19 years of sitting- prep for start question

[stevej37]

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.

[Skip Newsom]

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.

[javadog]

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.

[GG Allin]

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.

[javadog]

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.

[javadog]

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.

[jhynesrockmtn]

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.

[Rich Lambert]

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.

[Skip Newsom]

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.

[stevej37]

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

[fastfredracing]

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 .

[stevej37]

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.

[stevej37]

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.

[Skip Newsom]

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

[Skip Newsom]

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

[javadog]

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...

[stevej37]

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?

[Skip Newsom]

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.

[Skip Newsom]

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.

[javadog]

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.