jettadreams
07-24-2012, 05:13 PM
Hey Guys/Gals
Names Kyle, (this may be a bit over detailed, sorry for the book of a build thread)
I figured I would start a thread to get some feed back and mostly post pictures of the progress of my 2002 Black EP3.
To be honest I was not all into the EP when I first started looking into them. A friend from work offered me one in a deal for a car I was driving. I was able to scrape together the extra cash so I took him up on it.
At first I kinda just fixed some of the basic stuff, It needed tires and was kinda beat inside and out...
(short background story and some pics)
(I have been driving vw's since I learned how to drive and those where always my go to automobile. However after getting out of tech school I began working for a vw dealer and soon learned I hated working on them both day and night. Down the line a bit I bought a 2010 civic si four door. I loved the car with a passion but I lost my job shorty after and had to emergency sell it. I was then back into beat up old vw's again. Until I was able to get this EP)
Now these pics below where from when my work buddy bought the car, he basically took the grafix off and replaced the terrible looking add ons with whatever the guy gave him of the stock stuff. *car has had 3 owners total including myself.
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/3f0ab43d.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/f93bfe13.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/948b650b.jpg
It was awful what that guy had turned the car into... on top of that he was a traveling sales man, meaning the car had millage on it.
When I first took hold of the title the car looked much nicer, I had my friend send me those pics so I could truly see how far it had come already.
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/b4587d4d.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/dce6cbaf.jpg
Above are from the first drive it took in the car. I was then driving a commute of 71 miles one way to work. So that did not help the miles... But I was glad to be back in a newer car (coming from a 97 vw with crank windows and no cruse)
After my 30 day tags begin to get close to there end date I gave the civic its first oil change by my hands and got it to pass Ohio emission testing needed to get my plates.
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/0a184892.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/edae74d3.jpg
After it was legal and on the road, I kinda got into a slump where I just drove it...
It was the middle of winter to cold to work on it seeing as my apartment did not have a garage.
I did manage to find a place to store my breakfast on for my long drive to work every morning.
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/df6981d7.jpg
As spring began to creep closer I started thinking of ways to better the car so It could somewhat hold up to my 2010 si experience.
I used the classifieds here after joining and aid from the DIY section was always a help seeing as I was still new to the make/model. I turned my A/C of when on defrost... programed my keyless entry and installed a stock radio. (I like to try and Keep things oem plus) I also found great deals on a shift boot and some other odds and ends I needed. Safe to say I was always checking the classifieds 24/7.
Soon after, I had my first blow that took the car off the road.
Alternator failed on my way home from work, thankfully I was able to source one fast from the local parts store I used to work for limp the car home and replace it next day.
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/8b1b1a58.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/04d023d3.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/af3672ac.jpg
Car was back on the road with my full trust back in it in no time.
My next adds where megan c-pillar and rear strut bars only because I got a good deal on them from my buddy that sold me the car and a roof rack since I road bike quite a lot and needed to carry my bike. I also kept a snow board carrier on top for a bit until I sold my board. I found that older yakima SST racks fit the ep roof when proper clips and stretch kit are used and cost much less than Q towers. Not to soon after that I was able to put the rack to use when I moved closer to work (Akron Ohio) Ep did a fine job of helping me into my new home and finding my way around the city which I now love.
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/4c2429b2.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/21ad5b0e.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/9f6a1ed9.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/128a2887.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/b58f5d5b.jpg
There after I took yet another break from really adding on to the car, I had to learn my way around town and make some new friends. My boss is a cool guy and let me use his garage to work on the car when need be, and I was thankful when my clutch master went out and I needed to use his tools and place to put my omni power master cylinder in.
I also took that time to fit the car with a stock intake I picked up from here on EPhatch as well, since the semi leaky ghetto cold air intake that was on there began giving me a missfire here and there. (side note) when putting the master in without getting a ss clutch line to use really sucks... I would deff now doing this job spring for the line as well, but I was broke-ish so I just made it work.
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/aa84cdcd.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/87ec193d.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/87bba78f.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/e5071808.jpg
Car was then back on the road again doing its normal now short commute. Clutch master had also solved an issue of the trans not always wanting to go into gear... At first I though I was going to be needed a new trans but it was actually the master slowly failing that did not let the car go into gear easy as times. I was quite happy when my dumb ass figured that out.
