[Majestic Moose]

BTW, that exhaust temp sensor only lights a dash light so has no other function as far as I can tell.

That is good to know. We can save the $90 for something else, thanks!

[Majestic Moose]

I replaced the torsion bar bushings on the blue van. They weren’t bad but the new ones are more substantial and I’m trying to fix the steering shake around 50mph and up.


I got the steering centerlink out to replace the main bushing but it’s actually in good shape but the ball joint boots are dry rotted and cracked. The joints are fine. I’m hoping I can get replacement boots somewhere. A new centerlink is $350!


I don’t know why my photos aren’t showing.

[NSXguy]

Replacing those same parts completely cured the 50+ mph shake on our Acty.
My center bushing was somewhat worn, but @Scott at Team Harco let me use his press for the new one.
I hope you can source some new boots somewhere...

No recent news on our microvan to share, but I did pick up yet another mid-engined Honda that could use a good going-through.
This is a 1981 Express SR (NX50) scooter that hasn't been run after a few years in storage.

[NSXguy]

Interesting goings-on in Texas regarding Kei Trucks;

https://www.theautopian.com/texan-becom ... -car-bans/

[XR4Tim]

Interesting goings-on in Texas regarding Kei Trucks;

https://www.theautopian.com/texan-becom ... -car-bans/

The AAMVA sounds like an HOA that ran out of things to police.

[NSXguy]

We came across this Lego-like knockoff Acty van, so said what the heck and bought one;

https://buildminibricks.com/products/honda-acty-van

I'll post pix once built

[NSXguy]

No news yet on the Acty since we don't get our fun vehicles out of Winter Storage mode until Memorial Day weekend.

But I acquired a scooter project (semi-basket case) over the Winter and finally got it running right yesterday.
It's a 1981 Honda Express SR which was only made in 81 & 82, powered by a 2-stroke 49cc mill connected to a CVT (snowmobile-like) belt drive.
It hadn't run in a few years, and the previous owner had started to bypass the oil injection system in favor of running premix...so not knowing the background as to WHY, I continued along that path.
After struggling with the complex (oil injection plus auto-choke) original carb, I bailed and bought an aftermarket standard one and retrofitted it to the engine.
It now finally runs properly, so we'll be testing it by bombing around the paddock at Mid-Ohio this weekend
Being a pit support vehicle, I attached a trailer hitch to the rear rack to also tow our wagon.
Then I constructed a wooden framework to facilitate transporting it on our hitch carrier.

[NSXguy]

The antique scooter worked very well last weekend, and I got a lot of positive comments on it too.

[NSXguy]

I attended the attempted Nascar race at MIS today (arrrgh), but did notice a couple Kei trucks circulating around the Infield selling Ice and stuff.
< sorry about the blurry photo, it was a major zoom-in and my camera autofocus apparently couldn't handle it >

[NSXguy]

Hey, Majestic Moose.....any updates on your project vans?

After dealing with a hot restart issue on our Acty microvan, I replaced the Ignitor (a 4-pin module that attaches to the exterior of the Distributor) and that seems to have solved it

We drove it to a local car show today, and as per normal it received lots of positive attention.

[Majestic Moose]

Both vans have been running great. The steering shake is gone. I was able to get those boots for the center link through one of the main Acty suppliers.
They are so fun to drive, just don't be in any hurry to get anywhere. They are slow but also get a lot of attention and questions.

[NSXguy]

We got new garage door openers, so had to move our pair of silver mid-engined Hondas out for a while.
The Acty almost makes the S2000 look like a big car

[fpena944]

Just saw this one on BAT which is a pickup:

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1990- ... 2024-10-06

[NSXguy]

I'm seeing Kei vehicles around more, including this Mazda at the SCCA Runoffs as a pit support vehicle last week.

[Majestic Moose]

The blue van is back. It starts right up from a cold start but once it gets warmed up it starts misfiring and stalling out. I think the ignition coil has gone bad.

[NSXguy]

The blue van is back. It starts right up from a cold start but once it gets warmed up it starts misfiring and stalling out. I think the ignition coil has gone bad.

It could be a few things...

A Coil is on the suspect list, but so is the Ignitor that screws onto the Distributor .
You may also want to check to see if your fuel pump is creating a vacuum in the gas tank after driving a bit, if so the vent line/check valve on the top of the tank might be clogged causing fuel starvation.

