Engine Porn!

[Obsessive]

With a new clear engine window the rocker cover was begging for some colour!

I decided to go with Yellow (the Beats original colour) simply because it's so damn bright and keeps some of the original car, besides what's the point in being subtle :D

The Yellow that's left in the engine bay now looks intentional, rather then a bit I'd missed with the re-spay.

Engine lighting to follow....

[steveinjapan]

That is gorgeous for sure.

I forget - did you do a rebuild? If not how did you get it so clean? I've tried some spray engine cleaners that don't work to speak of.

[Obsessive]

That is gorgeous for sure.

I forget - did you do a rebuild? If not how did you get it so clean? I've tried some spray engine cleaners that don't work to speak of.

Thanks,

No rebuild, the rocker cover came off to get sprayed yellow and the bits that look "clean" were hand painted painted silver or black ;)

[steveinjapan]

Thanks,

No rebuild, the rocker cover came off to get sprayed yellow and the bits that look "clean" were hand painted painted silver or black ;)

Ah, that makes sense... Obsessive :)

But it seems to me that back in the day, engine cleaners actually brightened up the metal, especially aluminum. They musta taken the good stuff out for environmental reasons.

[Obsessive]

Ah, that makes sense... Obsessive :)

But it seems to me that back in the day, engine cleaners actually brightened up the metal, especially aluminum. They musta taken the good stuff out for environmental reasons.

Can't say I've had much experience with engine cleaning products. Nor can I take the credit for the paint job. I have a good Russian mechanic friend who I left the Beat with to do that.

[TADO]

that looks brilliant - very nicely done :D

[Obsessive]

that looks brilliant - very nicely done :D

Thanks Mike,

I think some new HT leads are now required. The beat still has the originals which are now 20 years old. I noticed you had some pretty snazzy looking ones. Any idea where I could look to find some which are not the usual black colour?

[TADO]

mine are nology ones - cool wire i think theyre called - they list the beat on their online catalogue. theyre black with little bits of colour in em.
they also do some called hotwires with a built in capacitor but i head some quite mixed reviews about them.

[Obsessive]

Sweet, plus it looks like they do them in Yellow.
Shocking website! There is no direct link to the "Cool Wires" page!

http://www.nology.com/coolwires.html

Plus there is no option to select Beat on the purchase page, even though I can find it listed under "Product applications"

I've sent them an email and am keeping my fingers crossed!

[TADO]

yip - its not great is it! i think i had to order them through one of their dealers here who then ordered it from nology.
im sure its probably the same as several other honda sets just without the 4th wire!

[Obsessive]

I see what you mean about the mixed feed back.

http://iwcweb.com/eclipse/html/warning.html

That's some terrible damage control going on there! I was tempted to suggest that they sort out the missing links on the website but after reading that lot figured I'd be wasting my time :rolleyes:

Still the leads do look cool :D

[TADO]

haha - i think that page some how comes up top every time you google hotwires - i read it with interest at the time too.

[Obsessive]

I'm starting to understand why Nology get such poor customer service feed back. It's now been a week since I emailed them and I still have not got a reply!:explode:

[Obsessive]

So I finally heard back from Nology. They no longer make the Cool Wire leads and tried to sell me the Hotwire range and new plugs!

Personally I don't buy into the built in capacitor, extra performance thing. It seems to be all smoke and mirrors!

Anyone else think this is bullshit? http://www.nology.com/hot.html

[steveinjapan]

So I finally heard back from Nology. They no longer make the Cool Wire leads and tried to sell me the Hotwire range and new plugs!

Personally I don't buy into the built in capacitor, extra performance thing. It seems to be all smoke and mirrors!

Anyone else think this is bullshit? http://www.nology.com/hot.html

Even if it produces a hotter, fatter spark, it is hard to imagine how it could result in any more power than a normal spark from a modern ignition system. Interesting they don't mention any effect on plug life... one might suspect that it would be reduced.

[Obsessive]

Even if it produces a hotter, fatter spark, it is hard to imagine how it could result in any more power than a normal spark from a modern ignition system. Interesting they don't mention any effect on plug life... one might suspect that it would be reduced.

I just get the feeling that it's all smoke and mirrors!

Given how long they took to respond to my email along with the general feedback and the fact that they can't be arsed to sort out the website. I'll be avoiding them!

The hunt for some matching HT leads continues....

[Obsessive]

So I've finally got around to getting the lighting sorted out in the engine bay. Photos attached.

Whilst at it I also decided to light up the air intakes after painting the inside area black.

I'll update about the leads soon. I've been talking to Top Gun leads and they have been very helpful and are willing to make me a custom set. :D

[steveinjapan]

Love how the side vents light up - it helps to locate the daughter ship, doesn't it?

[steveinjapan]

I just get the feeling that it's all smoke and mirrors!

Given how long they took to respond to my email along with the general feedback and the fact that they can't be arsed to sort out the website. I'll be avoiding them!

The hunt for some matching HT leads continues....

Word to the wise: GET NEW RUBBER SLEEVES whether or not you replace the leads! My car just died suddenly a few minutes ago after a quick right turn. First time I'd ever been stranded in the Beat, and facing all the unfamiliar dash lights and no starting..... Expecting the worst (it was a bad day in general: 2 other family cars have problems...), I rolled to the curb, took off the engine hatch, and quickly noticed that the center HT lead was off the distributor! A silent prayer of thanks and then home again. I really was not pulling that many G's in the corner, so apparently those things can just slip off!

[Obsessive]

That's not one you'de expect! At least is was an easy fix and you've got no damage to sort out :)

[Obsessive]

My new Leads arrived today. :bounce:

It was quite a process as they have been custom made.

A big thumbs up to Heidi at Top Gun Ignition Lead Specialists (http://www.topgunleads.com.au/products.html) who has been superb and really gone the extra mile to help.

Needless to say there were heaps of measurements to take (I was sent a measurement list) and I now know that the Leads are made up of many separate parts.

Spark Boot, top, tube, lead etc and all need to be just right.

I've kept a note of all the details so if anyone else is looking for a custom set then let me know and I'll pass the details on.

[unclejemima]

Wow, looking good!!!

[Beatman]

Yeah thats some nice detailing on the rocker cover, going to do something similair myself.
Lets us know how the clear engine cover holds up, got quite a bit of heat to contend with! Wonder if it will yellow over time?

Do you think Top gun would have added the details to their database?

[Obsessive]

Thanks, The clear engine cover is holding up well. I've had to re-glue the rubber around the sides, but no signs of yellowing. The UV is very harsh here in NZ so that would probably be the killer rather then the heat. I try and keep the Beat stored under the car port most of the time.

I still have all the measurement details of the leads from my emails to Topgun, so if they have not added the Beat to their database then let me know and I'll forwards you the details.