Thanks guys, I realize it's going to be almost impossible to get any money back out of the seller but it's worth a shot. I'm going to look into having evans tuning rebuild the motor. On the up-side I have a little bit of updates that I will try to get up here soon. One way or another it will get there!
A new lease on life. Saving a trashed NSX JH4NA1150MT002868
- Thread starter DanIsGo
- Start date
Really sorry to hear this. But, that is the risk you run with low-priced NSX's. Depending on location, I would stongly recommend shipping the engine to Science of Speed or Driving Ambition for a rebuild. They will treat you fairly and few in the U.S. know the C30A better than these two. Those compression numbers are bad- could mean blown head gaskets, bent valves, warped heads or all of the above. Look at it this way- if a full rebuild is needed, this may be an opportunity to do some big mods. 3.5L stroker?
Kudos on an awesome collection through the years, this one definitely checks off a major box in Honda ownership.
Shame that there were issues with the motor, but it's just a motor and can be fixed... There's not a hole in the block or anything of that nature... Take your time, it's a rebuild.
Shame that there were issues with the motor, but it's just a motor and can be fixed... There's not a hole in the block or anything of that nature... Take your time, it's a rebuild.
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Well here are the little bit of updates that I have:
So I'm not a fan of tint and the one window it was peeling off anyways. I still have to get the glue off, but I think it looks much better.
I removed the cracked front bumper with lip falling off and replaced with one that I got off of ebay for a pretty good deal. It's a little scratched up, but all in one piece and able to be refinished. Also I reattached to lip correctly. What's crazy is when I was cleaning the bottom half of the old front bumper I found a live black widow inside of it!
upon taking off the front bumper I found these issues with the frame, front looking at the rails it doesn't look like it was too bad. The part where it is separated something hit and bent the metal bracket that caused the spot welds to break. I will be getting it on a frame rack to make sure the frame is straight and then I'll have to spot welds welded back together.
- - - Updated - - -
here is a picture of the bad cylinder of the compression test along with a couple of the spark plugs. somehow some moisture and sediment got down in the one cylinder, that is the cylinder that had the bad coil and misfire but not the cylinder with the lowest compression.
Today I got the dash cleaned up and leather conditioner put on it since it's going to be sitting outside for a little while.
Then I started taking off everything I could in the engine bay so that I could save some time before attempting to drop the motor and trans
Interior taken apart so I could push the wiring through the firewall
and my wall of parts along with a picture of my rear tires, it's just cool seeing tires this wide going on the back of a Honda
also the guy had some goofy led's wire into the rear vents, obviously I ripped them right out but I still have to repair the wiring
So I'm not a fan of tint and the one window it was peeling off anyways. I still have to get the glue off, but I think it looks much better.
I removed the cracked front bumper with lip falling off and replaced with one that I got off of ebay for a pretty good deal. It's a little scratched up, but all in one piece and able to be refinished. Also I reattached to lip correctly. What's crazy is when I was cleaning the bottom half of the old front bumper I found a live black widow inside of it!
upon taking off the front bumper I found these issues with the frame, front looking at the rails it doesn't look like it was too bad. The part where it is separated something hit and bent the metal bracket that caused the spot welds to break. I will be getting it on a frame rack to make sure the frame is straight and then I'll have to spot welds welded back together.
- - - Updated - - -
here is a picture of the bad cylinder of the compression test along with a couple of the spark plugs. somehow some moisture and sediment got down in the one cylinder, that is the cylinder that had the bad coil and misfire but not the cylinder with the lowest compression.
Today I got the dash cleaned up and leather conditioner put on it since it's going to be sitting outside for a little while.
Then I started taking off everything I could in the engine bay so that I could save some time before attempting to drop the motor and trans
Interior taken apart so I could push the wiring through the firewall
and my wall of parts along with a picture of my rear tires, it's just cool seeing tires this wide going on the back of a Honda
also the guy had some goofy led's wire into the rear vents, obviously I ripped them right out but I still have to repair the wiring
shawn110975
Suspended
you will do fine, get the thing back to OEM. you will make her perfect again and then you will have a personal connection with the car and never sell it.
Awesome. I wish I had your energy !
