Lude Generation

I thought I’d migrate my “build” from the ATR forum for those that are interested (or when they need the room are considering a move on from a Lude to an ATR)

Now bear in mind, when I sold the Prelude and bought the ATR, the missus said something along the lines of me not spending so much time and money on it as I did the Lude, and of course I replied that apart from the occasional wash, I won’t be messing around with this one….

Yeah right!

So here is the me not doing anything to the car thread….


Here she is shortly after I bought her, a bit dirty though. Pictures are all from my phone, so excuse the quality -




1st off was taking out this old gem - ]



Sorry Andy, i know you liked the OEM look, but it doesn't play MP3s and i can't stand the likes of Chris Moyles and Sarah Cox, chewing their tongues on the radio, so i had to transfer my JVC HU from my other Accord. After taking out the centre console and using some BFI to take out the old HU, finally -



And with a subliminal message from Amen...




Next up, these arrived today, 501 Leds with lights all round so they make use of the reflectors.




Left one fitted, can't tell much as it's daylight, but no more yellow...



Rear plate lights, these look really good in the dark as the light spreads well -




I've also changed the H1 main beam lights to Ring Xenon Max (sorry, forgot the before & after pictures) and have some Xenon Max HB4's on order for the fog lights -




Taken about 4pm today. First, just the side lights -




HID's and side lights -




HID's, side lights and main beam -




Finally, Zippy has migrated from my old Accord after living there for a number of years, the car now feels like home...

First little photo shoot..

Car had been washed down with Optimum No Rinse (ONR) at the weekend, dried off with Autoglym Aquawax and tyres wiped over with Meguiars Endurance gel, still way to cold for me to get the polisher out.

"mist" washer jets -

Xsara jet next to an ATR jet.






Driver's side fitted -




Both sides fitted (after a quick trip to Halfords to buy a t-bar pipe splitter as i managed to break the one of the car using BF&I pulling the tubes off the old washer jets!)




A video inside the car with the driver's side fitted -




As above from the outside -




Both sides fitted, video from the inside -



Next up, brake-stopper fitted. Got there in the end, but would easier as a two man job when trying to put the nuts on the screws!





Intake back in place(this will all be hopefully going soon)




And whilst the bonnet was up, i went over all the plastic bits with Aerospace 303 Protectant. Rocker cover is another thing on the "to do" list

Tiiiiiifoooooon!!!!!!



Well with the help of my 11 year old, i managed it this morning! Took the lad out for a spin and his words "it sounds like the Prelude now, but better".

I replied "it's fooking awesome". He said "do you have to use the f word, you could have said "freakin' sweet" instead". I apologised for my excitement.

changed the rear anti roll bar bushes to polybush ones today, was a relatively easy job.

I still have the creaking, but i believe this is upper camber arm bush and hopefully PAW will be sorting that for me when it's due for the 96k service. Feels better going over pot holes and drains though.

The old and the new..




All fitted




Whilst i had it up on the axle stands i decided to freshen up these -




A couple of coats of engine lacquer later (i was going to repaint the hub black, but a quick polish up with a cloth and they weren't too bad, but the front will need doing.




Whilst the wheels were off i de-tarred and waxed up with a sample pot i had of FK Pink paste wax






All done, still have the fronts to do but that's another weekend.




Even the gods approved...

i thought i'd start on a "proper" clean. Not got the polisher on it since i bought it toward the end of last year so is about time. In between picking up someone for Sunday Lunch, going to the park with the kids etc, i managed to get the boot/rear end sorted, so still plenty of panels left for another day!

It's only light correction as i've run out of cutting polish, but still a vast improvement. Polish applied by DAS-6.

- Meg's #80 on a Meg's cutting pad
- Menzerna Final Finish on a Meg's polishing pad
- Poorboys Blackhole on a Meg's finishing pad
- Clearkote Carnuba Moose Wax


There are some quite bad scratches on the spoiler, too deep really for light correction, but still managed quite a good improvement. Photos were a nightmare, had to use manual focus to be able to take any pictures being a black car.

50/50 shot -



There are some real nasty bits on the boot lid that look like they have been got at with a Brillo pad. I wasn't holding up too much hope for these -






Came up quite well considering. 50/50 -






There was also this really bad scratch mark




Better, but this will need more work -




So after the wax with the top of the boot done -




Out came the credit card and i sliced off the "Accord" Badge -




After rubbing, then rubbing, then rubbing, then rubbing again with Autoglym Tar Remover and attacking with the DAS-6 -




And a few finished shots of the rear end outside -












Now i've just got to find time to sort out the rest of the car, although to be fair i think the boot was the worse, the rest of the panels look in reasonably good nick.

Another little change, Bosch Aeroblades. Coupled with the Xsara jets i can know fulfil my obsession of having a clean windscreen! Arms will need a touch up so i need to add that to my list of things to do. Oh, also gave the car a wash down again today, darn Wiltshire waterspots, but nice reflection from the bonnet! (pics taken on phone, so 'scuse the quality)






The rear bumper is still looking nice and shiny

i decided to de-blob the driver's seat. Gently hacked at it with a scalpel and came up a treat. It probably needs a bit more, but i'll give it a bit of time and then see if i can improve it at all.

Seat base before -



Seat base after -




Seat bolster before -



Seat bolster after -

Fitted the Climairs, big thanks to Andy @ VTEC Direct for sending them to me. I loved them on the Prelude i had, they stop the rain coming in if you have your window open a fraction, they act as a sideways sun visor, but most of all, the look uber cool!

Took an age to pick off the "Climair" stickers, but got there in the end with the aid of some tar & glue remover and then had to use some Duragloss 671 on a mcrofibre cloth to policy out the fine scratches left from my finger nail. Bit of a silly idea using the stickers that they do really.












Whilst i had the camera out, i took a picture of my aerial dude too

A right Royal treatment today....

My missus sat on the settee glued to the tv, my eldest sat upstairs playing on the pc and my youngest wanted to join in the festivities by joining me outside and cleaning his Green Machine.

My car was actually pretty clean, so today was the bonnet day (i've done the boot and roof, still have the sides to do now).

Sprayed with diluted ONR and wiped dry.
Clayed with Sonus Green & Megs LT
Spayed and wiped again with diluted ONR
Taped up ready

(Pictures all on the phone today so nothing fancy)




Meanwhile the lad got cracking on his Green Machine




Making good use of my axle stand!






Stopped for a bit of light lunch




Next onto the polishing

Megs #80 on a cutting pad
Menz Final Finish on a polishing pad
CG Blacklight on a polishing pad (x2)
CG V7 Wipedown












Then some Royal Bling