference of the tyre, so a new pair of rears are needed. i don't want a half worn one side and a new one on the other for reasons discussed in another thread, basically it'll put my steering wheel out as the car will want to go in a circle as the lsd drives both wheels evenly....


fortunately my local tyre place had a pair of my preferred kumho ku39 255/35x18 (for £104 a piece) in stock


here's the inside of the good tyre side... nice and smooth, nothing to report

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4325/35947074901_0269f4479d_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WLw9Zt)11220877_10205760631188042_4938551313620505 860_n (https://flic.kr/p/WLw9Zt) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

however the other side was like this...
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4301/36080488355_d8e9eb9b54_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WYiWar)11233345_10205760631108040_4126239416347919 826_n (https://flic.kr/p/WYiWar) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

not so much a blister, more of a donut, with a fatter donut for half the tyre. not good! at least it was spotted before silverstone or the pancake run.

there was a 3rd issue with the hotrod, but binding rear brakes (because of a faulty servo that needs stripping again!!!) aren't NSX related....

[Senninha]

Firstly, glad you spotted it and the only drama involved finding replacements!

I would suggest you keep an eye on the replacements. I had an MOT failure on the Merc last yr, but the coincedence is that this was also on Kumho Ku39's. Both the MoT tester and tyre fitter put the damage down to potholes and that particular tyre not having a strong sidewall compared to some of its competitors.

Stay safe, rgds Paul

[britlude]

'tis the first issue i've had with the numerous sets that have been on the car over the years! i shall keep an eye on them just in case!

[britlude]

as you may have gathered... it's been all quiet on the NSX front, nothing exciting to report, everything behaving as it should....

these turned up today.....
front top and bottom ball joints, you know, the ones that aren't replaceable, only available as part of the NSX front upright/hub carrier.... but have circlips!!

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4329/35912091162_0efacdec83_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WHqRxy)trtr (https://flic.kr/p/WHqRxy) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

the new with a couple of old joints i took out of a spare upright... all measure up fine

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4325/35172629464_574be97596_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VA5VkW)9189ec25-e526-4ac5-a1f5-075814c9c25a (https://flic.kr/p/VA5VkW) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4322/35841488572_3550763e5e_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBbZRw)22135037-fc4d-4a70-b673-9fda4983e842 (https://flic.kr/p/WBbZRw) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


all delivered from USA via amazon.com for $657... ok a little extravagant, but bought for when they are needed! bearing in mind, mine are now 23 years old and it's used everyday on the quality roads we get to enjoy in good 'ol Blighty!

they were cheaper via amazon than direct from Rare Parts themselves. they also list the rear bottom joint too. with the upper, they refurb your top wishbone with a new joint, obviously this needs to be sent to them! (i think they are part numbers R11905 and R11906)

rare parts site... http://shop.rareparts.com/smtp/shopdisplaycategories.asp?iyear=1992&imake=0001|ACURA&imodel=0004|NSX&iproduct=0040|SUSPENSION,%20SPRINGS%20&%20COMPONENTS

[unclebob]

do u have the links as i cant find these on the amazon website?

[NSXGB]

Simple Google search will find them:
http://www.amazon.com/Rare-Parts-RP11903-Ball-Joint/dp/B00PY43MI4
http://www.amazon.com/Rare-Parts-RP11904-Ball-Joint/dp/B00PY43QUS

[Pride]

as you may have gathered... it's been all quiet on the NSX front, nothing exciting to report, everything behaving as it should....

these turned up today.....
front top and bottom ball joints, you know, the ones that aren't replaceable, only available as part of the NSX front upright/hub carrier.... but have circlips!!

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/nsx%20stuff/WP_20151021_16_09_21_Pro.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/nsx%20stuff/WP_20151021_16_09_21_Pro.jpg.html)

the new with a couple of old joints i took out of a spare upright... all measure up fine

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/nsx%20stuff/9189ec25-e526-4ac5-a1f5-075814c9c25a.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/nsx%20stuff/9189ec25-e526-4ac5-a1f5-075814c9c25a.jpg.html)

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/nsx%20stuff/22135037-fc4d-4a70-b673-9fda4983e842.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/nsx%20stuff/22135037-fc4d-4a70-b673-9fda4983e842.jpg.html)


all delivered from USA via amazon.com for $657... ok a little extravagant, but bought for when they are needed! bearing in mind, mine are now 23 years old and it's used everyday on the quality roads we get to enjoy in good 'ol Blighty!

they were cheaper via amazon than direct from Rare Parts themselves. they also list the rear bottom joint too. with the upper, they refurb your top wishbone with a new joint, obviously this needs to be sent to them! (i think they are part numbers R11905 and R11906)

What a good idea John, so I've just ordered mine and thanks Simon for the hyper link.

[nicjwin]

Some time ago there was a thread with a UK supplier . Can't remember who ?

[britlude]

after finishing the bits i was doing on the hot rod, i finally got around to fitting the new joints in a spare pair of uprights i have, so later i can just swap over the hardware when the weather is onside!

the theory was to remove them from the car , swap in the new joints and reassemble, but with the weather being horrid today and the outlook just as grim, i dug out the bare 'knuckles' that i'd bought ages ago....

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4319/36012251755_877bee146d_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShcNk)WP_20160102_11_13_27_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/WShcNk) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

and the new joints fitted

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4330/36012251835_1b74280e95_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShcPH)WP_20160102_17_29_54_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/WShcPH) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

the fitting was fairly straight forward. the joints that load in from the centre (the top in the picture) were snug, but not as tight as anticipated, this might be because there is little room to press them in so factored in by the manufacturer?? anyway, i applied heat to the knuckle, not too hot (still ok to touch! not blow-torched to the point of melting!!) and fitted with a little locktite just to make sure they don't twist in use. i shall mark them for future checking just to make sure!

the top joints, (on the car, and bottom in the picture!!) were as tight as expected, so again some heat was applied and this time the joints pressed in using the trusty vice and some old bearing races from a front wheel bearing as spacers to make it easier! all looking good so far!

i also have a pair of compliance joints that i've already freed and lubricated the castor adjusters, as mine on the car are seized solid!

