Rangeball
Rangeball Reader
4/25/09 7:58 a.m.

I have been thinking hard about doing a Midlana in the future. I wanted to get a track rat so that I could keep getting hours and then later use as a donor. One of the potential cars mentioned was a pre 1995 Prelude.

I haven't seen too much talk of the Prelude on GRM and was curious to get some opinions on how it would be as a track car. Trying to find one unmolested is also VERY hard.

Thanks,

-Will

billy3esq
billy3esq Dork
4/25/09 8:56 a.m.

I don't have any first hand knowledge, but your best bet for track car tips may be to look for people running them in NASA's Honda Challenge series.

jcanracer
jcanracer New Reader
4/25/09 9:48 a.m.

i always thought the aftermarket support wasnt as strong as that for civics and integras, and thats why more people dont chose the prelude.

MadScientistMatt
MadScientistMatt HalfDork
4/25/09 10:04 a.m.

Support is still pretty good, though it's a heavier car.

JFX001
JFX001 Dork
4/25/09 10:07 a.m.

I'm not up on Preludes, but didn't some of the have a 2.1(?) engine that had some problems?

JohnGalt
JohnGalt Reader
4/25/09 10:40 a.m.

The last gen Preludes were some of the best looking Hondas made IMO. The reason they were never as popular because of the weight and the H series motor. The H series was not very light, did not have the amount of support the B's And D's, and used some kind of strange cylinder lining that no one seemed to like for a variety of reasons. That about exhausts my knowledge on Preludes.

gamby
gamby SuperDork
4/25/09 10:55 a.m.

IIRC, higher-mileage H22's have oiling issues. There's some issue that comes into play late in their lives--I think it's oiling.

I'd still take a chance on an older VTEC Prelude, or just go w/ the S w/ the H23. Throw a good suspension on it, freshen the brakes and gut it for some weight reduction.

It was the previous gen of Preludes that has the engine issues--the B20A was one of the few "bad" Honda motors. Still, plenty were campaigned in IT racing.

dyintorace
dyintorace Dork
4/25/09 12:34 p.m.

Speak of the devil, here's the perfect starting point. Granted, it sounds like the engine is apart.

1994 Prelude - $1500 - not mine

http://gainesville.craigslist.org/cto/1139665987.html

gamby
gamby SuperDork
4/25/09 12:37 p.m.
dyintorace wrote: Speak of the devil, here's the perfect starting point. Granted, it sounds like the engine is apart. 1994 Prelude - $1500 - not mine http://gainesville.craigslist.org/cto/1139665987.html

...and she "just don't have the cash" to fix it. lulz

Seems like a cheap way to get into a super-low mileage example. You'd rip the suspension out, anyway. Button up the motor and probably replace the power steering pump.

Rangeball
Rangeball Reader
4/27/09 7:12 a.m.

Thanks all for the input.

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