Currently awaiting new D16Y8 motor, still in the planning phase of this build. Recently acquired with 125k. It obviously needs new head/tail lights. I'll be painting the engine bay, and new engine with high temp rattle can paint during the swap. Bigger plans are flex-sealing gaps, removing rust, and then a full carriage Line-x. Since I want the car matte flat black, I may just line-x the whole thing. Then I'll do suspension and brakes. at which point I will consider my power swap options. I'll be considering swaps for reliability and efficiency, As I'm just rebuilding it to last longer, as a rock solid dd/fun to work car.

PICS will be up as soon as I can get them uploaded.
Until then they can be found here:
1998CivicEX

 

I think u'd need a b16 for a "em1"

 

well, that's the long term plan, or I'll get a real original EM1 before then. either or.

 

Indeed, technically an EM1 would have EM1 as the 4th, 5th, and 6th digits in the vin, a 26mm front swaybar instead of the 22mm the Ex got, and the no swaybar the dx/cx got, it would also have larger front brakes, rear disks instead of drums like all the other models got, and a 13mm rear swaybar, which none of the other models got. Also higher spring rates

96-00 EX/CX/DX/LX factory 165F/80R (P/P)
99-00 Si (EM1) factory 201F/99.8R (P/P)

Why don't you just wait and do it right the first time? You're going to waste a tremendous amount of time lolly gagging.

 

I'm aware it is not an EM1 it is an EJ8. It has an EM1 front end at the moment, and I hope to affix an si wing and 50/50 tails. I plan to make it look as close to an em as I can get. I'm quite surprised the thread is already being flamed and I haven't even started the project. It looks like I came to the wrong forums. My apologies.

 

You didn't come to the wrong forum, lol. We just tend to take people very seriously.

Our point was that you could slap every part ever produced for an Em1 onto a dx/ex coupe and it will not be an EM1.

It would be a lot cheaper just to buy an EM1.

 

GLWF for the EM1

just turbo ur D

 

Yeah, It's the first project it looks like I may actually be able to finish. I hope to become comfortable with my skills to take on the task of building an em1 into my dream car. My hope with this build is to build a sweet dd, that has the sort of style associated with an em1 I guess. I know it won't be easy, nor fun half of the time. I know it won't be cheap, but it will be mine when it's finished, and indestructible-ish, I think I may be on to something with a rustoleum undercoat and a line-x paintjob, even the gravel I live on will only be able to chip the surface paint. I'm just going to put my own engineering touch to enhance an already superior vehicle, if I'm feeling frisky with my sponsorship offer, I may just take it to autocross, though a hatch would be better suited, the coupes still handle really well.
As for the turbo d setup, I have never actually ran my own turbo, and wouldn't be comfortable doing something like that by myself yet, as I rebuilt a z6 and spun a bearing shortly after my friend did a 3rd to 1st at 90mph on the strip. And my first build was hit and run in Missouri. I got this motor cheap enough with 0 miles and a 1 year unlimited mile warranty. For around $1,000 USD.

 

That's a great deal on the motor.

And there's no reason to be afraid of a turbo, great turbo kits with quality can be bought for ~$2000 http://www.go-autoworks-store.com/gostkit.html

Reliability all boils down to the tune and maintenance, just like any other car.

It will be kind of hard to call it an EM1 especially if you don't paint it an EM1 color, how will anyone buy you know you're aspiring to make the car into an EM1 clone?

 

I do hope to get it painted EBP (I may just get an EBP EM1 next year), I'll have to save a bit more cash to get a turbo and final paint job, the sweet part is the line-x can be sanded and painted. My initial budget was $4500, but The motor has set me back, along with the wife's recent shopping spree. lol. If it isn't an exact EM1 clone that would be acceptable for me, I do like the EM1 front end, tails, spoiler, rims. I wouldn't mind it in flat black, so I could run it dark/dark with the fogs, say, the opposite direction of law enforcement. lol. maybe some cleaner ccfl halo projectors, with hid. the visual elements will likely be my final task.

 

Keep in mind, Line-X is heavy as ****. If you go painting your entire car in Line-X, it'll slow you down noticeably.

 

Not easy or cheap finding EM1 parts, and i bought my EM1 2 weeks ago for 5 grand and it has a clear title .

 

There's an SI for sale near me for 3K. Much less than your budget.

 

Well, don't forget to change the rear bumper and the dash, blower motor and box, and heater core so you can have a double din dash like I did on my 96.

 

Honestly, if you're that die-hard, just wait, save your money, and buy a real EM1.

 

i never understood why people go so far as to paint their cars so it looks like an si. at that point, why not just buy an actual si? cheaper and everything is already there.

 

No build here.

 

just hopes and dreams

 

you can sell your EJ8 and buy an EM1.

 

OP, without some build pictures, this thread lacks technical content required to stay open, so I am going to close it. Please feel free to PM me when you are ready to post build pictures, and I'll reopen the thread.