[britlude]

another little aside from a couple of weeks ago was fitting a filter in the PCV to throttle body line.... we all know the inlet plenum/back of the throttle butterfly/air temp sensor are prone to get covered in a sticky oily mess, i decided to investigate fitting an oil separator to clean things up!

i looked at the general options on the internet and NSX specific ones on Prime, researched other solutions and options, and eventually ignored all i found in favour of a small compressor filter widget that was lying around at work. this fulfilled 2 criteria, 1. it was small, and 2. it was free!

all i had to buy was a couple of fittings and a bit of pipe! then make up a mounting bracket and fit it in!

i'll see how it goes, if it actually captures anything, and then paint it to help it blend in!

the kit of bits... the filter is 2 stage, with individual drains.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4291/35622956490_d4fc95a25b_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WgSXT1)WP_20151212_11_51_41_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/WgSXT1) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

and fitted.... the original PCV/inlet pipe is used, just ending at a slightly different place!

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4302/36012251665_4e238bf823_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShcLM)WP_20151212_13_15_06_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/WShcLM) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4328/35622956600_890da41f8e_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WgSXUU)WP_20151212_13_21_22_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/WgSXUU) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

we'll see what its collected after a while!

[britlude]

its that time of year again..... the winter shoes are back on....

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4317/35622956690_e8333d6a30_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WgSXWs)WP_20160109_12_09_07_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/WgSXWs) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

[britlude]

Hi Jonathan. Love your build thread :) I assume you have now driven some miles on those Rare Parts ball joints. All good so far?

>
Hi Jonathan. Love your build thread :) I assume you have now driven some miles on those Rare Parts ball joints. All good so far?
>
> ta, ball joints are still in the garage on my spare uprights, awaiting better weather to fit them!
>
> however, as my winter wheels and higher profile tyres are back on, the suspension is having an easier time of it and the occasional knock has gone for the time being!!!!!
>
>> Jonathan...another question. How much do they weigh - that pair of ball joints? I am trying to persuade an American friend of mine to bring some over, but looking at Amazon he thinks they are ~1.5kg a piece haha My guess is 800gram for the pair.
>>
>>>
Jonathan...another question. How much do they weigh - that pair of ball joints? I am trying to persuade an American friend of mine to bring some over, but looking at Amazon he thinks they are ~1.5kg a piece haha My guess is 800gram for the pair.
>>>
>>> 15.2 oz according to the Amazon advert :).... Follow the link posted by NSGB.
>>> Peter
>>>
>>>>
15.2 oz according to the Amazon advert :).... Follow the link posted by NSGB.
Peter
>>>> Thanks Peter - I also found the weight on another one of their joints
>>>>
>>>>> 442gm each, good guess
>>>>>

[britlude]

nothing exciting to report lately, took the car for an MOT, passed... smiley face!

changed the atf in the gearbox, well, more like drained 4 litres out, put 4 litres fresh in, do it again next weekend with the 2 litres i have left! unfortunately you can't intercept an oil cooler line to do a full flush, and as fluid stays in the gearbox valve block and torque converter, it's more like change what you can, then do it again later so a higher percentage is new!

only downside is someone/persons unknown decided to fall against the back wing of the car, then grabbed the wheel arch they dented and pulled it out a bit...
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4296/36012252175_bfc7b56b5a_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShcVz)WP_20160203_16_17_12_Pro__highres (https://flic.kr/p/WShcVz) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4298/35622956750_5119c9c2bf_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WgSXXu)WP_20160203_16_17_19_Pro__highres (https://flic.kr/p/WgSXXu) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

not impressed. dent doctor proved to be useless, so had to do it myself, about 90% straight again, still a bit to do, and another bit that needs paint... grrrrr

on another aside, i've just finished making new bumpers for the hot-rod! long story short, they are painted chrome, but a little chipped after several years on the car, so enquired about 'silver plating chrome' effect. they wanted £500 for the front bumper and 2 rear quarter bumpers... err no, so made my own in stainless steel!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4305/36012252045_2a3e6cea3a_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShcTk)WP_20160211_21_16_03_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/WShcTk) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4305/35172632534_e38d2db129_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VA5WfS)WP_20160210_22_04_22_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/VA5WfS) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

[Pride]

... err no, so made my own in stainless steel!
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/hot%20rod%20stuff/WP_20160210_22_04_22_Pro.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/hot%20rod%20stuff/WP_20160210_22_04_22_Pro.jpg.html)

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/hot%20rod%20stuff/WP_20160211_21_16_03_Pro.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/hot%20rod%20stuff/WP_20160211_21_16_03_Pro.jpg.html)

Boy, you certainly made that sound simple, not.:)

Sorry to hear about your dent, I bet you were fuming.:(

[britlude]

not impressed with the dent at all....

full bumper write up here..... http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?13705-what-have-i-been-doing-for-the-last-couple-of-months :)

[britlude]

finally the threat of snow is over and the temperature is looking to be on the up.... hurrah!

that means the winter wheels/tyres can come off and the summer fat wheels can go back on! Of course, whith the wheels off it'll be rude not to give the suspension a quick treatment.....

the usual before/after.... before...
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4321/35622956890_6418be4278_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WgSXZU)WP_20160503_19_46_26_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/WgSXZU) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

and after...
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4314/35172632614_abf279dec0_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VA5Whf)WP_20160503_19_55_03_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/VA5Whf) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

i would show the other 3, but you get the idea!

while i was under the rear drivers side it was nice to see my oil filter housing was no where near as crusty as some of those Kaz has come across....
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4324/36012252145_824436cdfc_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShcV4)WP_20160503_20_14_19_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/WShcV4) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

see, you need to DRIVE your cars more!!!! (smiley face|!)

hurrah
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4301/35622957040_edf8bc3068_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WgSY3u)WP_20160503_20_22_33_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/WgSY3u) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

Steampunk hat number 3 is next (already underway, already over complicated!!!) and maybe squeeze in a bit of paint correction/replacement!

