NSX apprentice in Phoenix
I've driven the NSX at 172mph, I've tracked it at some of the most famous racetracks in the US....but my life would not be complete without some knowledge of how this wonderful machine works. What better way to learn than to attach myself to the hip of Mark Basch, known as THE master NSX technician, for a WHOLE week of NSX maintenance. After a great weekend pushing the NSX to the limit at Roebling Road, I hopped on a Continental flight and headed for the Valley of the Sun, home of Basch Acura Service where more NSXs get tender loving care than anywhere else in the Southwest.
Jane Basch and Dinah with the usual collection of NSXs out in front of Mark's shop
"Wei-Shen, we've got some great stuff for you to do," said Mark as I arrived bright an early at the shop at 7am Tuesday. "Let's start by taking out a leaking evaporator," he said. "Easy job, done lots of them." Yeah right....we started with a very well kept 91 red/ivory and proceded to disassemble EVERY compenent of the interior including the seats, dash, instrument cluster, climate control, stereo head unit, glove compartment, control units....all to expose our goal...the white plastic box that holds the heater core and the evaporator/expansion valve.
Here's where we started....seats out
Steering column and instrument cluster out, center console gone, glove compartment gone
From the front compartment, the spare tire, blower, freon and heater hoses get removed for access...the expansion valve can be seen in the right opening...
Our goal...the white "box" holding the evaporator and heater core! We had SO many screws and bolts they filled up a huge tray!
It was amazing to see how this ventilation unit worked...how the doors operated to mix cold and hot air and direct it into the proper vents, all controlled by the climate control unit in the dash...
This took most of the day to complete. "You know when the halfway point is," asked Mark. "It's when you flip the power screwdriver from reverse to FORWARD!" Now I was hoping that we could get all the screws and bolts back on. Sure enough after I had reassembled the blower, battery, heater and freon hoses and fuse box in the front compartment I had TWO bolts left over. "How many bolts did you use to fasten the blower?" asked Mark. "Two," I replied. "How about the two on the bottom?" asked Mark. UUGGGHHH. Well, got to take everything BACK OUT again including the battery and put the lower anchoring bolts back in. Won't ever forget those again! Note to self....check and fill all bolt holes BEFORE placing heavy hard to install components in front of said device.
If that wasn't enough to pique my interest, Mark drove in a car that needed a 60K service. "Well, I've done these with the engine IN the car but since you're here, I think you'd learn much more if I took the engine OUT of the car," said Mark. Well actually, we lifted the car OFF the engine. After removing all the bolts connecting the engine to the chassis (including the wiring harness that was removed from the ECU behind the passenger seat) the rear suspension was propped up on jack stands and the rest of the car was lifted OFF the engine. Amazing.
Engine supported on stands as the car is lifted up and out of the way...
The final stage.....car OUT OF THE WAY with engine, suspension and wheels left behind!
3L V-6 ready for 60K service...
Changing the water pump...note that new water pump has "weep" hole that drains OUTSIDE the timing belt compartment through revised timing belt cover.
Valve adjustment...exhaust valves between .008 and .007, intakes between .007 and .006...it took a while to learn how to work the valve adjustment tool correctly and torque while holding the adjustment screw in one place.
Taking a break while the apprentice SLAVES away! Just kidding...Mark did most of the work, letting me flail just enough to make me strive to succeed but not enough to get frustrated (ever try to adjust the rear exhaust valve clearance with the engine IN the car....did one of those at the 15K service....AWFUL)
Thursday night we had a great dinner with the Phoenix NSXers. 22 people showed up for the festivities at Sam's Cafe in Scottsdale.
Playing the piano at Dale's house after dinner!
Mark at MaxRev, the machine shop producing his supercharger Basch Boost (it's being made from those blocks of aluminum on the left!)
Mark's 3L with supercharger bracket in place!
Saturday we spent entirely on transmissions....I shipped my 99 6-speed with 4:55 R&P along with an old 92 5-speed with short gears which "quit" working in a friend's car. We took both trannies apart and it was an incredible learning experience. The 6-speed was having apparent synchro problems between 1st and 2nd gear. We replaced the synchros and noted that 2nd and 3rd gear were not shimmed correctly with too small a gap between gears on the main shaft.....could cause 2nd not to spin freely when engaged resulting in "grinding".
5-speed or 6-speed??....note solenoid for reverse lockout on right...thus the 6-speed!
Looking down at the top of the casing with access to countershaft removed and the dreaded "snap" ring in view....this must be released in order to open the tranny case
L to R....Main shaft, counter shaft, and ring gear...note that 1st and 2nd gear and associated shift fork sit on countershaft while 3rd/4th and 5th/6th sit on main shaft...
Playing doctor....AGAIN!
photo of 1st gear synchro (brass ring plus small metal ring adjacent to it)...shift fork rides in groove of smooth center ring and moves it forward and back on shaft either "locking" in 1st or second gear....the GEARS actually do NOT move on the countershaft!
The second transmission was a disaster. The case was already opened and inspection revealed MULTIPLE broken teeth that appeared to come from the pinion at the bottom of the counter shaft. In addition, many teeth were broken off the ring gear! UGLY. So you think you can do without the reverse lockout solenoid?....this could happen to YOU if you engage reverse at 70mph (although we are speculating as to the cause of this catastrophic failure).
bits and pieces....excess casing adhesive in Mark's right hand, broken pieces of the pinion in his left...
This magnet sits in the oil channel next to the tranny internal oil pump pulling small metal shavings out of the oil....it usually has a thin coating of metal "fuz" from gear wear....here it has a bunch of TEETH stuck to it....BAD NEWS.
This is a spectacle....multiple destroyed and broken pinion teeth (rust from tranny sitting open for nearly 6 months)
Multiple broken teeth on the ring gear...
As you can imagine, this tranny is JUNK. Even the short gears are suspect even though on visual inspection they are intact.
After a full Saturday, Jane cooked up a delicious dinner at the Basch residence.
I knew this blowtorch would come in handy...making Creme Brulee
Asian ginger Chilean Sea Bass ala Jane Basch for dinner....exceptional!
Daddy loves Dinah....the most amazing NSX dawg around!
It was a fabulous week....exceeded ALL my expectations. I learned SO much in such a short time. A huge thank-you to Mark Basch, Jane, his staff, and to the Phoenix NSXers! Can't wait for the superchargers to hit the market!
Wei-Shen