Ba b16...

[hondalude86]

BA B16... a plate on a car that many have come to love and hate. This car as been so many things to me. My everyday college commuter, my pizza delivery car, my broken car, my most reliable car, my winning car, my losing car... but lately i think the phrase that i think describes its current condition would be, my neglected car...
Owning 3 and maintaining 4 cars is a hard task to say the least. A 500hp del sol, a dual weber et2 powered prelude, a b16 swapped prelude, and an accord that has a storied history on 3geez. Lucky for me i have at least 2 cars running at all times...
About 2 montys ago, i finally negotiated a trade that got me out of financial responsiblity of owning (but not maintaining) a 500 hp civic, but recently the del sol has broke once again. I fired up the white prelude and handed the keys to the girlfriend to drive, once again the white prelude has again saved the dussex family from dependence on local city transportation. It was at this moment that i was thankful once again to have the car. This time "reliable" was the word that came to kind, quickly followed by "neglected". The smell of fuel leaking from the return line, the bobble of the passenger headlight, the crisp cool air reminding me of the poor and limited heat in the car, the sound of the transmission clanking around... the list addes up.
Again, we are thankful to have such a good honda. Now is time we give back to the prelude after all the years of reliable service. Time to make it feel a little better. Time to work on its little issues and quirks. Put all the pieces back into the car. The try and get it back to the car that was fun to drive... this is the year for me to pay it forward to a car that has been in the fleet, thats seen cars come and go from my garage... ive owned now 11 hondas, and this was my 3rd honda... time to make it feel like number one without breakimg me or comprimising its reliability.

BA B16 will once again terrorize the streets, with new shoes, a familiar stance and of course new oil!

[hondalude86]

The oldest picture i have of this car in digital form!

The second autocross ever, at ky motor speedway, 2004, tires of choice? Kuhmo 711s!

One of the few times ive had to replace the transmission...

Fwew, body roll! Ft knox event 2005.

2007 autocross on brand new hoosiers

New hoosiers, hawk hp+ pads, concrete... rotor fail pure brake clamping force and tire adhesion...

Flossin in '07

Laying the hammer down in '10, after a two year autocross hiatus, the white prelude helped win tyis divisional solo2 event, probably the best event ive ever won!

Flossing at a local prelude meet in 2011

[Hazwan]

I love your car so much (Y)

[obdriver6]

The prelude look great! First time I've seen a rotor fail like that!

[hondalude86]

Thanks guys, the prelude has definitely seen better days. As far as the rotor goes, its the onky time ive ever seen anything like that before... had it fixed and running back out on the course in less than 30mins.

As far as plans go, i want to keep it basic, with the small chance that it may get painted this summer...

Possibly new wheels/tires combo...
New trans, my current trans has a busted case and no 3rd gear...
Another suspension again... currently running on some blown koni yellows and some shitty intrax springs.
New exhaust, im tired of the ricey civic sound, and with my welder i can finally make a quality sounding/looking exhaust for resonably cheap.
Reinstall my interior FULLY! I may even have to inlist some help on pulling some parts from around on this thing...the rear interior with the exception on the seats all jeeds to go back IN the red prelude.
Basic, decent stereo, nothing fancy, just some tunage again...
Repace my blue door handle with a white one again... maybe even try and find a whole white door to replace mine...
Get some new rear tailights and possibly upgrade my headlights... mountain drivung with these lights suck! That means new bezels, some autopals, and some HIDs if its in the budget...
Just fix, or replace as much little bullshit as possible. I want to get this thing feeling good again and more fun to drive...

At this point im open to all suggestions... i kept the details pretty vague because, frankly i dont have any!

[hondalude86]

Early 2011

[obdriver6]

Nice, where was this taken?

[gfrg88]

So excited to see this!! She definitely deserves it!

[hondalude86]

Ob, that was taken at a sonic in north Denver

Gio, I'm pretty excited about it too!

[MessyHonda]

I like the plate

[rustlude87]

Good thing I convinced you

[hondalude86]

Im glad you convinced me... now for the wheels... i want to hear the debate...
I have roughly 3 ideas floating around in my head...


Rota grids 16x8s et +20mm in green


Diamond racing 15x8s et??? in black


949 racing 6ul 15x8 et +36mm nickle finish shown, not sure on finish

Or turn my current race wheels into street wheels, and get new race wheels...

TR Motorsport C1s 15x8 et +20mm

And just to give you an idea of how a 15x8 +20 fits our cars with out mega dumpage.

[hondalude86]

Also keep in mimd thats with 225 hoosiers on the rear which is closer to a 245 sreet tire, id be running 205s that arent nearly as wide...

Im also open to other suggestions as well, like different sizes or wheels...

[hondalude86]

Here is a badass wheel calculator...
http://www.1010tires.com/WheelOffsetCalculator.asp

[obdriver6]

949 racing get my vote!

[gfrg88]

diamonds

[hondalude86]

I love the 949s and have wanted a set forever... but im not sure they will fit without rubbing the inside to much. I need to mic my current wheel set up, but worst comes to worst, i can us a 5mm spacer on the front. Would definitley have enough space for that... they would fit perfectly in the wheel wells too! Maybe even look a tick bit conservative even. They arent cheap (@155bucks pr wheel) and you have to pre order now for builds shipped out in may...fwew crazy. Might be able to get used, but the used ones are as much as the new ones, not cool!

I think the diamonds would look the best with the older car, however, as much as i love these wheels, its starting to become over played in the honda scene. This company started out making wheels for late model circle track stuff, and now when you google search them its mostly civics. Not to mention that the price for a set has nearly doubled and the rumor is a 9 month wait from diamond... ive seen 15x8s used for 400 bucks when before you could get them new for 280 bucks!

[gfrg88]

I love your race wheels too though!

[hondalude86]

[obdriver6]

I love your race wheels too though!

Me too! Also, I know what you mean about the Diamond wheels being played out.

[hondalude86]

Here is a sick link that could be helpful for those looking at various wheel sizes on various vehicles...
http://www.rimtuck.com/

So ive finally decided that im going to go with my race wheels... and possible use the 195 dunlop star specs.

Now im goimg to focus on suspension ideas next. My budget is tight, but im thinking the gaz setup for suspension with some shorter springs

[hondalude86]

This was after 12 hourse of snow, yikes

[2ndGenGuy]

Big fan of the Star Specs. I like them a little better than the RE-11s I used to have. Also, cheaper.

And what the heck was up with that snow? It only snowed in one direction or something? Or was it super windy? That's so strange looking!

[hondalude86]

hahaha, yea it gets pretty windy here, hahaha. But seriously it snowed 8"inches here over night, and is still snowing, we are expecting at least another 4-6 inches... To get this much snow in the Denver Metro area is uncommon, but it does happen every now and then.

[rjudgey]

Geez I hope it doesn't get like that here! lol! Hope your able to walk to work you got no chance in the car!