Tyson Ballou

I am planning on purchasing a high mileage used nsx... I was wondering if anyone has had any experiences with building up a nsx motor. I havent been able to find anyone with a resleeved..nsx with high compression pistons. Does anyone know if is possible to resleeve the motor to become a 4.0L , although finding pistons for it might be hard. Basically I would like to read some information on a built up nsx motor, the costs.. reliablity.. source for labor etc.. I want to know how feasible it is.. and whether is going to cost a arm or a leg. This will help play a big factor in deciding to purchase a high mileage nsx with hope for a rebuilt.. or just save up more money to buy a newer one. I have seen some high mileage ones go for 30k. I imagine a built all motor nsx would kick some ***.. haha Thanks for all your help...

Ponyboy

I know of a guy on http://www.nsxsc.com that had his high mileage NSX motor rebuilt for about 4K. That was kept at stock though. I'd think building one up NA is going to take some serious bucks. Comptech has cam, valve springs, etc. kit may help. I'd talk to Realtime Racing and see what they did to get their WC Championship w/ their NA motor'd NSX. From what I hear though, they had to rebuild the motor after every race.

Are you totally against forced induction? It'll be a lot cheaper to get your HP that way.

nsxxtreme

Check NSXPrime Faq they should have all the info you desire. Piston will cost a lot, when you buy them from Acura you get the piston and rod because of the way they are put together. From what I hear they won't just sell one, you have to buy all 6 $3600.00. If you are just trying to get as much HP out of an older one as a new one just buy a header and exhaust. This will add about 20hp. For $5600.00 you could buy a SC that will give you 120hp at the wheels, I think this option is your best value.

nsxtcjr

No, it is not possible.

grippgoat

The JGTC NSXes run 3.5L. I don't know how they arrive at that. If honda will bore to 3.2 from the factory, you could probably go a little farther than that if done right. I think Toda builds the JGTC motors.

Comptech is probably the most experienced shop in the US with building up the NSX motor.

Whatever you do, it will cost an arm AND a leg.

Lastly.... When you say "high miles" what are you talking about? The NSX motor is really, really solid. There may really be no reason to rebuild a high-mileage motor.

-Mike

nsxtcjr

No, you can't. Honda used their latest FRM metallurgical technology to bore the 3.0-liter engine (from 90 mm to 93 mm) to get it to 3.2 liters. The cylinder bore surfaces are cast with a .5 mm layer of fibers in the alloy to maximize the size of the bore within the same size block. There's no way to bore the block out without making the space between the cylinders too thin.

You can read more about this technology in the NSX FAQ here.



[Modified by nsxtcjr, 4:42 PM 2/15/2002]

grippgoat

You can always do more, if you're willing to spend the money. Honda's also got extremely rigorous reliability standards. Building a motor is always a trade-off.

-Mike

Tyson Ballou

Thank you everyone for the great replies.. and for the article on the 97 nsx drive train.. honda seemded to have done alot, to the newer nsx.. a option might be to swap in the 97 drivetrain.. if i dont rebuild it.. but that is gonna wind up being really costly as well... in terms of high miles i mean 100k plus.. and i usally drive alot, so that is why im thinking of methods and options such as a rebuild. I am not against boost, but adding boost to a 100k motor seems really risky.. I would love for the increase in power.. but I have to solve the problem from the higher mileage motor.. also would a 97 plus japanese spec Nsx type R motor be a straight swap for a 90-91 nsx? thanks for the help guys.. and if u can find the info on the speedvision nsx's that would be great! Once again.. THANKS!!

Ponyboy

Maybe get an early model with high mileage, add FI boost, and if it's showing signs of busting then get the motor rebuilt.

I'd think that an NSX R swap would be pretty easy. . .save for the fact that you've got to be a registered owner to even be allowed to buy it and then give up your firstborn and your left nut as payment.

Why don't you look up Realtime Racing (Speedvision WC NSX)at let us know what you find out?

nsxtcjr

Not much of an option. They're hard to find used, and new they list around $18K for the engine, plus another $7K for the six-speed. Throw in labor and even after any discounts you'd be a lot better off just buying a used '97, which you can get for $53-55K.

It sounds to me like you're fixated on getting a car with 100K+ miles. Don't - higher-mileage cars are only going to save you a few thousand dollars, and they're really not worth it for such a small difference.

That's a funny question, since the NSX Type R was only available 1993-1995 and there's no such thing as a 1990 NSX (at least not in North America).

The '93-95 NSX-R motor was a blueprinted version of the regular NSX motor available in the United States, and has less power than the 3.2-liter engine available since 1997. If you're looking for a 3.2-liter engine, they're the same for all markets, so there's no such thing as a "Japanese spec" engine.

Yes, you can swap a 3.2-liter engine into a '91-96 NSX but (as noted above) it's not cost-effective to do so.

Tyson Ballou

any other opinions? i was hoping to get a wrecked nsx engine from a japanese salvage yard.. hoping that the price would reflect the minimal demand for the motor..

nsxtcjr

"minimal demand"???





[Modified by nsxtcjr, 10:29 PM 2/20/2002]

Tyson Ballou

oops , minimal compared to b series motors for civic's , I dont see that much people with a nsx, and i can't really imagine another cost effective..chassis for the nsx drive train.. I could be wrong