NSX in garage, snow on ground, no money to spend...what's a guy to do?

[Ruined 2]

So I'm waiting for nice weather, I'm broke because I pretty much used up all of my expendable cash and credit to get this car, and I've got all kinds of time to work on it. What's a guy to do?

Recovered all the dirty, beige grille covers with black grille cloth I had laying around...$0.00

Wire in a power antenna switch I had laying around so I can stop taking out low flying aircraft...$0.00

Wax and buff her until my arms are numb with wax I already had (can't see the lint in person, I swear)...$0.00

 

[Ruined 2]

Apply badge given to me by a friend for Christmas a la Chevy Venture (couldn't bring myself to put it on the body anywhere)...$0.00

Make a license plate bracket out of stuff I already had laying around, mostly out of boredom...$0.00

 

[Ruined 2]

So that's it. I think I may polish the spare now, if I get feeling back in my arms soon. Luckily elbow grease and nothing better to do don't cost anything.

:smile:

 

[VampNSXX]

you could always clean the bottom of the car:smile:

 

[zahntech]

WoW I haven't seen a Nine Inch Nails sticker on a car since 1992!!

your car looks A LOT like mine....black and sitting in a garage:wink:

 

[PaulL]

Looks good.
Did you follow the existing threads to do the speaker grill mod?
I'd like to do that, too.

Here's something else to do ... do your own alignment.
Build a string box and you can get a better alignment than any shop will usually do.

Have you polished the glass yet?

How about condition the leather?

Flush & bleed the brake fluid?

Polish your wheels?

 

[john@johnhudakracing]

Reconditioning parts (both for aestetics and function) and doing inspections/assembly work could well keep you busy through-out the winter if you're feeling hands-on.

If you fancy working with composites, there is never a shortage of DIY project ideas that are far more time consuming than a function of $$.

You further mentioned you had recently purchased it, so maintenance may be in order as well.

 

[Ruined 2]

WoW I haven't seen a Nine Inch Nails sticker on a car since 1992!!

your car looks A LOT like mine....black and sitting in a garage:wink:

Reznor is god :biggrin: . I've been a maniacal fan since '89 and I still dig his music. It's just one of those things that's been on almost all of my cars. And it's always looked good on the black ones. :smile:

 

[Ruined 2]

Looks good.
Did you follow the existing threads to do the speaker grill mod?
I'd like to do that, too.

Here's something else to do ... do your own alignment.
Build a string box and you can get a better alignment than any shop will usually do.

Have you polished the glass yet?

How about condition the leather?

Flush & bleed the brake fluid?

Polish your wheels?

I work at a stereo shop part time (full time previously and for about 15 years now total) so I've done similar work. I did use the how-to's to get the door panels off without trial and error damage. I had never worked on an NSX until my own.

The car was aligned right before I bought it and seems spot-on.

Glass is in great shape. Had to replace the rearview mirror though. It was clouded . I haven't seen that on anything but American cars a lot older.

I went over the leather with Griot's products the day after I brought her home :smile: .

Brake fluid flush is an excellent idea.:wink:

The wheels are in need of professional help. They look passable, but two of them have slight clearcoat issues. I plan on putting a lot of miles on her this summer, so next winter will be a refinish or new aftermarket if I can decide on what I want and then afford them.

 

[Ruined 2]

you could always clean the bottom of the car:smile:

Already started :smile: . Previous owner neglected it a bit underneath.

 

[Ruined 2]

Reconditioning parts (both for aestetics and function) and doing inspections/assembly work could well keep you busy through-out the winter if you're feeling hands-on.

If you fancy working with composites, there is never a shortage of DIY project ideas that are far more time consuming than a function of $$.

You further mentioned you had recently purchased it, so maintenance may be in order as well.

I'm definitely hands-on. I've found and fixed/adjusted a lot of little things that most people wouldn't notice already and plan to keep looking until I'm satisfied. Luckily the car doesn't need anything major, just more TLC that the last guy gave her. She's really in excellent shape overall.

