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I'm also thinking of selling the brand new Bilsteins and buying BC Racing 10/10 coilovers. Less than $1000, adjustable, and the word is that they ride nicely on the street. Since street is 90% of my time, fancier coilovers like KW v3s are overkill for me.
This guy on Prime has exactly the same offsets in the same wheel (though a bit darker) as mine, and he added 5 mm spacers in the rear. He's also stock height. I am hoping not to need a spacer in the rear once I'm dropped but we'll see in a few weeks when I get the wheels installed.
As for the suspension, I've still got a few weeks to sort it out.
Originally Posted by p.diddy
I say do it. Those are the same coilovers I have.
Are you using the springs that came with the kit, or did you switch to another? There's a huge thread about these BCs on Prime and some remain with the BC springs that come with the kit, and some change out the springs.
If I haven't mentioned it yet, I bought a Wings West lip a couple weeks back. I'm planning to paint it myself, it doesn't look difficult. Trying yet another new thing in my "older" age, LOL.
Gunmetal on My Kaiser Silver (dark silver) NSX might look good. I'm certainly willing to give it a try. Those wheels are good looking, though. Very light, too--I weighed the fronts at 17.8 lb (not even a full pound more than the stock 16s), and the rear was 20 lb.
Hey Bob, I don't want to alarm you or anything but it's been a couple weeks and the wheels still haven't arrived. Do you have a tracking number or anything?
But really... I noticed something familiar this afternoon when I was playing cars and I think I realized why I like your new wheels on that car so much:
^^^^
I have exactly the same Hot Wheels model. I keep it on my headboard so I can look at it before I go to bed. My wife thinks I'm crazy. She's right....I'm NSX crazy.
First, I installed the converted radio two weeks ago. The NSX's center console is ridiculously easy to remove, it takes a few screws, the use of a trim remover in only one spot, and ten minutes.
Climate control unit out, exposing screws for removal of radio
New radio....
And the most recent mod is installation of those Advan AVS Model 5 wheels. I was really concerned that the Kaiser Silver (darkish silver) on my car would clash with the gunmetal wheels. Turns out it works pretty well. I mounted the wheels on the car yesterday:
So all that's left for this round of mods is installation of the Bilstein shocks. Trying to find someone reliable around here to do it. $330 per corner total cost at the local Acura dealer! No way I'm paying that even if I can afford it.
Have you thought about attempting the Bilstein install yourself?
Yes. I may still attempt it on some weekend where I have time. However:
a) I have to remove the springs to replace the shocks. I've never used a spring compressor and it's a device that, if used incorrectly, can cause the spring to loosen suddenly and to cause injury. In short, I'm really nervous about it, unless someone convinces me that it's really easy to do.
b) OMG 16-year-old bolts to loosen! I did not have fun doing that the first time with the exhaust.
Yes. I may still attempt it on some weekend where I have time. However:
a) I have to remove the springs to replace the shocks. I've never used a spring compressor and it's a device that, if used incorrectly, can cause the spring to loosen suddenly and to cause injury. In short, I'm really nervous about it, unless someone convinces me that it's really easy to do.
I have a basic set of Craftsman compressors I got years ago from Sears. Young dumb me got them and successfully swapped 4 springs on my old young-and-dumb-kid car. That's 8 compress/relax cycles if you're keeping count. Totally didn't die or even get hurt.
Basic gist is you put the bars 180-degrees apart on the strut, clip the little holder guys onto the coils, and start cranking down on the nut to turn the threaded shaft. Do one side a little and then the other to keep even compression.
If you take your time you'll be fine.
Young and dumb me did it with a ratchet as I didn't/don't have air tools. Pretty simple and definitely isn't brain surgery.
First, I replaced the trunk struts with new OEM struts. Now the trunk can hold itself up. I will likely send the old struts off to a specialist in Canada for refurbishment to better than OEM specs, for when the struts I just installed wear out (and they will).
