Today I did something to my car (volume 2)

Took measurements of the bushes,all matches up with what they should be for the rear, allow for some discrepancy on my part it's not exactly the measurements you stated but as close as I can get with a Lidl callipers.

I remember you saying they are only in either 17mm or 18mm, so these could be 17mm and I need the 18mm.

Another poster mentioned that they're wrong altogether because when I assembled the bush, bracket and bar it was very open at the bottom when the bracket was almost mounted. (And as much as I could put it on with standing on it)

Okay so what I have are the correct parts? What about them being open when installed with the bracket onto the bar?

I wasn't happy with the VHT paint job I did on my cam cover last year, so I finally managed to get my hands on some crinkle red. I went over it with a heat gun just to make sure it turned out right.

Got it done today, all torqued to spec, took me 30 mins. What I ended up doing was having the anti roll bar cable tied to the frame, getting the first bolt in was easy enough.

For the second bolt I had the bolt in the socket with the ratchet ready to go, put the bolt through the hole on the bracket, and used that to force it on to the subframe and then screwed it in as I was doing that, it worked quite well, made it so much easier to get the second bolt started. Everything went quite smoothly, main dealer parts really make the difference.

I put the bushing around the bar dry, and then used silicone grease on the bracket so it slipped over the top of the bushing, I believe that's the correct way to go, although different people have different opinions.

I put Lemforder drop links on at the same time.

Thank you, I know to some people it might be an easy job but it proved quite difficult for me with all to coming and going. Big win for me today, if only you could here the sigh of relief when I got them torqued down

Big thanks to Cass who listened to all my whining and helped out so much.

That's all from me because this is starting to sound like an Oscars speech lol.

WOOOOO !

Good work

Finish is perfect

Had to take the gearbox and sump off to get at the rear main crankshaft seal. They're notorious for giving up the ghost.

Treated myself to an uprated clutch kit while I was at it.

I'm planning on changing every seal and gasket that I can.

The timing belt side will be next on the hit list once this side is sorted out.

Looks aluminum which is odd enough.

Always forget B Series engines use a mechanical distributor. There must be upgrades for that now?

It is indeed ceramic coated, so is the downpipe. It's custom from there on back. I absolute didn't want an exhaust that would drone or be too loud. It's just right imho.

You're absolutely spot on about the seals too. They're all shot and I'm replacing as many as I can. The two crank seals are a massive job as you can see. The drive shaft seals are gone too, they're on route as we speak.

What suspension on the prelude

It left the factory with about 185bhp. I'll be hoping to get it up to about 210 with a bit of luck but we'll see.

Not as big job as Mr Toast above, in fact a tiny one :)

So, I put the key in my door and the lock cylinder/tumbler came out with the key! Had to remove the handle to re-insert a pin that had fallen down. The cylinder was in a bad way, 39 years of gunk had locked basically all bar 1 or 2 of the 10 wafers into the key in position.

Soaked it in penetrating fluid overnight and gently tapped the wafers out, very carefully noting the order by placing them into a tablet blister pack. The I knocked said blister back onto the ground!

Wafers should be popped out by a spring when no key inserted:

Partway through reassembly. The pin on the part on the right is what fell out.

Finished:

Actually, I found it very therapeutic :) But pro tip - don't knock all your wafers and springs off the table. Impressive stuff with your jobs!

Took the day off today and got stuck into this. It was tricky asf to do on my own using an engine hoist and a trolly jack but I just kept at it.

I've earned a few cold Guinness and I can't wait to crack one open.

I'm very tempted to take tomorrow off and get all the seals on the timing belt side done as well.

EDIT. Sorry about the sideways image again!

Some day for it, you working outside?

That is the dream, I would love a spot like that myself.

Is there space for a ramp? You can get a decent two post for less than 2k now.

3 lads going in 700 each would get a very nice lift, I wouldn't be without one now. I wouldn't do any work on the ground these days. As soon as I put on in at home I'd get every friend looking to use it

I'm stuck waiting on seals so I decided to strip the suspension and brakes to to clean and refurb them.

I sprayed both front inner arches in bitumen coating after a good scrub too.

I'm waiting on some new bushes and upper ball joints to land and I'll press them into the upper control arm when they do.

Everything else got scrubbed and painted too, I'm really looking forward to putting them all back in place.

Should be interesting to see how it handles now with all the new bits and pieces.

@Titzon Toast what seats in the prelude

Thanks very much. It was all very tired looking as it was.

I've been pacing up and down waiting for this box to arrive.

Gonna head down to the workshop in a couple of hours and get stuck in.

I got one side buttoned down and put the half shaft in so I could refill the gearbox oil. I put the down pipe back on and and structural brace back in too.

I didn't bother putting the passenger side suspension bits back in yet so I'd have a bit more room to strip the timing side during the week.

I had an apprentice to help me change the gearbox oil and hand me tools. Only cost me a Twirl for his few hours work.

I'm giving him my old tool box and some stuff to go in it. I was actually surprised how handy he was.

That's all he kept asking me while we were there. I couldn't believe it.

I'm gonna get him something to work on for himself. I was never given that and it's all I ever wanted as a kid.