[britlude]

finally the weather has brightened up, and the threat of snow gone, and a bright afternoon aligns with my early friday finish, so i can finally sort my cam plug leak.....

i did have replacements in hand when i did the cam belt/LMAs but as these were tarty aftermarket billet ones rather than oem rubber ones they didn't fit so the old ones had to be refitted at the time as the car is my daily driver!

so ... lots of bits taken off to get to the cam plugs....
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4321/36012252295_77fae9f363_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShcXD)WP_20160506_14_25_45_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/WShcXD) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


i had hoped it would just be a case of taking off the end cab, wiggling the cap out, new one in and done, but alas no.

the cam's oil spray bars straddle all the caps, so taking these off mean the cams will lift, so the cam belt was tywrapped to the cam gears, just to prevent any teeth skipping... belt and braces and all that!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4299/36012252335_a8a3bbeab0_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShcYk)WP_20160506_14_25_51_Pro__highres (https://flic.kr/p/WShcYk) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


also the cam shaft protrudes into the cap so it has to come up a little to remove the cam plug seal.


a good solvent wipe around the sealing surfaces and a generous dollop of hondabond sealer and it was all refitted...
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4295/35172632764_f30cd08d83_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VA5WjQ)WP_20160506_14_58_31_Pro__highres (https://flic.kr/p/VA5WjQ) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

[britlude]

while i was there i thought i better change out one of the coil packs... can you guess which one?
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4304/36012252385_f538a81d70_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShcZc)WP_20160506_15_17_45_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/WShcZc) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


it's pretty rusty, the laminate core is seperating and it's going to go at some point! (it's been fine for the last 10 years, being generously dosed in Gibbs penetrating oil so it's not got any worse!)
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4313/36012252585_f436487c00_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShd3D)WP_20160507_12_11_14_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/WShd3D) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

bearing this in mind i'd secured a couple of coilpacks off of E of the Bay, well at £16 it would be rude not to! so fitted, checked it worked and put on the coil cover.... you can guess the next bit! it wouldn't sit down properly!

the coilpack was more squared at thetop corners, just where the coil cover wants to be....
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4306/36012252545_5917a08ec6_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShd2X)WP_20160507_12_10_36_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/WShd2X) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


a quick file down on the corners sorted that!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4302/35172632854_a9b74ef88f_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VA5Wmo)WP_20160506_17_51_26_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/VA5Wmo) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

[britlude]

an engine pic from 2007....

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4305/35172631124_38092d9f1b_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VA5VQy)Image004 (https://flic.kr/p/VA5VQy) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

on a side note, the engine internals colour hadn’t got any worse in the subsequent 5 years between the above 2007 pic and the 2012 pic below….
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4316/35622958180_3f02dcaaf3_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WgSYo9)z2012-04-05-146800x600 (https://flic.kr/p/WgSYo9) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


now in 2016......
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4300/36012252445_922c5468ba_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShd1e)WP_20160506_16_22_07_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/WShd1e) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr



still getting cleaner inside!!!

[britlude]

the difference between FF and RR coilpacks.... as far as i can tell, it's the orientation of a small vent/drain hole on the rubber seal just under the main body of the coilpack.....

the rear is on the same side as the connector socket...
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4318/35172632914_e0b434a94a_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VA5Wnq)WP_20160507_12_12_33_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/VA5Wnq) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

the front is on the opposite side...
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4312/36012252675_235db7659a_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShd5c)WP_20160507_12_12_51_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/WShd5c) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


the rubber can turn, so if you needed a rear and only had a spare front..... just saying :)

[Pride]

Fantastically, clear high def images you post up Britlude, but like a lot of forum members, of which I'm one, the images we post up are generally, putting it bluntly, cr*p.

So would you mind letting us all know, in a simple to follow idiot proof way, how you do it please.

Cheers.

[britlude]

i take pics then upload them to Photobucket.

on photobucket (which is free as long as you don't go mental storing thousands of pics) they are stored on the internet in a bigger format than most forums. with the forum hosting the pictures (the add pic thingy in the top of the reply box) they are usually a smaller size to keep the space taken up storing them smaller, and thus the forum costs lower...

the individual pictures on photobucket have the email/forum link already laid out to just copy and paste into the reply to thread box... it looks complicated (i've changed the square bracket into curley ones, just to show what the code looks like.)

{URL=http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/nsx%20stuff/tarty%20nsx%20pix/z01052011442800x600.jpg.html]{IMG]http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/nsx%20stuff/tarty%20nsx%20pix/z01052011442800x600.jpg[/IMG][/URL]


it doesn't matter how confusing it looks, it's not you that has to understand it, it's an instruction for the forum software to look on the internet for a pic, get it, and put it in the thread!

with the correct brackets, it looks like this!

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/nsx%20stuff/tarty%20nsx%20pix/z01052011442800x600.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/nsx%20stuff/tarty%20nsx%20pix/z01052011442800x600.jpg.html)


currently my photobucket is 79% full... but that does have 2360 pics and 10 videos!!!! that was before i started dumping all my pics on my facebook page, and kept photobucket for forums etc. facebook has the habit of changing the specific URL of individual photos (but they stay in place on your facebook page) which means bad links later on if you use facebook as the picture host, photobucket keeps the same URL forever...hopefully!!!!

photobucket.com

Photobucket now do NOT support 3rd party hosting, unless you want to stump up $400 per year to enable linking to pics on their site! now i've had to edit all the links to use Flickr as the host site......

[Pride]

Thanks, I'll see how I get on, just a shame you've got to be computer genius to do it :):)

[britlude]

well this afternoon/evening took a bit of a turn! i had a squeek coming from the engine when i turned on the AC... belt needed a little tighten, no big deal!

tightened the belt (i know you're all waiting for the uh-oh moment), fires the car up, turned on the AC. no squeek, checked pump spinning... all ok, checked inspection window in the dryer under the bonnet, all good, checked the AC rad fans.... uh-oh, passenger side fan not runnng!!!!

drivers side ok, passenger fuse blown... replace, blows again.... try and move fan with fingers (fuse still out, don't want blood!) very stiff, but with a little working it moves freely one way, but tightens and eventually locks the other way. ironically the way that is free is the wrong way!

ok, something up with motor, so lets take it out.. consult manual... remove bumper... err no!!!!! turns out you CAN get the motor out without having to remove the bumper, or drain the AC system, it's just a bit of a faff!

obviously the motor isn't designed for repair, the traditional 'no servicable parts inside' scenario, but it's just a motor, not rocket science (or steampunk hats!).

prise open the retaining tabs, remove end cover, clean out the rust that has accumulated and flaked over 24 years that's jamming up the rotor/magnet space, give it all a good spray with Gibbs oil to stop further corrosion, wipe off excess and re assemble!

