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Sept 12, 2021 19:32:42 GMT
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Welcome one and all to the barge build thread, bit of a story behind this car. I acquired it for the tidy sum of £0 and have subsequently spent more money on it than I had wanted or expected, but thats how it goes right? So the story goes that one of my dads friends was chatting to him one day and happened to mention that his dads car, who sadly passed away several years previously, was still sat on his drive and he could do with the space back, and did he know anyone who would want it, or more accurately want to save it. To which, my dad without skipping a beat, or even knowing anything about the car, said that I would take it. He was not wrong. I was looking for my next car, I knew I wanted something JDM, pre 2000 and hopefully a nice engine, and here in my lap drops exactly that, a sad but interesting car and it had a V6, total bonus! Here are some pics of the car as it was found, looking rather sad and covered in moss.        The car had been sat unused on the driveway for at least 5 years, the rear arches has rusted at the bottom of the doors and along the top edge, tyres were flat, covered in moss, needless to say I was an excited boy. So day 1, I turned up with a few basic tools, a new battery, because of course, a gallon of fuel and some dreams, it was go time. I checked the oil, no fuel wash or emulsification, it had coolant, well sod it lets just start it I guess. Put in the new battery, turned the key, it turned over but wouldn't fire, damn. I looked at the keys in my hand, that looks remarkably like an early 2000's curse word aftermarket immobiliser fob, oh dear. I popped the fob open, scraped some gunk off the button and pressed, low and behold there was a flash from the indicators. Turned the key, fired up and idled like a champ. I pumped up the tyres, put it in gear and it moved as well. Everything was binding, of course it was, but it moved. Then I rang the nice local man who saves stranded cars, 'Can I have a tow home mate, its only a couple of miles?', 'Yeh mate, be there in an hour'. Sweet, drove the car off the drive onto the road ready to be collected. The guy turns up, 'Does it move?' Yes of course I've just pulled it onto the road, i'll just drive it onto the drag bar. Nope wouldn't start. So we pushed it, all 1.7 tons, with binding brakes, onto the drag bar. Then at the other end, we pushed it 10 meters up my drive. It took 3 of us but the job was done. I then had another thought, as they pulled away from my house, I pushed the unlock button on the fob again and tried to start it, fired straight up. Oh boy do I hate immobilisers.... Tbc... |
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Sept 12, 2021 19:45:24 GMT
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Now the car was home I knew I had a lot to do to get it MOT worthy, but I was prepared. First job was a proper clean in and out because I just couldn't deal with it.  Then I went down the usual list; Oil and filter Air Filter Spark Plugs Fuel Filter Brake Pads Brake disks were fine actually just rusty, but the whole lot came off, got cleaned and moving again and went back on. Next day I needed to start the car to move it around on the drive, but when I tried there was no power at all. I jumped it and it ran fine, and i know the batters fine, its literally been on the car 3 days, got the multimeter out, yep, alternator is dead. Awesome. Tried to find one online, but was looking at an extortionate amount for a genuine one from ebay and all the usuals, Eurocarparts, Bullseye Parts etc, didn't stock them, so off it came and was whisked away to be reconditioned. £200 later its looking brand spanking new, but more importantly worked.  I went around the rest of the car and couldn't really find anything else that was fail worthy, so sent it off to be MOT'd, and it PASSED! I celebrated by putting on the wheels I scored on facebook marketplace, for £200 with a full set of Dunlop Direzza DZ101's with like 5mm of tread all round. Amazing.  |
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Sept 12, 2021 19:58:29 GMT
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Sept 12, 2021 20:04:30 GMT
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Sept 12, 2021 20:13:06 GMT
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Couple of incidents since then, The radiator cracked on a 35 degree day in sunny south yorkshire so I had to order a replacement, from japan, second hand as I couldn't find anyone at all locally, or even a little further that could or would repair it for me. Second hand radiator was £500, sigh.... Then one day on starting the car there was a bang, and then enormous screeching and this:      Harmonic balancer gave in and shredded all the belts, basically the outer ring on the buffer slipped back over the main body and moved back about an inch into the engine, fouling the belts on the cover, not a good time. Took me about a month to find a replacement and get it shipped, but its on now and all good so far. So there you are up to date, thoughts? |
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60six
Posted a lot
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Posts: 1,679
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Sept 12, 2021 21:02:58 GMT
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The amount of unexpected breaks that happen with a car that has sat 5yrs+ is a real test of perseverance. My 900 had a crazy clutch issue where after clean fluid, you could drive about 100 miles then the clutch would stick in. Turns out the master cylinder rubber seal was breaking down and small pieces of rubber would stop the slave from returning, even under pressure.
