Hello Honda-Tech.
I purchased this EM1 August of 2011, and boy did I have my hand FULL. She was overboard with problems. CELs, to bad axels, to the motor not running right, to the previous owners (Not sure how many) just not taking care of her, at all. This is how she sat when I picked her up. She DID NOT come with wheels, the CTR cluster, and the SiR door panels. When I picked her up she had an EX cluster, DIY Type R door panels, and steelies. The one positive thing I can say is that she had real SiR headlights lol. She was equipped with a mad tyte JDM shaved trunk, EBay muffler, JDM plate angler, well... You can see. No OEM tails. NOTHING The motor ran like poo. The distributor was hacked for an external coil. It had a Napa brand intake, DC header, no name fuel pressure gauge, AEM cam gears blah blah blah. You can see the zip tie holing the radiator fan in place.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12475485113/http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12475485113/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/117281388@N03/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12475810924/http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12475810924/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/117281388@N03/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12475486133/http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12475486133/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/117281388@N03/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12475810454/http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12475810454/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/117281388@N03/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12475485453/http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12475485453/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/117281388@N03/, on Flickr

After convincing my wife that I wanted to restore her and that it was possible, she agreed to let me buy it. After much money spent at the local Honda dealer, she ran like a champ! The exterior was still fugly, but the motor was healthy. New water pump, timing belt, tensioner, all seals, head gasket, brand new ENTIRE distributor, battery, radiator, radiator hoses, o2 sensors, oil pan gasket. I mean pretty much everything. The only thing I didn’t touch was the internals. The only thing I kick myself in the butt for is not taking enough photos.

Here is a somewhat midway photo of her being done. I got an OEM front lip, and got my hands on a trunk that wasn't shaved. I also picked up a set of SSR Type C RS and a stock SI cluster. When I got her she was on a set of D2 full coil overs that were as low as they could go. The ride was like booty, so I got rid of them and got my hands on a set of Tein lowering springs and OEM struts. I also was able to get my hands on a grill, when I bought her she had a DX grill on. I found a set of stock tail lights too, and had to order the SI badge from Honda as well. Boy were those tail lights a PITA to source here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12475970435/http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12475970435/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/117281388@N03/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476118383/http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476118383/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/117281388@N03/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476442494/http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476442494/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/117281388@N03/, on Flickr

Well after driving her like that for about 6 months I finally saved up enough money to get a paint job done. I ended up going with the Hyundai Elantra Sky Blue Metallic. IDK why, but the color seemed to just stand out to me. I also sold the SSRs and picked up a set of Advan Racing RZs. I also added a few things (Tow hook, OEM hood bra, and side markers (YES I KNOW THEY ARE OFF LOL)) Here is a photo.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476262863/http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476262863/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/117281388@N03/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476596334/http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476596334/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/117281388@N03/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476544124/http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476544124/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/117281388@N03/, on Flickr

All in all I and very happy with the way she turned out, and so is my wife. Soon after I got rid of the Advans, and got stock SIs. and a FULL restoration of the engine. I got rid of the DC header, Intake, cam gears, everything everything everything, and went back to OEM. I even sourced out the OEM wing. Good lord. That was the hardest thing IMO. I had to have my brother go meet someone on craigslist and buy it for me, then ship it to me. I could not fine one here to save my life. After a little bit I slapped a set of SI wheels on it and rode like that for a while. About 6 or so months later I saved up enough and picked up a CTR 5 lug conversion! I also installed a S2000 cluster and a few other things over time.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476461463/http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476461463/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/117281388@N03/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476439483/http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476439483/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/117281388@N03/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476768384/http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476768384/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/117281388@N03/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476766744/http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476766744/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/117281388@N03/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476815304/http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476815304/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/117281388@N03/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476491463/http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476491463/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/117281388@N03/, on Flickr

After this set up was done, I thought I was done (don't we all), until I woke up one morning and found my car keyed. Till this day I don't know who did it, and I hope I never find out who. I'm a real nice person, made a ton of friends, and I didn't **** anyone off (that I think of anyway) so I honestly think it was just a couple of kids who had nothing else better to do than to vandalize. So after everything was all said and done my insurance company was going to cover the fix, but I had other things in mind. I wanted to go back to the original color, FBP. I ended up paying the difference out of pocket for the color change and went that route. While she was getting painted I snagged a set of 16x7 TE 37s in bronze.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476537193/http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476537193/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/117281388@N03/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476852604/http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476852604/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/117281388@N03/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476527523/http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476527523/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/117281388@N03/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476398145/http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476398145/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/117281388@N03/, on Flickr

The SI was this way for a little bit, the only big changes were wheels here and there. I sold the TE's and grabbed a set of RPF1s. I kept fighting the mod bug for a while until I finally gave in. this was my DD for almost two years so I didn't want to do anything crazy to it because she ran sound and didn't give me any problems. After buying my wife an Infinity G35 sedan for her birthday, I could help but decide to go all out (what my pockets would allow me to that is) and get another paint job done. This time Clover Green pearl was stuck in my head and my heart was set on that color for whatever reason.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476946693/http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476946693/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/117281388@N03/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476810915/http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476810915/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/117281388@N03/, on Flickr



