How's it going folks!

A friend pointed me to this site saying there are alot of helpful "Honda-Heads" that post up frequently. I sure hope he wasn't tuggin' my last stable nerve...


Here's a short of my situation:

Bought a 1984 Prelude from a guy who in turn bought it from the original owner. Owner #1 passed away and his widow let the car sit in their garage untouched for almost 8 years.

Owner #2 is a few cards short of a full deck. He didn't clean out the gas tank or carbs. He didn't even top the tank with fresh fuel. The car naturally wouldn't start so he cracks open a can of "Starting Fluid". Car fired up. He kept feeding it starting fluid and revving the hell out of the engine to "clean out the carbs and intake".

The engine back fired of course, and when it did it blew the pulley end of the cam off. But the guy kept trying to get it to fire back up using his trusty aero-ether.

I expressed an interest in the car when he first got it and before he even opened the hood. He paid $250.00 for it I offered $500.

He said he'd think about it. A week alater he calls and said he was strapped for cash and wanted to know if I still wanted the car. I asked if he had done anything at all to it since he got it...he said:"Nope". I bought it.

Hauled it home on a flat-bed. Installed a new battery and cables because the was none in place.

Pulled and cleaned the gas tank (nothing but gooey gel in there). Pulled all the belts and hooked a drill and pulley to the oil pump and got oil flowing throught the engine before trying to start it. Pulled the carbs, inspected the floats and bowls, did some minor cleaning with compressed air and STP.

After getting everything back together and checking the vac hose termination points I tried to start it. Not sputter or pop one. Took off distributor cap and bumped the engine over and rotor didn't budge. Im thinking timing belt.

Get the time cover off and the pulley is melted to the upper cover...

I open the glove box to see i the OM is there and viola...can of starting fluid...long story short ...I was more than ready to rumble.

I ordered a new cam and gaskets, oil pump, water pump, and igniter (all OEM).

Installed them. She fired up first time I hit the key...but will not idle below 1800 rpm under any circumstance.

I've field stripped it of all original vacuum line and installed an OEM vac kit. No joy.

I asked around...was told replace the carbs...$600 later...no joy.

I can feather the throttle and keep her up. She runs smooth and like a champ while in motion (actually better than I imagined it ever would).

Took her to a Honda dealer...dealer service writer said he didn't know of ANY ONE that worked on "those old dinosaurs".

Here I am close to 2k tied up in this little car and everyone is saying I should have known better than to buy an "obsolete" car. Pfffft....a few buds with their little noisey Nissans have STFU after a brief back road game of "catch me if you can". The 'Lude owned several Nissans and a Yota that the guy brags he put all competition parts in. But getting her to start is a royal pain...and idling...well......here I am.

An import auto mechanic confirmed I have the timing lined up correctly but scratched his butt on the idle issue saying he's not "familar" with all that vacuum crap.

I replaced the #1 and #1 vac control boxes and all hoses. New fuel filters and pump.

Is anyone out there that can possibly point me at something I overlooked? My last ditch hope for part replacement is the distributor, but if it runs great above idle it should do the same at idle and start up.

If you guys can help me I'd be forever grateful. I love this little bucket and hate to think of it as scrap or a trap for some other poor sucker like myself.

From what I've learned from Honda USA it has the ET2 L4 2x1BBL 1.8L motor. No power interior options except moon roof.

Thanks For hanging This Long!
Jeff