So TURBO2GO's thread on finishing his mod list made me think. If I sold my 2002 today for $50k (completely reasonable @ 28k miles I believe) then buy an older NSX, how far could I go?
Well, the car would have to be cheap. Interior and exterior cosmetics will not be top notch. All I would really want is a good engine and a frame that has had no damage. Everything else is replaceable. Of course I would want the best NSX possible, and there are deals to be had, but lets say we start at the $25k range.
I think that puts me sqaurely in the 91-94 category. Higher miles. Questionable service. But still fully functional. For me, there are a couple upsides to this. Its the lightest of the available NSXs, and its a coupe!
So here is the breakdown:
25000 91 donor car
chassis
600 fcb
600 fstb
100 RSX-R lower chassis reinforcement
400 Carbing RSTB
suspension
2400 KW v3
200 NSX-R anti sway f
500 toe links
500 rear beam bushings
200 front clamps
brakes
2000 NA2 ABS upgrade
2100 stoptech front
3300 stoptech rear + ebrake
I/H/E
50 uni filter
260 big bore throttle body
1500 headers
600 hfc
1500 Taitec GTLW
900 engine mounts f+r+s
270 timing belt
500 hoses
700 harmonic balancer
drivetrain
2500 OS Giken differential + gears
1700 SoS Sport Clutch
wheels
2500 Advan RS
1000 Dunlop Star Spec
Total: $51,880
This doesn't include deals, taxes, labor. These numbers are not strict, and correct me where I may be wrong. This is just an exercise for me to think out loud and learn really, and I'm curious what people think. There are other things I left out, possibly HIDs, the interior and exterior wasn't touched. But, lets go through the existing list, because, I am already $2000 over the limit.
Chassis
Many people believe in reinforcement, others don't. My take is, it is a 20 year old aluminum car. It was a stiff chassis, and it has held up well, but everything is prone to wear. If you want the car to hold up for the next 20, there is every reason to try to help it get there. The total cost for the reinforcement is less than $2000. This is the least amount of any category. For the amount of money just spent, it is a nominal fee to help keep your chassis stiff.
Suspension
Nearly every piece of rubber or bushing has been replaced. It has an NSX-R sway. It is now suspended on one of the better coilovers that combines comfort and performance. For the most part, this new suspension is better than what most sportscars out there have. This will allow the NSX to corner and handle with cars 2 to 3 times its ($50k) price.
Money could definitely be saved here. Swapping the KW v3s for Bilsteins (or your choice of shock/spring) saves nearly $1800. But really, why not have a superior suspension?
Brakes
To me, this is a sorely needed upgrade. Not only are the NSX brakes small by today's standards, the 91 ABS is atrocious and the system is heavy. ABS upgrade is a no brainer and saves (correct me if I'm wrong) I think 20lbs.
Overall, this upgrade surprises me. It is not ultimately necessary, but will the NSX benefit from it? Yes, very much so. But is by far the most expensive upgrade of any category. $7400 is ludicrous and is a huge chunk of total upgrade costs. Consider the fact that this is the same cost as the AP-X turbo kit. But if you were to get a turbo, you would want better brakes, no? :wink:
I/H/E
There are things in here that you can give or take. Since there is a lot of work being done around the engine bay already, it seemed to make sense to get a bunch of things done. Things like the the throttle body, high flow cats, harmonic balancer may or may not be beneficial. But again, at the total prices we are at, these are nominal numbers and worth the extra to upgrade.
The rest seem like no brainer stuff. Exhaust and headers greatly improve engine breathing on the 91. The engine mounts have to be pretty tired after 20 years, and the car probably has high miles.
Drivetrain
Short gears, no short gears, blah blah blah. This is not a cheap upgrade either. It is not really necessary. But you now get a bulletproof differential and better gearing to boot.
There is money to be saved here. JDM short gears, NSX-R gears. Or, just leave what is already there. The clutch? Well, 20 year old car, questionable maintenance history, high miles. The likelyhood the clutch is on it last legs is high. Your mileage may vary.
Wheels
New wheels are mandatory. That is all.
So where does this leave me? It leaves me with a nearly fully revamped 91 NSX on the mechanical side of things. It will out ride, out handle, out break any other stock NSX out there, no matter how new. It will outdo most other sportscars in this regard too. It also makes close to the same power as the 02-05s with less weight. And all of it top shelf, brand new parts.
But there are a few things that weren't addressed. I haven't even talked about labor. The engine was never touched. Neither was the exterior or interior. I just dropped $27k on a 20 year old car, and the exterior may not up up to snuff. The side bolsters on the driver seat is beginning to tear. My engine may have issues in the near future. To me, this car seems far from done.
I tried hard to think of where to cut corners and save some cash to address these issues, and it is difficult. Brakes and drivetrain. If you skimp on those, it opens up a lot of other options. Route KS Madonna, CTSC, turbo, or even a full interior update. But I am not sure I would want to sacrifice brakes, and skimping on the differential and clutch won't get me very far to do other things besides the interior.