Composites? Yikes. Sounds scary. I'm just a simple western PA boy :biggrin: .

 

[fkong777]

Here's something else to do ... do your own alignment.
Build a string box and you can get a better alignment than any shop will usually do.

LOL.. I did that before.. on my is300 tho. Alignment shop couldnt get the rear alignment right..Made the car handle like crap. the guy was just unknowledagble. No way I was going to let my Tein coilover-ed IS300 handle like crap even for a day.. I bust out the fishing lines and measured away with a t-squares.. Anyways it worked out. My father in-law thought I was crazy.. LOL.

RE: Projects.
Paint brake caliper?
Remove OEM intake duct?
LED tail light conversion? oh wait that take about $200 in parts.

 

[Ruined 2]

RE: Projects.
Paint brake caliper?
Remove OEM intake duct?
LED tail light conversion? oh wait that take about $200 in parts.

Calipers are done :smile: .

What's involved and what are the benefits of the intake duct removal?

And I like the way the ass-end looks now. One of the reasons my search for one of these cars didn't include '02 and up. Just personal preference. :smile:

 

[Osiris_x11]

detail-savy...

If I still lived in WPenn, I'd drop-off my NSX!?! :biggrin:

With that much idle time, desire, know-how, and diligence... I'd map out 2'x2' areas on the NSX and micro-detail them using any/every product, technique, protocol, or method I have at my disposal. By this, I mean everything upto the wax/buffing finale`. You can transform you NSX into a concours specimen!

Regarding "refinishing" blemished/curbed wheels... if you own a dremel or rotary tool w/ accessories, wet-sandpaper/blocks, and abrasives, I'd give that a go before I'd spend any money on having them professionally refinished. There are many high-temp, durable spray wheel finishes/enamels and clear-coats (ie. Dupli-color) that work excellent, provided you have the time and patience, as well as skill.

 

[Ruined 2]

Re: detail-savy...

If I still lived in WPenn, I'd drop-off my NSX!?! :biggrin:

With that much idle time, desire, know-how, and diligence... I'd map out 2'x2' areas on the NSX and micro-detail them using any/every product, technique, protocol, or method I have at my disposal. By this, I mean everything upto the wax/buffing finale`. You can transform you NSX into a concours specimen!

Regarding "refinishing" blemished/curbed wheels... if you own a dremel or rotary tool w/ accessories, wet-sandpaper/blocks, and abrasives, I'd give that a go before I'd spend any money on having them professionally refinished. There are many high-temp, durable spray wheel finishes/enamels and clear-coats (ie. Dupli-color) that work excellent, provided you have the time and patience, as well as skill.

Don't worry, I'm sure I'll attack it several more times detail-wise before the sun shines and the salt washes away :smile: .

The wheels aren't bad at all. You have to get close enough to them to read the writing on the tires. Or if they're off the car facing up at the light you can see the imperfections pretty clearly. Kinda like looking in a mirror in a over-flouresced room and seeing every pimple and scar you've had since birth :biggrin: . The biggest issue is some clear coat flaking off of the very outside rim of the wheels, some worse than others. It's just enough to drive me nuts. I'm just not sure if I want to risk screwing them up worse. Time and patience I got. Skill too, but that would be the only category with limitations :smile: .

 

[The Kid]

Dude,

I think this thread was created for me. 2 mortagage payments (as a wait for what may be the longest closing ever), shitty past month at work (less income), 2 feet of snow, and all my money goes towards fixing up my new house (furniture, wood floors, garage, hot tub, etc.etc) . Did I mention Im broke?

Thanks god I got my Tax return today! I can now eat food other than Ramen noodles and 47 cent burritos:biggrin:

 

[scorp965]

Thanks god I got my Tax return today! I can now eat food other than Ramen noodles and 47 cent burritos:biggrin:

Bleh, thanks for reminding me I owe "the man" $5k :frown: