This is the one I use, but it's for 5th gen.
https://www.preludeonline.com/forums/fifth-gen-prelude-discussion.60/
There should be others for earlier generations.

Keep us posted.

I appreciate ongoing help on this... I suspect it's also going to require all the brake calipers and master cylinder to be rebuilt.

I've got the garage cleared enough to work on the car, happy about that!

I took my brother to an eye Dr appointment Monday, bad news is his vision is 20/40 in the right eye, 20/50 left. The left side has had surgery for cataract and to lower Glaucoma pressures a couple years ago... it did not turn out very well, he says it's much worse than before the surgery and has caused him to put off the same work on his right eye.

Now the Dr sees his optic nerve thinning and pressure reading of 26 on in the right eye. He was very blunt and told him his choice is to have the surgery and potentially loose some vision or do nothing and go blind in that eye. Easy choice obviously...

I love my brother dearly, but he's a world class procrastinator and has hidden what's been going on with many things for a long time... It pisses me off that a guy as intelligent and capable as he has been would ignore his own health for so long that permanent damage has been done. time spent PO'd and mad at him serves no purpose, I only indulge in it away from him and for short-ish periods.
I realize I can't go back in time or change him... I can only deal with the here and now doing my best to push and pull him toward better choices.

When he fell ill in mid December I dug in and started asking more and more questions and it became quickly apparent I had and need to do as much as I can to help.

I still see him as my big brother who plans outings and backpack trips where we would both shoulder 50 lb packs and wander off into the wilderness for a week.
The change in roles is tough, the good news is he is very open with me now and I have time and energy to help.

Yes, I'd replace all of the rubber brake lines and rebuild all of the brake hydraulics. If it has a clutch, include those hydraulics, too. Get the engine running first, then concentrate on the roadworthiness.

I think that by being more involved in your brother's life, he'll probably listen to you regarding his health. I had a friend that had some sort of eye problems and he eventually went blind, so it's nothing to screw around with.

How does the gas smell? I have a 911 that's been sitting about the same length of time. The gas smells terrible. I've drained it, can still smell it. I'm getting ready to pour about 3-5 gallons of fresh gas in there to dilute the old stuff and drain it again. I'd replace every component that had fuel pass through it, pump, filter....

I worked a Honda dealer when thee cars were new. I remember playing around with these cars to see how the 4WS worked.

Being an Si, it's probably got some value to it. The Civic and CRX Si's from that era are not cheap, if unmolested.

Gas that old stinks to high heaven. It will smell up a garage in no time. If it gets on the floor it won’t evaporate immediately like fresh gas, it will still be there half an hour later. I think it’s trying to turn back into the hydrocarbons from whence it came.

It’s also just about impossible to wash off your hands if you get it on you, so you’ll carry that stench with you for days. Two words, nitrile gloves.

Since I was a Honda dealer in that era, I'll relate one more story... Hondas were in high demand back then, there were typically only a few colors available for each model in any given year and when Honda began offering the 3rd gen Prelude in black, they became very desirable. Unscrupulous dealers were able to sell them in my area for $3000 over sticker. They even paid off the Honda sales reps with cash under the table, to influence the number and types of cars that dealers were allocated. Some people ended up going to jail over that, but sadly, not all of them. The oldest Honda dealer in my area was the worst offender and he skated completely.

I started at a big accounting firm right out of college in 1985 and bought a new Civic hatchback. I think I got my 2nd or 3rd color choice.

A woman I worked with owned a Prelude. I think her car was broken into 3 or more times in the years I worked there and the seats were stolen every time.

Old 911 that hadn't run in years, old Triumph Bonneville that hadn't run in years, and an old Honda that hasn't run in years...you know how to pick 'em. Next time, maybe something with a small block Chevy that was run recently?

If you need any help with anything, give me a call.

Guilty as charged... add a 1983 Honda Interceptor to the list.

You Sir, were a very positive influence in the purchase of my 72.
For that and several stellar drives together I'm ever grateful.

Valve cover/Sparkplug seal kit showed up today for the Prelude.
New car parts nearly always smell good.

That website stevej37 sent looks perfect, it has a "Third Gen Prelude" forum.
I'll see what it has to offer, and look! I'm already speaking the jargon.

Anther bonus today... parts for the VFR750F also showed up as if by magic-
F & R caliper rebuild kits
Clutch Master and slave cylinder rebuild kits

This pleases me.

^^^ Yo V-Tech!!
(But not sure if Honda had that in 90)

We had a 1991 SI . Loved that car, no 4ws though. Had 3 CRX Si's also . I drove one across the country and back .
San Fransisco to Pittsburgh no stop in 54 hours .