In figuring out I was not going to need a new trans I began to spring for some more smaller items like stock amber and red side markers, and washing and waxing the car often. Car was driven and cared for often during this summer. I was came upon my old SI carpet mats from my 2010 that I forgot to give with my car, they fit well enough and where brand new so I stuck them in there it beat not having any mats at all. I also stumbled onto a deal locally where I was able to get rid of some of the crazy stuff like the ebay exhaust and trade for some password jdm brakes and more broken replacement interior parts. Again the classifieds where a HUGE help! Thanks dudes!
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/451572c5.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/34144358.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/c8f48deb.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/5d0ab9c4.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/edeb04d5.jpg
It got a tad hot out for a northern state and I had to kick the A/C on
Ended up breaking the serp belt that I should have replaced when I noticed It looked bad a while back...
But I lived and learned, thankfully I was also able to fix it in a days time and it happened on a friday after work so I did not have to call off. A/C is now cold as ever after a new belt and a recharge... Feels a lot like my old civic...
I also took that time to rip off the bad tint job the car had. Fishbowl might not be the coolest thing in the world but I like it better
than half awful tint.
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/0a6cee94.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/ad765be4.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/4d077142.jpg
Since then I have done nothing but add gas and change oil, it has been serving me well. I also gathered up enough money to get some more needed add ons, and some that where more just for my driving pleasure.
On the way as of current as the car sits in my apartment parking lot awaiting parts:
-Megan street coilovers (got on the classifieds)
-Down pipe cat-less (car kept tossing code for it since its bad I figure I would replace it and use a angle block to keep the light off)
-VTEC solenoid (I was experiencing Limp mode, as you guys call it.) I searched around on here and found a number of good threads on the topic. At first I thought it was oil level related or a clogged screen...
not the case tho, I am now just replacing the whole valve, I feel confident that it should solve the issue. I talked to my buddy who works as a tech at a honda dealer and said the side mounted and rear head mounted valves could both be at fault I have one down one to go. I also switched to full synth 5-30 a while back to help keep my cams safe. I also picked up a bundle of stock honda oil filters.
-Ingals stiffy touque damper. Two of my engine mounts are older and I feel this with help for a bit until I can replace them or get polly inserts If I feel like a cheap ass. I already replaced my trans mount to solve a squeak.
I will update with some more pics when my coils land and I get time to tear into it and freshen up some more of my High millage Black EP.
Thanks for reading so far hopefully some of you can burn some time at work or something with all this...
Cheers dudes
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/8957d8da.jpg
Names Kyle, (this may be a bit over detailed, sorry for the book of a build thread)
I figured I would start a thread to get some feed back and mostly post pictures of the progress of my 2002 Black EP3.
To be honest I was not all into the EP when I first started looking into them. A friend from work offered me one in a deal for a car I was driving. I was able to scrape together the extra cash so I took him up on it.
At first I kinda just fixed some of the basic stuff, It needed tires and was kinda beat inside and out...
(short background story and some pics)
(I have been driving vw's since I learned how to drive and those where always my go to automobile. However after getting out of tech school I began working for a vw dealer and soon learned I hated working on them both day and night. Down the line a bit I bought a 2010 civic si four door. I loved the car with a passion but I lost my job shorty after and had to emergency sell it. I was then back into beat up old vw's again. Until I was able to get this EP)
Now these pics below where from when my work buddy bought the car, he basically took the grafix off and replaced the terrible looking add ons with whatever the guy gave him of the stock stuff. *car has had 3 owners total including myself.
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/3f0ab43d.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/f93bfe13.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/948b650b.jpg
It was awful what that guy had turned the car into... on top of that he was a traveling sales man, meaning the car had millage on it.
When I first took hold of the title the car looked much nicer, I had my friend send me those pics so I could truly see how far it had come already.
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/b4587d4d.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/dce6cbaf.jpg
Above are from the first drive it took in the car. I was then driving a commute of 71 miles one way to work. So that did not help the miles... But I was glad to be back in a newer car (coming from a 97 vw with crank windows and no cruse)
After my 30 day tags begin to get close to there end date I gave the civic its first oil change by my hands and got it to pass Ohio emission testing needed to get my plates.
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/0a184892.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/edae74d3.jpg
After it was legal and on the road, I kinda got into a slump where I just drove it...
It was the middle of winter to cold to work on it seeing as my apartment did not have a garage.
I did manage to find a place to store my breakfast on for my long drive to work every morning.
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/df6981d7.jpg
As spring began to creep closer I started thinking of ways to better the car so It could somewhat hold up to my 2010 si experience.
