Today at Atelier Kaz - ex-Honda R&D, F1, Indy/CART engineer

[ Draft didn't display, hope it will work this time.... ]

For someone stayed at the same hotel and visited the same restaurant for weeks over many years during F1 testing in Imola in the '80s and early '90s, saddened to see the state of the flood in the area.

Condolences to those who lost their lives and my heart goes out to families and friends.

Nice to see some F1 drivers and the teams helping the local.


I wrote the following plan long time ago but it got too long.
Also contained private info that I didn't want sharing on the public domain.

Have been spending some time to brush it up and reducing the private info.

It's still too long so I'll first post just the abstract to keep it simple.
In the latter part, further detail and the background can be found.

*** Immediate Future Service Plan ***

0. Complete the task on the NSX occupying the garage lift for the last 2 years.
1. Quick service - Replace window regulator without glass alignment
2. Eng Refresh - Made mistake previously on this NSX
3. Quick service - Replace old Coolant hose
4-1. Group of 3 known NSX - Eng Refresh + ABS Upgrade: 30+ years old WP, AP1 S2000 ABS.
4-2. Group of 3 known NSX - Eng Refresh + ABS Upgrade: Noise from the engine bay, NSX ABS.
4-3. Group of 3 known NSX - Eng Refresh + ABS Upgrade: Further improvement of finger touch, NSX/AP1 ABS.

Until completing the above plan, the Gbox overhaul and the full Window Refresh services to be postponed.

*** Detail ***
One must have finger sensitivity in the order of t least 0.1mm and in many cases, must be able to feel the 0.01mm difference.

I mentioned this several times but even using exactly the same parts, tools, procedures, etc, the engine would sound differently depending on who carried out the service.

It's even more sensitive when it comes to Gbox service as the shift feeling, mechanical sound, etc would change depending on the finger touch of the person carried out the Gbox overhaul, etc.

Every day before start working on the car, I always test myself using certain equipment to check the sensitivity level of my finger.
Also carry out specific routine to relax the muscle and the joints.

This is important as the sensitivity level decides what task I can carry out on the day and also prevent the mistake and injury from happening.

I have been training my fingers recently and while I'm happy with the progress made and the sensitivity level that is well enough for the Eng Refresh, for now, I made the following decision.

++ Until completing this service plan, all Gbox overhaul service to be postponed. ++

It requires the shim adjustment in the order of 0.01mm and the sensitivity heavily affects the shift feeling after the assembly.
Some of the OEM gear parts are out of spec and must be machined/modified carefully even for the new ones.
For the clarification, this is only for the Gbox overhaul and does not affect the CL service.

++ Window Refresh that requires the delicate glass alignment to be postponed. ++
The alignment spec in the workshop manual is just a reference.
If you just follow the exact procedure, 100% guaranteed to experience wind noise and water leakage into the cabin.
One must customise the clearance for each NSX with 3D imagination.
Again, for the clarification, this is only for the glass alignment and won't affect other window related service.

++ Will group the same service menu in order to further improve the sensitivity and the efficiency. ++

++ Aiming to complete this plan this summer so that I can start working on the Gbox and Window Refresh again. ++

++ Then, going back to the original service plan displayed at the right window. ++

As I don't feel comfortable servicing my NSX ahead of others, for your reference, this is the latest state;

++ The last Eng Refresh was in 2012 so the TB/WP/Crank pulley into the 12th year. ++
Not worried but getting some noise from upper side.
Covered about 57K km (about 36K miles) since then.
Some white smoke after parking overnight so must replace the valve stem seal so that will be cyl head off job.
A/C compressor CL/pulley must be replaced due to bearing issue.

++ The Gbox needs overhaul. ++

The mainshaft bearing making fair amount of noise.
For now, replacing MTF until the day comes.

++ The CL must be replaced. ++
Already started slipping under high rpm fast upshifting years ago.
Quite worried about the torsion spring due to the mileage and the age.

++ The Coolant hose is probably the biggest concern. ++
Already 15.5 years old and counting....

++ For now, unless something dramatically fails, I'll stick to the proposed plan and take it easy on my NSX.

