My Civic Si Build

[r3v]

When the transmission of my 626 started to die, I replaced it with this little beauty:

I made one judgment error, however. I thought I could live without a manual transmission. I considered upgrading to a MS3, but could not resist the vtec.

On August 7th 2008, I fell in love . . .

As soon as I parked my car for the first time, I performed my first moddealer sticker delete.
August 7, 2008Second mod! Ipod intigration!

August 11, 2008My Si went to the tint shop and had HP Supreme Solar Gard window film from Bekaert Specialty Films installed:
Front 50, Rear 30, Rear and Moonroof 20

August 15, 2008I just couldnt take the premium sound system anymore and installed:
Alpine SPS-500 Type-S 6-1/2 Fronts

Alpine SPS-500 Type-S 5-1/4 Rears

Elemental designs 9Kv.2 open air sub

Alpine MRP-F300 50W x 4 Multi Channel Power Amp

August 16, 2008Set up a temporary fix for the vtec + groceries issue.

August 18th, 2008Cleared out headlights.

September 28th, 2008civic delete

October 4, 2008Trunk, map, and dome LED swap.

Cool white LEDx5 swap for the license plate.
White 9LED festoon bulb swap for dome and map lights.
Cool white WLEDx6 bulb swap in trunk.
Purchased from SUPER BRIGHT LEDS
October 13, 2008My Si met a professional photographer.

October 16, 2008--K&N 69 Series Typhoon Air Intake installed!

November 12, 2008--Progress 22mm Rear Sway Bar installed.

November 14, 2008Attended first civic meet!

November 26, 2008Redshift Rear Sway Bar Reinforcement Brackets installed.

November 27, 2008Replaced transmission fluid with Red Line MT-90 Synthetic

November 28, 2008Cargo net and Trunk tray installed.

December 10, 2008--Kenwood DNX8120, SCOSCHE dash replacement kit, PAC SWI-JACK steering wheel control interface, and BOYO VTL400 Rear View Camera installed.

December 14, 2008Focal 165CA1 Coaxial speakers installed.

December 15, 2008--Finally got rid of terrible layer of funk on the inside of my windshield (No, I didn't do it. It came with my car.), installed GrafiXpressions emblem, replaced fugly license plate screws with small, clean anti-theft ones from Autozone.

You can see the problematic place where my backup camera is installed here:

December 18, 2008--Dirty loaner valve cover arrived in mail.

^ ewww, right?
1st mod=cleaning:

Took mine off:

And installed temp.
December 19, 2008
Pried those little plugs out of the valve cover.

I ordered a special red for my valve cover and shipped it off.
December 20, 2008
Installed my new JDM hazard button and rewired nasty mess of wires behind the poor Navi.

December 30, 2008
Installed HFP suspension! Without the "right" tools, this can take seven hours. Seven hours with small dinner break.

FYI! Despite what it might look like in this pic, my foot is NOT on the rotor here. I'm pushing a wrench. Carefully.

Guess what? Suspension upgrades are fantastic. Now I can REALLY feel a difference. (And, yes. This is exactly the suspension I want, so I will not be lowering any more or installing coilovers or anything.)
December 31, 2008
Began damper install
So . . .

And then three people tried to use the horrible rivet gun for over an hour. Working different combination of bracing the hood and even squeezing the gun in pairs. NOT fun!
But, FINALLY!

But we didn't have the right drill bit for the bottom, so project is being continued . . .
January 1, 2009
So I bought a $40 drill bit, but that's ok. It'll be useful for many projects in the future.

Drilled all kinds of holes in my car:

But it's worth it.

It sucks taking out the stock hood prop, but the engine bay looks way better without it.
January 6, 2009
The HFP front lip comes in a HUGE box!

It and your front bumper are a little awkward to maneuver.

You should enlist the help of some friends.

Your car will be happy when you are done.

January 18, 2009
So, I preordered an engraved, weighted shift knob. In the mean time, my short shifter and base bushings have been sitting on my shelf for a long time. So . . . I haven't modded my car in awhile. And . . . I started thinking--after installing all the shifter components, how will I be able to distinguish which is making the biggest difference?
So I have decided to do my install in shifts.
Today, I installed the base bushings.

