Parts availability for the 3rd gen (87-91) Honda Prelude is thin. They used an oddball engine that (untypical for Honda) isn't compatible with others in the series. The engine is tilted way back to achieve a low hood line, which also makes engine swaps (though possible) a compromise between an oil pan lower than the frame or the valve cover sticking out of the hood (maybe both) and getting all the way back requires notching the subframe to clearance the diff.
I bought a rolling chassis 3rd gen someone had intended to swap to H22 and given up. I wasn't too worried because I planned on either doing an ambitious mid-engine conversion or could put in my own H22 or F22 in the front.
But the longer the chassis sat in my storage unit the more I freaked myself out over whether I really wanted to put that much effort into something I knew I couldn't get parts for. What if I needed a wheel bearing? Control arm? Etc.
I ended up selling the chassis to someone who first wanted to put in a swap. I gave them a free F22 engine (that I'd previously gotten for free) just for taking the chassis off my hands. Later they decided to put the engine that goes in the car back in and were trying to source a donor car from 2 states away. That fell through and they sold the chassis to someone else.
I quite like the look of the 3rd gen Preludes but not enough to deal with the lack of parts. It's bad enough with the later model Preludes, but at least the 4th and 5th gen ones are largely compatible with each other.
I'd still daily a "classic muscle car". Finding and getting "stock" carb v8 parts are nearly nonexistent in the flaps. I know I can get aftermarket from summit or jegs rather quick for drivetrain, rockauto for select suspension or steering, or the model specific places like opgi/classic industries/npd for everything else...
So, if it breaks, it's 2-3 days for replacements depending on the time of ordering. Sucks but unless you've hoarded a specific brand and/or model, you'll be waiting.
In reply to DennisDoesEverything :
Oddly enough, we had a 99 Si in the shop and had no problems finding parts, while we also had an '05 Hyundai that ended up getting scrapped because so many parts were nowhere in the country. I mean, yeah it was all rusted and such, but that goes without saying.
In reply to friedgreencorrado :
My corrado did its best to bankrupt me. It was a low mileage car that was well cared for and only 7 years old at the time. No way would I DD a corrado now! Those do much better as fun, weekend types of cars.
An early Audi 5000 with first-gen Quattro. There's nothing like diff locks in a passenger car to power through winter.
Somewhat related: Holley now makes a 1bbl Sniper EFI conversion for old Ford I6's with Autolite 1bbl carbs.
https://bangshift.com/bangshift1320/holley-efi-releases-the-1bbl-sniper-to-replace-autolite-1100-carbs/?fbclid=IwAR0mh1jIReeoWdVicYTR_vOnMPL4wcL7ZGrV9yykL1NMkAx1W7JPUCGQI9Y
An early Mustang with an I6 and one of these would definitely be an interesting DD.
In reply to Tony Sestito :
I wonder if there are plans for a Carter version to fit a Slant 6. Or how complex an adapter plate would be (I imagine not very).
In reply to Tony Sestito :
That was my DD for 4 years. 65 Coupe with the 200CI and a 3 speed. Ice Blue metallic with the only option being A/C. Stupidly simple cars. Great to lear to wrench on.
noddaz
UltraDork
8/22/20 11:44 a.m.
Shoot, you could daily a resto-mod 64 to 68 Mustang or 67 to 69 Camaro easily. By resto-mod I mean updated brakes, suspension and A/C that could get you most parts easily and fast. DD a Factory Five Cobra? Why not.
bmw88rider (Forum Supporter) said:
In reply to Tony Sestito :
That was my DD for 4 years. 65 Coupe with the 200CI and a 3 speed. Ice Blue metallic with the only option being A/C. Stupidly simple cars. Great to lear to wrench on.
About 10 years-ish ago my father had a mint 65 Mustang with the 200/3spd auto. It looked cool. It drove like absolute garbage in every conceivable way. It was truly amazing.
I'm sure there is a lot of aftermarket capable of fixing all of that, but I'm sure the cost of doing so would be equivalent or more to the cost of the car itself.