*** Extra info of each NSX in the plan ***
0. Complete the task on the NSX occupying the lift for last 2 years.
The engine was ready months ago.
On hold due to new issues, etc but now making progress.
Must drain the fuel, MOT, etc before returning.

1. Quick service - Replace window regulator without glass alignment
Window glass already dropped and taped.
Originally, full Window Refresh but didn't want to enter the car cabin.
Now I'm much more comfortable so for now, just replacing the regulator.

2. Eng Refresh - made mistake previously on this NSX.
I posted about the mistake in my blog but basically, I injured my back and lost concentration
Didn't check the alignment of one oil seal under cam holder during Eng Refresh.
Later, it started seeping the oil where it should not.
I paid for the flatbed service to collect the car and dealt with my mistake.
Despite this experience, the owner came back to me for another Eng Refresh.
Therefore, I feel I have unfinished business with this NSX.
This is something I would love to and must do to make it right on this occasion.

3. Coolant hose
Another NSX with old coolant hose.
The owner kindly agreed to wait until after the #2 Eng Refresh as I wanted to keep my improved finger touch before attempting the more of muscle tasks of replacing over 20 hoses.

4. Group of 3 known NSX - Eng Refresh + ABS Upgrade
By grouping the same tasks, it will further improve the finger touch and it will also contribute to the high efficiency.

One of them is still using the original design spec WP so it's 30+ years old.
Originally, I was thinking of servicing another NSX in the group but due to further delay in delivery of the NSX spec ABS modulator, it made sense to service this one first.
This NSX will use the AP1 S2000 modulator - I already have 2 of them.

The 2nd one is very low mileage but last year, the owner suddenly experienced noise issue somewhere from the engine bay.

Eventually, it was diagnosed as not engine related so the owner replaced certain parts.
While it fixed majority of the noise, the owner still thinks that there is some noise left.
As I haven't even heard the noise by myself, would love to look into this NSX very soon.
If further delay with the delivery of NSX spec ABS modulator, the owner is happy to postpone the ABS upgrade.
This will prevent the delay with my plan.

The 3rd one is well known to me.
The owner prefers to have the NSX upgraded ABS modulator installed but he could live with the AP1 S2000 one if further delay by Honda.
I already have the 2nd AP1 S2000 ABS unit.
Good opportunity to further improve my finger touch in order to be able to start working on the Gbox and Window Refresh.

By completing these tasks, I'll be back to full spec service.

*** Background info ***
First of all, apology for the lack of communication over the last few years.
Didn't even update the blog for a long time due to personal reasons.

I'm now getting back to speed so will be updating the blog regularly but probably more of photo based ones.
Using voice input to speed up the writing though, I could ask the very popular subject of AI recently to do it for me.

Personally, AI was already there few years ago and capable of doing several things in certain projects already at that time.
Just recently, several platforms allowed wider and ease of access that got so much attention in negative way.

Addition to the blog, reviewing how to update the owners through different methods.

Being involved in some analysis and simulation for certain authority on this pandemic had negative effect because of wider picture and the future prediction.

Despite UK went back to normality earlier last year, I only got back to it towards the end of February.

Lost few close friends during this pandemic and nearly lost my brother at the early stage when not much understood about this virus.
Fortunately, he has recovered but only can work from home since then.

I must admit all these experiences made me overly cautious.
Was like self-shielding and even avoided entering the car cabin that not much mechanical work carried out.

Just started not wearing the face mask while shopping.
Until now, I was wearing the equivalent of N95 mask manufactured in the clean room environment in Japan.
Still, I'm covid free so far.

I have been training my finger touch in preparation for the mechanical services.
Used electronics components services and the window alignment on MX-5 for the training purpose.
The training took much longer than expected.

The injury on my fingers damaging the nerve system and the long waiting game with my eye surgery didn't help at all.

Now I'm happy with the progress made (except for the eye problem) and decided on the immediate future service plan.

I'm quite sure many won't agree on my decision but this is something I must go through in order to keep my high standard of special service and also important not to make any mistakes.

I'll appreciate your understandings.
Kaz