Just buy the Civic Type R and be done with it Paul
Nah, too easy.
Plus, it's a turbo FWD. Anyone remember the Eagle Talon TSi? Torque steer hero!!
LOL. That's is exactly where I'm at in this stage of my life. Hence why I have a 2017 NSX sitting in my garage. Good luck. I still remember looking at that garbage NSX down here with you.
Funny, that rat of a NSX would have been perfect for this project! All I really need is a clean, straight frame. Everything else will be taken apart and rebuilt/replaced. My kids both asked me to get another NSX yesterday (confession, we had been watching Best Motoring videos after lunch lol).
A few more developments. I raised this project idea with Mrs. Honcho over the weekend and was surprised to hear a relatively quick yes!
Her only requirement was that I get moving on the basement and master bath renos. So, time to start calling contractors and setting up estimates lol. I also was able to get her to agree to purchasing any NSX-R or other OEM part that is in danger of being cancelled/discontinued and unavailable before the project start date. So, for something like the door badges, probably not worth buying now because, even if they discontinue them, there are so many floating around the marketplace I could probably snag a set a year or two from now. The below list is what I can think of right now. Anything there you all think I should grab now?
Door badges
Hood emblem
Rear center light w/ red H
Door sill plates
Shifter plate (still not settled depending whether I go with 5MT or 6MT)
Gauge cluster
Suspension
Chassis Bars
Horn button
Pedal set
Rear strut bar
Headliner\Pillars
Stereo delete plate
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CLUTCH AND LSD
Doing some more research: Original thought for clutch was the Giken STR2, but it is noisy (like a cowbell or dinner bell ringing when disengaged). Saw that Regan and Billy also spoke highly of the ATS clutch options for the NSX. But, the list of options is dizzying. From what I can decipher, it looks like the model MH23H152-14S (Spec II single-disc metal) has the lightest pedal effort and more than enough clamping force for my planned engine mods. Does anyone have experience with the ATS metal clutches? Are they noisy like the Giken? Do you need to use the NSX-R input shaft for the ATS clutch like you do for the Giken on the 6-speed? Basically, based on fitment and availability, I think it's down to the following:
** US 5-speed w/ATS 4.429 Silent LSD $2,445
** US 5-speed w/JDM short gears and NSX-R clutch pack $1,316 (my old setup)
** US 6-speed w/NSX-R mainshaft $7,656
** US 6-speed w/ATS 4.235 Silent LSD + NSX-R mainshaft $10,105
** US 6-speed w/ATS 4.429 Silent LSD + NSX-R mainshaft $10,184
** US 6-speed w/ NSX-R LSD + mainshaft + 4.235 R&P $___________??
It's looking like the 6-speed, regardless of mods, is going to be the most expensive part of this build. Normally, I would propose looking for a used trans, but if I do that, it's probably going to require a rebuild. So, let's say I pick up a used 6-speed for $4k (just guessing here). Add $575 for the NSX-R mainshaft and then $2,400 for the rebuild kit and you're right back at around $7k, or the price of a new trans. Therefore, it seems like it is best to either go with a new 6-speed +NSX-R mainshaft and live with the factory 4.06 FD and helical diff; OR go with the ATS 4.429 on a US 5-speed box (but this would only make money sense if I bought a 5-speed NSX)
Exhaust
I checked in with my Japan parts exporter and, due to the strength of the dollar, it looks like I can get genuine Fujitsubo Super EX headers and my beloved Super Ti exhaust and stay within budget! He is going to see if the NSX-R suspension can still be sourced too.
Headlights
Champ White pre-painted units are still available! Question though: can I just re-use the 91-01 headlight bulbs and sockets in the 02+ units? I recall that the genuine NSX-R did NOT use the HID bulbs to save weight. I can't find any specific NSX-R headlight bulb/socket harness in the JDM parts catalogs, so I wonder if they just used the wiring from the 91-01 cars?
ABS
I did the 2000+ ABS conversion on my old NSX once already using the KSP harness. It worked great. However, do I really need ABS for a track toy? Back when I was learning how to race, nobody had ABS and you learned to "threshold brake" instead. But, I'm reading horror stories of people shredding new sets of tires at the track because "I don't have ABS." It would be nice to save the weight and costs here. I trust my right foot lol.
NSX-R NA2 Gauge Cluster
I'm going to get this...probably soon. I see Procar and theNSXshop both sell the gauges with circuit boards. Way back when, Vance Hu got into an argument on Prime about whether you needed the circuit boards for use on a USDM (mph) cluster. I think the consensus is that you do. Assuming the circuits change the needle sweep from mph to kph, what do you do about the odometer? Can you keep it, or will the KPH sweep also make the miles go up too fast? Can you convert your miles to km and swap in the km odometer at that number?
So many things to plan...