Vtecmec's 4th Gen

[wurlycorner]

[JimmerJDM]

Awesome thread just had a ludegasm reading through it, you sir are a honda hero
is there anything you cant do?
Loving the ocd of it even more

[wurlycorner]

is there anything you cant do?

Stay up late dancing...

[Vtecmec]

i'm getting old now.........

[Prelude danny]

Wow what a build, loved the read

Sent from my E6653 using Tapatalk

[Vtecmec]

An update, it’s been a long while, mainly due to a complete meltdown and some significant life changing events all occurring concurrently for a perfect jobby storm in 2015, really was the worst year of my life. I have to thank some of the wonderful members on here for helping me cope with some of the issues I faced, you guys know who you are so thanks; really, really thanks.

Anyway, onto to the car, still not where I want it, but getting ever, ever closer. Not sure Donald’s prediction will be correct though, 6 months to go………………..

Since the last update I have done the following but not taken many photos………

Fitted type R cams.
Fitted a spoon ECU.
Fitted a UK cruise control unit, so I can now cruise over 60mph.
Chased and killed many little gremlins (mainly balljoints, but also bits of wiring, a few loose bolts, etc).
Been involved in two minor accidents, one just scraping the front lip, the other a coming together with a motorcycle. I’ve repaired the damage so nothing to see here anymore.

Fitted a type S intake and K&N filter.



Finished off the audio install, fitting a free air sub in the back, actually found a pic for this one.



Installed a different gearknob, the metal one I had was too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter, totally impractical, so I found a civic one I liked that suits the age of the car.


So onto recent times, I whacked it in for an MOT two weeks ago after it being parked up since August, amazingly it passed without any work needed, but had a few advisories.

These was play in a lower front balljoint, those damn jobby cheap Chinese parts, this will be the last one to be replaced, none of them lasted more than 10k. Shocking.

Exhaust leaking and generally rotten, this I was aware of ages ago and last year had sourced the parts to rectify. I picked up a second hand 2.5” stainless cat back system, though the back box looks way loud and I don’t like the look, there is no way I’ll be fitting it.



I have a DC sports manifold and downpipe, but the flexi section had gone, so I thought I’d repair it and upgrade the collector to 2.5” at the same time.

Here is a pic of it on a timber jig partway through the process.



And here it is just before going onto the car, complete with a new O2 sensor installed and new de-cat pipe sat behind it.



I’ve fitted the stainless mid section too and a copy OEM backbox so the exhaust is nice and quiet, though might have to revisit the backbox if I feel it hampers performance. Time will tell.

I also fitted a new dizzy along with new plug leads as I was getting an intermittent TDC sensor code error and slight hesitation. Problem sorted.

I removed the EGR valve and the EVAP canister, they are still on the car, just blocked off and disconnected respectively so as not to bother the engine.

I removed the IACV and gave that a good clean too.

Of course it now needed timing up so I bought myself a (better than my previous) timing light for this.



This gun is cool as it also has a built in tachometer so I can set the base idle perfectly.



It now runs better than it ever has in the 12 years I have owned this car, it’s hard to tell that it is even switched on when sat at idle. It also always smelt a bit fuelly, but not anymore.

I’ve pretty much finished off the interior, covering the door card inserts and the roof lining. The roof lining looked really tired and so I thought I’d re-trim it in Alcantara:







This did not go as well as I thought as the material does not flow too well around tight corners and I was not happy with the finish.

So off with that and onto a thinner material, I ordered some off ebay thinking it was a dark grey, but when it arrived it turned out to be blue, I’m going to roll with it anyway and it’s on the list for this weekend.

I then revisited the door card inserts and used pre-cut leather this time.





I picked up an OEM centre armrest optional extra for the mid facelift setup, sans working cupholders unfortunately; though it’s nice to have a little additional storage, as every bit helps in a 4th gen!



Fitted but needs recovering in leather to complete the look.


So what’s left?
I have uprated front and rear antiroll bars sat in the shed awaiting fitting, this one will happen within the next few weeks.
Install interior footwell lights.
Aircon refurb, I have a new rad but need seals and whatever else might be needed before progressing (probably compressor).
Add remote central locking, bored of using the key.
Sort out the flaking chrome handbrake button.
Fix cupholders.
Repaint rocker cover, I have an airbrush kit so might try flames or something cool like that.
Repaint exhaust heat shield.
Repaint wheels.
Repaint car.

Can’t think of much else right now.

[mart609]

Good to see you back Paul. Sorry to hear about things.
Some nice little updates there, as always your work is top notch!

[RattyMcClelland]

You free air sub fwend.

Great work on the retrim.

[vanzep]

yep some good work as usual
glad to hear the car in running stronger than ever - the Spoon ECU type R cams and Type S intake are nice additions - maybe finish it off with a 62mm 5th gen TB
ive also had issue with replacement lower ball joints - the boots always seem to burst - im already on my 3rd replacement on driver side front -last ball joint was a delphi one - ive got a few better quality japanese made lower ball joints that i could fit but im thinking about just replacing the whole hub/knuckle if i can find a good condition low miles OEM replacement.

[wurlycorner]

Stop making so much progress