I would never of expected a balancer to go - these engines are known to get starship mileages.
after a balancer and a belt, do you think you will be good to go again? Do these engines have timing belts? if so, a new belt and tensioner may be worthwhile, and maybe a brake fluid replacement/new anti freeze, oil change etc.
Really love the car though, and one day I will own one - Had the chance years ago to pickup a MK1 legend for 500 quid but I didn't go for it - really should of.
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Some 9000's, a 900, an RX8 & a beetle
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adam73bgt
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 5,001
Club RR Member Number: 58
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Sept 12, 2021 21:14:44 GMT
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Looks nice, always good to see a Legend getting some love  For parts, check out Rock Auto in the US, cheap prices and pretty quick postage, for your car, look for the Acura RL as that's what they called the 3rd gen Legend over there. Not all of the parts will be the same but most will be |
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79cord
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,617
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Sept 13, 2021 0:38:16 GMT
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Interesting/frightening to see the crank pulley go like that. Makes the composite design with rubber bonding seem ill-advised just for a little vibration dampening..
I wondered why the H22 Prelude pulleys with that design were so scarce, even if some probably replace them upon signs of the slightest rubber cracking.
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Sept 13, 2021 12:18:07 GMT
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after a balancer and a belt, do you think you will be good to go again? Do these engines have timing belts? if so, a new belt and tensioner may be worthwhile, and maybe a brake fluid replacement/new anti freeze, oil change etc. The new balancer is on now and it seems to be fine, I took the inspection cover off for the timing belt and it looked new so must have been done shortly before being stood, I do however have the replacement with tensioner and water pump etc ready to go on. I've struggled to find a garage willing to change it for me, as I simply haven't had the time. Its quite telling nowadays how many garages/mechanics only want to do services and 'simpler' jobs |
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60six
Posted a lot
(╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻
Posts: 1,679
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Sept 17, 2021 9:29:15 GMT
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after a balancer and a belt, do you think you will be good to go again? Do these engines have timing belts? if so, a new belt and tensioner may be worthwhile, and maybe a brake fluid replacement/new anti freeze, oil change etc. The new balancer is on now and it seems to be fine, I took the inspection cover off for the timing belt and it looked new so must have been done shortly before being stood, I do however have the replacement with tensioner and water pump etc ready to go on. I've struggled to find a garage willing to change it for me, as I simply haven't had the time. Its quite telling nowadays how many garages/mechanics only want to do services and 'simpler' jobs I was amazed how many garages didn't want to know when I didn't do maintenance myself - Keep trying and you will find a garage that will help though. At least it doesn't look worn. I need to stop looking at your pics - It's one of the cars I have always loved - Back in the mid 90's I built a fence around a small compound of 20 legends being stored for a honda dealer. Been in admiration of them since then! |
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Some 9000's, a 900, an RX8 & a beetle
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Sept 18, 2021 17:46:25 GMT
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Very cool car and that's got to be a testiment to old Honda's that it passed MOT with minor work
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1972 viva 'Sparky'
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Sept 19, 2021 13:36:51 GMT
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The new balancer is on now and it seems to be fine, I took the inspection cover off for the timing belt and it looked new so must have been done shortly before being stood, I do however have the replacement with tensioner and water pump etc ready to go on. I've struggled to find a garage willing to change it for me, as I simply haven't had the time. Its quite telling nowadays how many garages/mechanics only want to do services and 'simpler' jobs I was amazed how many garages didn't want to know when I didn't do maintenance myself - Keep trying and you will find a garage that will help though. At least it doesn't look worn. I need to stop looking at your pics - It's one of the cars I have always loved - Back in the mid 90's I built a fence around a small compound of 20 legends being stored for a honda dealer. Been in admiration of them since then! As a mechanic by trade i can give you the answer from a trades point of view. Most garages wont fit the cambelt because you are supplieing the parts. If a mechanic fits supplied parts he then agrees that the components are in good order and is then liable for any issues with said components. As there are alot of substandard parts out there its easyier for us in the trade to just turn the work away. We live in the age where everyone is quick to point the finger if things go wrong and the customer gets bits cheaper then a garage who has been operating for a very long time can get them for. Hence why there is little to no motivation to fit supplied parts. I myself would rather turn supplied work away then get burnt between a customer and euro car parts. And i do turn work away frequentley Love the car and well done |
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Sept 19, 2021 13:44:48 GMT
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+1 on ECP. 100% of the parts I've got from them have been defective. 4 out of 4.
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Sept 19, 2021 13:46:50 GMT
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To counter that, people in the trade should do more to get better trade rates from suppliers instead of just buying from them, I get cost +10% from most of my local suppliers so can always get parts much cheaper than the local spanner jockeys.
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