Lude Generation

Hi

This is my 1st Prelude ownership and I have decided to call him, Luke:




Bought a few months ago described by the sales ad as "a few bubbling paint, otherwise MINT":

















And u have NOT seen the leather driver seat yet!!! Eeeek!

I decided Luke was going to be my summer car.

So decided NOT to wait for the MOT expiry date and get him MOT early and then SORN him til Easter.

Obviously it failed the MOT (most were known from advisories in the MOT history), but a few like failed emission and an oil leak were little surprises.

The welding to pass the MOT wasnt fantastic to say the least:



But he passed anyway

1st job was the stereo.
Not really fully functional:

BEFORE:



AFTER (CD-less):







2nd job Nitrogen in tyres:




Plan was to re-spray Luke next Easter ...

Plans changed!

Luke will now become the daily car.

Mad rush to get him all sorted for winter!
1. Full re-spray (keyed, 3 coats of paint)
- unfortunately, my budget didnt include a coat of lacquer (should I have done???)

2. Dinitrol underseal + waxoyl in cavities
- unfortunately the only place I wanted it done is now fully booked til 2015!!!



Plough on with the full re-spray then:
















Finished!

A 63-plate Audi parked next to Luke at one point.

The Audi might have a deeper red,
but I think Luke just a little more shinier

Another job:

The non "ice cold" air con.
Yes - wrong time, but helps with de-misting.

Luke has the old R12 gas.
It is illegal to use this gas now

Using the new gas has 2 problems:
1. It will leak much quicker (as the molecules are smaller than the old gas)?
2. The new valves (to recharge the air con) are BIGGER than the valves on my old air con - so physically can't recharge!
- adaptors can be bought I been told.

But there is a direct replacement for R12, called RS24 and its legal.
But more pricey than normal gas.

Quite a few RS24 suppliers south of the country.
I still looking for one in my locality

The search continues!

Very pretty ... even with the cable-tie ghetto fix!

looks great. welcome along.

Looks great, well done mate.

As for the A/C, you can use R134a in an R12 car.
Yes, there is a difference in the size of the molecule so there is more chance of it leaking, but provided the system is in good nick it'll be fine.
The bigger problem is that R134a is slightly less efficient, so runs slightly hotter in the compressor and has less lubricative properties as well, so it needs an additional lubricant adding into the system with the gas to counteract that.
Kwik-Fit type garages won't refill R12 cars because they don't have the adapters for the connection points, but most decent mobile a/c specialists should have them.

Cheers Iain - really helpful info there!

But, I have decided to go for RS24 instead