WOW! What a difference! Talk about control! Everything is now so much more mechanical. Each gear is much more distinct and solid. Now I have to resist resist with the short shifter. I have to get used to these bushings first
January 19, 2009
After being stuck in traffic for over an hour on my way home from my run, I felt that I had give the base bushings a suitable trial run and decided to install my TWM short shifter. Compared to the bushings, which were not all that difficult, the short shifter itself might be the easiest install I have performed thus far.

(Sorry for the iphone pic, I forgot my camera.)
Only one complication spoiled what would otherwise have been a flawless install: Before reconnecting the shift knob, bolt, and boot, I decided to give the new shifter a try. In a wave of panic, I realized that I could not find fifth or sixth gear! I screwed the knob on and continued to panic, finally calming myself, putting my car back together, and starting it.
Suddenly, fifth and sixth gear resurfaced and I quickly got used to the new feel. This was not nearly as dramatic a change as the base bushings provided, but it's still nice. I'd be interested to see how it compared to that Mugen quick shifter.
January 21, 2009
A k20 valve cover came to visit from powder coating camp. After removing my loaner valve cover, I noticed that it was not only NOT my original cover. It was not even from a Si.

My oil dropped to 15%.
January 23, 2009
The imposter valve cover started its return voyage to powder coating camp, and I made a quick run to AutoZone.

I can now barely drive up ramps with my HFP suspension and lip.

Removing the drain bolt was simple! Nothing like the transmission fluid bolt!

Removing the oil cap took some effort, however. Oil drained and the real fun began.

Reaching the filter is not the difficult part! Using a crappy AutoZone tool is! After realizing that no amount of shop towels was going to make the tool quit slipping, I got on the phone and asked a local civic how he had removed his OEM filter. He arrived with his mystery OEM removal tool, and it was smooth sailing from there on out. The top of my new K&N filter fits a 1" socket, so it'll be simple to remove when the next change rolls around. By the way, Royal Purple oil is actually purple.

January 16, 2009
Installed Mugen radiator cap. Jay-Dee-EMMM (2thumbs)

January 31, 2009
Exhausting work today! Ugh.
My new "hi (flow) cat" GReddy EVO@ exhaust!

Even with WD40, the stock exhaust is horrid to remove.

February 3, 2009
Back to stock exhaust. Whewh. I'll do better the next time around.
February 6, 2009
Dual car party tonight. The guy that bought my EVO2 came over, and he installed it on his coupe while I swapped out my valve cover.
Well, it is still not my valve cover, but, hey! Acuras are cool cars too.

I did this swap in less than an hour! I'm learning!

February 13, 2009
So, I wake up as giddy as a kid on Christmas Morning! It's Exhaust Day!
At 7:00AM, I refresh FedEx's site. Again at 8:00. 8:05, 8:06. . .8:48! Info is updated!

WTF?
You know their number is difficult to find, but I get online and call everything in my city with FedEx in the name until I finally get through to a representative with a thick foreign accent who gives me the address of the facility holding my poor package hostage.
I jump in my car and vtec down to the office.
The guy behind the desk is all kinds of confused.
"That's weird. It says here we are closed for a holiday. . ."
I wait about 20 minutes, then they wheel it out.

Translation! "Closed for holiday" means "Our truck is too full for your box."
After wheeling it out, all the employees scatter, and I quickly realize why.
Next time I drive to FedEx, I'll bring scissors. (rant)
But, hey. I managed.

SOOOO Hawt!
The install was clean and simple.

And it looks nice and subtle:

Many more mods to come!

 

[r3v]

February 15, 2009
Right before a car meet, I installed my dust mite.

While at the meet, I noticed one of our local Sis, had painted his manifold cover black.
February 18, 2009
Invited him over and tried his manifold cover on:

Looks good? He let me borrow his paint too.

I opted for less glossy:

February 27, 2009
Installed my TPMS sensors!

