• Protip: Profile posts are public! Use Conversations to message other members privately. Everyone can see the content of a profile post.

Drove home my 1991 NSX today... awesome

Joined
12 May 2012
Messages
352
Location
Plainfield, IL
I've always wanted an NSX. I had a 92 Prelude in high school and eventually had to sell it... but I always wanted another Honda from that era. I decided to go big and buy what I really wanted...

What I got was a red 1991 5-speed with 100k miles on it. 19 years it spent in California with one owner, where it originated, then a collector bought it and moved it to Indiana where he put 3k miles on it, and now he wants to move on to another car.

This picture doesn't do it justice, I am trying to find my camera but until I do this is all I can get - this is from the seller. Rained on the car on the way home as well, so I would rather clean it before I take more pictures :) Whoever owned it really did take care of the paint job, the color looks like it has never seen sun without some serious wax on it - very bright and no faded areas that I can see.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/78433476@N06/7185312312/" title="5I55V35G63k63F53I7c5b5140897a75e217b6 by xrarey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5453/7185312312_1580c27f4a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="5I55V35G63k63F53I7c5b5140897a75e217b6"></a>

Anyway... on to the mechanical stuff.

Timing belt was done at 62k, new clutch and flywheel were put in just a couple thousand miles ago. I drove it for about an hour, no check engine lights, etc. Then one the way home after filling it up with gas (3 hour drive back to Chicago) I did get a check engine light. Previous owner says it never happened to him, happens around 20 minutes at highway speed. Might be the O2 sensor - ideas?

I can tell the steering rack needs to be rebuilt, which I expected. It has some lash on center but of course as soon as you turn the wheel 5 degrees left or right the lash goes away and the steering feels very stiff.

Clutch feels great, shifter feels great, transmission shifts great. It lets me into first gear even at the upper end of the ratio, which tells me the syncros are pretty good.

Wheels are something, not sure. 18s in the back and 17s in the front. I'm not sure of the width. Tires are in good shape, I will probably just leave the wheels on there until I really find something else.

Everything inside the car works fine, except for one of the cruise control lights I think. The cruise works, just not the light. One of the speakers is out as well...

By the way, the transmission serial does not fall within the dreaded snap ring range, so I guess I'm good there :)

I'm here to learn, so tell me what I should be looking for next and when should I replace my timing belt again? Does everyone stick to the 70k service interval?

I think I got a good price too, paid 24.
 
Last edited:
Welcome to "the club"!
 
I looked at this car too back in March. It's a nice one. I talked to the owner for quite a long time on the phone. It sounded like he took good care of it. The only detail I remember that I can pass along if he didn't have the receipt for some reason is that the timing belt and water pump were replaced in July 2003. I was discussing that it should be done again. His bottom line was $24k at that time too and I offered $23k so I could have some help with the timing belt replacement again so I could sleep at night. I was really looking for a black one, so I passed on it. I have several more pics if you need them :)
 
Last edited:
Do tb/wp and change all 23 hoses while your at it and your check engine light is definitely an 02 sensor, you can get both 02 sensors from www.scienceofspeed.com for $133. Good luck and you for sure have the best color in the NSX
 
I looked at this car too back in March. It's a nice one. I talked to the owner for quite a long time on the phone. It sounded like he took good care of it. The only detail I remember that I can pass along if he didn't have the receipt for some reason is that the timing belt and water pump were replaced in July 2003. I was discussing that it should be done again. His bottom line was $24k at that time too and I offered $23k so I could have some help with the timing belt replacement again so I could sleep at night. I was really looking for a black one, so I passed on it.

Yes, he did mention that he was trying to sell it March. Yea, the timing belt was reported on Carfax though as being replaced at a dealer... anyway I am going to go out and drive it right now! Glad to be a part of the community - now I gotta make sure I keep that thing in the condition I bought it in!
 
And I passed on a few that were too modded or too beat up. Someday in the near future I hope to find the perfect 92-94 gpw nsx:frown::biggrin:
 
Last edited:
And I passed on a few that were too modded or too beat up. Someday in the near future I hope too find the perfect 91-94 gpw nsx:frown::biggrin:

I already own it....and with only 46K miles on it! However, with the very few mods that are on the car (rims, springs, etc) all are reversible as I have all of the OEM parts that will convey with the car IF I ever sell it. (I'll let you know if that day ever arrives LOL)
 
I already own it....and with only 46K miles on it! However, with the very few mods that are on the car (rims, springs, etc) all are reversible as I have all of the OEM parts that will convey with the car IF I ever sell it. (I'll let you know if that day ever arrives LOL)

Very nice! Lol please do:wink:
 
Well, that will be the project then - get all those hoses replaced and do the timing belt/water bump again, and O2 sensors.

Still hasn't hit me though, I'm a real NSX owner!

Now, where is the best place to get parts like hoses... rockauto?
 
When I replaced my hoses in 2010, this is where I bought them from Coolant Hoses. Search the forums for reviews though, apparently they've been hit or miss, however, I had no problems when I ordered my parts there.

HERE is also another vendor to get a coolant hose kit. I have used them for other parts and highly recommend them.
 
Last edited:
:biggrin:Big Congrats and Welcome to the Land of NSX's! Enjoy!
 
Congrats and welcome!

I hope to see this beauty in person one day. Are you free tomorrow?:)
 
Welcome and congrats on your purchase! If you haven't already found it, make sure you check out the NSX Wiki (off the red action bar at the top of most pages) for lots of useful NSX-related information. It's a work in progress but lots of good stuff there for new owners.
 
There is a guy who drives around in near my neighborhood with what looks to be a 2002-2004 NSX in silver... wonder if he is on the forums. Seems like his daily driver.

I'm assuming there are people out there that have these cars with up to 200k miles on, obviously not everything is original. I hope it keep it forever!

Driving it on I-88 yesterday was interesting. Not only did I get to see a Saturn Ion completely engulfed in flames on the center shoulder, but multiple people in hopped up civics had their camera phones out taking videos of the car... ha! Love it.
 
Last edited:
Congratulations and welcome to NSX ownership and Prime! The wheels look like they could be the Enkei RP03, but it's difficult to tell from that photo. Do post more pictures once you're able to. Your car looks great, the only thing I would add is a front lip.

I'm assuming there are people out there that have these cars with up to 200k miles on, obviously not everything is original.

You'd be surprised. Check out this thread. There's a 409k+ mile NSX out there somewhere.

Good decision on redoing the maintenance. I'm also getting the TB/WP and hoses replaced on my 97 NSX, especially after reading this story.

Here are a couple more sources for parts if you didn't know about them already:

http://www.oemacuraparts.com/
http://www.acuraoemparts.com/delray/jsp/home.jsp

Enjoy your new car and stick around!
 
Yep, makes sense to do the hoses and the TB/water pump at the same time. I'm sure there is a DIY on the timing belt right, or do people pay a dealer to do that?

Better yet, who is the NSX guru in Chicago that everyone on here uses? Gotta be someone right?
 
Last edited:
Thanks, too bad it doesnt have the top portion black.

Why is the top white? Did the early MY come in that combo?

Also, congrats on the purchase. I have very similar play in my steering rack. Any suggestions on a vendor for rebuild?

Jim
 
Why is the top white? Did the early MY come in that combo?

Also, congrats on the purchase. I have very similar play in my steering rack. Any suggestions on a vendor for rebuild?

Jim

I heard some shop in Indiana, not sure who would do it in my area (Chicago) - anyone have ideas?
 
Back
Top