Dominick's EM1

[Dominick]

Was bored today, so I thought I'd play the Member Journal game. I'm going to copy my build from other websites, so if it seems to be worded oddly, it's nothing to worry about. So without further ado:

Well, I finally have my dream car. While it's not EBP, its the next best color in my book, FBP (with a bit of blue mixed in). Its a 1999 EM1 with a couple of tasty goodies added in. This is going to be my daily driver and I plan to eventually do some Auto-X or basic track days with it, so no boost in my future.

On to the mods:

Chassis/Body/Suspension

-Repainted FBP with blue flakes
-Ebay fogs
-PWJDM fogs
-No scratches
-No rust
-Mild wire tuck
-Orange painted engine bay
-Tokico Suspension
-Stock Si's

Engine/Performance

-No name Short Ram Intake
-Stock Throttle body
-Stock Headers
-Stock Intake Manifold
-2.5" Straight pipe to 3" Vibrant Exhaust
-Exedy Clutch

Interior/Audio

-RSX Front Leather Seats
-RSX Rear Leather Seats
-S2K Steering Wheel
-Pioneer HeadUnit (iPod/USB)
-New motors and mounts for pesky windows

I bought it for $4000 and IMO, was worth every penny. While it needs alot of cosmetic work, it's a mechanically sound car that will get me through whatever I need.

[Dominick]

Onto the pictures. I haven't been able to take legit phots yet, but within a week or so, I will have better ones up. BUT for now these will have to do




Me and my friend's new Mazda 3s. He and I worked on tinting the tails and paint the brake calipers.






Dat bay



My favorite

[Dominick]

And finallly, the plans for the car.

Short Term (I.E. over the summer time of a couple years, because thats when I earn the most money)

Performance

-Stock Airbox
-ITR Manifold
-ITR Headers
-ITR Throttle Body
-NGK Ignition
-E3 Spark Plugs
-Upgraded Brakes (ITR Setup)
-Stainless Steel Brake Lines
-Tein SS Coilovers
-Function7 LCA's
-ASR Subframe Brace
-ITR Anti-Roll Bar
-Short Shifter (brand unknown for now)
-Yokohama Avids 205/50/R15
-Probably more stuff, just can't think of them now

Cosmetics

-Honda Fit Front Lip
-OEM Spoiler
-Honda Acess Window Visors
-New Front Bumper
-New Tailights
-PWJDM Blue Stich Shift Boot
-OEM RSX Stainless Steel Shift Knob
-CTR Armrest Delete
-New Seats (brand unknown for now)
-Personal Steering Wheel
-NRG Quick Release (Blue/Black)
-Matt Jones' DIY Interior Stuff (Blue)
-OEM Mudflaps
-CTR Manual Folding Mirrors
-Wrinkle Black Valve Cover (for now at least)
-Wrinkle Black Spark Plug Cover (for now at least)
-Stickers (not bombed)
-A lil bit of a tint
-Probably more stuff, just can't think of them now

Long Term (I.E. over a couple of years, LONG time)

-Respray EBP
-B20 Vtec
-Upgraded Internals
-Rims (thinking some REAL MF8's or Enkei PR01)
-Probably more stuff, just can't think of them now


(Edited by Dominick)

[Dominick]

No updates. Just a couple more pictures. Myself and a fellow worker's Si.





Also, got a new toolbox, so now I can start doing work on the car myself

[Dominick]

UPDATE: 5/12/2012

Fixed my rear seats because they weren't fitting right


Shift Boot Before


Shift Boot After


Took broken sunroof visor


Tails before


Tails after



Shifter insert before


Shifter insert after

[Dominick]

My buddy and I got out of work early the past couple of days, so we have been having some mini photo shoots. Here's what we've come up with.







There are a lot more, but I just picked some really good ones. haha

[Dominick]

Also, I am having my old EBP rear visor painted black to put on the car until I decide to something else.

But anyways, more pics!!! Mostly because I really love my car. haha

[Dominick]

UPDATE:

Decided to put my old visor on temporarily until I can get myself an OEM one.

Before:



After:

[Dominick]

Lucky me, I found another picture from a previous meet

[Dominick]

So I ordered some 8th gen "Si" badges off ebay for under $12, and they look sweet.



Before:



After:





And after just a few weeks, my Tein's came in!







They will be put on next Tuesday. Can't wait!

[Dominick]

And a here are some more pics I took recently after first legit car wash. Hasn't been done in a while, as far as I am concerned. haha

[Dominick]

In other news, my friend and I finally installed the Tein coilovers today.

Here were the old ones. Tokico Blues up front and stocks in the back, all with H&R lowering springs.