February 28, 2009
Got my tires mounted and now my GG has new shoes!

March 3, 2009

My custom engraved TWM A6 Leopard weighted shift knob that I pre-ordered WAY back when I bought my short shifter and bushings finally came in!

March 8, 2009

A former tC owner who now drives and Si asked if my K&N used my stock resonator.

He let me know that he had a leftover tube from his old tC's Weapon*R SRI.

It was an easy swap!

Now my intake sounds so much more mean! Especially in vtec.


March 13, 2009

DOMO-KUN!

March 27, 2009

1st attempt to gain some torque--P2R throttle body spacer and gaskets.

As most of you probably already know, this doesn't fit with a K&N. So, the install took quite a few hours, and I ended up reducing the little rubber connecting piece and drimmeling and adding some washers to the bracket.

FYI, you don't have to pry those screws out, you can just use two nuts and your socket wrench:

I got the matching tie-down too.

AND, while I was in there, I went ahead and did a quick throttle body coolant bypass.

About 30 minutes after I finished, a new IS-F showed up and allowed me to strip it down and install ipod integration! Think its wheels would look good on my GG?

April 9, 2009

On March 23, my first package arrived. April 2nd, I recieved the rest. The paint shop finished on April 8th.

And then!

May 12, 2009

After two hours of gardening, it was time to install my new Ingalls "Stiffy" Engine Dampening Power Stick. The most difficult part was assembling the poor thing--lots of tedious measuring to get it exactly right! Not to mention that without proper wrenches, those little bolts are really difficult to tighten. (I know, why haven't I bought proper wrenches by now?!!)

80 ft lbs + blue locktight isn't a total snap either.

But, WOW, is it worth it! It does vibrate quite a bit, but all of the vibrations are legitimate feedback! It's fantastic feeling the movement of my engine through the petals and wheel. The only downside is that I have now given my Si a voice with which it is able to protest my sloppy down shifting. But, don't worry. After 1 day of vigilant practice, I upped my driving skills. It's a little embarrassing to think that after all this time, I was kind of failing at driving. For its instruction alone, it is worth it!

May 17, 2009

On the way back from a meet, I checked my mailbox. New oil cap ftw!

May 24, 2009
I got something in the mail and started a quite tedious project:

It's starting to look like something, but I still have a long way to go:

June 3, 2009

Jumpered my clutch.

Maybe I can now buy one of those push start buttons, now that another step to starting the car is eliminated.

June 12, 2009

Got my Intake Manifold back from powdercoating camp:

Picked up a skunk2 fuel rail, let my car cool off, and was ready to go. Do you spot the problem in this statement? I wish I had. skunk2 fuel rail does not fit an Si without a lot of modification--modifications that include EP3 parts that dealerships do not typically keep in stock. Mental note: it is never Ok to impulse buy a mod!

So! The manifold swap went smoothly, for the most part:

Until much wasted time at the very end, until I finally had to accept the fact that I had to put my stock rail back on for now:

P2R has been ordered.

June 17, 2009

When returning the Skunk2 fuel rail, I couldn't resist buying something that I'd been thinking about trying out for quite some time.

The install appears to be deceptively simple! Just 6? 7? parts. The only complication is when it comes to worming it up into your engine bay. *stress* *stress*

June 18, 2009

P2R fuel rail install! P2R ftw! It almost snapped on effortlessly without any modification! Almost . . .

 

[JCell]

loving it, i cant see myself going to automatic tranny ever either


and the jdm hazard button made me laugh

 

[BlkWidow]

Nice!

 

[r3v]

loving it, i cant see myself going to automatic tranny ever either


and the jdm hazard button made me laugh

Yea, I'd never owned an automatic, so I figured tiptronic would be good enough. There are some things I still miss about my 3 like the huge glove box and the way it takes corners. Even with my suspension upgrade and sway bar, my poor Si still can't corners as well as that little 3.

Nice!

Thanks!

 

[daonly1around]

nice work

 

[Kain]

You're a lucky man, Dale.