2 1/2hours start to finish, and the fuse doesn't blow now!

so, latest update, 8/6/16 adjusted AC belt,replaced fuse!


apologies, no pics, i was up to my armpits in car bits and on a mission to get it done as it's a school night!

[NZNick]

Well done that man!

[britlude]

A while ago I purchased a replacement drivers interior door handle as a replacement for the one in the car (obviously) that had broken… the plastic bit! Because I was bored I thought I’d replace the leather grab bit as it was marked and tatty before fitting it…..


I’d already removed the leather then put it back for the pic…. So it was actually smoother/polished originally
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4310/36012252705_49b358f7a4_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShd5H)WP_20160612_11_35_33_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/WShd5H) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


Anyhow, this was the original and the replacement leather cut to shape!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4295/35172633024_e12ab49a40_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VA5Wpj)WP_20160612_11_35_45_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/VA5Wpj) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


The edges were then thinned using a sanding band and the edge folded and stuck down… and then basketball stitched as per original to the handle…
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4320/36012252825_d7827bbd19_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShd7M)WP_20160612_18_25_26_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/WShd7M) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


Here’s the before and after, the handle I took off, and the retrimmed replacement….
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4308/36012252855_3ac57221b1_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShd8i)WP_20160612_18_32_40_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/WShd8i) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

You can see how polished it was…..

[britlude]

Obviously, I have to do the passenger side to match…. Before
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4330/36012252955_ebab52715a_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShda2)WP_20160612_19_22_24_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/WShda2) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

And after
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4300/36012252985_5232a0d0f0_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShdax)WP_20160612_20_26_25_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/WShdax) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

A lot better, and now all the leather matches!

[L696ULO]

Good work Jonathan, all you have to do now is explain to Sarah why she has two identical holes in her best leather jacket! Not sure moths would work .

Rich

[Senninha]

and there was me expecting to see green handles ....

[britlude]

and there was me expecting to see green handles ....

if i had some green leather left...... i'd still do it black,you can have too much of a good thing LOL!!

anyhoo, last time i filled the car with petrol, and reset the trip meter it wouldn't reset to zero, unfortunately a 5 was visible in the display, and as such the zero-ing lever couldn't do it's thing.

now in theory if i just carried on driving the numbers would click round, and i could reset once they had passed the 5. however the numbers wouldn't advance, and no amount of pressing the reset button would get them moving again. bum!


so, dash board out, screen/faceplate off, and a deft application of some thin oil had the reset button working and numbers spinning back to zero! hurrah!

I put that all back together and thought i'd retrim the knee bolster as the edge aroung the ignition switch was suffering wear! i found some black vinyl, and also a big enough bit of leather.... the leather was a bit stiff, but ultimately more hard wearing, so an evening of pulling/stretching/cajoling the leather to the shape of the bolster had things looking a bit neater....

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4318/36012253035_c485f8b209_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShdbp)WP_20160614_21_18_57_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/WShdbp) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4315/35201549083_292b656b89_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD994)WP_20160614_21_19_08_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/VCD994) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4314/36012253115_753d3b404e_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShdcM)WP_20160614_21_19_18_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/WShdcM) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


that's another bit leathered!.... ok there's a little gathering at the side, but 2mm thick stiff leather will do that! i might order some softer stuff.... but if i do that,there's a glove box lid aching to be leathered too!!

i just wish the showers would stop, i've 2 cars to prep for the tunerfest supercar siege!!!!

[marknsx]

Its that bolster where I have damage. How much of that section needs to come off to be recovered around the ignition switch?

[britlude]

there's 2 screws that hold on the kick plate above the pedals, once that is removed it reveals 2 screws holding on the knee bolster. the top is retained by 2 pins with clips on the bolster that locates and clips into 2 holes on the dash.

all in all, 4 screws, 2 clips, one of the easier items to remove..... section 20- page 44 in the online manual http://nsxshop.com/ (body, dashboard, removal) the drawings are for a LHD, but the principle is the same!

[marknsx]

Good man. I will get it removed by Honda while they work on the air con. Im a complete novice wham it comes to reupholstering. Can recovering be done easily?

[britlude]

it takes a bit of stretching, but it's fairly straightforward!

back to the build/maintenance regime..... this time it's the ignition switch... occasionally the key wouldn't connect with the starter motor, until I cycled the switch 2 or 3 times. it was only once in a while, but when Sarah had trouble starting the car at Brands, i knew it wasn't me! the starter motor was overhauled a while ago, but the switch, apart from a clean ages ago, hasn't been replaced.

i purchased it from Rockauto, our favourite after market part provider, and it arrived this morning...(make sure you check the net for discount codes!)

the new part...
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4304/35201549163_485fc5278b_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD9ar)WP_20160627_17_35_58_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/VCD9ar) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

the old one off and compared!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4300/36012253245_18a97c9674_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShdf2)WP_20160627_17_42_17_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/WShdf2) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4304/36012253345_9864ab0fc3_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShdgK)WP_20160627_17_42_45_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/WShdgK) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4314/35201549233_c9d1119800_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD9bD)WP_20160627_17_43_23_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/VCD9bD) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

yup, that looks the same.... so i fitted it and put the underdash back together.... that's another bit sorted


opps, forgot, £38.64 delivered

[britlude]

next dilemma..... with the pancake run next weekend, do i follow the lead of the Le Mans 24hr cars and leave the scars of battle on the car after Goodwood, or do i give it a wash???? lol

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4310/36012253185_b7265a2551_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShddZ)WP_20160627_16_15_24_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/WShddZ) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

:)

[Dragonlady]

Need to weed your drive!

