Welcome to my build thread! I was never really into cars until I got my first car about 2 years ago. It was a 2001 Mercury Cougar and ever since I got it, I started learning about cars. I sold the cougar about 6 months later and picked up a completely stock ek coupe. It was my baby. I loved working on it and making it look nice. Well, I wrecked it last week . A lady slammed on her breaks after pulling out in front of me. She was declared totaled and I did not want to go through the process of welding radiator supports and all that so I let her go after taking my after market parts. Here are some pics (RIP).
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/7997366842/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/7997366842/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/7997359613/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/7997359613/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/7997362351/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/7997362351/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8012478643/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8012478643/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8012483646/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8012483646/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr

Now I've picked up an ek hatch. I have always wanted one of these so I figured now was the best time. So I took my insurance check and drove from Virginia to South Carolina to pick it up. I drove 13 hours round trip and as soon as I got back I decided to clean her up.

I detailed and cleaned the interior, and engine bay. The trunk where the spare tire was full of water (not sure how, doesn't leak) so I cleaned it all out and cleaned the spare tire up and puit it back in.
(coupe in the background, waiting for the tow truck to pick it up)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8045664737/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8045664737/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8045664327/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8045664327/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr

I debadged the trunk and took the "Civic" and "DX" off as I don't like badges. WD40 works like a charm

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8045669072/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8045669072/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr

I'm a huge fan of music so I put my sony radio back in so I can have my aux and iphone hookup. Now I just need speakers, and to wire my sub back in. Also swapped in the EX cluster from my coupe so I can have an RPM gauge.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8045672366/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8045672366/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr

Then I gave her a good clean up.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8045661423/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8045661423/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8045671048/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8045671048/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8045670614/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8045670614/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8045670160/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8045670160/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8045662603/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8045662603/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr

I've got a lot of plans for this car and to keep it as clean as possible. Thanks for looking! Subscribe for more

 

great platform!

 

put the wheels on the hatch before you get rid of it

 

Way ahead of you lol. I gutted everything off the coupe last week. It's sitting on ef struts right now and white steelies waiting for the tow truck.

 

in of this! looks like a great platform

 

for the water in your hatch check the taillight gaskets they are a common leak . you should swap the y7 out for the y8 in your coupe

 

Will do, I checked the spare tire area again today and theres a little more water in there. And I wish but the insurance company has to have the motor. But I do have some plans in the future

 

Looks like a good start! Cool it's a local build too!

 

Yesterday I spent all day trying to drill out a bolt in a stock LCA so I could put it back on the coupe for the tow truck. Spent about 3 hours total and finally drilled it out after several drill bits breaking and getting tools stuck in it. Took a torch to it and everything. Also it's been raining the past 3 days so I haven't got to put too much work into the new car.

Today is my last day off for the week and was a little cloudy this morning but I decided I am going to go ahead and start putting in some work.

First things first. Oil change. The oil was honey colored on the dipstick but the oil was straight black when it came out. Guessing the ******* that sold me the car just poured oil into the car before he sold it. (He IS an *** hole, there is a lot of things he did not disclose about this car, I could have got it a LOT cheaper.)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8051294756/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8051294756/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr

Put in some new fully synthetic valvoline 5w-30, with a K&N filter. The good stuff

Well, now that the oils changed... next on the list is a radiator flush.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8051294186/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8051294186/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr

Radiator fluid looked brand new, but hey, can never be to sure with other owners. I like to know what's been done to my car.

Time to paint the strut bar. Sanded it and primered it, then painted it with Duplicolor black honda perfect-match paint. Came out pretty good. Topped it off with some high-heat clear coat which came out pretty damn good.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8051294402/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8051294402/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8051292984/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8051292984/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8051285087/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8051285087/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8051291086/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8051291086/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr

Figured it was time for the valve cover as well. Sanded, primered, and hit it with 2 coats of VHT wrinkle black. Came out damn good. Debating on polishing the HONDA letters.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8051293518/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8051293518/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8051293870/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8051293870/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8051287097/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8051287097/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8051285619/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8051285619/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8051285335/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8051285335/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr

Cleaned my Magnaflow exhaust with brake cleaner. Not sure when this is gonna go on the hatch but I don't like stock exhaust at all, so probably soon.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8051292530/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8051292530/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr

Also ordered some infinity 6.5 speakers on amazon. Was $54. Not too bad.

And finally, the tow truck came . The last i'll ever see the coupe...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8051284199/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8051284199/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8051289290/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8051289290/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr

 

Put the valve cover on... I snapped one of the bolts in half from torquing too hard... wonder if its going to bite me in the ***. I drove it around the block and no oil was leaking, we'll see how this goes.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8051477841/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8051477841/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr

 

looks good!

 

Just ordered $400 of parts, it's about to get fun . Tomorrow I am putting my ground controls on!

Also, not sure if I should either back to black the side skirts and moldings, or to paint them to match the car. Opinions?

 

 

Nice build! always wanted a ek hatch.. I'd say if your going with the sir lip, leave the skirts the factory finish, ctr lip = painted . Your call of course! have fun with the build!

 

I think I'll do that, want to keep that factory look.

 

Finally! Had a day where I didn't have to work until 7pm, so I got up around 9 and started work. Lowered and put my white dr-16s back on. I think the back is going to go a little bit lower but the front is perfecto

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8057782106/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8057782106/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8057782347/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8057782347/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8057782087/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8057782087/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8057781420/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8057781420/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8057781248/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8057781248/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr

Also went to Advance and picked up some spades and Mothers Back to Black. Put my JVC rear speakers in while I had the panels apart.

Those infinity front speakers I ordered the other day and came in, but they are 2 ohms instead of 4.

So returning those and buying some JVCs. Work the next few days, we'll see what happens.

 

nice hatchiee man ,, keep us updated

 

Looking good :D

 

Hatch is lookin cherry brah

 

Thanks guys. Hopefully i'll get some more done today. Still waiting on a big order

 

It looks way better!

 

Didn't do much today. Back to blacked the mirrors, side skirts, rub strips, and the piece where the license plate sits. Still waiting on my title in the mail so I haven't been able to drive it . Hopefully it will come soon...

 

Nice hatch! Looking good! Goodluck on the build

 

Got off work early today. It rained all morning then stopped, still very cloudy. Decided it was a great day to lay some wax. Should have used some scratch x on it before the wax but hey, I can do that later.

First off. Bye bye rear wiper. There was a plug at the very top of the hatch where it meets the roof. Perfect fit.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8064275584/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8064275584/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8064272355/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8064272355/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8064273876/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8064273876/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr

Time for a bath...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8064274826/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8064274826/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr

And waxed.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8064290673/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8064290673/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8064292928/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8064292928/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8064269879/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8064269879/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8064270149/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8064270149/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8064273384/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopelikenate/8064273384/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/dopelikenate/, on Flickr

More to come...

 

Hatch is looking great on the wheels! Wiper delete really cleans up that ***..nice work