Sharkbite's 1995 Honda Prelude 2.2Vtec

[Sharkbite73]

Modifications

Exterior
JDM Parts Rear light cluster
Seibon CF Bonnet
6 x Intergra DC2 Alloys (2 with track tyres)

Interior
Backseats, Belts, and Centre console removed
CF & Crome gearknob
CF effect handbrake & Gearstick gaitor
Blue anodised short shifter
NWM 7" touchscreen DVD player
Toad Alarm
Standard ECU
P28 ECU with S100 Hondata card

Engine & Suspension

eBay special cold air filter
Volt meter on battery terminal
HT leads
Ractive front strut brace
4-2-1 Manifold
De-cat
Ractive back box
Tein coilovers

History
I got the car March 2008 with all the bodykit and a nice set of 18's. After 6 months of grinding, cracking and losing bodykit I took it to ATS for a health check to find the previous owner had dropped it 80mm on standard shocks, and thats why the needed all replacing . So £450 a crate and couple of pizzas later we had the new Teins fitted.

After a years worth of drag racing the best time I could get was 15.8. A week or two later the TopGear feature on bodykits, and getting wedged in a multi storey car park, and having to reverse down 5 floors made me go at it with an angle grinder to lose the Body kit .

The spoiler skirts, boot lining, rear seats, and door cards were removed and quite surprisingly that was 68Kg. The results were s off the 1/4 mile time 15.25@94.

Like any drag racer will know a faster time is only good for so long before you want to beat it again. The next thing was a pair of semi slick r888's. At Modified Madness I cleaved a massive .07 off my time which is now 15.18@94 apparently I should of tried a few more runs to heat the tyres up more.

Future
I have just bought a programmable ECU which I have been told a 25-40Bhp increase which will equate to around 1.34s more off the time.

weight loss will be next as I have a 30Kg aircon unit blowing out smelly warm air, and a 4/2ws conversion that will reduce a further 60Kg.

When i grow the minerals
October time sees a 100 shot wet NOS kit going in, and I'm not sure what time will knock off. Who knows I may even end up in 1955.

Well thanks for reading. Please feel free to comment, criticise or laugh.

Edited by Sharkbite73 on Friday 10th September 06:25

Edited by Sharkbite73 on Friday 10th September 06:34

Edited by Sharkbite73 on Friday 10th September 19:32

[Andeh]

Looks MUCH better without the bodykit. I used to have one but it rusted so badly it was beyond economical repair. Most seem to have become chavvy ricers now, which is a shame.

[Pentoman]

Yes, looks much better without the kit that's what I thought. Paintjob looked ok though.

[declasm]

Nice one Nick - cool to see your car on Pistonheads - Right then which one of us will be into the 13s first?

[ManOpener]

I love seeing cars that have been de-barried. Good work sir.

[Sharkbite73]

Thanks for the replies. However you are right they are rust buckets. I have retro fitted a 5th Gen sunroof, and replaced the boot. This year is engine, next year is rust removal , and a carbon wrap from Jdmgrafix for £400.

@ Declasm yes indeed the gauntlet is down. If anything to motivate me to get it done

[Danny S]

Rear lights need de barrying tho too mate Very nice car though they have always been one of my soft spots

[declasm]

Danny S said:

Rear lights need de barrying tho too mate

Nah - Nick loves his shiny lights!

[soad]

Looks decent - def. much better after all the tatty crap taken off.

Shame about the rust issues - guess paint is very thin on them, plus aging too

[Sharkbite73]

The rear seats
So me and my buddy Declan stripped the rear seats, belts, and door cards out, but with a 90+Db exhaust it was hard to hear yourself think never mind listen to the stereo.

So a couple of weeks ago we ruined our Next rug, and I thought it would be a shame not to use it. So a Sunday afternoon, and Arts + Crafts with a Stanley knife, and the boot was done.

Next was blanking out where the seats were. There isn't enough head room for anyone over 5', and with my seat position there was a 4" gap for someones ankles. NOT good.


Here you can see the Next carpet (blends in perfectly with the car don't you think).


The next part was battoning the door cards and centre. I considered a lot of centre support as this was going to support a big Nos bottle.


If you have ever owned a 4th Gen, and tried this you will know they have a 45 degree strut brace with also has a big bracket for the rear seats. So I got the grinder out, then fitted the upper board. A small indent needed cutting out.


Next was the bottom board. A lip was attached to seal the gap, and another piece from the top to the speakers to blank out the gap.

I'd recommend a hammer action cordless screwdriver for this. I borrowed a Makita from a mate, and it drove screws through aluminium like a knife through butter.

Edited by Sharkbite73 on Friday 10th September 15:09

Edited by Sharkbite73 on Friday 10th September 15:12

[Sharkbite73]

declasm said:

Danny S said:

Rear lights need de barrying tho too mate

Nah - Nick loves his shiny lights!

These aren't much different from the originals, except they are 15 years younger.

[aka_kerrly]

I do like these cars but why have you stripped all the rear seats out to make it a drag car and yet now you are filling it all back up with tonnes of wood???

[Sharkbite73]

aka_kerrly said:

I do like these cars but why have you stripped all the rear seats out to make it a drag car and yet now you are filling it all back up with tonnes of wood???

I understand where you are coming from, but this is my everyday car as well, and 90+ decibels on an 8 hour journey to visit my folks is no fun.

I removed 68Kg, and have added 10Kg. I also removed the seats to create an area to fit a nitrous bottle, and at car show the the passenger seat can almost go horizontal so no need for a tent.

[TEKNOPUG]

Why are you drag-racing a small engined FWD Jap coupé? Wouldn't it be better suited to circuit driving?

[Sharkbite73]

I'm guessing you haven't looked in to Preludes much. No they havent go masses of torque like Supra's or Skylines, but their launch control very good, and don't have much of a drama beating them off the line. Sure enough when their turbos kick in I am left for dead.

However as the post says It will be getting fitted with an aftermarket ECU, Nitrous giving it another 120Bhp, and having another 100Kg removed, and I will still use it for commuting, shopping drag, and track.

[mig25_foxbat2003]

Looks so much better now the kit has gone mate! Really like the paintjob too although I'm not sure about the boot - is it CF or a fake?

[Sharkbite73]

Cheers Mig
The boot is just a £25 donor boot.

[robsco]

These are a very nice looking car in standard trim, got a soft spot for them

[Sharkbite73]

Yeah I saw one when I was 20 it was going for 30K I think. 17 years on you can get them for £800 now. I can honestly see me getting an engine swap for this when I get bored from 2.2vtec to the new Accord 3.5 vtec. I'm pissey and old, and can handle the insurance ;o)

[sierrabravo999]

Sweet choice, I'm biased with running a Gen5 Prelude, but they're a great choice as a performance car you can use everyday without compromising comfort or reliability! Will be watching your thread with interest!