Pandahatch

I'm back, for one last go around in the Honda community! It's been 7 years since I've had a Honda, much less even worked on one. But I guess when they say, it's just like riding a bike, it's true. Over the past years, I've had a lot of ups and downs, I started my own business, MWorks Garage, focusing primarily on BMW performance. Well that is now also graduating in LS swaps from all over the country in all different chassis. Our product development and business ventures will be interesting to see what they hold in the future. I lost my mom to her 5 year battle with cancer this past January, so I'm dedicating this build to her.

Some of the older guys on here may remember my past Hondas:






Recently, I just finished my LS3 swap in my '97 M3 sedan, I use the car for our shop "cover car". It's one hell of a fun ride. Making 496rwhp with basic bolt ons, and soon to be supercharged, it should make 800+. The car was just shot for Performance BMW magazine, so be on the lookout for that issue!




Another car we're building is this E34, with a turbo S52 M3 engine, should be good for a reliable 550whp or so. Nothing crazy, but a fun, good looking car.



So why another Honda? With business so busy, what would possess me to get into this again? Plain and simple, I need a reminder of what got me into this industry. In high school, all I had was CRXs and EG Civics. So I set on a mission, to find a car that I could build into the CRX that I would have loved to build 14 years ago, but lacked the skill, knowledge and finances. I had a vision in my head, and I decided to proceed with it. It had to be an '88, it had to be rust free, and I had to go all out with it.

I searched online for weeks, until one day, an '88 Si popped up for sale. Original owner, California, rust free (In Ohio, this is impossible), unmolested car. EXACTLY what I was looking for, well an HF would be preferred, but no big deal, I can live with it. I contacted the owner within a half hour of seeing the ad posted, put a deposit on it, and the next day, I was on the way to get it. Luckily for me, the car was in Knoxville TN, only about 4 hours from me. The guy moved here 9 years ago, parked the car in the garage and NEVER drove it, only started it and backed it out of the driveway to keep it running. Here it is right after picking it up.




I knew I wanted the car K powered, I have some pretty awesome ideas with the engine and bay that I'll get into later. So I found a low mileage K20Z1 local from a rear ended '06 RSX Type S, made a deal, and secured a drivetrain.



The next main thing I wanted was the Mugen Pro 2 kit. I actually bought this kit before I even had the car. It came with a replica front bumper, but that wasn't a huge deal as I had a line on an authentic front. A friend of mine was up in Pittsburgh and picked the kit up for me. Unfortunately for me, it was less than described in the ad and I had already paid for it, there wasn't much I could do. I love honest sellers lol! It needed a little love, but I repaired a couple spots and have it ready for body work now. I sourced a genuine front and had it shipped here from Japan, that was some of the most nerve racking time ever, especially when it showed up and the box was crushed. Luckily, the bumper was perfect.






I have already accumulated a ton of parts for this build, JDM bronze glass, Jenvey ITBs, Mugen M7 wheels, Mugen AGS brakes, Mugen SW3 steering wheel, bunches of other Mugen goodies, 4x114.3 conversion, Bride Zeta III seats, Takata harnesses, and the list goes on...

I can't leave out some great guys that are also helping with getting parts for this car:

Kevin @ Clutch Masters
Mike @ K-Tuned
Mark @ Eibach
Brandon - Phunhaus

Stay tuned to this build as it will CERTAINLY be entertaining, the car will be receiving a rotisserie restoration and paint system, no screw will be left untouched. EVERY fastener will be replaced with new OEM parts. I already have 3 GIANT boxes full of just OEM Honda nuts and bolts!!! Full welded roll cage, shaved engine bay, Tilton pedal setup, TONS of custom made parts, I promise it won't disappoint!

I'll leave you all with some random pictures for the night. I will get on a build schedule as I update!

king06

iTrader: (1)

In for greatness

rollinmyda

iTrader: (19)

I'll be watching this! Looks like it's off to an awesome start!

ChadB

Nice find .... Can't wait to see the car done..

Dertyghettokid

This is gonna be a sick build! cant wait too see this! I love how you still have the Mugen M7's I love those wheels. Loving the dedication of authentic parts aswell. Here for updates!

knuttveiten

Damn that CRX looks mint.. Judging from your other builds this is going to be AWESOME.. great work man!

phunhaus

Awesome to see you back, Brian. Sorry to hear about your mom. Mine had a cancer scare a couple years ago but I can't imagine what it would have been like losing her.

toyomatt84

iTrader: (1)

I remember when you finished the DA and brought it to IA, and also seeing the EH2. So, this should be very cool, when completed.

Brice.Hayden

iTrader: (15)

Kids should be taking notes.

CHU-JDM-DC2

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Pandahatch

Got a little bit done tonight while I still felt decent. Damn wisdom teeth are impacted causing pain, nausea, unbalance and overall feeling like hell. I should have gotten these bastards out 13 years ago like I was supposed to!!

I'll start out by showing a little bit of the shop. We've been in the new place since January, it's about 5,000sqft, MUCH bigger than our old place. We have a fab shop on the other side of the main work area, equipped with brake presses, kick shears, a Mazak laser, tubing benders, all sorts of fun stuff. I even have a room I close off from everyone else I can keep my "special" parts in lol






I finished stripping the rear interior. Nothing left at all. Every nut, bolt, grommet, fastener removed. I'll be shaving the floor pan and a fuel safe will be getting mounted within the cage in back.




I also worked on getting every out of the engine bay that I could without getting under the dash tonight. It's getting there.



Had some mail finds come through. My Mugen Pro 2 brochure, some HAMP filters, valve stems for the M7s, Hasport mounts and some Blox lug nuts. I wanted a simple lug nut, none of that neochrome crap, that was chromoly for strength and not gaudy. These simple black chrome chromoly units seem well made and will fit the ticket perfect.





Finally tonight I tore the K20 down to get it ready to glass bead blast so it'll look like new. I was happily surprised at how clean it was when I got the valve cover off. he said it was regularly serviced and babied, it looks like it actually was.

Caoboy

You're building the CRX I dreamed mine would one day become!

DC4KiD

iTrader: (4)

I remember the EG and DA builds... damn we're getting old, fast! LOL

That is one bad-*** E36!

Spec R

wow good to see people branching out to other brands and progressing maturely with their builds.

bks84

iTrader: (9)

I remember the DA, did it ever get finished or was it sold before?

Pandahatch

The DA is the Orange one up above. I sold it a few months after finishing it.

bks84

iTrader: (9)

i fell off for awhile getting into jeeps and such. i vaguely remember problems with something... glad it got done though!

micban

I'm impressed! Any thread for e34 build?

Skillachie

In for this greatness

joey1320

Amazing work. Sub'd.

latino honda

super clean cant wait for the come of your build

Pandahatch

No new update tonight, took some time off to clean up the shop and detail a couple cars. But I did get a cool picture of my 5 month old Neapolitan Mastiff, Enzo, in the CRX lol

Parts in the mail this week, should be seeing some good stuff soon!

Brice.Hayden

iTrader: (15)

Whatever happened to the DB8?

WhiteSlips

Glad to see you back man! I always loved the green hatch and just the other day someone posted your DA engine bay on Facebook and got me thinking what you were up to now-a-days. Can't wait for updates on this!

SPOON_BeIgHtEeNsEe

always loved your builds... good luck with the new one