Having owned my Prelude for 22 years now, here are a couple things that I think are unique with the Preludes.
The double wishbone suspension makes the car one of the best handling cars I've driven. Potholes and bumps are absorbed as if not there.
The ergonomics of the interior are perfect.
The shifter is un-equaled..even compared to todays cars.
The seats are the best I've used in a car.
I also own a Honda Fit...the doors and ext panels on the Prelude are at least twice the weight and very solid.
That said...I will prob never sell mine.:)

A few more things about my 'Lude'...
I bought it brand new for $26K in 1998...always wondered why the sticker was more than the magazine tested price? Someone above addressed that issue.

About 15 years ago I installed a 75hp Zex Nitrous system. I don't use the nitrous much lately...the refill for the tank has gone from $15 to $55.
But it sure is fun! The torque steer is magnified with the nitrous greatly.SmileWavy

I'm sensing the onset of being a bad influence, a title I normally reserve for Rich.
:)

Paint is not too bad in areas, a bit rough in others- here's the worst spot thus far. Bastages

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1581643224.JPG

Some of those scratches look like they are just in the clear and they can be buffed out, Paintless dent guys can do wonders with dents these days, so you might be surprised what could be fixed, if you want to throw the money at it.

First things first, though...

From your pics..can't see any rust. Any around the doors bottoms?
Could you use one of those oil evacuators to suck out the gas? Or are they not safe for gas?

I have not found any rust so far, then again I have not jacked it up and done any serious poking yet either.
If I had a smaller diameter tube it may well snake on down and pull out the bad petrochemical brew formally known as "Gas"... I have not yet had the heart to smell it either.
I picked up a simple fuel transfer pump from Harbor Freight to drain fuel out of my 911 when I realized my occasional use of sea foam or Berryman's B12 had boiled the paint coating off my fill tube.
It worked perfectly but is designed to have the bottom submerged in fuel, easy if you remove the sending unit and drop it straight in the tank on a 911.
Obviously no such access on the quaalude, er Prelude.

Also, it's got almost new Toyo's all around... too bad it sat on them flat on it's rims for several years... they will have to be replaced I'd think- even though it was in a garage for 2 decades.
Oy.

The tires are toast, guaranteed. They may come apart when the tire guys bust them loose from the wheel beads. I’ve seen it happen before on tires that were not as old as those...

You’ll never get all the fuel out by trying to suck it out from the top. Drain it from its normal path out.

Chilton manual came today... Honda put a drain bolt on the bottom of the gas tank, bless their butts!

Drained all the fuel from the conveniently placed 17MM bolt in the left rear corner of the tank.
Got a total about 12 gallons of very smelly fuel out of it in 3 go-rounds.
I also loosened the fuel filter fittings to encourage as much fuel as possible out the system. I'd previously turned on the key a couple times to check fuel levels and test the electrics- there was good pressure at the filter, fuel pumps alive and doing it's thing too!
All's good so far!

Next up, pull plugs and fog the cylinders with oil, then it's timing belt, tensioner and water pump time in the valley.

Then new plugs, adjust valves, replace fuel injectors (at $30 each I feel it's wise) then seal it up, replace fluids and see if she comes alive.

Great progress!

That first drive with your brother will be priceless.

It sounds like you really know what you are doing...I wish I dared to tackle the timing belt replacement. Everytime I read-up on it..I back off.
Very interested in how that goes. My Prelude is at 120K with the original belt.

Great progress. I would still throw a few gallons of fresh gas in the tank and let that sit for a while then drain it. I would use E85 gas, if you can find it. It would help to dissolve the crystallized and varnished gas in the bottom of the tank. Before you put the fuel injectors in, and after changing the fuel filter, I would suggest putting some fresh gas in the tank and running fresh gas through the lines to purge all of the old gas out.

Man, are you on borrowed time... You really need to get that belt changed before it pops and ruins your engine. You should be on your fourth belt by now.

Not too worried about it yet...
I talked to a mechanic at my local Honda dealer. He said he hardly ever sees a broken belt before 150K. Also said the environment was a big factor. My Prelude is always garaged and the humidity is controlled...when not used.
But, I realize I have to address that belt sometime soon.

What you’re not thinking about. They go bad with time, even if they have 0 miles on them. On a car that’s driven a normal amount of mileage per year, 150,000 miles might be equivalent to about 10 years. I have spoken to the engineers at the companies that make timing belts and they say that they wouldn’t go past about nine years. If I recall correctly, you bought your car in the 90s, so that belt is more than 20 years old.

