Hey! I'm new to the prelude section. Previous cars were accords, but I wanted something sportier for a change. Scored a decent 92 sr (mid level trim on the canadian market, not sure what they called in the states) for a good price last week. I see the engine stamp is h23a3. I did some research and apparently that is the engine honda used for the euro market. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Picked up a prelude badge and door lock trim bezel and a couple other things at the junkyard for $20 yesterday. Couldn't even find a prelude badge on ebay, so I guess I'm lucky to have found one. Is the door lock trim easy to remove? I see there are some clips and a screw that hold it in. Can I just use a flat head to push down and release the clips holding it in?

I am also wondering about fitment and such with an aluminum radiator. Are all the inlets and outlets in the same spots as oem radiators? Are no name aluminum ebay ones good enough or should I go with a trusted name like mishimoto? I know you get what you pay for in the car game. I'm just curious if anyone has ever had a no name aluminum rad in their car. If so, how did it line up and did it hold up over time?

Thanks

 

I saw a prelude badge on a website that sells honda oem parts for like $16.

 

Factory radiators work just fine, Ive rally'd mine up hill on the local mountain roads and never came close to overheating.

Money would be spent better replacing worn parts. If there isnt much to fix, id then start with the ecu. Then intake manifold, exhaust, suspension, good tires ect... There is no point at throwing money into something that wont help you in any way, unless you like expensive parts that keep you slow.

 

The badge actually cleaned up well for something that old. No I don't like expensive radiators, was just wondering. I was leaning towards oem equivalent anyway.

Taking it in thursday, it needs alot of love I'll say that much. Just glad it's a former honda tech working on it that gives me fair rates. In the meantime I got a beck arnley fuel filter, ngk plugs+wires and a drop in k&n air filter. I can't believe how much more prelude parts costs compared to accords. I can't wait till everything's fixed.

 

Sometimes the cheaper aluminum rads work for awhile, but I had one on my WRX, and 4 years later it has died and started leaking fluid bad, so I replaced it with a Koyo.

 

That's cool you're from Western Canada ^ I'm from BC.

I've never had an aluminum rad before, 4 years seems decent? I just got a oem equivalent the other day. Plus a whole bunch of other parts ready to be installed once the last couple come in. No rice/useless parts, just proper maintenance with the right parts.

 

I would expect an all aluminum rad to last much longer than 4 years, most oem rads last 10+, and they usually will develop leaks at the join of the end caps, where aluminum rads are welded there.

There seem to be quite a few Prelude people active in the vancouver area, but not as many over here, but many people seem to be hiding, and not active on forums.

 

Ah okay, I wouldn't know the life span of one. My denso rad (original I think) in my old '97 accord lasted about 15 years. The car was babied and had low km's when I bought it.

Right on, good to know.

 

Update...Picked up the car on the weekend, it performs much better now! No surprises/shrapnel either when he pulled the vc and oil pan. It's nice having that extra power of a DOHC too. I've always had SOHC Honda's before.

 

Theres a huge prelude scene just across the boarder in Washington and Oregon. I found lots of people use FB and other networking sites for prelude info and meets instead of legit forums. There is a Prelude meet held at the end of every month in Seattle,Wa, and a few big ones each year with camp outs.

I was on here reading for about 1 year or so before I started to chime in on the daily. I bet a lot of people are in hiding or dont speak up much.