1990 prelude 2.0 EX 39,000 miles can it be supercharged?

[maxruda]

Hello boys and girls,

I've just spent a solid £370 on a 38,000 taxed and mot'ed mint 2.0ex prelude.

this means no injection or 4ws so it old and manuable but in 'i took my shoes off to drive it' condition.

Question.

as it has twin carbs is this more suitable for supercharging and has anyone got any advice thoughts or coments?

and please none of the 'go buy a proper / good car as for £370 you dont get much and this is what I have so I'm intreagued what can be done to a big 2l lump that seems to drink fuel and only have 106bhp.

I'm wanting to stick to the low budget options if there are any a i'ts more fun for me that way.

so pitch in and let me know please.

Cheers

[EvoBarry]

The cost and hassle involved would make it far more sensible to buy the better car to start with tbh. Why not sort the suspension and brakes out to make use of the 106hp instead? Reckon that would be easier and cheaper if you're serious.

[maxruda]

thought as much (

I've not had a car with a supercharger and thought I'd have a go.

The only easy searched ones were little silly looking things that run off the battery and fit inline on the air intake! looked like £99 worth of tat

I understand what you mean about upgrading the shocks and suspension it is a bit dated and boy does it need wider wheels, the chassis deserves that much at least.

Well as per usual I've got distracted by audio installation. not mental for it just like reasonable sound on a budget so no more than upgraded speakers to JBL and a sub with Amp with a kenwood head unit.

I must have a go at doing something to the engine at some point if for no other reason but reduce the tickover on the choke (crazy car sucks fuel sitting in traffic when cold) and the occasional splutter when accelerating (probably just need to balance the carbs)

maybe a turbo is just a lot easier to do......

Any recommendations for easy install small turbos instead?

[woodytype S]

Ask on here. Forum.HondaEvolutions.com

[EvoBarry]

You could probably get a small turbo install on it easily enough, but for the gains (and subsequent reliability issues) would it not be easier to source the 2.0 16v from the 4ws model? You should get down to the local breakers yard for some larger Honda alloys too perhaps? I put some Civic 15"s on my old Prelude 4ws, it allowed me to get some better tyres on it at least

Don't forget too, the cheapest form of tuning - "add lightness" (C.Chapman) - you could always strip out anything you don't need, and that means no fancy I.C.E too

[Holst]

I think you can swap the engine for a H22A without a massive amount of work.
I think there are places in the US you can buy a kit with the mounts and stuff.
This will probably be the cheapest way to more power.

[AR]

DIY Turbo with a Rising Rate fuel pressure regulator and map bleed check valve.

[Gompo]

Pics? I love these, have seriously considered getting one.

[EvoBarry]

If you'll permit me to wh0re one the better pics of my second 4ws model, at Elvington several years back

[Gompo]

How did you find the car in general Barry?

I really like the idea of one as a bit of a cruiser.

[EvoBarry]

At the time I thought it was a great little sporty coupe, as I didn't know much better. It was spritely, handled securely, braked well, was reliable enough, decent boot. The usual Honda traits basically. The sunroof used to leak when it rained as the edging rusts eventually, as do the rear arches, which impinges on the lower sills pretty soon after. Generally a comfy coupe, with good manouvrability, visibility and a little different looking. I'd be impressed if you could find a decent one these days though, and the later models are FAR better, engine especially. The 2.2 VTEC models are great.

I've since had an ITR which shifted my view of what a proper "sporty" car should behave like

[maxruda]

having owened this lowly model for a month or so i quite like it, the chassy is one that sits square and flat but does beg to be rear wheel drive. the twin carb 2l makes fun noises without getting you into too much trouble, generally it is a comfy cruser but it does sit well when chucked into a corner so.....

not wishing to spend a fortune the bits i do want to do do as EvoBarry suggested is the suspention and the wheels, it needs bigger wheels! as if you have two in the car some speedbumbs glance the exhaust at 15 mph so a little extra clearance wouldn't go amiss.

