Turbo my prelude, or build a second car?
 

So, as the title says I have hit a crossroads. Either I keep dumping money into my prelude, or I move on to bigger and better things. Currently I have no real performance mods in the lude. Coilovers in the mail, neuspeed strut bar, intake, and that’s really it. So I would start from scratch for the build. I have a few options that I’m currently entertaining. First one if to turbo the lude, second is to get a 3rd gen Camaro and swap something ridiculous in it(possibly an ls1), third is to get a 240 and do an engine swap, finally fourth is to get a 2nd gen 4wd turbo eclipse and build that up a bit.

For the lude I currently have an entire build planned, sleaved H22 block, new pistons, and rods. Reuse my current head. Get an ebay turbo kit (flame on I know) without the actual turbo, pick up a turbo elsewhere, 3inch exhaust to an OBX replica twin loop, new clutch and flywheel, new tensioner and water pump ext. I can get all the labor for free minus the exhaust. I was planning on spending around 3,000. But, that’s 3 grand for only an extra 150 whp, front wheel hp at that. And for that much money I kinda want something faster, and rwd, or awd. Which lead me to plan 2

A 3rd gen camaro, or something similar, with a swap. I figure I can get a rolling shell in decent condition for around a grand, than spend 2-3 grand on an engine and transmission. Again, this is assuming free labor from friends.

Third option would be a 240 rolling shell/one already with a swaped engine, and than do whatever I can with the money I have left over. Haven’t put to much thought into this option yet.

And finally, my buddy is trying to get me to 2nd gen turbo eclipse. He claims that I can get it to run 13’s with only a grand or so of parts. However, I don’t like the look of them.

As a side note, all of these options include me keeping the prelude as a daily driver. Possibly selling off a few of my parts like my leather seats and other random accessories to fund the build, but keeping the car.

To recap I want to go faster than I currently am, and I want to spend around 3 grand, and I don’t know how I want to do it. I want to start all this in the spring, so I have time to shop around and get good deals on parts as soon as I figure out what I want.

Any ideas, comments, experiences, or suggestions would be appreciated.

Supercharge ur prelude and get rid of that Below VTEC lack of balls

I was in the same boat as you about a year and a half ago. I had a 5th gen, sold it to a friend of mine and used the money to pick up a swapped 240. Its your decision so its entirely up to you, but I will say that I'm glad I moved into something rwd and turbo

Do you have another car,if so ghead and build the lude.

Also if you like fixing you car a lot,buy a 2g tsi,but it can be reliable as long as you cut 0 and i mean 0 corners

If you really want cheap speed pick up a 1g awd dsm. Just make sure to keep up on your maintenance before you start trying to pull 400 hp out of it.

I have one for sale!

another car

If you want to make your life stress free, never ever modify your daily driver. Leave it alone and get another car to mess with.

Again, never mess with your daily driver.


My honda accord is bone stock except for an air freshener on the mirror.

I completely agree, and doing two cars from the ground up is a TON of work...

Then again its good to have two cars in case one goes down. I'm daily driving the vr4 until my del sol is back on the road.

Spend $700 of that and buy a beater for a DD, then waste your money on the Honda.

As much as I love the prelude, I'd say go a different route.

Please please please, no 3rd gen camaro.

If you dont like the look of the 2g eclipse, why even bother?

I'd go with the 240. You can get a S13 for relatively cheap and work from there.

Don't mod your DD.

^
I say that too,but i modded mine,turbo and everything from a stock integra to a fuel upgraded turbod suspenion whored car,and it never gave me any problems.

if your only planning on a 150whp gain, why bother sleeving and building your h22?

just get some headstuds and turbo the stock motor. you will make close to that reliably without touching the internals.


but stuff starts to break when you go fast so its always nice to have a second car. if you do decide to turbo the lude, i would suggest buying a beater to get you around while you do the work and work through the issues.




but your best choice imo would be the 240

I don't have another car right now. I was going to buy a second block to work then swap it in my car when it was done.

I wanted a bulletproof build since it was my DD, and if i go all out on the internals than there's always room to continue without cracking the engine open. I feel like if i did end up turboing the lude i would keep adding stuff to the car as i went along, slowly getting more and more hp, if i sleeve it now, than i don't have to go back and do it latter.

ftw with a edyn pulley

what's wrong with a 3rd gen camaro he's right about finding a good roller for cheap. He could pick up an LS motor an trans with wiring for cheap at a junkyard build the rear an just chill. It's been done alot there's plenyt of info you can pretty much buy everything you need off spohn an you never see 3rd gens around anymore let alone an Iroc or a Z28. I had mine in the mid 12s with my brothers help an the only thing that cost me much was the motor. The setup would leave ya with endless options being LS motors love mods I regret not doing an LS build now being it would have been cheaper an runnin by now.

The camaro is growing on me. But thats probably because i just got back from riding around in an 85 trans am. I also just found about a 5-speed turbo mk3 supra, no major cosmetic damage, running engine, for 500. Thinking about that as well.

pm info on the supra if you wouldn't mind... :)

wish there was more to tell ya. Just a lead the got from a friend, don't even know the owners name yet. Gonna look into it next week. If i don't end up getting it i'll pass it on to you.