I will remind you that I’m a former Honda dealer and before that, I managed the service departments of two Honda dealerships. I’ve seen Honda engines ruined before they turned 60,000 miles, from a lack of maintenance.

On my car, if I am approaching nine years on the timing belt, I do periodic visual inspections of the belt to make sure it’s in good condition and not contaminated by oil, or cracked.

It’s your car and your money, pay a grand now or five or six times that later.

^^^ 22 years. I hear you and agree. That's why I am interested in how Skip's project goes.
I know I have to do it sometime...but with a car that's value is so low, I am in no rush.

More progress!
I pulled the plugs out and put in about 20 drops of light oil, let it sit a couple days.
Pulled the crank shaft pulley access plug out and slowly turned it over by hand several times and aligned it to TDC on plug #1.
Happy to say it took a little bit of force to move it initially but it immediately turned nice and smooth.
I'm following the steps laid out in the Chilton's manual and yes... it's a bit overwhelming if you read the entire process. Reality is it's not bad at all so far.

I pulled the plastic under carriage cover off and gained better access to the crank pulley, removed all the intake piping, drained the antifreeze and pulled the distributor cap. She needs a new cap and rotor, contacts are a little burnt, worn down and taste terrible.

I also had to order a tool to hold the crank pulley- the manual warns it's the "tightest bolt on the car".
Oh boy!!!


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1582739839.JPG

Fully emerged from the pile of craaaap
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1582739839.JPG

There were oil absorbent pads under it, in 20 years they had pretty well soaked up all the oil drips and attached themselves to the floor, that's what the black square is imprinted in the concrete- yummy.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1582739839.jpg

Only fell over once next to it so far... the old gas fumes were awful.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1582739839.JPG

Great work and good news!

Awesome work!

The timing belt job was difficult compared to the civics, but overall, really were not that hard. Just a little bit cramped in there. Make sure you spin it once after you are done, and all the marks still line up . Never miss if you take that extra step.
And, that crank bolt is usually really hard to get off the first time

To the guy still on his original tb, if you are dreading the TB job, just wait till you have to pull the head, to replace all the valves . Id get that one done pronto..
Anxious to hear if it runs. Im betting it fires right up !

The timing belt job was difficult compared to the civics, but overall, really were not that hard. Just a little bit cramped in there.

A little cramped?
You are a funny dude, I like that!!

I now have the drive belts off, cruise control appendage, Exhaust manifold heat shield, Power Steering pump, & alternator off. It's a back breaker even with it up on ramps- maybe I'm just too tall, and good looking... No, that's not it.
The bottom alternator bolt is ridiculous to remove, and the idler pulley assembly as well. Design engineers don't work on cars, generally.

My back said enough after 3 hours, got to spend more time talking over past endeavors with my brother... It's good to spend time with him on a regular basis. Wish some of the circumstances were different.
Oy.

Before the imposition
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1582770025.jpg

Sweet dreams are not made of this
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1582770025.jpg

End of today carnage
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1582770025.jpg

Looking good.

Fingers crossed for you as the work continues.

And say hello to your brother for us!

Also, you two should talk about bands you both liked when the car was new. Get a period correct sticker for that band and put it on the passenger rear window. Or a sporting team, beer, restaurant...something that connects you both.

Thanks for the suggestions javadog related to cleaning out the fuel system, I appreciate that!

Don, finding a common bond and reflecting it is a great idea too.

I'm thinking "Pink Floyd, Dark side of the Prelude... matter of fact it's all dark"

Looks like you're making good progress. These jobs can be a pain in the ass but you can do it, just go one step at a time and you'll eventually knock it out. If you need any tools, you can usually rent them from auto parts stores, sometimes for free if you buy parts from them.

Hopefully your brother can hang out in the garage with you a little, as this progresses.

Well..you've already gone further than I would have. Nice work!
On the 2nd pic in post #70...it's almost impossible to see the moonroof, because of the dust from time sitting.

No progress on the car today, I'm at a point where one tool, a 50MM wrench has stopped me. It's supposed to show up Monday.

So time was spent in a wiser way.

Asked my Brother is he was up for a meal out and indeed he was. He said he wanted to go to the Train wreak Sports bar (there was indeed a train wreak at that spot many moons ago) up in the next town North, texted my Sister what we were up to and she came along too.

Weather was not bad, the Porter, the burger and the company were all top notch!

That's a big crank bolt! Those suckers can be a bear to break loose. Good luck! I will say that I have resorted to the starter method one time. The crank bolt would not break free, not with an impact gun, and no matter how long the breaker bar was. One bump of the key with the breaker bar on the concrete was all it took.

I do not recommend that method, but when all else fails...