Turbo's and reliability... surely a little extra pressure in an engine that seems underpowered for a 2l double overhead cam wouldn't cause that much damage? as long as i keep the boost down to say 0.3-0.5 bar? I feel it should give just a little more than it does.

Before i do that i think i need to check the emmissions i'm fairly sure it is running a little rich as £50 of fuel only gets about 200-250 miles round town (350+ on a tank runing to and around nottinghamshire from london) although the auto choke is probably to blame for this. the other reason is the car starts on the button when cold, revs straight up to 1750rpm till warm.
however once driven for a short distance and warmed if you stop it doesn't like starting. a car that starts beter cold than it does hot! sounds like its runing a bit rich to me?

if anyone has any suggestions re: suspention, wheels, turbos do point me in good directions

and Evobarry i havent gone overboard with the ICE just upgraded rear speakers and a little box in the boot with a headunit that isn't a 19 year old tape deck and i love my music so don't want to lose my grin and the looks on peoples faces when playing something other than the usuall nnts nnts beats a little louder than one would expect.

right time for a photo me thinks

[maxruda]

oh and i'm not expecting too much from it i've had a 'fast car' (mazda rx-7 350 bhp)and fun hatches (thoroughly enjoyed mk2 golfs) and kit toy fun (robin hood 7)

i just want a little more than standard without being showy

[maxruda]

It was an old boy who owned it, garaged it since bought, and took his shoes off to drive it!

He had someone make an exhaust to manufacturers specs appart from that standard as the day it was bought and in nearly that same condition!

[Gompo]

EvoBarry said:

At the time I thought it was a great little sporty coupe, as I didn't know much better. It was spritely, handled securely, braked well, was reliable enough, decent boot. The usual Honda traits basically. The sunroof used to leak when it rained as the edging rusts eventually, as do the rear arches, which impinges on the lower sills pretty soon after. Generally a comfy coupe, with good manouvrability, visibility and a little different looking. I'd be impressed if you could find a decent one these days though, and the later models are FAR better, engine especially. The 2.2 VTEC models are great.

I've since had an ITR which shifted my view of what a proper "sporty" car should behave like

Thanks Barry. I am only interested in this shape of Prelude for the time being. It's unlikely I'd get one but it's something to consider in future. However, o be honest if I am going to get a run-about/2nd car I think I'll have to try a Mk1 Jazz.

Nice update Maxruda. It looks good - dont mess with it too much! I'm sure if you get bored you'll find somebody else to take it on.

[EvoBarry]

My mother has a new Jazz, its a great little runabout, I'd have one too if I had to run two cars.

As for a light pressure turbo upgrade, for the hassle involved I still think you'd do better to put the H22 motor in there, its a superb unit imo, grunty, revvy, sounds fab. I don't think the twin carb motor is the same bottom end as the 16v 4ws model even and thats only rated to cope with 148 hp os I do wonder how well your model would cope with all that extra torque/power.

I always found my car too understeery, and slightly soft when really pushed hard into corners, so I'd concentrate on that first, get stiffer ARBs, coilovers maybe, and get some 15" wheels on there so you get a more sporty choice of tyre. I struggled to find uprated pads for mine too, it seems Ferodo et al just don't think we should be driving these hard :lol:

[300bhp/ton]

maxruda said:

I'm wanting to stick to the low budget options

is this more suitable for supercharging

Sorry to say these two things don't go together very well.

If you want fast you have to pay the ££££ for it.

[Gompo]

EvoBarry said:

My mother has a new Jazz, its a great little runabout, I'd have one too if I had to run two cars.

I've grown to like the newer Jazz' too. Honest John used to annoy me constantly going on about them but I dont think there's much better out there.

....I want one of the early 80s ones though! Anyway, enough thread hi-jacking.

[somnv]

I've had a 1990 Prelude EX since 2002 and it's been a fantasic car, but it's just failed it's MOT so I'm going to be breaking it for parts in the new year. Happy to email photos of specific parts on request.

If anyone is looking for any parts, please drop me an email with sensible offers, [e-mail]

Cheers
Norman