[britlude]

Need to weed your drive!

it's 'character' :)

[britlude]

post pancake run/ pre silverstone a quick paint refresh for the problematic door/wing!!!

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4313/35172632354_da864183d2_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VA5WcL)Phototastic-17_07_2016_20ab8493-90f2-44af-b812-d8d183fea099 (https://flic.kr/p/VA5WcL) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4330/35201547943_c195bc2a81_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD8Np)Phototastic-17_07_2016_86ad7132-8d7b-4905-935c-225cafafa156 (https://flic.kr/p/VCD8Np) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4299/35622956350_e0305681b4_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WgSXQA)Phototastic-17_07_2016_e28d2fe2-eb65-42d8-bf5e-2e4541cd4f161 (https://flic.kr/p/WgSXQA) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

and a quick refresh of the other door handle
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4313/36012251425_7790c0e017_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShcGD)Phototastic-18_07_2016_4bab1a5d-b17b-4d6e-bb4b-c84ec14c23b2 (https://flic.kr/p/WShcGD) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

oh, and a slight mirror 'oops', but we won't dwell on that!


see here for full writeup!
http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?14040-been-doing-some-paint-repair-and-other-bits!!!&p=120879&posted=1#post120879

[britlude]

new badge added to the back light centre bit!!!!

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4298/36012251675_c738cc5f45_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShcLX)Phototastic-23_07_2016_d9499b42-f7c6-4a82-a0ab-4c2487074564 (https://flic.kr/p/WShcLX) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

[britlude]

quick and easy boring oil change 144948miles!

[britlude]

just completed my christmas eve/christmas day/boxing day epic ABS upgrade....

from this
http://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah32/jonathan1937/NSX%20stuff/ABS%20conversion/abs%20strip%20out/WP_20161223_14_25_11_Pro_zpsjkjji9q3.jpg

to this
http://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah32/jonathan1937/NSX%20stuff/ABS%20conversion/abs%20going%20back%20in/WP_20161224_13_26_23_Pro_zps75nvl2ax.jpg

read all about it here.....

http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?14339-ABS-upgrade

[dcnsx]

Looking good! You did stop for Christmas dinner though?! :D

[britlude]

quick one today... cleaned the car, and thought i'd make sure the drains in the front boot corners were clear, so a gentle prod and squirt with the hose saw them sorted, but then noticed the rear corner on the drivers side had a puddle.....

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4323/35201549353_c2a4c5ecb4_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD9dH)WP_20170310_16_50_45_Pro_zpsduxl7gz3 (https://flic.kr/p/VCD9dH) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4300/36012253575_ea06b7b9dc_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShdkH)WP_20170310_16_51_03_Pro_zpsqyvwp93p (https://flic.kr/p/WShdkH) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

def a puddle!!!

so undo the lamp nuts on the drivers side, and gently pull the outer end away from the car, not too far, as the centre piece stops it coming off, I just need to get to the drain channel between the 2 light seal gaskets....

here's the problem...
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4307/36012253645_4012a2bc3e_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShdmV)WP_20170310_16_55_12_Pro_zpstdepenxi (https://flic.kr/p/WShdmV) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

the 'square' in the middle of the pic is the drain channel coming up from the bottom...this is supposed to continue up behind the black plastic bit.... but is blocked by crud! better tease that out then, and give it all a rinse to clear it and reassemble!

once back together, another check....
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4322/35201549483_8677cbc486_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD9fX)WP_20170310_17_06_27_Pro_zpswdugqa0x (https://flic.kr/p/VCD9fX) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

that's that sorted then!

fortunately i'd replaced the gasket seals previously so they still had a nice spring to them, so not worried about them not sealing.... i do have another set for when i do the respray, but one thing at a time!!!



....and i did notice i missed the edge of the light when i cleaned it!

[britlude]

quick oil change, as i bought enough oil to do the NSX when we changed the cube engine..... 147K miles... looks like it was a bit early, but hey-ho, it's just a quick oil change!!!!

[Pride]

quick oil change, as i bought enough oil to do the NSX when we changed the cube engine..... 147K miles... looks like it was a bit early, but hey-ho, it's just a quick oil change!!!!

Just curious Jon, did you tighten the sump plug up to 33lb/ft of torque with a new crushable washer or just nip it up to what you thought was tight enough???

Workshop manual quote:

"No special tool is needed for an oil-change; however, make sure you use a new crush washer in and apply the right torque. The manual specifies 33lb-ft of torque on the oil pan drain plug and
16lb-ft (one turn) on the oil filter (after applying oil to the rubber seal and using a NEW crush washer - reusing the crush washer will mess up this torque reading)."

The reason I ask is because over the 20 years of changing the oil and filter each year and torquing up as suggested above and regularly changing the sump plug for a new one.

But two or three years ago the threads became very weak when approaching that torque setting to the point of needing to insert a helicoil kit and wondered if anyone else has experienced this problem. So now I just nip it up tight enough because the helicoil cannot be taken to 33lb/ft torque.

And as for torquing up the oil filter, just hand tight for me.

Here's an interesting link on the subject:

https://www.nsxprime.com/FAQ/Maintenance/fluidfilter.htm

[britlude]

a quick bit of paint restoration....
from this
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4321/36012253675_c34b721197_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShdnr)WP_20170617_12_46_42_Pro_zpsgduzltah (https://flic.kr/p/WShdnr) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

to this...
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4302/36012253735_fca82c8679_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShdot)WP_20170617_13_34_02_Pro_zpsvdq0d1n6 (https://flic.kr/p/WShdot) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?14756-a-quick-bit-of-paint&p=124099#post124099

[britlude]

you know when you get a niggle detail that bugs you, you know, the bit no-one else notices.. well, finally sorted one this week... the sealing rubber between bonnet and bumper was manky, kept going green as it lives outside....

