This is the build diary for my 92 DA9 H4 car. I envision this moving to a blog-site at some point, but not until i figure out some important details (like what i'm naming this tub of crap and find a real place to work on it) and plus i think this is a good place to post up some of (difficult) experiences that i'm sure to have in building this thing. It's also a place for you guys to help me with certain questions i have regarding the DA/integra chassis. I've been a prelude guy for most of my car enthusiast life, and like the GSR, the prelude is the redheaded stepchild of the honda family.

Mission Statement: To build a competitive, reliable, and most of all SAFE, NASA HC legal race car.

(SCCA/IT legality is something i haven't decided on, but will have to by the time i get the cage done.)

Anyway, the donor car was purchased in october of this year, found on craigslist for the paltry sum of $1400. Upon going to inspect the car at the seller's place of employment, i was pleasantly surprised by the outward appearance of the car. black paint with a few blemishes (though most of them, unnoticeable from a distance--certainly ok for a track *****/race car), ebay lowering springs with stock shocks (though, the springs appear to be that progress baby blue under the 3mm layer of cv joint grease.), stock exhaust with a ghettofab tip welded on, and decent condition 14" GS rims. The interior, however, wasn't very pretty. A half-*** del sol seat install, no radio, AC vents beat up, and that ugly stench of old car. I wasn't so concerned though, since everything except the dash and the steering wheel was going to be thrown away or sold, so it seemed to be the perfect donor car.

The test drive was a little sketchy--vibrations at idle were jarring, and indicated shoddy motor mounts--which is understandable for a 14 year old car, especially one owned by your typical ricer (or a few of them. all working together to do stupid **** to the car). The suspension was creaky but the shocks seemed to be ok. The owner warned me of a coolant leak at the back of the block, one that prevented me from getting any major mileage on the test drive. The shifting felt a little vague, but there were no grinds as i rowed through the gears. Not that it matters since the y1 needs to be replaced with a USDM YS1 or S1 at some point.

In a moment of stupidity that always seems to visit me during my bigger decision making processes, i decided that i would buy the car--even without a proper workshop to store and work on it, and barely enough money to afford the restoration of the vehicle to "road-worthy" (let alone track worthy) status.

In spite of the coolant leak, the car made it back to my house (which was only a few miles away) and was parked on the street. the tags are still good for a little while longer, and i gave it a good wash and wax. I didn't get around to really doing anything with it for a couple of weeks.

Some introductory factoids:
Chassis: 92 DA9 GS 3dr Black
Engine: B18a1 w/ 198,320 miles
Transmission: Y1 open diff
brakes: unknown pads w/ shitty slotted x-drills up front and stock rotors in back

Planned Modifications:
Engine: R&R pistons and rings, bore cylinders 1mm, raise CR by .5 (per HC rules), SMSP or Comptech race header, custom race exhaust, ebay intake, prothane motor mount inserts, Koyo or Fluidyne radiator.

Transmission: YS1 or S1 USDM tranny with OEM individual gear ratios (per HC rules) w/ ITR 4.7 FD and either an ITR diff or Mugen/Kaaz diff.

Suspension: Ground Controls (700# Front/900# Rear), SPSS3 Koni Race shocks, ITR rear sway (or a custom bar), camber kits undecided.

Safety: NASA/SCCA legal 6pt roll cage, Willans 6pt harnesses, Cobra Evolution Seat, Isaac H&N restraint, Fire suppression system undecided.

Wheels and Tires: any 15x7 Rota or cheap equivalent w/ 205/50/15 R-comps. (haven't decided which tires the wallet will let me run but, it could be hoosier, or it could be toyo or anything in between.)

Brakes: Stock calipers and OEM spec rotors (per hc rules), Cobalt Spec VR pads (front), cobalt Spec C's or GT sports rear. Motul RBF600 fluid, stock brake lines.

Alot of what i can do to the car is regulated by the class rules, which doesn't allow for things like big cams or lightweight batteries, which is a good thing since i already can't afford what i've planned to do .

 

Job #1: Replace the oil pan gasket. The previous owner had told me of a slow leak in the oil pan, either from the plug hole or gasket, so i trekked to thomas acura for a new gasket, plug and crush washer.

Advice? Never buy **** from the Acura dealer. I mean, ideally you'll buy everything online and pay much less, but in a pinch--find the honda-part # and hope your local honda dealer stocks the part. Paid $37 for the gasket, a couple of bucks for the plug, and $6 a quart for honda MTF! Picked up some castrol GTX from kragen on the way home, and pulled the oil pan. (The underside of this car looks like it's been french kissed by a greasy french hooker. b/w a CV boot explosion, the oil leak, the coolant leak, and all kinds of muck, being under the car sucks.)

Some engine degreaser and some steel wool got the pan cleaned up, and the new plug seemed to thread better than the old one so i deduced that the leak was a gasket only condition. I neglected to pick up a tube of honda-bond or RTV silicone gasket, and i also forgot that i should have applied some, so the gasket leaks and needs to be redone. Smooth move, exlax. Anyway, tooling around down there with the exhaust and some of the other stuff must have fucked something up, because by the time i had finished the job and started the car to move it out of the garage, i was greeted by that familiar sinking yellow feeling. CEL, O2 sensor, which led to job #2.

 

Job #2: Fixing the O2 sensor

Upon jacking up the car and getting underneath it, i inspected the O2 sensor wiring, which must have been the single-shittiest piece of car handiwork that i've ever seen. I mean, i've done some half ***, stupid **** to cars in my life, especially in a hurry, but looking at this wiring job made me cringe.

Apparently the OEM o2 sensor had gone bye-bye a long time ago, and this one was wired in as a replacement. Considering the cost of OEM o2 sensors, it wasn't a bad idea. It was the execution of the idea that deserved my fury.

The guys spliced the wires (and they made such unexplainable cuts to the wire jacket and left it hard to resplice) by twisting the wires together (like you would your hair, if you were bored) and electric taping them "secure." I had to fix this and whipped out the trust soldering gun and solder, only to find that soldering upside down and without alot of room to use my arms and hands isn't an easy job. last thing i need is a drop of molten solder in my eye.

Still, given the conditions (and remember being underneath the car is a little like being in a womb of some kind--sticky, greasy, and warm) i got the wires properly soldered and heatshrinked, and the CEL went away. Might be the first time a CEL has gone away that easy...

 

have fun with your buildup....from one DA owner to another.