I pulled the motor out and dropped the shell off at a body shop. While the motor was out, I fixed a few things, replaced the clutch, main seal, and finally a wire tuck. Bye bye power steering, AC, and cruise control. The battery was sent to the trunk, and the fuse box was put in the glove box. I ended up with a PLM header, and AEM CAI, wood grain hydro-dipped valve cover, a full Mishimoto kit to include the slim fan and shroud. I also snagged a pair of ARC winglets and dropped her a little more on skunk2 sleeves with Koni Yellow struts, picked up a CTR carpet, OEM tail lights (better condition) and BNIB OEM floor mats.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476893315/http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476893315/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/117281388@N03/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12477222074/http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12477222074/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/117281388@N03/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476910303/http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476910303/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/117281388@N03/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12477297224/http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12477297224/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/117281388@N03/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476827275/http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12476827275/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/117281388@N03/, on Flickr

this is pretty much how she sat until September of 13 when I deployed. when I left I sold the intake, wheels, and fenders. The body work on the fenders to patch the holes were not the greatest when she was painted green. I am missing a ton of information on the little things I did here and there. Over time I forgot little things, but I hope from my photos you can tell the transformation she went through. I wish I would have made and kept up with a build thread the day I bought her,but now that I'm home and am going for another small transformation I plan on keeping this thread alive as much as I can.

 

I wished you would go back to EBP! but overall, great save. I know dat feels when buying a POS. Looks great, I loved it on the SSR's! Good luck sir!

 

Great build. Clover green is a great color.

 

Damn so many great looks But EBP is the way to be

 

Good job! Car turned out better than I expected!

 

I love it in green

 

I have an EBP and the green is very nice

 

Nice save!!
that FBP stage!!

 

Thanks all for the love. It's been like a roller coaster with this car

I have a few updates I'll be posting here soon, I just need to snap a few pictures.

 

Are those Guam plates?

 

Yes sir, they are.

 

I was there in August. Came through for a few days. Stayed downtown at the Westin.

 

Wow! Great work!any closer photos of the s2k cluster install? I'm planning to do the same, but haven't really found an easy way for it to look good.

 

I left in August and just got back less than a week ago. What were you here for?

I ended up buying the Wireworx kit, so everything was plug and go.

 

Update:

This is how she currently sits, and she has been sitting this way since I deployed. Now I'm just waiting on everything to come in the mail!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12513349294/http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12513349294/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/117281388@N03/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12513006553/http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12513006553/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/117281388@N03/, on Flickr

This just came in the mail too.
Spoon!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12513007333/http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12513007333/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/117281388@N03/, on Flickr

 

Soo, what happened to the si wing you tried so hard to acquire? Lol looks good

 

Dropped off personnel in our C130 all the way from Savannah.

And ate a ton of Rotary Sushi. 🍣

 

As for the SI wing, the studs were weak and broke. I still have the wing. I've just been lazy to go take it to a shop to get them put back on. lol.

Rotary is amazing, and so is Beni sushi

 

Man....sooo soooooo clean boss

 

thanks Skip

Early birthday gifts from the wife today. Now I have my own tools instead of borrowing from friends, lol I'm also getting lots of goodies for the car very soon, so stay posted
http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12625445745/http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12625445745/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/117281388@N03/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12625444695/http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12625444695/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/117281388@N03/, on Flickr

 

The craftsmen tool set is bomb. I've had one for almost 10 years.

 

I couldn't wait to use them, so I went in and tore my interior apart haha.

Also, here is a small update!

PasswordJDM Gunmetal Fender Washers
http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12709497883/http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12709497883/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/117281388@N03/, on Flickr

PaswordJDM Kevlar spark plug cover and blue mirror inserts
http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12709327005/http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12709327005/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/117281388@N03/, on Flickr

PasswordJDM Carbon Fiber front lip (Chargespeed) I Plan on getting it paint matched CGP as well so it flows much better.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12709785254/http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12709785254/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/117281388@N03/, on Flickr

A K&N filter for the OEM box with the spoon elbow.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12709328265/http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12709328265/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/117281388@N03/, on Flickr

Finally, the wheels Carving Stark II 16x7 and 16x8 both +38. I already removed the bolts, and sometime this coming week I'll be dropping them off to get re-finished. I'm going full gloss white to include the lips and leave the bolts Gunmetal.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12709330095/http://www.flickr.com/photos/117281388@N03/12709330095/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/117281388@N03/, on Flickr

I have more parts coming in this week! More updates coming soon

 

That's a nice simple tool kit you got. I remember when i got my first kit like that years ago and I still use it to this day even though I have thousands of dollars in tools. I'll always use it and never let it go. Also I like those wheels... A LOT

 

DAmn dude! That's a nice set of parts.

 

I love mine, got them for christmas from the parents.

bump for sick parts!