2001 Honda S2000

[Gary71]

Drove it for the first time today after a basic string alignment… it’s SO much better than before, matching tyres probably account for most of it but it’s really nice.



Proper alignment on Friday and then we can enjoy it for the summer.

2nd gear synchro is weak though, which is going to be frustrating as quick downshifts are off the menu.

Looking for a good used box for a swap whilst the original is rebuilt.

[sladey]

Good stuff - very satisfying

[Gary71]

And an MOT pass with no advisories! Result.
Based on its checkered past that now looks like a dodgy MOT

Now the geometry is done it brakes in a straight line and feels more planted.

I’m happy just how close I got the toe settings with a bit of string and a ruler

Looking back through its history the last set of front pads fitted cost £15… fitted. That might explain the brake pedal going slightly soft after one enthusiastic roundabout stop…

New Brembo front pads now bought to be fitted tomorrow and bedded in on the way to Loton park!



I hate MOTs. Worse than exams, particularly after we’ve put so much work into the car.
Great to get a clean pass.

A box of gearbox parts is travelling the globe from Japan and together with a good used 2nd gear pair and a set of synchrotech carbon rings. A local enthusiast has offered to rebuild the box using these bits for £100… cheaper than me buying the tools to do it!

Other than this gearshift issue the car is so sweet so this will be lovely once it’s sorted.

[neilbardsley]

Congratulations

Sent from my M2004J19C using Tapatalk

[bjmullan]

Fab story Gary, enjoy the rest of the summer

[Gary71]

Cheers, It’s certainly an interesting thing to drive.

The engine is really something special, you find yourself driving at 7k like it’s 4k, it’s so smooth you don’t even notice. The way it slams into the 9k limiter makes it feel like it would do 10k if let off the leash.

Graham has kindly offered a spare place that came up for the hillclimb school so I’ll be double driving with my son. He’s not driven it further than backing it out of the garage so it will be a steep learning curve

Hope it doesn’t rain…

[yoda]

Great project and lovely cars. I had a superb drive through Wales in one when they were new and it was a really special car. Roof down, engine singing and a great gearchange (once you've rebuilt the box!). What is not to like?

[210bhp]

Congrats to you both. Really enjoyed your thread Gary. Hope to see you at a hill climb sometime.

Regards
Mike

[Gary71]

Popped over to the local shop today…



Came away with a wallet lighter to the tune of an Bell FIA helmet and balaclava.

Not that I’m planning to compete.
Obviously not

I did it many years back and this Honda is just begging for a stiffer set up and a diet

[Gary71]

Great day at the hill today, think we did 7 runs each in total, lost count!

Many thanks to Graham for organising and of course the marshals and instructors.

Car was faultless, you can just feel the potential in it!

[911hillclimber]

The look on you and your son's faces through the day was a treat, both well and truly hooked.
Loton Park is a real challenge of a hill and loved by many, and what a place to run the car.
Your son was really bouncing with joy!
There is a very good Loton Park Championship....

It was my last school day, have organised 21 of them, and have decided to give it a rest and allow another to develop it further.
A lot of hard work behind the scenes by many.

So pleased you both enjoyed it.

[Gary71]

Cheers Graham it was most enjoyable. Looking back on the videos you can see just how slow we were!

We had a couple of odd noises from the back end after the drive home from Loton so had a good poke underneath today.

One of the rear disc backing plates was bent and was running about 0.5mm from the disc so any vibration and it buzzed against it. Quick tweak and that’s done.

The bigger noise was the exhaust banging on the subframe when it was really hot. Think we might have bent it accidentally whilst moving it around so we dropped it off, bent it back and it fits! Tailpipes are now in the middle of the bumper and it doesn’t knock.

And we cleaned (some of) the garage floor with thinners and a DA polisher with a 3M pad! Fumes!!!

[Gary71]

We did a trackday at Oulton Park yesterday… didn’t go entirely to plan!

On the sighting laps I ribbed my son for a particular bad gearshift when the revs flared, he protested he’d done nothing… (you can see where this is going)

He did about 5 laps in the first session and came in describing the symptoms of a slipping clutch, I went out to double check and accelerated from the end of the pit lane and got 7k in 2nd at 20mph... Limped it back to the garage and parked it so we still had enough clutch to get home.

Box is now 3/4 out ready for the final push today. Got to be the hardest box I’ve ever had to remove, and I’ve done a Triumph Stag…

We were taking it out anyway to fix 2nd, but this just increased the parts bill! Also found a tear in one of the engine hydro-mounts so a pair of those will be on the list as well.

All the fun of old cars!

[Gary71]

Box is now out, it’s all in the technique to get it past the manifold! Small subframe drop, including disconnecting the rack was the magic method.




The clutch friction disc itself isn’t too worn, but as expected the sleeve the release bearing slides on was completely chewed. The release bearing and pressure plate look well past their best.




I guess last time it had ‘a clutch’ it literally just had a new friction disc.

I think our clutch slip may have been the release bearing sticking on the sleeve and holding the clutch open. New three piece clutch will be going back in, probably OE.

Box will now be heading off for a rebuild once the box of Honda bearings and things turn up from Japan.

Slowly but surely getting there!

[johnM]

Must be frustrating Gary. It just think how much your son is learning.

Next track day will be much more rewarding.