Oh, and we need more pictures

[Majestic Moose]

That is a good idea I will open the gas cap when it starts acting up and see if that helps before I order parts. Thanks.
I will put up some photos this weekend.

[Majestic Moose]

No change with opening the gas cap and I tested the two solenoids on the carburetor and they click with 12v applied. It’s probably the coil or igniter.

[NSXguy]

I hope you get it sorted quickly!

LOVE the pictures, so please keep 'em coming

[NSXguy]

Hey MM, I just noticed that the blue microvan has a rear hatch lock/unlock switch.
I've not seen that before, so do all the doors have electric locks...or just the hatch?

[Majestic Moose]

Hey MM, I just noticed that the blue microvan has a rear hatch lock/unlock switch.
I've not seen that before, so do all the doors have electric locks...or just the hatch?

Only the hatch. This one is a 94 but the 92 has it too.

[NSXguy]

Having successfully filled the Left motor mount with urethane, I inspected the Right motor mount.
While in better shape than the 1st one, I decided to fill it as well.
One thing of note, once opened the urethane doesn't stay liquid in the containers forever...so it's best to plan to do multiples in succession.

[Majestic Moose]

I'm still struggling with the van. I rebuilt the carburetor. What a hassle that was to get in and out but made no difference. With a timing light hooked up I'm finding the ignition cuts out when the engine is warm and I give it throttle. It idles fine.
I replaced the ignitor module mounted to the side of the distributor and replaced the Orings since I had to remove it to get access to the screws for the igniter. No change.
Then I got a replacement NOS ignition coil. It's a nightmare of a job with barely room for one hand and I bent the mounting bracket while removing the bolts. I had to remove the bracket and straighten it out then reinstall with the new coil and now I get no spark at all.
I have a brand new coil and coil condensor on order.

[NSXguy]

You might try taking the ignition switch apart and cleaning it, that helped me a bit.
I'm still struggling with a van that runs and drives great, but does not want to do a hot restart.
After an hour or so cool-down, it fires right up and drives great once again...
I have a cap/rotor/plug wires and a coil to throw at it yet, so hopefully one of those solves the issue!
It's nap time in the garage now anyway, so it'll have to wait until Spring.

[Majestic Moose]

I replaced the coil and condensor - no change. Well it starts and runs as with the original coil and cuts out when warmed up. I will try messing with the ignition switch.

[Majestic Moose]

Result! The rotor contact was completely worn through. I have no idea how it would run at all. I had taken off the distributor cap before and it looked fine but I didn’t take a good look at the rotor. That’ll teach me to assume.

[NSXguy]

Thanks for the update MM, that's kind of a big deal
I have all new ignition parts waiting in their boxes, so will check my old ones for wear as well...
Be sure to let us know if this fixes the issue long-term!

[Majestic Moose]

I drove it 1.5 hours yesterday and it ran great.

[NSXguy]

I drove it 1.5 hours yesterday and it ran great.

That's some good news, no hot restart issues either then?

[Majestic Moose]

No it starts instantly.

[N_Jay]

No Connection to seller

https://www.facebook.com/share/166JDJ7rPk/

[yellowducman]

I'd like to have one of those but I would want one that dumps to replace one of the UTV's I got. It would be a little bit bigger but I think it would be more useful because of the larger payload. I'm not sold on driving on the road as I live far enough out that we have to go 60 MPH to get anywhere.

[NSXguy]

I'd like to have one of those but I would want one that dumps to replace one of the UTV's I got. It would be a little bit bigger but I think it would be more useful because of the larger payload. I'm not sold on driving on the road as I live far enough out that we have to go 60 MPH to get anywhere.

You should try to test drive one, just to see if it fits your needs.
They are quite capable off-road, but much slower than a typical UTV.
On the road, our Acty van tops out at 73mph but is MUCH happier in the 40-60 range.
Oh and we have a strict no crashing rule, because that would be rather ugly

[NSXguy]

We test drove a Honda Stepwgn (correct spelling) and with the B20B 2.0L engine it scooted along just fine.
120+HP makes a big difference, to say the least

[NSXguy]

We upgraded the GPS Speedo/Compass/Clock/Multi gauge on the dash of the Acty with this unit;
(limited time smokin' deal at $15) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D9H4K72N?re ... asin_title
Like the old/simpler unit, it just plugs into a USB...which in the Acty is a switched version that pops into the 12V (lighter) power port.