The rear coils were easy to put in, but the fronts were more of a problem. We couldn't seem to remove the struts from the well,




So we decided to rent a grinder and cut that **** off. haha



Finally after a full day of learning as we go, we got the Tein's in and all sorted out.




Got the ride height up a little so I can fix the tires and the axle but after that it's going back down.




And a couple of days ago, I decided to just temporarily zip-tie my new front grille "Si" badge on.

Before:



After:



And that's it for now. Up next are Yokohama Avid ENVigor tires in 195/50/R15 and fix the axle.

[Dominick]

So this past week I had many unexpected days off, so I thought I'd tackle my poopy valve cover.

Here it was before:





Look at that beautiful DOHC!



Ewww.....oil



After I got all the paint off using paint stripper and some elbow grease matched with a paint scraper




Unfortunately, because I was taking my time and taking the majority of the day getting rid of the pre-existing paint, I didn't have enough time to sand and repaint the cover. So this is how it sat on the car for the better part of a week. Actually not bad considering everything is silver in color.



But I got bored and quickly painted my header shield wrinkle black to match the upcoming valve cover. Looks good in my eyes.



And finally, after about a week, I was finally able to finish the valve cover. Sanded it and masked off the holes.



And the final product. It still has to dry for at least a couple days. I'm going to use the heat off the engine to do so. But once it's dry I am going to scrape the paint off the rest of the emblems and polish/sand them more so that they are silver.



And I also got new Nexxen all-season tires. Perfect size and they drive great. Can't wait to lower the car back down in a couple of days.




She's coming along!!!! :run:

[Dominick]

Well, I finished my valve cover this morning. Sanded the remaining emblems on it and overall, it doesn't look good, but it makes me proud to say it wsa my first time doing anything like this but it came out all right.



Also, I grabbed some griptape from the store and did my pedals. I think this is a cool idea so I thought I'd do it. haha

Before:



After:




And in other news, I ordered a first gen Honda Fit Sport front lip for the car a couple of nights ago. I am going to match it with the Home Depot DIY under lip to protect the newest investment.

I leave you with my first ever rolling shot taken by a buddy of mine with his iPhone. I love it!

[Dominick]

Update time.

I tried to lower my car last week and got 3 out of the 4 coilovers maxed out, but when it came time to do the final front right coil, the top ring where the spring sits, wouldn't move. After a soild week and a half of trying to make sense of it and try to fix the problem, I have to either send it back and get it fixed by Tein for around $200 or try and get a new one because they should be under warranty.

Anyways, I also got to changing the oil, which has yet ot be done on this car since I got it, as well as my first ever time doing an oil change! But hey, you gotta start somewhere right? I got it done with a bit of struggle though. The toughest part by far is trying to remove the old oil filter. It gave me plenty of trouble, but I found out that using sandpaper as an extra grip. Who would have known?!?!

But on a positive note, my Honda Fit front lip came in the other day!!! I test fitted it and it needs a little extra molding to hug the bumper but that is coming tomorrow.

Here are some picutures of my recent excapades.

Took the front bumper off for the first time to start test fitting the lip



Oil change



I also got around to putting a full spring from a rear strut onto a front strut, both from the old setup. This way the car is at least "driveable," even though the front is literally sitting on the tire.

Old cut spring on the front strut



Taking the old cut spring off



Rear strut with the good spring



Cut (left) vs Good (right)



And final result: reconstructed front strut



And a sneak preview of the front lip




That's all I've got. Lip should be on in about a couple of days. Stay tuned!

[ExpresS]

Everything looks ok besides the tails....don't go overboard with the stickers. How's the sandpaper pedals ?

[JDMTyler3326]

Car is very clean. Lose the tails please!

[Dominick]

Originally Posted by ExpresS

Everything looks ok besides the tails....don't go overboard with the stickers. How's the sandpaper pedals ?

The pedals are awesome. I did it because when its raining and my feet are wet, I use to slip off the pedals. Now I don't. haha.

Originally Posted by JDMTyler3326

Car is very clean. Lose the tails please!

Thanks. And yes, the tails are different, but when I can get new one's they will be stock 50/50s. I like the way these look now. They are different and not too overpowering. They have faded a little since I took those pics as well.

[Dominick]

Well, after not being on the road for 2 weeks due to one of my Tein dampers being seized, I finally get it fixed with the help of some good friends. So I was able to rebuild the seized one and lower the rest to get that good stance that I desparatly want. And on top of that, I was able to put my new Honda Fit lip on! The fitment isn't the best but it's not bad for belonging on an entirely different car.

More pictures to come.

[Shipman]

I love your honda, if you ever wanna sell it give me a call