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4320/35201549543_b5a3590c7f_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD9gZ)WP_20170619_21_24_05_Pro_zpssajtplsh (https://flic.kr/p/VCD9gZ) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

so purchased a replacement seal....
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4323/36012253825_78ff75a0e9_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShdq2)WP_20170624_10_07_05_Pro_zpsrjdddvyx (https://flic.kr/p/WShdq2) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

better.....
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4308/36012253865_ebe0e9c684_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WShdqH)WP_20170624_10_21_40_Pro_zpsejxmrijt (https://flic.kr/p/WShdqH) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

before and after...
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4325/35201549683_bde5f3b21c_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VCD9jp)WP_20170624_10_27_17_Pro_zps8unrrmgc (https://flic.kr/p/VCD9jp) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

[Senninha]

Hi Jonathan, looks like that sill could do with a little a little nudge to the rear ... And ref the bonnet rubber , were HUK particularly greedy with that one?

[WhyOne?]

Hello Jonathan....inspired by your recent post (and, just for once, a task you detail which I can sensibly do myself!) I looked at the part no. in your photo - 71152-SL0-010.
From the diagram on the 'Acurapartswarehouse' site, whilst the part looks to be about right, the part description is Seal, FR. Bumper Plate Center which sounds less correct....are you are to shed any light please?

[britlude]

purchased via isicar in japan... they do like to charge for the delivery, so worth bundle-ing it with a larger order....

they have one listed on the bay at the moment.... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HONDA-NSX-NSX-R-NA1-NA2-SEAL-FRONT-BUMPER-PLATE-CENER-71152-SL0-010-JDM-GENUINE-/191928688731?epid=1615982685&hash=item2cafd7605b:g:r7wAAOSwARZXluMS

as i said, shipping is the killer!


note....

when fitting it, it does get a bit tight where the 4 mounting studs are, the ones that connect the metal strip, that this rubber fits into, to the car...

[britlude]

i use photobucket to host my pics, have done since at least 2005, their mission statement being a free resource for saving and sharing your pics on the internet, including simple links to copy and paste into websites, emails, direct links, and img code to put on forums. that was their purpose...

however start of july 2017,they changed their terms without notice to stop the external links, and just have the pics for personal storage..... unless you pay $400 per year! that's 100 million users worldwide, with over 14 billion images saved that suddenly cannot be referenced to by sites and forums...

a lot of unhappy people, and a lot of 'ransom' comments! photobucket broke the internet!

after the photobucket change of terms debacle, i've just spent the week uploading pics to flickr, and going through this thread to change the photo links to the 317 pics within!!

normal service has been resumed on my build thread, until flickr decides to be a pain too!!!

[britlude]

well... much as i love a chat and stuff, perhaps this discussion re. photobucket and picture hosting issues would be better in this thread... http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?14756-a-quick-bit-of-paint

and the head gasket horror woe (hope you get it sorted) might warrant it's own thread....


just saying as my build thread is going off at a tangent!

Smiley face!!!!

[NSXGB]

Your wish is his my command. Head gasket thread moved here:http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?14820-Head-Gasket-Failure


well... much as i love a chat and stuff, perhaps this discussion re. photobucket and picture hosting issues would be better in this thread... http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?14756-a-quick-bit-of-paint

and the head gasket horror woe (hope you get it sorted) might warrant it's own thread....


just saying as my build thread is going off at a tangent!

Smiley face!!!!

[britlude]

way back when, i fitted a filter between the PCV valve and the inlet manifold, to try to stop the usual blow-by oil manky buildup behind the throttle butterfly... a reminder from jan 2016...
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4328/35622956600_890da41f8e_c.jpg

well today, as nothing came out of the drain caps, i thought i'd remove it as it wasn't working.... one off, i was carrying it back to the garage, and lo, it poured about an egg cup of neat black oil onto the drive!!! a quick clean up and checking the water trap side, it turns out that was full of a mayonnaise water/oil emulsion!

seems it was working after all, and quite effectively!

this was a fraction of the contents of the water trap side...
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4481/37377143531_d2cb47678c_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/YWTCza)WP_20170928_18_16_12_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/YWTCza) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

so it was reinstated, but with a little repaint to make it a bit less 'in your face'!!!!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4367/37329766946_f85b4560da_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/YSGPau)WP_20170928_18_45_08_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/YSGPau) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

a yearly service from now i think!

[britlude]

quick resume (without the accent) of recent bits.....

made lil mud flaps....
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4726/24401141537_9d3d0b9297_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/DbfefR)WP_20171224_15_35_28_Pro__highres (https://flic.kr/p/DbfefR) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4691/24401139607_40b8b705e4_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/DbfdFz)WP_20171224_15_35_39_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/DbfdFz) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

cleaned my air filter....
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4731/39396500381_1f1394e38f_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/232kn1z)WP_20171230_12_23_36_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/232kn1z) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

i gave the throttle body a clean too, but it only have a oil film on it, rather than the crud of old, so the filters (previous post above) are making a difference!


the drivers window has been occasionally reluctant to go up, i hear the relay clicking in the control unit in the door, but the window doesn't go up... unless i press the switch ump-teen times, then it'll lift... dodgy relay then! set to and removed the controller, opened the box, all looked fine, removed a relay to confirm pinout, function and coil resistance.....

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4590/27627476289_9d12662e0b_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/J6m3b6)WP_20171229_12_16_54_Pro (https://flic.kr/p/J6m3b6) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr



I found a modern equivalent relay to order, so replaced relay, reflowed the solder joints for the relays and connection pins, and put it all back together.... ordered the relays, an also ordered the uprated relays for the EPS (just in case) as Farnell have them in stock

the window is now behaving as it should, but i'll swap out the relays when they arrive!

[goldnsx]

Interesting to see caps on there, did you also change them?

[britlude]

not changed the caps, not changed anything yet, waiting for the relays to appear.....

[britlude]

update... window controller working fine at the moment, so not fitted the new relays yet, wait until it's warmer, lighter evenings and i've not got the hotrod in a thousand pieces......

fitted 6 new coil packs as i hunt down the occasional rough running at 2000-2500rpm....

