So I picked up a 98 Prelude with 89,000 miles a couple months ago as my daily driver. I was putting way too many miles on the S, and wanted the last gen prelude since way back in high school. It doesn't handle quite as well as I'd hoped (owned a 03 Celica that was way more fun) but it does have some umph to it. I was thinking about headers or a testpipe, as it already has an intake.

Does anyone have experience with these cars? Do they get any real gains from NA mods, or am I wasting my time?

 

They have some body roll, but they still handle very well in stock form. What kind of tires are on it? Just replacing the tires with some stiff-carcass max performance summer tires will make the biggest difference in handling and feel. And if you still don't like the handling after putting some good tires on it, I'd just put a set of springs and some Koni Sports on it and be done with it.

Like you said, it doesn't really need much more power. But a cold air intake will make the most noticable difference. Like the S2000, you are not going to get a lot of HP gains with bolt ons with an H22A Prelude.

Andrew

 

yeah, tires will make a big difference in the lude. don't know what tires your lude currently has, but the stock potenza re92 sucks.

 

I had an 2000 Prelude. I agree that stock potenza RE92 were horrible tires. A good set of tires, lowered with good springs and struts if you like, and add some sway bars for the body roll and the car will handle really nice. The engine is pretty strong in stock form and will benefit from the basic I/h/e.

I miss my prelude. It was very nice touring car very comfortable for the driver and front passenger not so much the rears. Smooth transmission. It would make a nice DD.

Here a pic of my nighthawk black Prelude.

Mods included JRSC, Apexi N1 exhaust, tanabe sustec coilovers, front/rear sways, VAFC, various JDM Prelude Type S parts (fog lights), Wings West RS kit, and many other things I can't think of.

BTW did you get the base or SH model?

Oh the memories.

 

not much gains on bolt on na mods

 

I also own a 1998 Prelude Type SH model and its fun to drive for a FWD. I added an AEM Cold Air Intake and honestly, its just for the sound. I mean it probably added like a HP or two, but its nothing you can notice.

 

Save the money and buy yourself a girlfriend

 

nos

 

k20a!! hahaha... just kidding. as a DD i'd keep the prelude's suspension relatively stock. maybe some sway bars and strut bars but that it. as for the power, if the stock power isn't enough, you could settle for some skunk2 stage 1 cams. the cams dont require any additional head mods and with a quick tune using hondata, uberdata or even a vafc you can dish out a few HP.

good luck.

 

prelude sucks. i drove a 2000 prelude for 3 years.
it's a slow ass unless u put a turbo. save your money and buy a car like STI, Evolution, or NSX.