DC5 restoration - track project
- Thread starter Chris.
- Start date
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Haha dick.
Going to get some semi slicks next I think, just need the sump baffled first.
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I'm still to edit that video. :lol:
Not a huge update but this will probably be it for this year. The car went to Performance Autoworks the other week to have some work done. I booked it in for the following:
First off, the lights. I drove to Donington in the dark and it was comedy, one of the headlights was pointed upwards I think and the other was pretty much a candle. It was the first time I'd driven it in the dark so I didn't have much of a choice but to continue. Luckily there was enough for me to be able to see, and for the most part the roads between mine and the hotel near the circuit are well lit. I didn't fancy taking the bumper off myself in the cold so I had Rich look at it.
I'll just quote Rich's email for an explanation.
I can't really add to that. I may get the headlights done next year, but having driven it in the dark the other evening, I can say that they are substantially improved! Still, not as good as I remember the OEM lights being. Sadly they are expensive and few and far between, so I think I'll leave it after a polish has been done.
Onto the wheel wobble. I'm not sure if I'd mentioned, but I was getting steering wheel wobble when I picked it up from TGM. They'd balanced the wheels so I figured a weight had come off. I took it to my local and trusted tyre place, they did it again but the problem moved to a different speed. I'd asked Rich to look into it confident it couldn't possibly be the balancing. He checked everything over and couldn't find anything. The last thing on the list was driveshafts, these can only be visually inspected so far and at over a grand for new items for Honda I decided to sleep on it. Rich suggested to get the wheels balanced again but use a stud pattern mount instead of the centre bore. So after I picked the car up I drove back to the tyre place for them to do just that. They said they always use a stud pattern mount anyway, but they also said they were quite a way out. I explained I had it done by them before so they let me on my way without charging me. I'm glad to report that the wobble has gone.
Rich said the car is in good health. It's been well serviced in its life although no paperwork exists sadly due to 'cash in hand' servicing. Doesn't bother me for the price. He did notice some corrosion though. Again I'll quote his email:
Before:
After:
I don't think there'll be many updates over the winter, I'm even tempted to SORN the car till the end of March and tuck it away in the garage after a clean.
As for plans I've been looking into the following modifications:
ACT Stage 1 organic clutch kit.
Spoon 5.3 Final drive.
FD2/EP3 (same) 0.738 6th gear.
Kaaz plated diff.
Clockwise Motion gated baffle.
Nice cheap shopping list! I'm also looking at a polybush and a quieter intake, possibly a Mugen.
Massive thanks to Rich at Performance Autoworks for yet again outstanding work.
Not a huge update but this will probably be it for this year. The car went to Performance Autoworks the other week to have some work done. I booked it in for the following:
- Oil change. Yes, it was done at TGM before the track day, but I figured I'd get it done anyway considering how long the car had been sat previously.
- Investigate steering wheel wobble.
- Remove steering rack, fit SHG slider and flush the fluid. It was low and I needed to top it up, but I only had Halfords fluid so I wanted Honda back in.
- Check/adjust geo - I was a bit exuberant with the kerbs at Donington.
- Overall health check of underneath, bushes etc.
- Fix lights as they were bog eyed.
- Fix EML - I read the code at home so already knew it was the O2 sensor.
- Fit KTuned shifter cables.
First off, the lights. I drove to Donington in the dark and it was comedy, one of the headlights was pointed upwards I think and the other was pretty much a candle. It was the first time I'd driven it in the dark so I didn't have much of a choice but to continue. Luckily there was enough for me to be able to see, and for the most part the roads between mine and the hotel near the circuit are well lit. I didn't fancy taking the bumper off myself in the cold so I had Rich look at it.
I'll just quote Rich's email for an explanation.
I can't really add to that. I may get the headlights done next year, but having driven it in the dark the other evening, I can say that they are substantially improved! Still, not as good as I remember the OEM lights being. Sadly they are expensive and few and far between, so I think I'll leave it after a polish has been done.
Onto the wheel wobble. I'm not sure if I'd mentioned, but I was getting steering wheel wobble when I picked it up from TGM. They'd balanced the wheels so I figured a weight had come off. I took it to my local and trusted tyre place, they did it again but the problem moved to a different speed. I'd asked Rich to look into it confident it couldn't possibly be the balancing. He checked everything over and couldn't find anything. The last thing on the list was driveshafts, these can only be visually inspected so far and at over a grand for new items for Honda I decided to sleep on it. Rich suggested to get the wheels balanced again but use a stud pattern mount instead of the centre bore. So after I picked the car up I drove back to the tyre place for them to do just that. They said they always use a stud pattern mount anyway, but they also said they were quite a way out. I explained I had it done by them before so they let me on my way without charging me. I'm glad to report that the wobble has gone.
Rich said the car is in good health. It's been well serviced in its life although no paperwork exists sadly due to 'cash in hand' servicing. Doesn't bother me for the price. He did notice some corrosion though. Again I'll quote his email:
Before:
After:
I don't think there'll be many updates over the winter, I'm even tempted to SORN the car till the end of March and tuck it away in the garage after a clean.
As for plans I've been looking into the following modifications:
ACT Stage 1 organic clutch kit.
Spoon 5.3 Final drive.
FD2/EP3 (same) 0.738 6th gear.
Kaaz plated diff.
Clockwise Motion gated baffle.
Nice cheap shopping list! I'm also looking at a polybush and a quieter intake, possibly a Mugen.
Massive thanks to Rich at Performance Autoworks for yet again outstanding work.
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- 2,683
I wouldn't bother SORNing it, what's the point?
Strip it. Throw some fixed seats in. Instant racecar.
Strip it. Throw some fixed seats in. Instant racecar.
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- 2,683
Oh, and the lights are easy enough. Even easier if you've got a polisher.
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- 52,588
Because I have another car. I don't really want to use it with all the salt on the roads and when the weather is miserable.
Doubt I'll strip it, there isn't much weight to be saved out of a DC5 and I'd still like somewhere relatively nice to be on longer drives to Spa etc. Seats I have considered.
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- 52,588
Haven't noticed any difference at all to be fair.
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Fair enough, but it's a wrench to have a car you can't drive. You may as well keep it road legal, then at least you can take it for a spin when the red mist descends.
Seats are mandatory. Proper buckets, or even really good recliners, will transform it when you're getting a shift on. Those Buddyclubs I had were sooper comfy and not all that expensive, shame you never had a shot in them. It's totally fine for long drives, once you get used to placing everything within reach before you set off of course....
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Are they not a bit tight? I was looking at Pole Positions but someone has told me they'd be useless on track as they're more of a road seat.