I then installed a 3rd brake light flash kit. These cars are so low to the ground that people can miss them and anything to improve safety in the NSX is a good idea.
Install of the kit, the white box, at the rear of the driver's side of the engine compartment. Was a 5-minute install. The device has 16 states and becauase of its location, is easy to adjust at any time.
I dropped my NSX off yesterday at a local shop to have my Bilsteins installed, followed by an alignment. In addition, a second inspection to look for items I might have missed prior to purchase. Should be properly low soon. Will be picking it up tomorrow and will have appropriate pictures then.
I strongly considered changing to coilovers, either the $1200 BCs with Swift springs, or $3k KW V3s, but decided to keep my Bilsteins because
a) coilovers don't last as long as the Bilsteins would
b) I like the OEM ride and even lowered, the Bilsteins offer pretty much that
c) I don't have time to track my car. I'll do an HPDE or autocross about once a year, on average. The cost of using coilovers, therefore, was not worth it to me.
That's not to say that I'll change my mind later, however.
I have also secured a keyless access module and matching keyfobs. I may have to modify the wire harness that came with it to properly work with my NSX. We'll see when I try installing it this weekend. I don't get why Acura made keyless entry an add-on for its halo product. I mean, really?
A couple of iPhone pix after the Bilstein install. Both the Kaiser Silver and the gunmetal wheels are challenging to capture in full daylight as the color changes depending on the sun's angle, so the pics are not too good. They do illustrate the small drop to just the right amount to survive Cleveland's streets.
To compare, here's a "before" picture from a few posts up:
The guy who installed knows NSXs pretty well and I had him go over the car with me. He tells me the car is pretty solid overall. It's clear there was repainting on the right front fender (this was disclosed to me at the time of sale, so no surprise there). The guys who painted the car also painted the molding separating the front bumper from the fender, indicating poor attention to detail on their part. In addition, he remounted and rebalanced my tires as the person who'd done it originally did it poorly, scratching the paint off a piece of the driver's side front rim.
The driver's side bumper light is oxidized compared to the passenger, so I suspect one of them was replaced at some point. I'll have to consider using one of those light restoration kits on it at some point.
So, in all, a 16-year-old car with minimal issues. I don't feel like I was ripped off.
Just a few more small things and I'll be done tinkering.
What's up with the volume knob? Is it supposed to rotate the words along with the volume?!
I too am wondering what is up with the volume knob. The OEM should not spin like that. Did the guy that modify it put it on crooked or something? I only ask cause I am thinking about going the same route. Other than that the car looks good. What is up next in the future NSX project?
^^^
The knob is modded to turn. You don't have to use the knob at all, however. The system comes with a small remote that fits perfectly in the coin holder behind the shifter. Next picture I'll have it turned the right way so as not to freak people out.
As for other projects, I'm just about done.
I procured an OEM keyless entry set from a fellow NSX enthusiast for $100 and installed it yesterday. It came with key fobs that were in almost new condition, and with leather covers marked "NSX". I wish the OEM system popped the trunk, but I can live with pushing the trunk release button...and at least the key hole for the trunk is surrounded by plastic and not metal.
I may change the lights to LEDs with the ikonikled kit.
I have a tommykaira shift knob coming--it weighs over a pound and is shorter than the stock shifter, so we'll see that effect it has on shifting It is certainly a beautiful piece and being relatively rare, if I don't like it, I can sell it pretty quickly.
I am still mulling over whether to install the Wings West lip I purchased over the winter. Keep going back and forth on it....
That's about it. I'm ready to enjoy the driving season in the NSX, and in fact put some miles on it the last three days. Wow, that Pride LW exhaust sounds awesome.
01-26-2016, 11:19 PM
er, I mean, sounds good, I'll contact my environmentally friendly recycler.
My wife thinks I'm crazy. She's right....I'm NSX crazy.
I did not have fun doing that the first time with the exhaust.
