TomsEF

***Missed this car so much I sold my S and picked up another one! This time a one owner 1996, just like the last one. same color and all. enjoy!***



Hello Honda-tech.com! Figured I would share with you my progress thread!

Little bit about myself... I love Hondas. Owned a couple.






These were all fun cars but with the 96 Coupe I currently have I am looking to enjoy the car a little more. This car will be driven every day and taken to a couple shows but getting it on a track is my main goal!

I also do paint work on the side and for viewing pleasure i'll throw a couple I have done this year...




And I'm sure a lot of you have seen Kj's car I painted last winter...


Enough pictures of old stuff. To jump into where I am currently with my 1996 Honda Civic Ex Ill post some progress pictures that I have taken with my camera phone :bang: I hope to get some better pictures soon.

This project is basically a low budget fun car. Picked the car up for dirt cheap with 240,XXX miles on the original motor. Car runs like a champ and just recently noticed the distributor seal and rear main seal needs replacing. Other than that it runs strong!

Here she is the first week I got her. Never took any good pictures since I did not like it at the time. It may look decent in pictures but in reality it was rough. Probably THE dirtiest car I had ever bought. Just plain nasty inside.




Now that I got the car, it was time to order some parts. First up were a set of 949 Racing 6UL's in 15x7 +36. No need for wide wheels at this point. Also wrapped them in some Dunlop zII's in 205/50/15



also snagged a set of these for cheap NIB. They will do for now.



Put together a nice shifter setup.




I have plenty more pictures and a lot more stuff that I didn't grab pictures of. Hope you guys enjoy!

TomsEF

The Milano Pink that was on the car had to go! Started some body work. Car had 32 dents total. Small hail damage dents yet they were on the side of the car like someone threw golf ***** at it. Only one small dent on the hood and roof?? Also welded up the spoiler holes.





Test fit a couple parts.




and because it is my daily I threw some primer over some spots because I knew it would be a while before the car saw paint...



Little wheel gap shot

TomsEF

remember the car had 240,XXX miles when I got it?? Yea the bushing were shot! Car wobbled and wiggled everywhere!

Threw her up on jack stands to tear out a lot of old stuff.



The whole suspension part lacks in picture quality and quantity



I also installed my coilovers and mounted my lip and canards after giving them some fresh paint...



somewhat set the alignment and rolled her out of the garage...



Contemplated purchasing new headlights since mine were a foggy mess. Attempted to clean the originals up first and here they are! Wish I had a solid before and after picture.


:dancing: :dancing: :dancing:

Then rolled her into the garage for the night.... (nice blurry pic)



Next morning attempted to get the alignment dialed in. The tech argued with me on the specs I wanted. I let him have his way and Ill be returning to get it done again after my rear disc conversion. Car pulls right

TomsEF

Rode around with primer spots for a couple weeks while I finished up a customers car.



This person would always park next to me...



Finally it was time for paint!!! I have maybe two days of work invested in this whole paint job but I was not going for perfect by any means!

A little wet sanding



Taping up a car is the thing I dislike most.



I do not have a picture of the whole car sealed but here is some base on the car....



Notice there are no pictures of a rear bumper in the booth? The guy sold me a used one that of course did not fit :angry:

First coat of clear...



Some more clear...



Car back together minus rear bumper

TomsEF

Next up... Brakes!

Purchased a Type R Integra MC 1" with brake booster, ITR front brakes, steel braided brake lines and calipers to make it fit.

Of course that is the final setup that ended up on the car that day. Original booster I purchased did not fit the ITR MC so a new one was ordered. Plan was to run S2000 calipers yet found out they would not fit behind the 949 wheels. It was a fun/stressful day and here are a few pictures! Thanks again to Matt ( 96specR on here ) for all the help and coming through with the ITR calipers from that sick 97 ITR you are restoring.

Start the day off...



old junk...





now time for upgrades!



Matt helping make room!





Making sure this MC fits this Booster...



Fresh black paint



S2000 setup... for sale BTW!



ITR booster is much bigger than the old one. Small space to work with. Don't judge the rattle can job. under hood appearance is not on my list of things that matter.



Eventually I ended up with this! ITR front setup 4x100



The rear disc conversion is sitting in my garage waiting for fresh paint, bushing (in the mail) along with pads and rotors. Will be going in this week!

TomsEF

My new all black Nardi 330mm Suede steering wheel came in from JHP USA the other day! I installed the wheel and at first did not like the 330mm but have grown to love it!



removing the old wheel...



This bolt was stripped, awesome. Nothing my drill and drill bit could not handle...
car is really dirty...



took care of that stripped screw...



again dirty car but here it is installed. still need to tidy up a few things and take care of some details.



also got tired of the nasty sagging, cigarette burned headliner.



nothing a little gray micro suede fabric couldn't fix.



This turned out ok. few wrinkles. my advice, iron your fabric before gluing it down. Take your time. Let the glue you spray down get tacky and use 3M super 90. I have also use Scotchbrite's Super 77 with great results. If you have a sunroof car good luck. I removed the whole sunroof assembly to replace the sun shade fabric and an extra set of hands will help. Installing the sun shade back into the sunroof assembly is a pain. I rushed it and wrinkled the fresh fabric.

TomsEF

Old windshield was a mess. Sandblasted and chipped up.



Nothing like some fresh glass!

Scott.

iTrader: (1)

love this build.

94doorgsr

Glad to see you are still around...lost contact with you once everyone got away from Blackberry's lol

BB DC squad!!!!

Car looks awesome.

TomsEF

Thanks Scott! Come out to any of the local meets or s2000 gatherings? I haven't been out in a year or so but maybe ill catch you one day.

LOL good ol BB DC squad days! hope you been doing well? Also thanks! This car is going to be around for a while so I figured I would do a thread.

r_Senik

sweet, is that a replica first molding? nice either way.

Scott.

iTrader: (1)

Meh, the two meets I've been to have been garbage, and the quality of cars is questionable. I'll pm you doe, wouldn't mind meeting up!

TomsEF

Thanks!

The one on my car is fiberglass, its not an original First Molding. I am working on incorporating functional ducts in the vents to attach hoses to and cool the brakes. Ill post pics when I get back to working on that. Also the grill is not OEM Honda Type R. The mirrors are not Spoon or Vision, the canards are made by Circuit Hero yet RCrew made them first I think.

That is part of the reason I stopped going out and also the fact I sold my S and have been driving this beater. I put together a meet up next sunday morning to head up to the IA fall meet if you are interested. Its on my Facebook.

Brice.Hayden

iTrader: (15)

Hmm your painting intrigues me. Might need you to paint a car of mine.

toyomatt84

iTrader: (1)

Nice progress!

94doorgsr

I'm good man, I have a build thread on here of my new car, feel free to check it out. I'll be in Nashville as well, be cool to meet up and chill.

TomsEF

you can check out my car at IA and we can talk about your other car that needs paint.

Thanks!

sounds good! ill shoot you a PM with my number.

TomsEF

Spent some good time in the garage last night wet sanding and buffing the car. I'll be going back over it to hit some spots that still need attention and buff some more! After the paint is as close to perfect I can get it, I'll be applying Opti Coat to seal and protect the paint.

Here are a few pictures from last night starting from sanding in the garage to a quick 4am run to spray it all off with some real pressure.



The little sparkle in the headlight randomly popped up.

mikekh10a

iTrader: (2)

looking gooood so far!

j-r_rida

great.... very simple but intriguing

Spinks

Wow, I love it. I hope to see more interior upgrades. I would really like to learn how to paint a car with real paint. Any free options you know of that can give me some good direction? I've got the time and money to do it, just don't know what exactly I need to get started.

Brice.Hayden

iTrader: (15)

I'm just hoping he gets a rear bumper

TomsEF

Thanks!

Thanks! Interior upgrades will come. Right now wheel and shifter setup is the only upgrade. After I wrap up the suspension, brakes and exterior I will swap the motor then attack the interior. I have a nice list put together and slowly checking off what I need.

Best advice right here... Google, Find local paint shop, pick the brains of those guys, research as much as you can and practice on parts. It's not easy and takes a lot of practice. Or go to your local community college and take some classes. When you do start, the prep work is where the quality is. Take your time sanding and blocking, filling and priming. doesn't matter how much money you spend on your gun or paint, shitty prep work leads to a shitty paint job.

btw... just noticed you live in GA. You could always just have me paint you car?

I have two bumpers for the car Just no time to prep and paint them. I decided to make the trip to IA but the bumper will not make it. Oh well, I'm really just going to see everyone.

TomsEF

Did a little work on the car last night. had a bent LCA from previous owner. Replaced it with another OEM LCA, upgrade LCA's are on the list.



Had the wheels off so I snagged a pic of the front brakes.



And while I was taking pictures, here are the rears.... waiting to be cleaned up, new bushings and rotors and calipers.



Going to make it up to IA on Sunday unfinished but i'll be there.

Scott.

iTrader: (1)

looking forward to it!