Cossa

I am going to be adjusting valves, replacing gaskets, and replacing spark plugs in the near future. The car has never been tracked and I have never overrevved it. Anything else you recommend on proactively replacing while in there?

nubbel

What makes you think your retainers need to be replaced?

Are we talking European 2004 AP2?
But even those F20Cs got the upgraded valve retainers just like the USDM AP2s

Leave it as is and get a new PCV valve instead

Cossa

Just looking for confirmation on maintenance items. This is USDM 04. Already did the pcv. Thanks!

Chuck S

No such thing as a European 2004 AP2. Or a European AP2 for that matter.

-- Chuck

nubbel

Well, technically it's called an "AP1 facelift" however I don't get why since the whole chassis is AP2 and the F20C got upgraded

"facelift" would imply cosmetic changes only, no?

Chuck S

If you're trying to describe the engine and chassis with this engine code I like AP1.5 or AP1V2 or maybe AP1* to go along with Brit military rifle nomenclature. but there's no room in the VIN. But AP2 is the just the engine code, as evidenced with 2004 and later AP1 and AP2 cars differing only by the engine.

-- Chuck

vicrc

OP, I picked up a 2005 with 83K miles a few months ago I had to replace my motor mount. I replaced myself and saw one was cracked and the other was in 2 pieces. Made a big difference on how it drives with new motor mounts. Aside from changing all fluids, I also changed out the snap connectors for the coil plugs as they were deteriorating during my valve adjustment and plug replacement.

I also changed the belt, pulley bearings and Billman's TCT. I think the springs and shocks where fine but I did change them out to coilovers. I know the car is old but I wanted to make it feel and drive new again. I ordered new master clutch and slave cylinder, that will my next step.

twohoos

Not quite. The engine codes are, as you know, F20Cx and F22Cx. AP2 cars differ from AP1 in both engine and transmission (different gear ratios).

Oddly, there appears to be no distinction between AP1 and AP2 transmission serial numbers; they are all SCYM-X000001, where
X=1, 2000-01
X=2, 2002-03
X=3, 2004-05
X=4, 2006-07
X=5, 2008
X=6, 2009
I've verified that the transmission serial numbers of many US '04-'05 AP2 cars are far higher than the total number of AP2s made in that year, so it appears to be an actual case of Honda using the same serial-number sequence for an assembly with two distinct versions.

zeroptzero

ap1 retainers will last the life of the engine, no need to replace them unless they were damaged in the past. Replacing the gaskets is a good idea, perhaps replace the serpentine belt if it hasn't been changed in a few years.