Sorry to hear you're already having to dump a lot of money into it but like others have mentioned, you'll become one with the car and really enjoy it once she's back on the road.
The grey DC2 looks familiar. Do you happen to live in the Atlanta area?
The grey DC2 looks familiar. Do you happen to live in the Atlanta area?
Thanks guys I am dying to get it at least drivable right now, and I'm sure once it's where I want it there will be no prying it out of my hands. The DC2 has been totaled for a few years I eventually sold it to my brother who got in an accident and it has never seen Georgia. I'm in the York, PA area but the NSX was actually bought from the Atlanta area.
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Nice... Another PA guy...
Great question. I'd reach out to Shad at DA and Chris at SOS to see what they might offer you but the shipping is going to eat into any profit there. Maybe some of the east coasters might be able to give you a line on someone more local that might be able to work with you without sending that engine half way around the world. Best of luck and thanks for saving another NSX.
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shawn110975
Suspended
if you do buy from an ebay special make sure it not from an Automatic NSX, the engine is different. I saw one on there for about 2800 or so then I saw the fine print was from an AUTO i said ohhhh thats why so cheap.
and make sure you get the correct year. as they changed the exhaust bolts after the cats to a 2 hole spring loaded bolt vs the 3 non spring on older years.
if you have questions PM me if you need parts PM me I have everything at great used prices LOL
goodluck keep up the pics.
and make sure you get the correct year. as they changed the exhaust bolts after the cats to a 2 hole spring loaded bolt vs the 3 non spring on older years.
if you have questions PM me if you need parts PM me I have everything at great used prices LOL
goodluck keep up the pics.
So I got a few things done this past week. I got the new/used ignition and steering column keyed to match the doors and got that installed. While doing that I found more jerry rigged stuff, such as carpet on the bottom steering column bracket as a filler to keep it tight. This crap is amazing me haha. I managed to get the engine and transmission pulled as well. There were so many bolts just loose or missing I can only imagine how this thing ever drove. The good thing is from the outside nothing is visibly broken on the transmission, although only half a quart of fluid came out when I drained it. So I'm sure the transmission will need rebuilt.
The ignition column before
during
The carpet haha
all done
on the lift ready for the engine to be dropped
Jack stands set in place
I just pulled the entire rear subframe I was actually pretty surprised how simple it was
separated from the subframe
more shenanigans, cv boots attached with zip ties. I took this one apart and found broken pieces of metal inside. I just ordered a used one off of ebay.
The ignition column before
during
The carpet haha
all done
on the lift ready for the engine to be dropped
Jack stands set in place
I just pulled the entire rear subframe I was actually pretty surprised how simple it was
separated from the subframe
more shenanigans, cv boots attached with zip ties. I took this one apart and found broken pieces of metal inside. I just ordered a used one off of ebay.
Man, that's a shame but at least she's in good hands now. 
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Makes me scared when I start tearing into mine... Damn good luck with everything
shawn110975
Suspended
there was a thread asking why take your NSX to a normal mechanic and not a NSX MECH.... the ZIP TIED boot is an example of why you should NOT take your NSX to anything but a certifed NSX MECH
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That's probably the most atrocious thing I've ever seen... It's like zip tieing the motor together and glueing it in.
This is a great thread, fabulous details and information.
It also illustrates that "bargain" NSXs are sometimes more than you bargain for and you are unlikely to realize that until you start digging in to the car a bit.
I should have brought it
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Don't you have enough NSXs...
The car did come from Georgia, where black widows are a plenty, lol. Expect to possibly find more.
One time, I was working on a buddy's car that had been sitting out for a while, we moved the front bumper and a decent sized cricket jumped into the bumper and got caught in a web, out came a black widow that was larger than the cricket. It was dark outside and we would not have known if not for the poor cricket, lol.
well I'm not 100% decided but after talking to the guy I bought it from he is considering buying it back since he doesn't want to give me any monetary compensation. I really don't want the car to go back to this guy. It's just a lot for me to handle between work and school. If anybody is interested in buying it and thinks it's worth the $18,500 that I paid it's probably yours. If not I'll just hold onto it. I'm just throwing it out there to see what happens.
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