Hello everyone, I was the sucker who picked up this 1993 GPW (click on the link for some laughs) with 92k miles that no one else wanted. Just look at how many nice folks stopped by to offer their condolences to the car and chastise the previous owner. I probably shouldn't have bought it, but unfortunately I was young, naive, poor, desperate, and deeply infatuated with this car. And yes, I did get a pretty decent discount from asking price considering it's "ruined" and all 
For a good while, I debated whether to start a thread to document my build, partly because I felt intimidated by the tremendous amount of effort, creativity, craftsmanship, and money in many other build threads that would make anything I do here seem trivial in comparison. But then I came across that Facebook thread and felt the need to prove to the good people of the internet – and most importantly, myself – that the car could be restored with a reasonable budget and some elbow grease.
You can read all about how I found and bought the car here. If you’re not interested then we can skip to the part where you’re just a heartless bastard. Just kidding. But I’ve been told that it’s worth a read. In all seriousness, this NSX is my first honest-to-god project car. I’ve put on some minor mods on my daily driver (Scion FRS/Toyota 86) but have never worked on a car that had things broken, let alone “ruined.” One main reason that I specifically looked for a fixer-upper – besides being poor – is to motivate myself to learn everything because I’m only slightly better than Jon Snow when it comes to actually working on cars. So let’s get down to business!
The first thing I did after I bought the car was to drive the hell out it. I took it from LA to San Diego and back (sat through LA traffic while civics & integras rev’d at me), then brought it to meets & drives with local owners after getting it shipped to Michigan (and heard some say “hey that’s a weird-looking corvette!”), and then drove it some more to work every chance I had, sometimes without the bumper, and even sometimes in the pouring rain. (But rest assured, never without bumper and in rain simultaneously)
Why yes, those ARE mismatched wheels at every corner....also with mismatched balding tires!
After about 1000 miles within a month, I had a pretty good grasp on majority of its problems, and I still loved everything about it despite all its flaws. Some say that’s how you know it’s true love. I also took off lots of pieces to discover what exactly was missing from the car….and I was definitely not disappointed by what I found or didn't find. In fact, I’m thoroughly impressed by the length PO went through to remove things from the car for the sake of “weight reduction”…or to pay for his giant money pit. Out of respect for the PO, I will assume it’s both. So here's the lowdown:
The Missing Pieces
The "Fun" Projects
The Saving Grace
My initial goal is to replace as many missing components as possible and restore almost all of the car’s original functions for under $3500. That’s right, for the princely sum of 12,069 Twinkies or a mediocre breast augmentation surgery, I will attempt to un-ruin this car. In order to stay under budget, I plan to scour the internet for used replacement parts, refurbish all existing broken parts, and learn to do whatever I can myself to maximize the project's overall cost-effectiveness. Essentially this is the opposite of a money-is-no-object philosophy, if there is such a thing. The ultimate vision is to achieve a simple and clean NA1 NSX R-inspired build with OEM+ upgrades while spending as little as possible. If you’re thinking: “this will end badly”...you are probably right! But feel free to grab some popcorn.
- - - Updated - - -
Here’s a list of skills I’m looking forward to learn from this project. Like I mentioned, I’m a full-time noob so there will be some very basic things on this list. I hope to expand each topic into a project milestone as well as a mini-DIY guide for folks who are also interested in learning along
Car-related topics
Misc topics
- - - Updated - - -
I’m going to use this space to keep track of my budget -> $3500 to restore or bust! (Will need to grow slightly to accommodate for completing the SRS system)
Status as of 9/12/2016 - $3369.48 spent | $130.52 remaining
Also wanted to keep a map of all the nice people who helped me source parts to for this restoration project and to visualize how the NSX community transcends international boundaries
- - - Updated - - -
Mod List
Exterior
For a good while, I debated whether to start a thread to document my build, partly because I felt intimidated by the tremendous amount of effort, creativity, craftsmanship, and money in many other build threads that would make anything I do here seem trivial in comparison. But then I came across that Facebook thread and felt the need to prove to the good people of the internet – and most importantly, myself – that the car could be restored with a reasonable budget and some elbow grease.
You can read all about how I found and bought the car here. If you’re not interested then we can skip to the part where you’re just a heartless bastard. Just kidding. But I’ve been told that it’s worth a read. In all seriousness, this NSX is my first honest-to-god project car. I’ve put on some minor mods on my daily driver (Scion FRS/Toyota 86) but have never worked on a car that had things broken, let alone “ruined.” One main reason that I specifically looked for a fixer-upper – besides being poor – is to motivate myself to learn everything because I’m only slightly better than Jon Snow when it comes to actually working on cars. So let’s get down to business!
The first thing I did after I bought the car was to drive the hell out it. I took it from LA to San Diego and back (sat through LA traffic while civics & integras rev’d at me), then brought it to meets & drives with local owners after getting it shipped to Michigan (and heard some say “hey that’s a weird-looking corvette!”), and then drove it some more to work every chance I had, sometimes without the bumper, and even sometimes in the pouring rain. (But rest assured, never without bumper and in rain simultaneously)
Why yes, those ARE mismatched wheels at every corner....also with mismatched balding tires!
