Merlin's 2.2 VTi H22a8

[Merlin]

Merlin's 2.2 VTi H22a8





I bought the car in March of 2009, it replaces my old black 97 VTi. I had no intention of getting rid of the 97 but when I saw this car for sale I had to get it, it was too good to pass up. Before me the car had one owner from new, was completely factory standard and had covered 74,000 miles.

Being that I drive 90% country roads I needed to get the car more suited to the roads I drive. The standard suspension and brakes were not up to the job, the suspension was too boucy and the brakes were crap. Plus the standard ride height of the 5G is fugly.

Major changes to the car

Car as standard





New spension and brakes







Adding the bodykit - Mugen replica front bumper, Honda Motegi replica sides, Mugen replica rears.

























































Current Spec:

Engine / transmission:

Stock H22a8 @ 203bhp & 153 lb/ft
Stock M2P4 gearbox
Stock H22a8/Type S intake with K&N filter
H23 timing belt conversion kit
NGK Iridum spark plugs
Magnecor Electrosports 80 (8mm) Ignition leads (the blue ones )
HAMP oil filter

Suspension / wheels / brakes:

Front & rear upper strut braces
Tein Basic coilovers using stock upper mounts

17" Gunmetal Rota C10 wrapped in Uniroyal RainSport 3's 215/45/17
Muteki tuner 36g lightweight wheel nuts

16" OEM blades wrapped in MaxSport RB5 205/50/16 road legal semi-slicks
OEM chrome wheel nuts

Honda Accord Type-R front brake conversion
Pagid 50351 Blank discs
Pagid OEM style pads
Goodridge braided brake hoses with SS connectors
Castrol Super DOT 4 brake fluid

Exterior:

Honda Crystal Blue Metallic Paint
OEM headlights with black housing
JDM Fog lights
Climair wind deflectors
Clear front indicators
Clear side indicators
Honda Motegi front lip
Generic Fibreglass Honda Motegi replica side skirts
Generic Fibreglass Mugen replica rear spats

Interior:

Standard full leather seats with heated front seats
Leather arm rest cover
Honda Zebra floor mats
Prelude chrome sill covers / kick plates
Mugen style alloy pedals
OEM titanium ring speedo/rev counter gauge pod
Original Pioneer CD headunit







For more pics see my gallery:
http://www.ludegeneration.co.uk/gallery ... ms/Merlin/

For my full profile check PUK:
http://preludeuk.forumup.com/viewtopic. ... =preludeuk

[Kawa]

[nitin_s1]

Not bad for a UKDM..

[SeanVTi]

Nice, more into the JDM scene though but this looks good

[Merlin]

Small updates lifed from my Profile on PUK, I will show more love to LG from now on
I have had these an a box for the last year or so I got around to fitting them at last. JDM black titanium bezels:

Old UKDM bezel:


New JDM black titanium bezel:






@ Total Jap Car 17/07/2011

[Kawa]

That last pic is smart

[JayJay]

One of the few reasons I might consider a 5th gen one day

[Merlin]

21/07/11 - Colin McRae Vision charity event - Track Scotland @ Knockhill

Format - 2 hour open pit session
Cost - £70 + £10 donation for extra driver + £10 donation for each passenger ride in any car
Conditions - Humid, Warm with showers

A two hour open pit on Thursday night for charity. I gave the Prelude new front discs & pads and new tyres before this day. The new tyres gave about 30 mins of ultimate grip, but then soon leveled out to what I'm used to from RainSport 2's. The only problem I had was that it seems my rear left caliper is sticking. This gave off a groaning noise which was fine at speed, but raised a few eyebrows in the pits. I got a tiny bit of brake judder, not enough to slow me down . The Prelude was great in the wet/dry, greasy at times, conditions and through the corners was keeping up with some specialised equipment .

As it was a charity night you got the opportunity to go for passenger laps in any car that the driver was willing. I got to go out in a grey Nissan R35 GTR and an Ariel Atom, my mate Steve got out in the same GTR and the 2010 time attack champion Fiona Kinness's R32 GTR.

Some pics of what else was out on track:





















The Prelude in good company. A TVR Cerbera, R35 GTR, 2 Atom's and a Noble M12 just behind



Out on track
































Pretty sure this is my mate Steve in the GTR


Video's The fourth one is probably the best, most cars on track at one time. The spin off in the 3rd is worth a watch.

[youtube]KvGK_-WPEfE[/youtube]
Cars in vid - Green Beemer, White R35 GTR, Grey Beemer, Ariel Atom, White Focus RS

Lap times
1 1.13
2 1.11
3 1.12
4 1.19


[youtube]9YaNIFz8Ijg[/youtube]
Cars in vid - White R32 GTR, Blue Skoda, White R35 GTR, Blue Clio, Noble M12, Audi 80, Purple TVR, White RS Focus, Ariel Atom, Grey R35 GTR, Blue Subaru, Silver MR2, Subaru Wagon, Lotus Elise, Ariel Atom, White Evo, Black Evo

Lap times
1 1.15
2 1.10
3 1.11
4 1.11
5 1.11
6 1.10
7 1.09
8 1.20
9 1.15
10 1.13


[youtube]ixrEJxg9vfo[/youtube]
Cars in vid - Green Beemer, White Evo (Spins off @ 4.50), Blue Subaru, Grey Beemer

Lap times
1 1.1
2 1.09
3 1.09
4 1.12
5 1.16


[youtube]aBB8his8i0U[/youtube]
Cars in vid - Too many to list.

Lap times
1 1.13
2 1.11
3 1.11
4 1.08
5 1.08
6 1.09
7 1.11
8 1.14
9 1.14
10 1.09

Edit - Lap times added

Added lap times. Last day out on a warm dry track I got a PB of 1.07, This Sunday on a damp slippery track (with these new tryes) I hit 1.08 which is good going IMO . I couldnt get consistent lap times as the track was busy with a real mix of cars slower and alot faster the the Lude, so I was either being held up or having to get out the way of fast cars.

[Kawa]

A few vauxhall tank slappers in the 4th vid.

It's hard to appreciate speed in the vids, until you hear the tires scream in the corners

[Merlin]

My entry speed into the first corner (Duffus Dip) is 65-70 mph, get it worng and your off!!