'99 BB6 "nut and bolt" restoration.

[wurlycorner]

Blimey, can't believe you've found a broken standard spring!

[BlackShadow]

^When cornering... I go hard


Yesterday was supposed to be a balls to the wall work on the car day. Supposed to be...


First I headed out to a local shop by the name of Grounded Conceptz in Pickering Ontario to order some parts. I have to say, I am really impressed with the shops I am dealing with lately. I guess the research is paying off. Grounded Conceptz was recommended to me by a friend. I took a spin over there the week before last and had a long chat with the guys there. Incredibly friendly and helpful crew. Like Greame at Canadian Cylinder Head Technologies, the guys at Grounded Conceptz never made me feel rushed, or as though they didn't have time to deal with me. They also lack the holier than thou "we work at a parts store so we know more than you" attitude you run into at some other stores.

So what did I buy?

Tein Street Advance coilovers: GSH92-2USS2 $899.

I originally wanted Super Streets but Tein touts the Street Advance as the "next generation" of the Super Streets. The 'Streets are still a lot more expensive than the Street Advance, which I don't understand since they are apparently discontinued. My main concern was support for a discontinued product in a few years time. For $1500 I don't want to come back in a few years to have them rebuilt and have them say no.

Tein Pillow Ball upper mount (front) PRH58-31S70: $275

Tein Pillow Ball upper mount (rear) PRH29-31S70: $225

ACT pressure plate H026X: $320

Exedy OEM clutch disc HCD015U: $80

ACT alignment tool AT58: $6


I am adding a suspension bushing kit and the Mishimoto rad and fan shroud to this list as well.


Next stop was to Canadian Tire to pick up some primer. I found they had all their paints on sale so I went wild and bought up all the B92P and clear coat they had, two cans of primer and one of those rattle can handles. I get home and discover the cashier while distracted by another employee didn't put everything in the bag. Back to CT I went. More time down the drain. It wasn't all bad though, the cashier was cute and she remembered me.


A quick check of the weather upon my return home indicated the conditions were within the parameters to do some painting so, here is what I did...


What you all really come here to see...


VHT wrinkle red! Polished lettering!













Posing with the painted PS pump bracket: The battery is used to roll out/pat down any uneven wrinkelage, and the dental pick is to fluff up low spots as it dries.





I also got most of the driver's side wheel well stripped and ready for primer.





More work today!

[rob quilter]

Awesome work again

[wurlycorner]

WOW!

That is epic work on a new scale! That head is a work of art!

[BlackShadow]

You're too kind. Honestly, the feedback I get from you guys makes me more determined to press on when things go wrong and when I start running out of gas.

I think I found the reason for the crunchy/scraping sound from the front end.

Exhibit A:



The bottom of the spring broke off and caused the spring to bow. The upper coils are rubbing against the shock tube. The shock tube itself is also bent and I can see where it has been rubbing.

While down there I also noticed the upper ballpoints boots seem to have failed. The tops of the steering knuckles are encrusted with old grease from inside the boots. Ill have to look up the part numbers for those accord ball joints that fit 5th gens, cause I'm not buying new knuckles and upper control arms.

On top of the ball joints, the end links and their bushings look trashed as well. All the other bushings in the front end seem to have their best days behind them as well. They'll all be changed out, and the components stripped and restored.

I didn't get as much work done today because my compressor (my third one since May) blew up and I had to go exchange it.

Oh well... Maybe next week ill make some headway.

[wurlycorner]

The top ball joint boots on ludes do seem to suffer.
I think they're very heavily compressed compared to most others, so the rubber gets lots of stress and tends to 'fold'?

[BlackShadow]

Yup, mine looked pretty flat, as though the boot had been squashed and the grease oozed out.

On the way home I saw a 3.2 cl (Acura) that lost a ball joint in the middle of an intersection. Aside from the obvious damage, the fender was ruined. That sealed the deal for me. These ballpoints are being changed out.

[mart609]

That head looks sooo tasty.
Needs to be a center peice in a living room under a coffee table

[BlackShadow]

right now the head is sitting in my living room, just so I can gawk at it. I'm worried though, if I start adding to it, I might end up with the rest of the engine and transmission there too.

The Teins should be here next week, but in the mean time I picked these up from my friends at Grounded Conceptz:



ACT performance pressure plate, for the stiffer pedal, and an exedy clutch disc.

Since the suspension looks pretty knackered, I have been hunting down new components. Bushings for starters, and ball joints.

Since Honda doesn't sell ball joints for the 5th gen ( by themselves) I had to hunt down part numbers from other cars that work.

51220-SL5-013 seems to fit all four on the bottom. Honda wants $80 a piece for them.

MOOG has an alternative for the uppers: K90492, but they are $130-150 a pop. Expensive proposition.

I am looking at $422 for OEM end links as well. I don't think I'll be going with those.

If anyone has any suggestions for after markets, on the bushings or end links, I'm all ears.

Suggestions please!

[wurlycorner]

More goodies

Surprised 5th gen suspension bits aren't easy to get hold of after-market?