ATTENTION: READ BEFORE THE REST OF THE THREAD
Here is an update. Many things have changed since I last posted in here. Looking back on this thread makes me sad in a lot of ways. Firstly, I wasted a lot of money modifying a car that I couldn't even drive. In stock form that prelude had a lot to offer me, but instead of learning to drive the car at the limit, I simply modified it thinking I knew better than honda and could easily change it to make it better. Funny thing is I had no idea what I was even changing or really why. It was simply what forums had led me to believe was necessary to have a car that "handles well". So I did it. I didn't know any better, but whats worse is that I posted about it and may have lead people who knew even less than I did in the wrong direction which I hate thinking about. Anybody who knows performance driving could read this thread and tell that I was clearly very ignorant about what I was doing.
So why the change of heart?
Well I have been Autocrossing a bone stock 1991 Acura Integra 4 door for the past six months and it has taught me an incredible amount about driving a vehicle at the limit. Not this bullcrap canyon driving where you can only endanger yourself and others and MAYBE poke the limit with a stick every so often. This is an environment where you can truly explore the outer limits of a vehicle and see what YOU can do with it. This car has oodles of body roll any most peoples first reactions would be to throw some higher rate springs on there with some good shocks, maybe tie it down more with sway bars etc. But in my case that would be silly. Because after 6 months of autocross, even a moderately decent driver can hop in that car and around the same AutoX circuit, shave two whole seconds off my time. I still can't even get the most out of that STOCK car. Which really brings me to my point.
If you are truly pursuing performance, like I claimed I was in the beginning of this thread, learn to drive your current car in its stock form at the limit so you can actually know what needs to be changed to go faster. Go find a local track day or AutoX club and go to a few events and feel what your car does. Not only will you have a blast, but you will learn an incredible amount about driving.
So where does this leave the prelude?
It leaves the Prelude where it should have been all along. Stock. I haven't autocrossed it yet although I do plan to try it at some point this summer. Just want to see how it does. I have no plans to modify that car. I am going to keep it as a mildly personalized survivor car. Something that I do not ever plan to sell. It really is a special car and I love it to death even after owning one for 4 years.
Hopefully this post sums up my thoughts well enough. As always, any questions feel free to post them below. When I do AutoX the prelude, Ill be sure to post it here though...
UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE
The Name Of The Game:
The reason I am calling this build "OEM+" is because of the focus of the car and the look I am going after. This will be a car built with function above almost all else. Refinement following a close second. The function you ask? To devour a corner, but not rattle your senses to bits on the way home. So many cars seem to be built with either looks or just raw performance in mind. I am going for something more challenging. An OEM attention to noise, vibration, and harshness in addition to increased cornering performance. I want this car to be as if Honda released it to the masses.
The Car
The prelude I am starting with is a cherry. I drove all the way to San Francisco to buy her. Its a pearl white 2001 Sh prelude. It was purchased by a grandmother new and passed through the family. She had 103,000 miles when I bought her a few months back in September of 2016. Just had a new timing belt and clutch installed by a dealership up north. She was completely stock when I got a hold of her. Not anymore. I will post photos of the mods I have done and then update the thread as I do more.
Here are some photos of the car to begin with
1105161651 by Michael Russell, on Flickr
1105161651a by Michael Russell, on Flickr
1105161651b by Michael Russell, on Flickr
1105161652 by Michael Russell, on Flickr
1105161652a by Michael Russell, on Flickr
Here is an update. Many things have changed since I last posted in here. Looking back on this thread makes me sad in a lot of ways. Firstly, I wasted a lot of money modifying a car that I couldn't even drive. In stock form that prelude had a lot to offer me, but instead of learning to drive the car at the limit, I simply modified it thinking I knew better than honda and could easily change it to make it better. Funny thing is I had no idea what I was even changing or really why. It was simply what forums had led me to believe was necessary to have a car that "handles well". So I did it. I didn't know any better, but whats worse is that I posted about it and may have lead people who knew even less than I did in the wrong direction which I hate thinking about. Anybody who knows performance driving could read this thread and tell that I was clearly very ignorant about what I was doing.
So why the change of heart?
Well I have been Autocrossing a bone stock 1991 Acura Integra 4 door for the past six months and it has taught me an incredible amount about driving a vehicle at the limit. Not this bullcrap canyon driving where you can only endanger yourself and others and MAYBE poke the limit with a stick every so often. This is an environment where you can truly explore the outer limits of a vehicle and see what YOU can do with it. This car has oodles of body roll any most peoples first reactions would be to throw some higher rate springs on there with some good shocks, maybe tie it down more with sway bars etc. But in my case that would be silly. Because after 6 months of autocross, even a moderately decent driver can hop in that car and around the same AutoX circuit, shave two whole seconds off my time. I still can't even get the most out of that STOCK car. Which really brings me to my point.
If you are truly pursuing performance, like I claimed I was in the beginning of this thread, learn to drive your current car in its stock form at the limit so you can actually know what needs to be changed to go faster. Go find a local track day or AutoX club and go to a few events and feel what your car does. Not only will you have a blast, but you will learn an incredible amount about driving.
So where does this leave the prelude?
It leaves the Prelude where it should have been all along. Stock. I haven't autocrossed it yet although I do plan to try it at some point this summer. Just want to see how it does. I have no plans to modify that car. I am going to keep it as a mildly personalized survivor car. Something that I do not ever plan to sell. It really is a special car and I love it to death even after owning one for 4 years.
Hopefully this post sums up my thoughts well enough. As always, any questions feel free to post them below. When I do AutoX the prelude, Ill be sure to post it here though...
UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE
The Name Of The Game:
The reason I am calling this build "OEM+" is because of the focus of the car and the look I am going after. This will be a car built with function above almost all else. Refinement following a close second. The function you ask? To devour a corner, but not rattle your senses to bits on the way home. So many cars seem to be built with either looks or just raw performance in mind. I am going for something more challenging. An OEM attention to noise, vibration, and harshness in addition to increased cornering performance. I want this car to be as if Honda released it to the masses.
The Car
The prelude I am starting with is a cherry. I drove all the way to San Francisco to buy her. Its a pearl white 2001 Sh prelude. It was purchased by a grandmother new and passed through the family. She had 103,000 miles when I bought her a few months back in September of 2016. Just had a new timing belt and clutch installed by a dealership up north. She was completely stock when I got a hold of her. Not anymore. I will post photos of the mods I have done and then update the thread as I do more.
Here are some photos of the car to begin with
1105161651 by Michael Russell, on Flickr
1105161651a by Michael Russell, on Flickr
1105161651b by Michael Russell, on Flickr
1105161652 by Michael Russell, on Flickr
1105161652a by Michael Russell, on Flickr