After about 1000 miles within a month, I had a pretty good grasp on majority of its problems, and I still loved everything about it despite all its flaws. Some say that’s how you know it’s true love. I also took off lots of pieces to discover what exactly was missing from the car….and I was definitely not disappointed by what I found or didn't find. In fact, I’m thoroughly impressed by the length PO went through to remove things from the car for the sake of “weight reduction”…or to pay for his giant money pit. Out of respect for the PO, I will assume it’s both. So here's the lowdown:
The Missing Pieces
- [Found] OEM Seats
- [Found] Driver side carpet
- [Found] Driver-side AC condenser
- [To Upgrade] Radio headunit and speakers
- [Found] Traction Control Module / [Found] TCU switch
- [Found] Cruise control regulator & bracket, [WTB] actuator cable, and [WTB] control module
- [Found] SRS module, [Found] driver airbag, [Found] passenger airbag
- [Found] Rear upper bulkhead trim
- [Found] Headliner / [Found] A-pillar trim / [Found] B-pillar trim [Found] sun visors / [Found] dome light
- [To Upgrade] Center Bulkhead Insulator
- [Found] Front & [Found] Rear Crash beams (had to remove bumpers to find this one. Seriously?)
- [Found] Rear bumper shock absorbers
- [Found] OEM airbox / resonator tube
- [Found] Engine cover / [Found] Tail lamp bezels
- [To Upgrade] Door handle NSX emblems (for that 0.02 oz of weight reduction, of course)
- [Found] OEM catalytic converters / [Found] emission control box / [WTB] Charcoal Canister (it’s not like CA requires smog checks, right?)
- [Upgraded] OEM Wheels
- [Found] Windshield wipers
- [Replaced] Remote control key fob
- [Found] Interior Sash Covers
- [Making my own] Maintenance records
- And more...
The "Fun" Projects
- [Fixed] Second to third gear synchro grind above certain rpm
- Oil seeping from VTEC solenoids, camshaft covers, and oil pan
- One of the head cover bolts is snapped off & has small oil leak around it
- [Fixed] Car occasionally has trouble hot starting
- [Replaced] Aftermarket quick release hub had so much free play that people thought the steering wheel was going to fall off
- Front bumper needs crack repaired (this one was my fault)
- Front fenders are rolled and buckled/cracked *cringe*
- [Replaced] Front and rear wheel well liner are cut up & destroyed from stance
- [Replaced] Climate control unit doesn’t even turn on
- Both windows are very slow to roll up
- [Replaced] Washer fluid pump motor doesn’t work
- [Replaced] Front turn signals lens were replaced with frosted plastic and was not sealed properly
- JDM tail lamps were opened and not re-sealed properly
- Certain interior trim pieces have lots of cracks & broken tabs and needs to be reupholstered
- Door sill garnish / glove box door / dual center console lid needs to be reupholstered
- Red stitching was dirty / fading and needs to be redone
- Black glossy vinyl on roof needs replacement
- [Replaced] Needs new seats that are not fat people filters
- [Replaced] Needs new wheels and alignment
- Needs a timing belt / water pump change soon
- And more....
The Saving Grace
- Car has clean title (although it was stolen & recovered in Florida before. Stay classy, Florida)
- Car is actually Grand Prix White from the factory
- Car runs with no glaring issues…yet
- I wish there were more...
My initial goal is to replace as many missing components as possible and restore almost all of the car’s original functions for under $3500. That’s right, for the princely sum of 12,069 Twinkies or a mediocre breast augmentation surgery, I will attempt to un-ruin this car. In order to stay under budget, I plan to scour the internet for used replacement parts, refurbish all existing broken parts, and learn to do whatever I can myself to maximize the project's overall cost-effectiveness. Essentially this is the opposite of a money-is-no-object philosophy, if there is such a thing. The ultimate vision is to achieve a simple and clean NA1 NSX R-inspired build with OEM+ upgrades while spending as little as possible. If you’re thinking: “this will end badly”...you are probably right! But feel free to grab some popcorn.
- - - Updated - - -
Here’s a list of skills I’m looking forward to learn from this project. Like I mentioned, I’m a full-time noob so there will be some very basic things on this list. I hope to expand each topic into a project milestone as well as a mini-DIY guide for folks who are also interested in learning along
Car-related topics
- How to properly set the NSX on jackstands
- How to change the engine oil / transmission fluid
- How to reupholster car seats (coming)
- How to modify head/tail lamps
- How to repair and paint a cracked bumper
- How to do a complete paint correction
- How to refinish multi-piece rims
- How to install an automotive audio system
- How to weld and repair aluminum fenders (a bit ambitious but I can try)
- How to repair climate control unit (
- How to refill AC refrigerant
- How to fix slow window rollup
- How to apply vinyl roof wrap
Misc topics
- How to buy parts from Yahoo! Japan Auction
- How to arrange auto transport across country
- - - Updated - - -
I’m going to use this space to keep track of my budget -> $3500 to restore or bust! (Will need to grow slightly to accommodate for completing the SRS system)
Status as of 9/12/2016 - $3369.48 spent | $130.52 remaining
Also wanted to keep a map of all the nice people who helped me source parts to for this restoration project and to visualize how the NSX community transcends international boundaries
- - - Updated - - -
Mod List
Exterior
- LED headlights
- NA1 NSX-R front emblem
- JDM tail lights w/ NSX-R centerpiece
- Painted front & rear sidemarkers
- JDM clear sidemarkers
- Seibon NSX-R style CF rear spoiler
- Interior Innovations red perforated leather seat covers
- NSX-R side gauges w/ yellow needles
- BBS LMs (17x7.5 +38 F & 18x9 +42 R) reverse mounted with red BBS McGard lug nuts
- KW V3 Coilovers with OEM tophats
- Innovations solid engine mounts
- Aftermarket headers
- Custom exhaust
- Oil pan baffle
- 3M Crystalline Tint
- Engine oil changed with Mobil 1 Advanced Synthetic 10W-30 @ 93,400 miles
- Transmission fluid changed with Honda MTF @ 93,400 miles
Attachments
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I guess having your Nsx look like a 4 wheel drive suv with 2 different sized and different colored seats is cool though. As long as it is a Grand Prix white right? I am sure you will save her good.
