Rasy's '03 NHBP - Dallas, TX

Hey guys, I don't post much, but I figured I would re-create a member's ride since my previous one was lost in the second site crash.

I've owned the car (2nd owner) for the better half of 10 years since 2005. At the time all the car had was H&R Sport Springs, a GReddy Evo2 and Infinity References rear speakers. I haven't extensively modded it, mechanically anyways, since it's my first and only car. The community is definitely tight-knit and close, but very knowledgeable and willing to help. I wish I would have started a build thread when I got the car -- I guess I'll start now!

My goal is to increase track time on the weekends, probably boost it down sometime down the road, but keep all the creature comforts of a reliable daily. Anyways, here she is in her current state:

http://i.imgur.com/jAklRbG.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/j8YSxps.jpg

Older pics:

http://i.imgur.com/9U6Pw4y.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/pUrTAkG.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/GRXsHfN.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/unvo4St.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/eYY3Sea.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/I4Tk6kJ.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/tI3MuJz.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/VxXXy6u.jpg

Exterior:

04-05 Depo Headlights
02-03 CTR Taillights
Type-R Replica Spoiler
CTR Front and Rear Badge
CTR Sideskirts
CTR Rear Bumper w/ lip
CTR Facelift Bumper w/ lip
CTR Front Re-bar
Modified USDM Rear re-bar
JS2K Berlina Black Keyhole Covers
ITR Sidemarkers
Autoventshade Visors
Thule 400XT Bicycle Rack w/ 2121 Fit Kit and 593 front wheel carrier (Not pictured at the moment)

Interior:

Buddy Club Short Shifter
RSX Steering Wheel with CorSport Red H Decal
JDM Coin Holder
CTR Shift Boot
CTR Cupholders
Spoon Sports Shift Knob
CorSport Aluminum Shifter Base and Cable Bushings
A118 Dashcam (front) / DVR-207 Dashcam (rear)
ProClip phone mount
Pioneer Headunit
Infinity References Rear Speakers
10" JL Audio Subwoofer
EP3-R 30th Anniversary Seats (Not Pictured)
Automatic OBD Reader

Engine:

Mugen DC5-Spec Intake
Tanabe Medalion Touring Catback
Random Technology Hi-Flow Catalytic Converter
JS2K Oil Drain Valve Adapter

Suspension:

-2.5° front / -2.1° rear
Meyle Tie Rods
Hawk HPS Brake Pads
4 x SPC camber bolts front / 2 x SPC camber rear arms
Cusco 25mm Rear Sway Bar
DC Sports Titatnium Strut Bar
06 RSX Type-S 5-Lug Conversion
Fortune Auto 500 Coilovers with radial bearing and Swift Springs upgrade
17x9 +35 Enkei RPF1
245/40/17 Michelin Super Sport Tires

Sidelined items:

CorSport Ver. 2 Endlinks (they clunk!)
02-03 Headlights Retrofitted with FX Projectors and E55 Shrouds (hi-beams don't work)
04-05 CTR Replica Taillights
02-03 Mudguards
USDM Yellow Fog Lights

Previous Mods (when I slowly parted it out a couple of years ago and regret selling most):

AEM CAI
Injen 3" CAI (Ver. 2) with Hydroshield
GReddy Evo2 Catback
D3 V-Brace
CTR 22mm Rear Sway
Replica Type-R Lip Kit
05-06 RSX Type-S Front Leather Seats
H&R Sport Springs (2" Drop, slightly more since springs sag)
Tokico D-Spec Struts
Seibon Mugen-Style CF Spoiler painted NHBP
Wheelsets: Black and Polished 16x7 +40 Rota Slipstreams, 16x7 Bronze Konig Heliums, 16x8 +25 Varrstoen V4 Wheels, 16x7 Enkei RS+M, 15x5.5 Mini Cooper R81 Holie, 17x8 +38 Evo IX BBS MR Wheels (Summer) 17x8 +38 Evo 8 Enkeis (Daily)

O yea in digging it

NHBP's unite !

Car looks amazing. That front would be immaculate with shaved bumper lights.

http://i.imgur.com/ZPyfo3U.jpg

Time to polish those caps with Meg's trusty 105/205 and a PC 7424XP combo.

http://i.imgur.com/DMv1Mhx.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/h4Pv9il.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/0Hep0TP.jpg

The worst cosmetic damage of the wheels:

http://i.imgur.com/Gu8ExVc.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/mnVAwhB.jpg

I plasti dipped them white (no pics yet). Undecided if I want to use these as daily beaters or dedicated track wheels.

Aww yea they going to look good. Stinks that white gets dirty fast

One small pic update of what came in:

http://i.imgur.com/YyNuO4S.jpg

Installed all the pending mods :mbiggrin:. Will need to take new photos soon, in the meantime, here is another teaser:

http://i.imgur.com/gCrDeUH.jpg

Looking good man

Nice

damn! clean AF nhbp! diggin it man xD

http://i.imgur.com/zn19La1.jpg

FA500s installed along with the latest wheels and '06 Type-S 5-lug setup. Big upgrades all around. A few observations:

- 10kg f / 12 kg r is very soft and doable for daily when paired with Swift springs. They weren't joking about the amazing ride quality. Knowing this, I probably would have gone with a more aggressive setup like 14/16 if I could start over again.