[NSXguy]

Not to derail my own Acty thread, but we ended up buying the Honda Stepwgn as well...so we now have 2 kind of funky JDM vans in the stable
This one is the Field Deck version, which just means that it has a rooftop pop-up tent from the factory like a VW Westphalia.
Of course we fitted another of those $15 GPS speedo/combo gauges like we put in the Acty, they just work so well.

[NSXguy]

Another Stepwgn update
The super cool original JDM (factory optional) Gathers WX-212M stereo/CD/MiniDisc player worked OK, but since there is very little overlap in our FM frequencies...tuning in USA stations was tough.
So we turned to Crutchfield to buy a modern touchscreen multimedia double-DIN unit to replace the Gathers unit.
Their ReadyHarness Service made the wiring aspect of the upgrade Plug-and-Play, so well worth the $27 they charged
We did notice that the FM stations in the lower range of the band seemed to come in better, so after talking to some knowledgeable folks we decided to also replace the external radio antenna.
Our early test seems to indicate that the replacement antenna works better, so time will tell!
Old school JDM stereo;

The new BOSS Audio Multimedia Player;

The antenna swap (Black is new, Silver twist-tied to it is old);

[NSXguy]

OK, a couple more Stepwgn photos...
I had a JDM-esque front plate made to answer some basic questions at car shows, which does help preemptively unfurl some folks' eyebrows
I'm not sure if the antenna swap made much of a difference, as radio reception still seems a bit marginal overall...
BUT after pulling the BOSS multimedia player out of the dash and Grounding the "parking brake" wire, it will now play videos (DVD/MPEG/etc) so it was worth the additional PITA

[NSXguy]

Once the new head unit was in, it was time to Upgrayedd the speakers.
I installed 4 matching Kenwood co-axials in the front doors and rear side panels, which were a marked improvement.
James Taylor sounded pretty darned good

[NSXguy]

OK, back to Acty content...

Someone brought his Microvan to a local car show today, so we talked for a bit.
It was a STREET model in 2WD with A/C, and still carburated.
I confirmed with him that his license plate indeed encourages higher HP cars to go around him

[NSXguy]

The Acty valve cover has been slightly weeping since we got it, so today was the day to pull it.
I gave the cover a vigorous cleaning and even repainted it, then used Hondabond to glue the new gasket in place.
While waiting for paint and adhesive to dry, I also replaced the cap, rotor and plug wires for good measure.
I plan on reassembly tomorrow

[NSXguy]

Success, it's back together and the now fancy lookin' valve cover no longer drips!
Bonus, the new distributor cap/rotor/wires do seem to have perked up the running a bit too
< now with pictures >

[NSXguy]

Took the Acty microvan to a Car Show today, and someone we know with a Subaru Sanbar minitruck also showed up.
They parked right next to us, so many folks checked out our pair of JDM Kei cars with interest.

[Majestic Moose]

Nice work. Our vans are running in top shape.

[NSXguy]

Nice work. Our vans are running in top shape.

That's great Alex, how about some gratuitous pictures to keep this thread alive?
As in, if you empty an ashtray let us know and include a snapshot

[NSXguy]

More car show stuff, as last Sunday we attended a large 21st annual Van Show that comes to Baker's (Milford, MI) every year.
We brought our JDM's and other than one VW Westphalia, were the only non-American machines out of around 70 total.
The Acty even won the (um, er, coveted???) "what the heck is that?" award
Good times!

[Majestic Moose]

[NSXguy]

The Stepwgn has keyless entry, but while you could hear the rear hatch lock motor trying...it couldn't actually lock or unlock the hatch.
Amazon had a new (China) lock motor assembly for $25, so I gave it a go and it works!
The best tool to R&R the assembly was a tiny ratcheting screwdriver

[NSXguy]

Just another picture of the Acty microvan at Baker's of Milford (our favorite weekly car show), we always have interested folks "try it on" by putting them in the driver's seat.....especially young budding auto enthusiasts

[NSXguy]

Here's a short video of a guy describing his Acty van, I'm not on FB but could still view it anyway;

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1098977832199893