HCF Project Section - Plethoric's EK Hatchback

Car: 2000 Honda Civic DX Hatchback

Background and Plans:

Bought the car in the beginning of 2009. Car had a fresh JDM B18b1 swap with about 40k on the motor. Chassis had 98k miles on it. This is what it looked like when I got it...

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/plethoric33/civic003.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/plethoric33/civic001.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/plethoric33/civic002.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/plethoric33/civic005.jpg

First thing I had to do was get an exhaust on it. I drove it home with just the header on from about 2 hours away. Went with a Magnaflow muffler and resonator along with custom mandrel bent pipes, high flow cat, and the ebay header.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/plethoric33/civic004.jpg

Then I needed to get rid of the ugly 17" Riax wheels on it. They rubbed on every turn or bump. Found some Rota Circuit 8's locally for $300...
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/plethoric33/ru4h04.jpg

I didn't think all red would look good on my car, but couldn't beat the price. So, I stripped the lips and polished them, and sanded the red bars smooth...
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/plethoric33/civic014.jpg

Then layed down 4 coats of Black and 2 coats of clear..
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/plethoric33/civic019.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/plethoric33/2000%20Civic%20Hatchack/civic038.jpg

Next on the list was to get a new grill. Just got a Si style grill locally for dirt cheap...
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/plethoric33/2000%20Civic%20Hatchack/civic045-1.jpg

And of course, CTR styled Titanium housing headlights...
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/plethoric33/2000%20Civic%20Hatchack/civic082.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/plethoric33/2000%20Civic%20Hatchack/civic077.jpg

The valve cover paint was starting to look pretty rough, so I went ahead and sprayed it Anodized Blue for the time being. It has a slight texture to it. I plan on getting an OBD2 LS cover and doing a graffiti styled theme on it...
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/plethoric33/2000%20Civic%20Hatchack/civic068-1.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/plethoric33/2000%20Civic%20Hatchack/civic067-1.jpg

The ebay header was already rusting through, so I went with a Megan 4-2-1 Stainless muffler. They are cheap and yet still a good company from my personal use of thier items...
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/plethoric33/2000%20Civic%20Hatchack/civic058-1.jpg

Cleaned up a coolant leak and an oil leak. Busted cam seals. So Skunk2 to the rescue. Also gave it a nice valve adjustment to clean up some clicking..
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/plethoric33/2000%20Civic%20Hatchack/civic066.jpg

those grills are nice they dont fade as quick., the regular grills fade after time.

The original tail lights on the car were both cracked and chipped up pretty bad. So I happen to get a minty set from a 98 Hatch at Pull-a-Part and smoked them out...
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/plethoric33/2000%20Civic%20Hatchack/civic071.jpg

And peep the Megan Bar...
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/plethoric33/2000%20Civic%20Hatchack/civic076.jpg

Had to add some sound too...
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/plethoric33/2000%20Civic%20Hatchack/civic074.jpg
And notice the Si cluster
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/plethoric33/2000%20Civic%20Hatchack/civic056.jpg

Then it was time for a lot of maintenance issues. Ground issues led to my car starting when it wants to. Ended up cleaning all grounds, making a ground strap, and got some new battery terminals. Fixed up everything.

Next was my passenger side axle breaking and tranny axle seal leaking. So installed a new axle and new tranny seal.

Then the midway gasket of the two piece header blew. Major pain to fix. Copper RTV helps a lot.

And after a few small mods and a fresh Carbon Creations Hood it sits like this as of now...
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/plethoric33/2000%20Civic%20Hatchack/DSC_0149.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/plethoric33/2000%20Civic%20Hatchack/DSC_0147.jpg

Im ordering some new wheels in a week or two. GT3's or DR16s depending on what prices I can get. Plan on going with Gold with a polished lip in a 16". I'd really like to find something a bit lower offset though, something like a +28 or so.

And what do you guys think for a headliner? Im really thinking of doing a red plaid somehow and getting some CTR red floor mats...the rest of my interior will remain its current black. Then some new tint, 17% all around.

Looks great man

I don't mean to sound like a door-to-door salesman, but I have some really bright red LED 168 bulbs i'm selling for $5 plus shipping that might fit your rear sidemarkers (the side light in the taillights) which would help with visibility of your lights to other people... (might help keep the cops off your back too). I used to have smoked tails and that's why I bought them. Sylvania website says that 2000 Civic 2-door models fit the 168. I'm not sure if yours counts as a 2-door model though in their eyes though, you'd have to take a look at your bulbs to find out.

Yeah, I might have to get those from you. We don't have much against tint on tails in KY, so cops aren't an issue. We also don't have smog testing here. So the future boost project can go where ever I want it to. But I just want to be sure everyone can see me.

Very nice I really like what you have done to it. Let me know if you run across another SI grille. I am looking for a 99 or 00 SI grille for my HX.

Haven't seen one since I got mine. I think I might start taking off the old tint today. I hate removing tint.

Very nice I really like what you have done to it. Let me know if you run across another SI grille. I am looking for a 99 or 00 SI grille for my HX.

check ebay out dude, they have some cheap grills on there.

I am a little concerned about the ebay grilles because they are so cheap. The JDM grilles run around $150 and up. What is the difference? I am wamting to make my HX look like an SI so I'm hoping I can find an SI grille.

Sorry for hijacking part of this thread.....

The ebay grills are fine. I have had 2 of them on different cars. Fit fine.

how you find the b18b1?
fast? I was thinking about getting a b18b1 swap, also no intake??
Also, you gonna look into getting a LS/VTEC swap?? :o

she is very clean looking now, how much when you bought her?
How much put into her now?