In the end, is all this worth it? Maybe. :smile:
Well, the car would have to be cheap. Interior and exterior cosmetics will not be top notch. All I would really want is a good engine and a frame that has had no damage. Everything else is replaceable. Of course I would want the best NSX possible, and there are deals to be had, but lets say we start at the $25k range.
I think that puts me sqaurely in the 91-94 category. Higher miles. Questionable service. But still fully functional. For me, there are a couple upsides to this. Its the lightest of the available NSXs, and its a coupe!
So here is the breakdown:
25000 91 donor car
chassis
600 fcb
600 fstb
100 RSX-R lower chassis reinforcement
400 Carbing RSTB
suspension
2400 KW v3
200 NSX-R anti sway f
500 toe links
500 rear beam bushings
200 front clamps
brakes
2000 NA2 ABS upgrade
2100 stoptech front
3300 stoptech rear + ebrake
I/H/E
50 uni filter
260 big bore throttle body
1500 headers
600 hfc
1500 Taitec GTLW
900 engine mounts f+r+s
270 timing belt
500 hoses
700 harmonic balancer
drivetrain
2500 OS Giken differential + gears
1700 SoS Sport Clutch
wheels
2500 Advan RS
1000 Dunlop Star Spec
Total: $51,880
This doesn't include deals, taxes, labor. These numbers are not strict, and correct me where I may be wrong. This is just an exercise for me to think out loud and learn really, and I'm curious what people think. There are other things I left out, possibly HIDs, the interior and exterior wasn't touched. But, lets go through the existing list, because, I am already $2000 over the limit.
Chassis
Many people believe in reinforcement, others don't. My take is, it is a 20 year old aluminum car. It was a stiff chassis, and it has held up well, but everything is prone to wear. If you want the car to hold up for the next 20, there is every reason to try to help it get there. The total cost for the reinforcement is less than $2000. This is the least amount of any category. For the amount of money just spent, it is a nominal fee to help keep your chassis stiff.
Suspension
Nearly every piece of rubber or bushing has been replaced. It has an NSX-R sway. It is now suspended on one of the better coilovers that combines comfort and performance. For the most part, this new suspension is better than what most sportscars out there have. This will allow the NSX to corner and handle with cars 2 to 3 times its ($50k) price.
Money could definitely be saved here. Swapping the KW v3s for Bilsteins (or your choice of shock/spring) saves nearly $1800. But really, why not have a superior suspension?
Brakes
To me, this is a sorely needed upgrade. Not only are the NSX brakes small by today's standards, the 91 ABS is atrocious and the system is heavy. ABS upgrade is a no brainer and saves (correct me if I'm wrong) I think 20lbs.
Overall, this upgrade surprises me. It is not ultimately necessary, but will the NSX benefit from it? Yes, very much so. But is by far the most expensive upgrade of any category. $7400 is ludicrous and is a huge chunk of total upgrade costs. Consider the fact that this is the same cost as the AP-X turbo kit. But if you were to get a turbo, you would want better brakes, no? :wink:
I/H/E
There are things in here that you can give or take. Since there is a lot of work being done around the engine bay already, it seemed to make sense to get a bunch of things done. Things like the the throttle body, high flow cats, harmonic balancer may or may not be beneficial. But again, at the total prices we are at, these are nominal numbers and worth the extra to upgrade.
The rest seem like no brainer stuff. Exhaust and headers greatly improve engine breathing on the 91. The engine mounts have to be pretty tired after 20 years, and the car probably has high miles.
Drivetrain
Short gears, no short gears, blah blah blah. This is not a cheap upgrade either. It is not really necessary. But you now get a bulletproof differential and better gearing to boot.
There is money to be saved here. JDM short gears, NSX-R gears. Or, just leave what is already there. The clutch? Well, 20 year old car, questionable maintenance history, high miles. The likelyhood the clutch is on it last legs is high. Your mileage may vary.
Wheels
New wheels are mandatory. That is all.
So where does this leave me? It leaves me with a nearly fully revamped 91 NSX on the mechanical side of things. It will out ride, out handle, out break any other stock NSX out there, no matter how new. It will outdo most other sportscars in this regard too. It also makes close to the same power as the 02-05s with less weight. And all of it top shelf, brand new parts.
But there are a few things that weren't addressed. I haven't even talked about labor. The engine was never touched. Neither was the exterior or interior. I just dropped $27k on a 20 year old car, and the exterior may not up up to snuff. The side bolsters on the driver seat is beginning to tear. My engine may have issues in the near future. To me, this car seems far from done.
I tried hard to think of where to cut corners and save some cash to address these issues, and it is difficult. Brakes and drivetrain. If you skimp on those, it opens up a lot of other options. Route KS Madonna, CTSC, turbo, or even a full interior update. But I am not sure I would want to sacrifice brakes, and skimping on the differential and clutch won't get me very far to do other things besides the interior.
In the end, is all this worth it? Maybe. :smile: