stevenEK9

Well i thought it was about time i wrote up the build up of my car so far......

Got in touch with the guys at PRIVATEIMPORTS.CO.UK looking for a standard low mileage pre facelift EK9, after missing out on a few we finally got one!! 37.5k miles from new with only a few modifications:
-Fujitsubo 4-2-1 manifold
-Fujitsubo cat back exhaust (swapped out for a HKS windmaster at my request)
-Cone filter (changed to stock airbox with panel filter at my request)
-Spoon copy wing mirrors (changed to stock power folding mirrors at my request)
-Spoon oil cap

Few pics of it when it came off the transporter after the long trip on the boat from Japan





As you can see the car needed some clean!!!
Whilst they were getting the car ready for the SVA test there was a couple of bits i got them to pop on, brand new set of Honda access wind deflectors as well as a full set of OEM decals as these had been removed at some point

A few pics i got sent of the progress




The wheels were a bit tatty as well as the tyres being very worn, so i got them to fit a new set of OEM RE010's as well as having the wheels/centre caps repainted in champ white, got a couple of pics when i was down test driving the car prior to picking it up, loved every minute of driving it when i went to test :D




FINALLY the day came to pick up the car, it was amazing. The car was even better than i thought it would be, deffinately worth the wait.
I had bought a spoon rad stay bracket and some resevoir socks so popped these on as well as cleaning it and driving it loads, some pics about a week after i got it with my mates EVO 5 import







I was very happy with it for a while, although i cooked the standard brakes a bit too easy as i like to drive it hard... So went for some AP dixcel PD discs and type Z pads on the front with goodridge hoses all round



This certainly improved things! although i always loved the look of Spoon calipers, and a set came up new at a price i couldn't refuse, also changed out the discs/pads all round for AP dixcel pd discs and endless CCX pads as well as upgrading the fluid to Motul RBF600, took this oportunity to strip the rear calipers and clean up the sliders and pistons as well as repainting them hammerite silver. This setup i'm still running to date and it is AMAZING, can't stress how good the brakes are, the hotter they get the better they are, almost feels like the car will stop on the spot once they are baking hot :O:O
Also removed the front mud flaps at this point and swapped out the shift bushes for Mugen ones








Living in Scotland, i NEVER used the AC at all, so removed it completely from the car, weight saving of 20kg with everything too!!!



Months went by and i was just enjoying driving it to be honest!!! Did modify some DC2 OEM recaro rails though and fit these, lower the seats a good inch, much better for me being 6'2", lol. got a set of Spoon engine mounts for a bargain price too so fitted these up and silicon filled the torque mounts as they are still a bit flexy. oh and another big shout to PRIVATEIMPORTS.CO.UK who then imported my dads car, a FD2 CTR which i drove him down to pick up!! pics from the way back when we stopped for some food




Next up i set about the suspension, went for some Tein SS coilovers with pillow top mounts, going lower though i had concerns about the exhaust as it looped under the LCA's and clearance etc, so at the same time i ordered a Spoon b-pipe and N1 silencer, ordered a spoon direct flow pipe as well would be rude not too, all fitted up with new oem exhaust rubbers and also got some Mugen RTA bushes too (btw fitting an exhaust on the drive on your back is NOT fun, lol) Same time i took the chance to reunderseal some areas under the car and round the wheel arches

undersealed up



new bits!!! i look happy eh?





Finished product with the new bits





Attended a club RR day with the car, made 192bhp which i was happy with, does feel a strong car to drive and it is overly maintained so it's super healthy engine wise.
got a vid of it on the rollers too


http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=wospTiCV5hQ

As well as the car handled i wanted to step it up a notch, so the suspension strip down began....... I ordered the following parts and fitted them all up, wasn't cheap, lol
-SPC rear camber arms
-SPC front camber/castor arms
-full hardrace bush kit
-ES front poly ARB bushes
-Superflex rear ARB bushes
-OEM honda drop links front and rear
-OEM honda track rod ends
-OEM honda lower ball joints
-Hankook RS2 tyres in 205/50/15
Took me a while to fit eveything up as i stripped back and painted all the suspension arms and hub knuckles etc whilst they were off (killed the vice at work doing the bushes, lmao), also cleaned the underseal off the rear lower tie bar so it showed OEM silver again, before getting the tyres fitted i also had the wheels powdercoated as well as the rear ARB coated as it was looking a bit rough in bits

Some pics of the progress etc






And after






Handling almost there.
Most recently i changed both exhaust manifold gaskets with OEM honda as well as all the nuts/bolts, Spoon front upper strut brace, changed the springs on the Teins, set up the alignment again as i now have gauges to do it myself, cantre caps back on, Momo montecarlo 350mm wheel with splash SRS hub, OEM honda EG6 sirs horn button and LTB 1" spacer












Anyways thats it so far!! All work has been done by myself in the driveway, wish i had a garage
It's my DD but gets used mostly for fast road use and i love it to bits, lol :D
Plans? Leave it stock on the outside and it's almost how i want it now, in the future probably some Spoon driveshafts/clutch/LSD would be peachy and just keep it clean and enjoy

Comments good/bad welcome, hope you guys like!

Steven

gstewart27

Great work Steven, you've made an awesome car!!!!!!!

1.5Slowmatic

im jealous thats for sure. Going to add foglights? And doesn't your car already have an LSD in it? Just curious. And your dads car is awsome

stevenEK9

Cheers guys! yeah the car already has the factory fitted LSD, was meaning upgrading to a plate type 1.5 way LSD by spoon/kaaz/cusco etc

Not going to add foglights, hate the look of the oem ones.

forgot to add, also fitted some Jazz washer jets the other day, man they are SO much better than stock civic ones!!!!!!

pandarex

iTrader: (1)

damn, thats some good money you and your dad had to drop to import those. looks how it should. spoon ftw

1.5Slowmatic

awww man i love the square ones. Planning on any engine modification other than what you already have

stevenEK9

Thanks!

Not planning anything engine wise, car pulls very well at the moment and doesn't use a drop of oil between changes (every 2k miles with filter) so almost a shame to pull it apart!!!

Saving for a few bits and pieces then want to replace clutch/driveshafts/lsd in one go with spoon stuff, lol

feeesh^^

Seen your thread on Ek9.org, looks real mint!

Great job so far mate...

Ill be in Birmingham this weekend to look at a 2000Rx, but I don't have high hopes for the car.

Maybe Ill join the Ek9 club as well!

Cheers,

Benji

DJslepton

Damn she's a beauty, the way a ek9 should look

apekd

man thats sick. I like the oem JDM look it has. keep it up man

redEH2

my god you found a gem that has to be my favorite car of all time. Only thing i think it looks better with the original R wheel instead of the momo.

aznkid4now

nice car man

amimaxima

sick car

heylookitsdylan

Beautiful car man, Keep up the good work!

I cant believe Honda gave the USA the shaft when it came to the Civic Type-R, Especially the FD2.

Mr.OB*GYN_Rhett

iTrader: (2)

Im so incredibly jealous man! Wish I could just drive a simple, well built ctr everyday!
What did you use to coat the underbody/fenderwells?

enycesam

Wow, that's sick man.
Great progress so far.

blue2000em1

Wow

thevtecnician

Beautiful car man! Or should I say cars. That's definately a keeper

redb16coupe

very nice keeping it clean.

stevenEK9

Was a tin of thick underbody seal stuff i got from my local Halfords store. The car was undersealed very well by the importers but i just wanted to put another coat on under the arches etc as they take the brunt of the bad weather!!!

Thanks for all the nice comments everyone!!

BAMA4792

amazing car, keep up the good work !

KBracing6

Nice work m8!

benny32gsr

nice

stevenEK9

Thanks again for the comments!!!

Just ordered a Recaro profi-SPG in red for the drivers side today, 3 week lead time as red is special order from recaro... Just need to order some buddy club rails for it, also going to order a spoon low rail for the passenger seat so i can sell the current oem dc2 recaro rails

Will update with some pics and stuff once the seat arrives

Smokinsax

wow...it would be sooo sick to have something like that over here in the states.