I used the classifieds here after joining and aid from the DIY section was always a help seeing as I was still new to the make/model. I turned my A/C of when on defrost... programed my keyless entry and installed a stock radio. (I like to try and Keep things oem plus) I also found great deals on a shift boot and some other odds and ends I needed. Safe to say I was always checking the classifieds 24/7.
Soon after, I had my first blow that took the car off the road.
Alternator failed on my way home from work, thankfully I was able to source one fast from the local parts store I used to work for limp the car home and replace it next day.
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/8b1b1a58.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/04d023d3.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/af3672ac.jpg
Car was back on the road with my full trust back in it in no time.
My next adds where megan c-pillar and rear strut bars only because I got a good deal on them from my buddy that sold me the car and a roof rack since I road bike quite a lot and needed to carry my bike. I also kept a snow board carrier on top for a bit until I sold my board. I found that older yakima SST racks fit the ep roof when proper clips and stretch kit are used and cost much less than Q towers. Not to soon after that I was able to put the rack to use when I moved closer to work (Akron Ohio) Ep did a fine job of helping me into my new home and finding my way around the city which I now love.
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/4c2429b2.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/21ad5b0e.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/9f6a1ed9.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/128a2887.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/b58f5d5b.jpg
There after I took yet another break from really adding on to the car, I had to learn my way around town and make some new friends. My boss is a cool guy and let me use his garage to work on the car when need be, and I was thankful when my clutch master went out and I needed to use his tools and place to put my omni power master cylinder in.
I also took that time to fit the car with a stock intake I picked up from here on EPhatch as well, since the semi leaky ghetto cold air intake that was on there began giving me a missfire here and there. (side note) when putting the master in without getting a ss clutch line to use really sucks... I would deff now doing this job spring for the line as well, but I was broke-ish so I just made it work.
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/aa84cdcd.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/87ec193d.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/87bba78f.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/e5071808.jpg
Car was then back on the road again doing its normal now short commute. Clutch master had also solved an issue of the trans not always wanting to go into gear... At first I though I was going to be needed a new trans but it was actually the master slowly failing that did not let the car go into gear easy as times. I was quite happy when my dumb ass figured that out.
In figuring out I was not going to need a new trans I began to spring for some more smaller items like stock amber and red side markers, and washing and waxing the car often. Car was driven and cared for often during this summer. I was came upon my old SI carpet mats from my 2010 that I forgot to give with my car, they fit well enough and where brand new so I stuck them in there it beat not having any mats at all. I also stumbled onto a deal locally where I was able to get rid of some of the crazy stuff like the ebay exhaust and trade for some password jdm brakes and more broken replacement interior parts. Again the classifieds where a HUGE help! Thanks dudes!
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/451572c5.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/34144358.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/c8f48deb.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/5d0ab9c4.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/edeb04d5.jpg
It got a tad hot out for a northern state and I had to kick the A/C on
Ended up breaking the serp belt that I should have replaced when I noticed It looked bad a while back...
But I lived and learned, thankfully I was also able to fix it in a days time and it happened on a friday after work so I did not have to call off. A/C is now cold as ever after a new belt and a recharge... Feels a lot like my old civic...
I also took that time to rip off the bad tint job the car had. Fishbowl might not be the coolest thing in the world but I like it better
than half awful tint.
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/0a6cee94.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/ad765be4.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/4d077142.jpg
Since then I have done nothing but add gas and change oil, it has been serving me well. I also gathered up enough money to get some more needed add ons, and some that where more just for my driving pleasure.
On the way as of current as the car sits in my apartment parking lot awaiting parts:
-Megan street coilovers (got on the classifieds)
-Down pipe cat-less (car kept tossing code for it since its bad I figure I would replace it and use a angle block to keep the light off)
-VTEC solenoid (I was experiencing Limp mode, as you guys call it.) I searched around on here and found a number of good threads on the topic. At first I thought it was oil level related or a clogged screen...
not the case tho, I am now just replacing the whole valve, I feel confident that it should solve the issue. I talked to my buddy who works as a tech at a honda dealer and said the side mounted and rear head mounted valves could both be at fault I have one down one to go. I also switched to full synth 5-30 a while back to help keep my cams safe. I also picked up a bundle of stock honda oil filters.
-Ingals stiffy touque damper. Two of my engine mounts are older and I feel this with help for a bit until I can replace them or get polly inserts If I feel like a cheap ass. I already replaced my trans mount to solve a squeak.
I will update with some more pics when my coils land and I get time to tear into it and freshen up some more of my High millage Black EP.
Thanks for reading so far hopefully some of you can burn some time at work or something with all this...
Cheers dudes
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/jettadreams/8957d8da.jpg