- Bigger rotors from the front Type-S help quite a bit, what the EP3s should have came with in the beginning.

- First time having coilovers. Actually having the car at a decent height where the control arms are flat and having more travel makes a world of a difference. I'm officially done with stance and ready to return to beefiness and functionality.

Also, is there any way to turn off the automatic image resizing?

Deff looks diff with new wheels

Thanks guys. I'm still shopping around for a second set of wheels. I want to keep one set to daily and the other as track wheels. Not sure which route I want to go with these wheels.

Also, since it's well underway for fall rains, I decided to remove my CAI and install the stock intake for the moment.

http://i.imgur.com/QsX2Gtp.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/SFTS37O.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/rdR26zS.jpg

Ended up removing the white since it's such a difficult color to take care of.

Too bad about the white wheels. A very clean build - good job!

Replaced the clutch over the winter with a new OEM one, installed a new dashcam (so now I cover the front and rear), and put in a ProClip phone mount with the custom EP mounting they sell:

http://i.imgur.com/D0mGOHS.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/X3RwjdY.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/ZXv5R5j.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/9TxHx5t.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/faJNiaB.jpg

I like it

Looks good

Had a facelift front-end delivered today. Installed:

http://i.imgur.com/9U6Pw4y.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/vYvsrL3.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/jc7AtYY.jpg

Wow looks klean

Very nice!

Picked up these guys over the weekend:

http://i.imgur.com/xOk6mD7.png

Installed a minor interior mod, CTR cupholders.

http://i.imgur.com/UWmEj0b.jpg

Went to Street Street for the first time. 23+ hours of driving with two other EPs from the N. Texas area. Some very clean EP3s in the Northeast!

Got my Evo 8 Enkeis mounted for the trip and the rest of the year.

Chase's:

http://i.imgur.com/uhZVyVF.jpg

Thomas' in the background:

http://i.imgur.com/dStclRo.jpg

BT's:

http://i.imgur.com/foJJcoP.jpg

Vadim's:

http://i.imgur.com/QJL2cyu.jpg

Mine in its current state:

http://i.imgur.com/a2blE3k.jpg

EPHatch family, we took home best club participation for the first time, and the Texas crew got an award for longest distance (1500+ miles):

http://i.imgur.com/asXR9Cq.jpg

Sold the Evo 8 Enkeis and 9 BBS wheels. Picked up 17x9 +35 RPF1s (actually the very first brand new set of wheels I've purchased, everything else has been used). Got 245/40/17 Michelin PSS to go with them.

http://i.imgur.com/jAklRbG.jpg

Nice build, super clean!!!!, car looks very good with the rpf1's.

I think you’re the one I bought the painted Mugen cf spoiler from. Met at some store parking lot off east chase and 30. Clear coat is pealing man. I want a refund jk jk. It’s been years and it’s got a beating from a few hail storms. I still rock it though. Hope all is well.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by smykhaisouk

I think you’re the one I bought the painted Mugen cf spoiler from. Met at some store parking lot off east chase and 30. Clear coat is pealing man. I want a refund jk jk. It’s been years and it’s got a beating from a few hail storms. I still rock it though. Hope all is well.

---

Ha! Awesome, I went through I think 2 motions of parting out my car before I wanted to (ultimately) mod it again. I do regret selling that spoiler, and maybe sometime down the road I'll buy one again. Glad to hear you still have your EP too!

Also, don't have much to update at the moment even though it's been quite sometime. Have a 1-year-old son now, so car has been sitting pretty in the garage in its last state.

Congratulations on your son! Your car looks great man. Some day I’ll have mine looking as immaculate as yours again. At the moment I’m torn between straightening out the body without all its dents or swapping for a k24. The a3 still runs strong basically stock but I’m curious about these “jdm” k24a1s I’m seeing on craigslist. I’ve seen mixed reviews on some of those venders and a bit hesitant on going with the swap. Where are you and your friends going for engine and body work these days? What do you think or have heard about these local jdm engine venders?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by smykhaisouk

Congratulations on your son! Your car looks great man. Some day I’ll have mine looking as immaculate as yours again. At the moment I’m torn between straightening out the body without all its dents or swapping for a k24. The a3 still runs strong basically stock but I’m curious about these “jdm” k24a1s I’m seeing on craigslist. I’ve seen mixed reviews on some of those venders and a bit hesitant on going with the swap. Where are you and your friends going for engine and body work these days? What do you think or have heard about these local jdm engine venders?

---

Thanks man, I've seen those listings too. I haven't had any experience with swaps nor engine vendors, and the locals I do know have swapped in their own in their spare time.

My A3 is still running well too, it's just painfully underpowered.

Yeah it’s incredibly slow. I think my wife’s 2016 Rogue is quicker than my car or at least it feels that way. 🤣

Tried my hand with led light painting for the first time.

https://i.imgur.com/j8YSxps.jpg

Did you get CTR fenders and headlight covers?

I did not, just a weird missed editing on my part. No covers or fenders.