It's alive!!!! - Honda Prelude Forum

vwong · 02-01-2007, 12:29 PM

Yeah.....it's alive!!!

My car is alive.

I got it back last night. It's running fine except at idle. There is a vacuum leak somewhere and I'm thinking it's at the IM gasket. I've talked to couple people, and they told me that I should put Honda bond on both sides of the Hondata heatshield gasket before mounting the IM. So that's something I'm gonna have to fix.

I also plugged the sunroof, removed the door windows, and cut the doors. Hopefully, in the next couple of month, I can have a cage installed.

Can't wait to go back on the track.

paulyg · 02-01-2007, 12:33 PM

Congrats!!

MtangKlr · 02-01-2007, 01:00 PM

Sweet! post some shots of your progress

71dsp · 02-01-2007, 01:10 PM

The last time I checked, the Hondata gasket is teflon. Good luck getting Hondabond to stick to it.

I haven't had any problems with leaks with the Hondata gaskets, and I've done a few. What did you torque the IM mounting nuts to? I usually go a few ft*lbs over spec and use red Loctite. If you don't use Loctite, they'll come loose!

Congrats on getting her running. It's a good feeling isn't??!!

I'm going to have my current engine re-tuned on Saturday. Hopefully this will take care of the plug fouling problems I'm having. I'm building another H22 anyway, but this one will make its way into the Civic.

So, you need some nice 15x8s now or what??!

vwong · 02-03-2007, 12:00 AM

I brought the car to work today. My boss and several of my co-workers helped me out on figuring out what the problem was. We determined that it wasn't the gasket. We traced it to the FITV. It was wide open all the time. We removed it and fabricated a blockoff plate. We also removed all the emission related items. Then we did couple pulls on the Mustang dyno at work. Since the motor I dropped in is just a stock SH motor, it made 149whp and 120 lb-ft of torque (sounds about right since my original motor dyno'd at 166whp on a Dynojet). We then swapped out the AEM CAI to a custom CAI from my work. We picked up 5whp and 8 lb-ft of torque. Tomorrow, we're gonna install our prototype standalone then tune it on the dyno. We'll probably try couple dyno runs without the cat also.

I think the car is also ready for some track actions.

Billy, I'd love to get some 15x8, but the next item on my list is the cage. So I'll have to pass on the wheels. Besides, I have 2 sets of wheels for racing rightnow. Hopefully, someday in the future, I'll see you in H2.

71dsp · 02-03-2007, 06:15 AM

What's this custom CAI you speak of?

vwong · 02-13-2007, 11:16 AM

The CAI is of a modular design. It is put together with pieces of elbows, straights, and couplers. Originally, we had the filter located right in front of the radiator. But we then re-routed it to sit at the same location as the AEM would sit.

Anyway, here are some pics of my car so far.

71dsp · 02-13-2007, 11:28 AM

How about some specs??!

Wheel size, tires, suspension, engine.

Looks damn good! I'm really curious to see some more detailed pictures!

Also, they let you run with tinted windows? I stripped the tinting off mine before the cage went in. I was under the impression that you can't run a car with tinted windows (except for lapping and HPDE groups).

vwong · 02-13-2007, 03:59 PM

The tint will be off before the cage goes in. We finished the way it is as in the pictures for the time attack last weekend.

As for specs, here they are:

Engine:
- stock SH motor (no internal mods)
- Skunk cam gears
- Mugen header
- Spectre Performance modular air intake
- UR underdrive crank pulley
- JUN lightweight flywheel
- Exedy stage II clutch
- Spectre Performance Phantom EMS (prototype standalone)

Wheels:
- 16x7 +45mm wheels (both sets)
- 225/50R16 tires (all Kumho V710s on the gold wheels; for the black wheels, Kumho V710s in the front, Hoosier R4S04 in the rear)

Suspension:
- TEIN TypeHA coilovers, 12kg/mm front; 14kg/mm rear (eventually will go with stiffer springs)
- ASR custom 32mm adjustable rear swaybar
- Spoon strut tower bars

71dsp · 02-13-2007, 08:24 PM

Nice, very nice. It's too bad you're so far away. It would be very cool to have 3 race prepped Prelude at a track event.

Are you still running ATTS?

Do you have any more pictures of the sway bar? I'm thinking of changing mine a bit, and changing the attachment point from the upright to the LCA.

Are you going to build a rear "strut" tower bar into the cage? I found that to be a worthwhile addition, as it'll be stiffer than any aftermarket strut bar.

What's your ride height to the jack point? Also, how much suspension travel do you have? It doesn't look like much, but it could be because you are using a much larger OD tire.

Regardless, I like the work you've done. Very nice! Please post pics of the cage when you get it done.

What kind of steering wheel are you using?

vwong · 02-13-2007, 11:03 PM

Yeah, too bad I'm in Calif. and you and David are in Texas.

I was gonna run the ATTS. In fact, it worked for a while but the factory ECU must have not like something. It keeps throwing the CEL, therefore ATTS light as well. I still have the factory ECU for the factory gauges, idle control, and supposingly the ATTS. Our prototype standalone basically takes over the ignition control, cam timing, VTEC, A/F mixture, rev limiter, and shift light. We were trying to figure out what was wrong, but we ran out of time before the Time Attack. So, I ran without ATTS last weekend. I'm seriously thinking about a JDM LSD tranny (can't afford a base tranny and a Quaife yet) and custom fabricate a bracket for the intermediate shaft onto the SH block. If I do that, then we can completely rip out the factory ECU, and have our prototype EMS take over all functions.

Here are couple pictures of the swaybar from the time when we first put it together. The swaybar arms have since changed to a set of bent ones for clearance of the rear toe links. All the components can be purchased from Speedway except the bushings. My friend won't tell me where he got the bushings from.