[britlude]

as the hotrod is in the doghouse, and it's nice and warm/sunny, i finally got round to doing an NSX job that's been on the list since last year.....

the rear window surround on my car, being 26 years old, has taken on a bleached white/grey look, and no amount of miracle cures will get it to go black AND stay black, so the time has finally come to sort it
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/903/28038976088_b77c622767_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/JHH5Jd)IMG_20180505_153811 (https://flic.kr/p/JHH5Jd) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/868/27040172397_2d904901cd_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/HcrXbV)IMG_20180505_153832 (https://flic.kr/p/HcrXbV) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


see, horrid, so drastic action... out with the knife and cut it off.... well, cut a bit, and the rest pulled off in moments! a clean up with a blade to remove the adhesive residue and good to go

the replacement was bought from the NSX shop, https://www.thensxshop.com/exterior/oem-honda-nsx-rear-glass-hatch-molding

turns out this includes some foam dam strips, as it's intended to be used when bonding new glass to the rear hatch frame..... so these strips are redundant for this task... but handy for fitting the screen into the hotrod!!!

anyway, a quick prefit, the remove, squidge in some adhesive (not included in the kit) and good to go!

the obligatory before/after pic!

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/867/28038975448_792e1e49c3_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/JHH5xb)IMG_20180505_161230 (https://flic.kr/p/JHH5xb) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


see, the new one is SOOOO black you had to look twice to see it!!!

a quick side note, the instructions say that the rear window needs to be removed..... i ignored that particular line.... (smiley face!)

[britlude]

now the hotrod is basically all back together with all the major mods done, time for some NSX updates.....

ball joints! now the MOT a couple of months ago showed up a ball joint dust cover/boot/gaiter giving up the ghost (26 years on a car will do that with rubber!) so it was time to dig out my spare uprights with their shiny new 'rare'parts' ball joints fitted..... after a couple of false starts they were changed over the course of a weekend.... see the full story here http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?15349-just-off-to-do-the-ball-joint-rubber-won-t-take-long

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/964/42330389091_2afbfc69ff_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/27uAiUF)IMG_20180524_220255 (https://flic.kr/p/27uAiUF) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

also replaced the tired steering rack with a not-so tired one......
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1722/41470010345_fbb7dc40f0_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/26byDhn)IMG_20180526_175534 (https://flic.kr/p/26byDhn) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

aligned....
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/902/40586763740_14539944f6_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/24QvLQC)IMG_20180527_122640 (https://flic.kr/p/24QvLQC) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

on my drive to work each morning there's a particular bit of road i swing wide to avoid as the surface makes a knock from the suspension..... today i drove over it with the new setup... no knock, so an improvement there!

the steering, when it was all put together was heavier than before, not surprising as there's 4 tight ball joints, rather than the floppy ones of before, but glad to say it seems to be improving now it's had some use


when i get a chance i might have a look in the old rack, see what is worn/can be tweaked!

[britlude]

christmas 2018......

a quick HID to LED headlight conversion.....
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7836/31627939787_0fc73394d1_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/QbRsAF)Headlight adjuster.... (https://flic.kr/p/QbRsAF) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4876/46516991732_94d1a91806_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2dSxK1Q)IMG_20181229_171828 (https://flic.kr/p/2dSxK1Q) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr


details here...http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?15526-Headlight-LED-i-ve-fitted-some

[britlude]

blimey, been a while since i posted here......

fitted new window regulators..... my PPI compensation payout almost paid for these.... but definitely didn't pay the parcelfarce ransom demand....
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7899/40534941443_ba6ed62048_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/24KWaSK)IMG_20190329_144141 (https://flic.kr/p/24KWaSK) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

fitted.. or refitted.... my original now overhauled steering rack...
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7838/46777281744_58201c9224_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2egxNaE)IMG_20190330_111942 (https://flic.kr/p/2egxNaE) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

read about it here.... http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?15568-eps-steering-rack-delvin-into-the-deep!

chasing a recently developed idle issue, which also might be the cause of the car having a struggle through the emissions part of the MOT recently, when it's usually VERY good..... http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?15591-unstable-idle

and also still chasing the intermittent gearbox issue... still!!!! http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?15394-been-chasing-a-gearbox-issue

[britlude]

next on the agenda,,, rear lights!

mine were getting tired.... although they look fine from here...
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47786310741_53ac0bf9b5_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2fNHkkk)IMG_20190426_152541 (https://flic.kr/p/2fNHkkk) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47734116862_805296b67b_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2fJ6PUS)IMG_20190422_203620 (https://flic.kr/p/2fJ6PUS) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

from another angle they look like this....
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/40820047113_50e1fb0729_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/25c8pRK)IMG_20190422_203545 (https://flic.kr/p/25c8pRK) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

so i found a set on croooober at a reasonable price and duly ordered them! just to be awkward, and 'cos i'm me, i wanted to lose the reversing light section, i wanted a continuous red bar, rather than the white of the reserving light areas breaking the flow.... so a couple of pieces of red, and tint film were pressed into action, the tint film darkening the red a little too far, but better than a bright red section!
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47734116682_bfb6520457_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2fJ6PRL)IMG_20190426_160113 (https://flic.kr/p/2fJ6PRL) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

its not such a dark step in the real world!
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47786310231_a4e4ecf17a_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2fNHkbx)IMG_20190426_173820 (https://flic.kr/p/2fNHkbx) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

the reversing lights hidden in drl ledstrips above the number plate, subtle like!

and finally got my new (new to me) wheels on...... Work Meister S2R 8x17, and 10x18!!!

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47734116262_b0b69656c8_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2fJ6PJw)IMG_20190427_113731 (https://flic.kr/p/2fJ6PJw) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

[britlude]

as i'm rapidly approaching 160k on the odometer, it was due an oil change... i was trying to delay it until i did the aircon pump replacement too, as i wanted to do the sump gasket (flagged up at the last MOT), so after a bit of pondering decided to do the gasket and oil change.... as i'd worked out , that with the rubber sump gasket, i should be able to manoeuver it into place without too much hassle.....

great plans and all that! car up on ramps, sump unbolted, there's not enough room between the torque converter and sump to get the gasket through the gap!!!! so sump has to come off....

... so front header has to come off....

.... so front engine mount cross member has to come off...

.... to chassis U brace has to come off...

... so headlight covers have to come off....