So lets get some opinions on wheels here. I have 2 sets I like and I can't make up my mind.

First set is the Gold w/ polished lip Rota GT3 16x7 +40 Offset
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/plethoric33/gt3_2.jpg

Or the Konig/Maxxim Remember. They are BBS RS copies. 16x7 +35 0ffset (or +20)
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/plethoric33/remember_16_gold_RS_sm.jpg

personally i like the GT3 better, also check this website out, it might have your car on it, and you can put which rims you want on the car and see how it looks like, it has my car on it

http://www.andysautosport.com/rims/acura_cl.html

http://i468.photobucket.com/albums/rr41/daBOKI/civic.jpg

roadliner the ebay grills are nice and cheap. this one cost my bro 38$ bucks and it was metal i believe cant really remember. but i think the quality was good because his color didnt fade a bit for all the time he had it. sorry for thread stealing plethoric.

i say gt3 rims (look like hx rims), i dont like the other rims they look alot like the old old old bmw rims.

Gt3's yo
youre cars not old enough for the other set
now my car...

yeah go for the gt3s!!!, now you just need some boost!

My influence...
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/plethoric33/10-12-08-531-1.jpg

HOLY SEX BATMANN!!!!! love that white hatches stance. umm, was guna say gt3's but now, no. deff go the others with 20 offsett, or lower ;) like +5

Haha. I knew there had to be a low offset fan on here. BBS RS oldskool just look sick. Im so torn on what set I want. I like the GT3s, but I wish they were available in a lower offset than +40. And Ive always had a sweet spot for the BBS Meshies.

Decided to just refinish my Circuit 8s and roll on some steelies for a while since winter is almost here and just buy some new wheels in the spring. I'm doing the C8s in bronze with a polished lip. Also looking for a CTR wing too. I know some people are going to say they are a little big, but I think they look like sex, they even out the EK rear end.

I think i've seen a few CTR wings (along with a bunch of other rare stuff) in this thread (http://hondamarketplace.com/showthread.php?t=986533). You'll want to skip towards the more recent pages, it's a massive thread.

I check that one pretty often. If I can't find a reasonable price I will settle for a knock off. Found a local guy today though that will powder coat my wheels for $200. Might do it.

in for the readin also nice car

I ordered a chipped ecu from Phearable.net a couple days ago, should be here soon. I wasn't to happy with the tune that was currently on a chip from the last owner.

I started having some idle surging this week too. Found that the FITV was leaking a slight bit off coolant as well. So I popped it off and cleaned and resealed it up.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/plethoric33/2000%20Civic%20Hatchack/095.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/plethoric33/2000%20Civic%20Hatchack/096.jpg

One of the screws was stripped and couldn't be removed. So I just threw some Copper RTV on it and its holding just fine. My idle is now back to normal.

Kinda dark, but I've been working on a mild tuck and its going pretty good.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/plethoric33/2000%20Civic%20Hatchack/098.jpg

i see you have a guage on your fuel filter.. what does that do? i seen them on some cars and thought they look cool lol

http://i351.photobucket.com/albums/q461/nikeh34d/PLETHORIC-4.jpg

present from nike

Is Nike banned right now?

And thats a fuel pressure gauge. Its just one of the few spots you can mount them at.

yea nikes banned
u have a ls right?
how do you like it?

mild tuck looks good

bring nike backkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk


i never would have thot i would say this but... i miss nike haha

I have an LS swapped in. For the money, its soooo much better than a D. Its fun to drive. But if I had my choice/money I would def have a GSR or H22 swapped in. But since my block is in fine shape, LS/VTEC is going to happen eventually followed by boost. Im looking for a B16 or GSR head.... I needz dat VtEch in ma life.

And for anyone with a head that still clicks a little after a valve adjustment...this stuff worked amazing...
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/plethoric33/2000%20Civic%20Hatchack/094.jpg

And for anyone with a head that still clicks a little after a valve adjustment...this stuff worked amazing...

I am assuming it quiets the clicking/tapping noise, huh? I'm not sure if the noises I hear in my head (lol) are anything to be concerned about since I have the upgraded internals. I already checked the valve lash and adjusted the valves (etc etc), but still have a clicking-type noise. I might try this and see if it works for me.

Yo manz, u'z gotsta get dat vTecH in yo whip yo. haha :)

I have heard that upgraded valve trains tend to be a bit chattery compared to the stock. Mine was still making more noise than normal after I adjusted the valve lash and rechecked it a few times. So a shop I go to recommended the Lucas product and it actually did the trick.

i bought that sh!t at walmart a few months ago and never used it.. i guess its time huh

Indeed.

How long is Nike banned for and what did he do this time? Seems odd to ban a frequent poster when this forum is almost dead most of the time.

he wants back on, he asked to be banned, and now asked to be unbanned and forty04 said no,

Why the hell would he ask to be banned?

cause he's nike lol.

why wouldnt he unban him? they complain about post-whoring.. a forum is for conversating... you cant conversate if you dont post..

lol at Supersize's made up words. "Conversating"...also referred to as "Conversing".

... read up on pittsburgh language.. they call it pittsburgheze

i also say yinz haha..

anyhow, bring back nike!

Got my Phearable ECU today and installed it. Car runs soo much smoother now. It used to kinda bog a bit at certain RPM ranges. Feels great.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/plethoric33/2000%20Civic%20Hatchack/SANY0073.jpg

i want ur hatch, like sooo bad.

what all did they set up on the ecu?

I basically just got it because I couldn't find the one I need local. Just set for a B18b1 with I/H/E, OBD1, Check engine shift light, and two step.