I have thought about the built-in rear strut tower bar in the cage. So that might happen.

I don't know the measurements. If I remember, I can measure the ride height this weekend. My car is now back on the spot where it was parked the past 6 months. I can't keep my car at work anymore.

I know that I still have suspension travel, I just don't know how much I have. I also know that the tires don't rub.

My steering wheel is made by Honda, gutted by me.

I'm still using the factory steering wheel, but without the airbag. I do want to get the quick-release hub and probably a MOMO wheel because it's easier for me to get in and out of the car without the steering wheel in the way.

Oh, I forgot to add in my spec that the exhaust is just a Magnaflo resonator. I do have a Carsound hi-flow cat though. The resonator is about 10" after the cat. The exhaust terminates pretty much right behind the driver seat in the center tunnel. It's freaking loud while in the car.

71dsp · 02-14-2007, 04:22 AM

I would really advise you to sh*t can that exhaust setup. That's one of the contributing factors to my fire at Hallett.

I have a very similar sway bar setup, but I'm using the 30 degree bent arms (friggin heavy!), and some rod end mounts, similar to what you see on the Real Time cars. I'm thinking of changing it a bit because I don't like the angle that the arms sit at when at ride height. I also don't have enough clearance between the arm and the filler neck for the tank on the driver's side. I have some ideas in mind, I just need to see if the clearance is there.

A QR makes a big difference, IMO. David still doesn't use one, and gets in and out fine, but I'm a big, ahem, more full figured, than he is, so the QR makes things much easier. Plus, I use an Ultrashield seat, which has huge sides, so you can't really slide into the seat.

DR · 02-14-2007, 06:10 AM

Very nice looking car. I can put your first doughnut on it if you like

I think I scared Billy too much by saying that and he still hasn't raced against me

Do you want to try a different ATTS computer? I have my old one still if you want to try it out. It did good for me for many years...

71dsp · 02-14-2007, 07:16 AM

Well, I don't have enough confidence yet, to get out there and get my license. Plus, I've been too busy working on someone else's car to get my own car done so I can go to some events this year!!!!

vwong · 02-14-2007, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 71dsp

I would really advise you to sh*t can that exhaust setup. That's one of the contributing factors to my fire at Hallett.

Maybe I should extend the pipe and terminate toward the passenger side.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 71dsp

A QR makes a big difference, IMO. David still doesn't use one, and gets in and out fine, but I'm a big, ahem, more full figured, than he is, so the QR makes things much easier. Plus, I use an Ultrashield seat, which has huge sides, so you can't really slide into the seat.

I have the Cobra Suzuka seat that has huge sides as well. So a QR would help a lot.

vwong · 02-14-2007, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DR

Very nice looking car. I can put your first doughnut on it if you like

I think I scared Billy too much by saying that and he still hasn't raced against me

Do you want to try a different ATTS computer? I have my old one still if you want to try it out. It did good for me for many years...

Please let me debut a clean car first, then you can put a doughnut on me (or vice versa :tongue: ).

I don't think it is the ATTS computer because when we plugged the Auterra into the OBDII port, it was showing the error code for TDC sensor, and no ATTS error code. David, when you ran with ATTS, did you have any standalone EMS, or were you using the factory ECU?

vwong · 02-14-2007, 11:09 AM

David and Billy, how much do your cars weigh? Did you remove the heater core and blower?

lude4lifeh22 · 02-14-2007, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vwong

Please let me debut a clean car first, then you can put a doughnut on me (or vice versa :tongue: ).

I don't think it is the ATTS computer because when we plugged the Auterra into the OBDII port, it was showing the error code for TDC sensor, and no ATTS error code. David, when you ran with ATTS, did you have any standalone EMS, or were you using the factory ECU?

ya, just because the atts light is on doesnt mean its the ATTS. If you clear that CEL I bet the atts light will disappear.

Id like to hear what you think of the atts as you track it.

The car looks great!!

71dsp · 02-14-2007, 11:38 AM

The tough thing about getting in/out of the Ultrashield seats is that the rib bolsters are as tall as the leg bolsters! I like the Suzuka. I was looking at the Evolution. I really like the Evolution and RaceTech seats. I was just concerned about not being able to try one out. Ultrashield was ultra helpful, and fit a seat to me when I went out to their facility. Mine is more of a semi-custom seat. I'd love to try out the Evolution/Suzuka, though! Why didn't you go with the Evolution? It has side head protection. Regardless, NASA is going to mandate driver's/cage nets this year anyway.

As for weight, mine is just under 2700 lbs with me in it and between 1/2 to 3/4 tank of gas. I have nothing from the AC/blower system in the car. It makes for a LOT of room under the dash! I actually relocated my ECU up higher under the dash to protect it. I couldn't have done it with the blower in the car.

I still need to go through and get rid of some of the wiring too. I have all the AC wiring still in the car.

Have you done anything with the turn signal stalks and the like?

What are you using for brake pads?

If you ever have a need for a Fastbrakes kit or Rota wheels, let me know.

I'd like to buy a Fastbrakes kit soon, but man I'm so broke with this engine build, and buying a couple of new jacks.

vwong · 02-14-2007, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lude4lifeh22

ya, just because the atts light is on doesnt mean its the ATTS. If you clear that CEL I bet the atts light will disappear.

Id like to hear what you think of the atts as you track it.

The car looks great!!

We actually did clear the CEL several times. Then I took the car out for a test drive around the block. The ATTS would work for maybe 1 corner, then the CEL and ATTS light would come on. The code was the same every time.

When the ATTS was working, it worked great on the track. I could be on the gas earlier on corner exits. Without the ATTS, I had to modulate the gas pedal not to over spin the inside tire. I wonder how the car drives with a true LSD.