This guy drove his Camaro 500,000+ miles as a daily driver. Of course it helps to live in the land of rust free cars. He's still daily driving?
http://www.roadkill.com/the-camaro-thats-been-to-the-moon-and-back-sort-of/
Gosh, I'd like to daily a Corvair or old Studebaker truck, but since I live local to my work, neither of them are that impractical, so I'd have to go pretty exotic to fit the bill. Almost any pre-Fiat Lancia would be cool.
I also have an affinity for utilitarian Alfas. A Giulia would be fine, but this would be great:
Mr_Asa
Dork
8/22/20 12:37 p.m.
ProDarwin said:
bmw88rider (Forum Supporter) said:
In reply to Tony Sestito :
That was my DD for 4 years. 65 Coupe with the 200CI and a 3 speed. Ice Blue metallic with the only option being A/C. Stupidly simple cars. Great to lear to wrench on.
About 10 years-ish ago my father had a mint 65 Mustang with the 200/3spd auto. It looked cool. It drove like absolute garbage in every conceivable way. It was truly amazing.
I'm sure there is a lot of aftermarket capable of fixing all of that, but I'm sure the cost of doing so would be equivalent or more to the cost of the car itself.
There's a replacement aluminum cylinder head that's worth about half the price of a decent version of the car
https://www.vintageinlines.com/product-page/deposit-only-aluminum-head-package
A '97 to '00 Jeep XJ. They don't need parts if they're in decent shape. Anvils. Bring your credit card to buy gas though.
This is my daily driver. 1978 F 150 , 300 straight six, NP 435 4 speed, 33x12.50 general all terrain tires on 15x10 wheels. It is a good 42 year old truck . Parts are easy to find and inexpensive. The local autozone has most brake, cooling, and engine parts in stock.
70s pick up trucks are the EASY button , tons of them were sold , and lots of rustfree ones in the west,
cheap basic motors and trans.....
Still would love to have a Zhiguli. or Lada 2107.
I tell myself that Volvo 240s are almost the same thing but something you can actually find parts for in the US.
Then myself replies that 240s are berkeleying huge cars, you are better off spending thousands to import a Soviet POS Fiat clone. And sticking a Gopnik Award sticker on the back. And get a license plate that says 3PLOSKI.
Then I fire back that I am an American, dammit, and American gopniks drive Corollas.
I don't mind all the voices, but it bothers me when they ARGUE so much....
My 68 Chevy Suburban 3 dr. The front of the frame was damaged and we clipped it back to the firewall with the front of a 76 Buick Electra frame. Has a Buick 455 and a turbo 400 transmission. Quadrajet carb and 10 mpg make it somewhat impractical. But I love it. It is still in the project stages.
I'd rock another Geo Metro 3 Dr hatch, 91 Protege LX or 90s Escort Hatch in a New York Minute.
pilotbraden said:
This is my daily driver. 1978 F 150 , 300 straight six, NP 435 4 speed, 33x12.50 general all terrain tires on 15x10 wheels. It is a good 42 year old truck . Parts are easy to find and inexpensive. The local autozone has most brake, cooling, and engine parts in stock.
Hey, I recognize that truck!
I’d like to daily the Cougar assuming I can ever get it running it should be fun.
I'm surprised that some flavor of Esprit hasn't gotten a favorable mention.
For me it would be one of these below.
Here's another two I'd love to city drive but not in backed up traffic.
I suppose parts availability would come down to what it was built with.
Back in the 90s i DD'd a bunch of Brit car for about 10 years, starting with Midgets and Spitfires, and ending up with Land Rovers. My fav was probably a '68 Rover 2000 TC sedan. I had a source that specialized in obscure Brit parts and we were able to keep it on the road for a while. I would drive one now if parts were readily unavailable.
In reply to Mr_Asa :
There's a replacement aluminum cylinder head that's worth about half the price of a decent version of the car
https://www.vintageinlines.com/product-page/deposit-only-aluminum-head-package
I noticed that despite the price, they have a long enough waiting list that they are no longer adding to it!
In reply to wawazat :
You should daily the cougar from April through November.
