So long story short my last car was totaled and I decided to pick up a car cash. I had a 2000 civic hatch back in the day, automatic. My dad wouldn't let me get manual.

I always wanted a EM1, it's a timeless car to me. Sadly the only lightly modified or stock ones were salvaged, or rebuilt titles. I found a clean title one that needed a lot of TLC.



From the pictures the car looked clean. But lots of little things have added up. I'm all in on this car now.

The car came swapped with a b18c jdm motor and a mystery transmission. 3rd gear grinded every time it was engaged. Fourth gear was starting to go out. The PO told me the tranny had a type R 3rd gear and they naturally grind, it's no big deal.

But it come on I don't know a thing about transmissions but I do know bullshit. But I planned to get the tranny rebuilt anyways. The car also had solid avid motor mounts, which rattled the car to death. Ac power steering deleted. Shitty fender roll job in front fenders rusted in the wheel wells. The climate control tabs were broken so it just dangled there.

As as you can see car needs massive work done.

Regardless i I picked It up, because clean title. Now the build begins!!!

I had the transmission rebuilt by Brian Spiker in Everett WA. I was referred to him by Rich At Rich Tuned in Auburn. When I dropped off the tranny with Brian, he was able to give me some info on the tranny. He thinks it's an early jdm or ek9 tranny, he pointed out it has LSD. The motor did come from H motors. Brian did an amazing job on the tranny finished in 2 hours!! Thing shifts like butter now.




Unfortunately the tranny has no markings so exactly what it is no idea. When at 70mph I am at 4K rpm if that is of significance.

I also had Rich at Richtuned put a new excedy clutch in the car. The po has like a 4-6 puck clutch in there. It was terrible driving especially with the solid motor mounts. So now it's got a oem equivalent one. Also had oem motor mounts installed. Thing doesn't rattle anymore, and I don't burn out everytime I hit the gas.









Currently been picking up oem pieces to fix up the car. Need to change the front wheels bearings, just waiting for some more parts to come in.

more updates soon!!

 

Congrats on getting the car you wanted. It'll be fun to fix it up, and especially to drive ofc!

 

I'll be picking up a red EM1 Si next week and can't wait. I've wanted one for a while now and came across one for a great price. I'll start a thread of my own once its home, but congrats on the car, I know the feeling of searching for one.

 

Good luck, restoring these old Civics is an admirable endeavor. I'm in the midst of a very similar process on the 93 EG in my sig, my car was battered to hell when I first picked it up, but only one previous owner and a clear blue title.

 

Those rims are cool. And they complement the car's colour excellently.

 

I highly disagree personally. They "pop" way too much against the black. A color with a lighter tone and less noise would be better imo.

 

I know right!! Now I just need to keep it from getting stolen, sadly... thanks!

 

Haha!! I also highly disagree the color is grating to me with a black car. I didn't picture it but I actually traded for the oem EM1 wheels. Traded like the second day of owning the car. I knew some hella scrape kid would want them, and I would as right!! I also raised the car about 2 inches.

 

Your Dad wanted you to get an automatic? What up with that?

 

Rough day today, radiator failed. Idiot PO zip tied the radiator fan to the radiator. Didn't do it properly and the zip ties broke the fins and put a hole in the rad. Replaced it with a skunk 2 radiator, so shouldn't be an issue moving forward.

good news is the car didnt over heat at all. Needle never wen over half. But I caught it super early, it was only a small leak.

Dont know if I mentioned this but PO did a shitty job of wiring a kill switch in the car. Then removed it, but he just taped the connections back together......

What an idiot.... Only found out because all of a sudden the fuel pump went out and wasn't working. Called the PO and he directed me to where his mess was. I've since soldered and heat shrinked the wires together.



Also a pleasant surprise OEM window visors. Now I just have to recondition them to look new. Also you can see where some a hole tried to break into the car. Replaced the door seal because what ever tool the tool used, cut gouges in the seal.



Favorite addition so far OEM Integra Type R shift ****.



Car as she sits today.



Next up on the fix it list. New front wheel bearings, upper control arms, ball joints, bolts, castle nuts and pins.



Even more parts!!! I need a sticker that says I love OEM!! Still have another batch of parts waiting to come into my local Honda dealer.

Thats it for for now, more updates soon!!

 

I know wtf right!! He said he didn't want to teach me how to drive stick. I think secretly he just wanted it to suit him to, he drove it sometimes. So sadly forced to go automatic.

 

Yeah it really is, I'm starting to think. Most people beat these cars to hell, never did regular maintenance, and hacked them up. Much luck with your eg!! I could have picked up cleaner em1 but with rebuilt or salvaged titles. Only thing about the title that sucks with this car is, I'm the 7th owner.

 

i did think the wheels were a decent design. But really the color is alittle much for black imo. Although none of that mattered I knew It was going to have em1 oem wheels anyways.

Plus I'm 34 those wheels felt like a mid life crisis to me, haha!! Thanks though!

 

mmmmmmm Milano Red a very very beautiful color. My paint looks good from like 15 ft away haha... I hope you car has more serviceable paint. I plan on re painting the car myself though. That's either going to be a huge mistake or a huge win.

 

I'm actually a paint and body guy, but from what I've seen in the pics, it's in pretty good shape. But I have plans on doing a one-off paint job on it with Honda OEM Black Pearl as my base. Hopefully picking it up this coming weekend. As long as you take your time and don't rush the prep stage, you'll be fine.

 

Congrats on picking up an EM1 man. Good luck with the restoring, doing good so far

 

These EM1 threads really make me wish I was working on mine !!! Hopefully soon... I really want to drive it again as my DD. So glad to see you using quality parts and have a proper plan to restore this wonderful chassis. Keep up the good work.

 

I love the resto-build threads popping up lately of this era of honda. I've always loved the EM1, looking good so far!

 

being tastefully redone, That cig lighter and cup holder weren't an option on the em1, nor in the US. But it seems to flow nicely. Take more pics.

 

Quick update as it’s been awhile:

Finished all the body work on the car:


Body work all finished




Car back from paint:






car as she sits today:




I’ve done a bunch of stuff I didn’t really document or take pictures of. The car is coming out amazing. I went with all new oem seals and the car looks brand new. Also installed a double din head unit with Apple car play to modernize it just a tad. Installed sound deadener with 100% coverage everywhere except the door skins. Replaced the old coil overs with some time flex z. I took the opportunity to replace the oem carpet and seats with DC2 recaro SRD and bride low seat rails. Brand new oem sun visors, reupholstered head liner.





some upcoming work I need to do:

- rebuild AC system all new lines, condenser, compressor.
- cut and polish paint, install ceramic coat.
- wheels and tires.
- tien EDFC
- new exhaust, headers, intake manifold, type r cams, intake box, tune.
- paint engine bay

going for a clean fun build, nothing crazy.
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nicely done.

 

This thing turned out beautifully! I would love to find one of these, but you're right; they're all either beat to hell or extremely overpriced.

 

Nice update!

 

Which colour black is that sprayed?

 

Thanks!