(not really, just checking you are paying attention!)

so what was going to be about an hour job, turned into 4 1/2! fortunately i'd replaced the cat shield fixings with stainless bolts and brass nuts, so at least i didn't have to struggle getting them apart!!!

in other news....

think i've finally sussed the damp issue that has plagued me since day 1, the typical symptom being the flock door edging strip being wet at the bottom where the sill cover trim bit is (the other end to the petrol door release) tracked down to the upper rubber body seal not directing the water away to where it should... a close inspection to work out just what was supposed to be happening, and some non setting gutter sealer, and an extensive test with the torrential rain monday and all is well

my other issue, that i'm not going to mention, because last time i jinxed it, seems to be behaving at the moment with the substitution of shielded signal cabling, replacement engine ecu and tweaking the TPS baseline voltage up a tad.... time will tell, been there before!!!

so all in all, happy with the car again!

[Senninha]

New wheels suit the car Jonathan ... have you considered dropping to take away the 4x4 look ..?

[britlude]

I have enough issues with speed ramps and drives as it is, without lowering it too, and I'm not going to the expense of airlift cup kits!!!! If anything I am considering putting the original springs back in as the replacement seem a little softer.....

[britlude]

Forgot to mention.... I found no gunge, sludge or bits in the sump, so that's encouraging :)

[britlude]

been a bit tardy with posts lately... so a quick bit of house keeping, as i seem to have a few straggly threads...

http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?15394-been-chasing-a-gearbox-issue .... chasing a gearbox glitch that is related to throttle position sensor signal...... not resolved here....

http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?15591-unstable-idle.... also an unstable idle issue which also includes an added bonus of an aerial change, and TPS change (which should be in here!)

and finally http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?15611-Ecu-reset-procedure 3 pages of unstable idle, associated investigation, blowing up of components and a resolution!!!!

upshot, lots of investigation, swapping of bits, swapping back, more testing, accidentally killing ecus, replacing ecus, and more tweaking and all is well! we have a gearbox behaving, an idle in the 750-800rpm area, and the exhaust is running far cleaner... so finally we can move on

at Beaulieu Supercars, it was noted by Sarah, that her leg was getting wet as we pulled into the show..... hmmm.... no coolant pipes around her, but put the heater on full and drips were spitting out of the lower heater vents...... hmmm....

pull the carpet mats up, and the carpet .... fortunately i had made new, finest green carpet, so its in sections, rather than a single moulding, so i quickly found the puddle of pure fresh water in the footwell.... a proper sloshy puddle! so unscrew the footwell vent cover and pull that bit of carpet out of the way, and lo, the heater box was dripping quite profusely! pull out the drain hose, and nothing, prod a twig up it and it starts to drip....

now i've only seen a AC wee puddle under my car about twice in the 14 years i've had it! so avoiding using the AC and on returning home pulled the carpet and under mat sound deadening, which does a really good 'sponge' impression and dried it all out over a few days.... wringing wet was the literal phrase!

putting a tiny camera up the drain tube hole showed a couple of bits of dead foam so a quick airline blow was used to clear it, and heater on full had airflow out of the drain tube.... but i still wanted to make sure...... so.....

start digging
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48773699646_035cb1d2be_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hiXXDY)IMG_20190921_161957 (https://flic.kr/p/2hiXXDY) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

find the heater....
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48773794482_b81397b384_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hiYrR5)IMG_20190921_162002 (https://flic.kr/p/2hiYrR5) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

(as a quick aside, the small white 4 way connector on the mat at the bottom... that's connected to the diagnostic blue terminal, and the diagnostic terminals of the upgraded later ABS pump, which in turn plugs into a switch on the passenger footwell cover, allowing me to put the car into diagnostic mode from the drivers seat... came in very handy for finding gearbox fault codes, where switching off resets the ecus and loses the codes!)

after lots of studying the few pictures on the interweb..... decide where the viewing window is going....
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48773258723_71563eb052_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hiVGzR)IMG_20190921_162127 (https://flic.kr/p/2hiVGzR) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

and carefully cut out the hole.... after checking what size grommets i had in stock! now, very gently, and stop when it goes 'soft' it's thin plastic with a stick on foam covering!
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48773258623_6498d27db8_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hiVGy8)IMG_20190921_162319 (https://flic.kr/p/2hiVGy8) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

and a hole, with AC evap pipes close behind, so wise to go gently! the foam was cut with a scalpel.....
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48773258538_2d64fca0cf_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hiVGwE)IMG_20190921_162332 (https://flic.kr/p/2hiVGwE) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

so now i have a viewing window, that i can investigate with my lil camera thing! (after finding out it wifi's to my phone, and sulks if it's near metal, so camera in car, control box and phone outside, just to be awkward!)


no doubt going in from the other side would be better, as the evap pipe loop isn't that side, but then you have to fight around pedals..... and cant get the carpet out of the way so easy.... and there'a a steering wheel in the way..... etc etc!!!

[britlude]

with that bit (hopefully) done, onwards...

i broke out the powder coating kit once more, and finished off a couple of brackets under the bonnet, and the fuel pump resistor bracket in the rear.....

remove
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48773602461_2468c2ed16_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hiXsLn)IMG_20190920_153845 (https://flic.kr/p/2hiXsLn) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

sand blast with £15 worth of ebay gun and dry sand from B&Q
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48773794887_b956ff714f_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hiYrY4)IMG_20190920_154309 (https://flic.kr/p/2hiYrY4) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

then powdercoat satin silver, so it looks the same, but wont rust!
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48773259153_e870a4de07_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hiVGHg)IMG_20190920_155458 (https://flic.kr/p/2hiVGHg) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

while i had the kit out, i redid my TB cover, as the paint and lacquer always went like crazy paving..... (the bit on the left, as you cant powder coat plastic! it tends to sulk at 180 degrees C!!
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48773730286_b2f89b4199_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hiY7Lf)IMG_20190921_100549 (https://flic.kr/p/2hiY7Lf) by jon sutherland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152809076@N06/), on Flickr

took a couple of goes to get the colour about right, bit more experimental than mixing paint, as you can't see the final colour until its baked! several sample bits later it was close enough!

the best bit about the powder coat system is the speed... once it's baked (about 5 mins) and cooled it can go back on.... no waiting hours for paint to dry!!! i'll be doing brackets under the car next time...