 

[DaleNixon]

Don't I know it!

 

[paylew]

It looks really good! I looked at an Si before I got my MS3.
I really like the lip.

 

[r3v]

nice work

Thanks!

You're a lucky man, Dale.

Don't I know it!

(kiss)

It looks really good! I looked at an Si before I got my MS3.
I really like the lip.

Thanks! It was a tough choice between the MS3 and the Si. I have my sides and rear picked out too. I just need to save up my money first.

 

[dxaveP5]

subbed
Nice Car i love Sp2 they are nice

 

[coyfish]

Nice cars, nice writeup.

 

[BadBandar]

Nice Si. My dad got a Civic Hybrid and ur mods is making me want to go out and do the ame to his car. But if he found a red hazard light he would take a s*** on himself. Great job. Keep it up.

 

[r3v]

subbed
Nice Car i love Sp2 they are nice

Thanks. The SP2 sounded fantastic on my Si. I loved to growl in vtec. (drive)

Nice cars, nice writeup.

Thanks! (cool)

Nice Si. My dad got a Civic Hybrid and ur mods is making me want to go out and do the ame to his car. But if he found a red hazard light he would take a s*** on himself. Great job. Keep it up.

Yes! Please encourage him. I tried to get my dad to buy a Civic Hybrid or an Si. Instead he bought the most difficult car to mod . . . Hyundai Sonata.(rant)

Father's day will be here soon:
http://www.aj-racing.com/shop/product.php?productid=1524&cat=0&page=1 (yippy)

 

[Tom03es]

very nice. It must be nice to work with a clean and new car.

 

[mazdaspeedster3]

Good job and great write up.

 

[mgrinshpon]

A pretty car, no doubt.

Other than looks and creature comforts, I'm a bit curious as to why you didn't go for the 5th or 6th gen Civics. Those had double wishbone suspensions all around. Very little camber change in the corners. Tires stay planted like they're coated in adhesive. A better corner-taker than anything Mazda has produced. Those Civics are at least on-par with the Miata. My friend's dad was racing one in an SCCA race and for an hour and a half at 8000RPM before one of his connecting rods blew and crankshaft snapped but he was beating Porsches and Ferrarris in corners like he put real money into that Civic.

 

[r3v]

very nice. It must be nice to work with a clean and new car.

Thanks! Nice but expensive! I'm hoping to find something on the opposite side of the spectrum when I purchase my project car. I hang out with my local Z club. The most impressive is a 280Z. Total money spent on the car and parts and everything is $8000. . .

Good job and great write up.

Thanks!

A pretty car, no doubt.

Other than looks and creature comforts, I'm a bit curious as to why you didn't go for the 5th or 6th gen Civics. Those had double wishbone suspensions all around. Very little camber change in the corners. Tires stay planted like they're coated in adhesive. A better corner-taker than anything Mazda has produced. Those Civics are at least on-par with the Miata. My friend's dad was racing one in an SCCA race and for an hour and a half at 8000RPM before one of his connecting rods blew and crankshaft snapped but he was beating Porsches and Ferrarris in corners like he put real money into that Civic.

Creature comforts would be the key. This is my daily driver and not a track car. If you notice, out of all my mods, I have maybe added 10 more horsies, and that is even debatable. None of my mods put any strain on the vehicle and all can be easily removed.

Now, I do have plans to purchase a project/track car in the future. That will be a whole new game once I start shopping for it. (And Miata is on the list of possibilities.)

 

[Kain]

Now, I do have plans to purchase a project/track car in the future. That will be a whole new game once I start shopping for it. (And Miata is on the list of possibilities.)

Not sure how much track experience you and Frost Nixon have, but a Miata would make a great track car for a beginner: cheap, plenty of mods, not too much power to get you in trouble, and with so many track Miatas out there already, you're not reinventing the wheel.

 

[KZL_99ES]

i like all the bent over and butt shots! HAWT!!! lol

...oh and good choice on the Heineken in your suspension install!

erm, well off of the two track girls and beer mind-- awesome Si & love the mods! keep it up!