I searched for 4ws. I know the 97-01 Prelude is the 5th Gen, and that in Japan, I hear has a 4ws model. Also heard it may exist in Europe. ANyone know of this? Can you take a USDM Prelude and convert it to 4ws if you got JDM parts from a totaled prelude in Japan?

 

I have a 97 with 4WS . It's not an easy task I think b/c it has 2 sensors on the steering rack (SH has them though), communicates with ABS and ECU (most probably a different ECU) so you'll need all the harness and rear suspension parts ect..

Even if you find all the parts, alignment would be problem since no US technician familiar with it.

 

yep, what VTI said. And more than likely the ecu's immobilizer would be difficult to bypass.

 

I have some pictures of the system from under the car, click the link to see them

http://www.imagestation.com/al...nvite

 

if you ever have the chance, look at a helms with 4ws in it .. it reads from 2 sensors on the rear tires, the vss, (maybe from ecu?) angle sensor in the steering column, ABS, has an independant computer that you'd need to wire everything into to get the proper readings...

a lot can go wrong with 4ws properly installed let alone on that was self installd..not goin to say its impossible but its one hellofatask that takes a lot of research ... a 4ws helms manual for 4gen is probably your best but, i can't imagine the technology would be any different.. could probably get away with 4gen parts to minus the wheel hub for 5bolt which we all know is interchangeable.

 

Thanks everyone for all this input. I know itll be hard, but I know cars and have patience. Looks like I may need 2 helms manuals before I begin a quest for parts. I'm thinking of buying a 99 Lude in the somewhat near future, and this would be a huge mod, but in my opinion, worth it, as 4ws preludes are a dying breed. Plus its pimp as hell.

BTW, Vti, the pics on there, those instructions ain't in english. Any translation?

 

These are from TURKISH manual used by Honda Turkey and I don't have English ones. Your best chance is to check with european honda sites (best chance in English would be http://www.honda.co.uk ) but even though you find one it doesn't cover how it is installed. It covers how it works, aligned, troubleshoting, error codes ect.. but it won't be that helpful I think.
You can ask Honda Turkey for English manual from bilgi@honda-eu.com but I doubt they would provide it to you. (Honda has a factory here building 4 door Civics so it is like asking it to Honda Japan)
Is it so hard to import one from Europe to US since all are left hand drive except UK, so you'll have an original one without all the trouble?

 

Yes, it exists also in Europe, in LHD (continental Europe) and RHD (England).

If you want to find one, try http://www.mobile.de - it is a portal for selling cars.

 

What's the point? 4WS is not that special. If it was actually useful wouldn't more cares have it? what a waste of money unless you live maybe in europe where you have to manoevuer through tight areas at low speeds and parking

 

I have to disagree with you b/c I think it is special. There are other useful things that most cars don't have like 4WD, ESP, brake assist, LSD, ect.. These are all useful but not every car has them.
The answer is COST, like ATTS this system adds 3-4k $ to the price and that is a lot.
Personally I don't like 4WS when parking b/c I drive both "normal" cars and Prelude, and when you try to park like a normal car it is difficult to park.
U turns are perfect with this system and where it is so awsome is high speed turnings and line changes. The back end of the car goes into the curve so no oversteer at all and you feel kind of slide when changing lines.
You should drive one at speeds you don't experience back in your country to judge it, it is not a parking aid, it is perfect for high speed driving too.

I have driven it with the 4WS system off (safe mode= locked in straight) for a few weeks as a result of a problem, so I know how it drives without it and I'm telling you it is not a "waste of money" for sure.
But again, if it comes as stock it's ok, but I would't try to install it on a USDM car b/c it is too complicated.

 

Dude, its not like I'm obsessing, its just a nice feature to have, makes the car a little different. Like all the VTEC ******. Its just VTEC, but like, ya gotta have it! well, its not needed, on the civic EX, it aint noticable except for a sound, whereas the 97 Lude is a HUGE change in noise, and it makes the car badass

I know its just one feature, but its the little features that some people think make up cars, like VTEC, 4ws, AWD, leather seats. SO i'm just sayin, if I could, I'd do it, plus I like workin on cars, and this would be a very cool thing to work with, more involved than your basic engine swap I think. I am willing to try this difficult swap, it CAN be done, and all it takes is research, patience, and will power. Maybe some cash too.

 

I hate to bring back something so old, but I'm wondering if this project was ever done.

Redline96LX: Did your project ever got off the ground? I have a 5th Gen SH, and this would be a nice conversion to make this an ultimate handling Prelude. Might not be good for quarter mile race due to the added wegith, but I'll be able to challenge anyone on a quarter mile slalom race or something.

 

naw man, never got enough info or the parts needed.

 

i doubt it would ever work out...you basically would be better off finding a whole LHD european car and putting your vin number on it........that should work...

you would just be down one sellable prelude....

 

here are some more pics

 

and some more...

 

There are a lot of parts involved, and a few wires running across the whole chassis.. not an easy operation
Here's mine showing the 4WS in action


Just turning the wheels is always a sure way to attract attention ! People are impressed by the way the rear wheels turn.. they usually don't imagine how much they actually turn.

Euro 5th gens in "VTi" flavor all have the same 4WS as the 4th gens. Note that in Europe we have a 2.0l variant of the 5th gen (F20A4) which has *no* 4WS.

 

the pics don't work...

 

Umm...HI! Why not just get a 4th gen with 4ws.....

 

4th gen is too ugly for my taste. The 5th gen is cooler lookin, and the H22 in that car sounds phenominal, with that VTEC change being SO noticable. Its fun and its the best looking Prelude, as well as one of the best looking sporty coupes EVER made. In conclusion, the 97-01 Lude is just overall a much better car, period.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Redline96LX &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">4th gen is too ugly for my taste. The 5th gen is cooler lookin, and the H22 in that car sounds phenominal, with that VTEC change being SO noticable. Its fun and its the best looking Prelude, as well as one of the best looking sporty coupes EVER made. In conclusion, the 97-01 Lude is just overall a much better car, period.</TD></TR></TABLE>

thats an opinion, although the 4th gen vtecs were faster than 5th gens

as far as best sport coupe ever...hmmm

anyways to the original poster, why not just install a lsd?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Redline96LX &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">4th gen is too ugly for my taste. The 5th gen is cooler lookin, and the H22 in that car sounds phenominal, with that VTEC change being SO noticable. Its fun and its the best looking Prelude, as well as one of the best looking sporty coupes EVER made. In conclusion, the 97-01 Lude is just overall a much better car, period.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Okay you are in the minority 10% that think 5th gens look nicer. Umm, oh yeah 4th gens come with the H22 too sweetie. ol

 

its a different H22, and don't call me sweetie. And I am the original creator. Im not sayin the SH differential is better or worse than 4ws, but im still lookin into it.

Off of Honda-Tech, absolutly everyone will tell you the 5th gen looks better, ask any high school girl, haha. Cause thats who I hit on all the time, hehe.

 

a different h22? by that i am assuming you mean obd1 and obd2??? cause other than that, it is the same h22

 

the 97-01 USDM Prelude takes the SAME H22A that produces 200hp? Same exact engine code?