Showroom - Civic EK

[Alvis]

Hi there, I'm 1998 EK Civic owner and am currently doing some 'enhancement' mods to my car so I thought this would be the best place to get some advice - and for me to share some as well!

I own a showroom condition 1998 Civic (I bought the car at just over 5,000kms from a driving instructor who was keen to sell) and in 5 years I've only managed to add just over 30,000 kms to it! So needless to say it is probably one of the best condition Civic's in the country.

The car is garaged during the week (as I commute to work by train) so it's only driven on weekends, but it's come to the point where I would like to make this special car, look special.

My mods (well, I would call them more enhancements) are only very minor including:

ENGINE
- Hi-Tech sports muffler with 3 1/2 angled tip
- NGK Iridium spark plugs

INTERIOR
- Alpine deck
- 300W Infiniti 6x9 speakers (rear)
- 100W Boston Acousitc 6" speakers (front)
- MOMO gear knob

EXTERIOR
- Midnight express window tint

Future mods in the pipeline include: MRT enhanced ECU, performance ignition leads and cold air box, genuine Type R front lip and spoilers all 'round, genuine EK fog lights - which I'm finding very hard to track down... (to actually be used in fog when I drive to Sydney, not like some who put them on in broad daylight), Type R gear boot and I think that's about it for now!

I will post some pics of the car when the attachment thingy starts working again and look forward to chatting with you :wave:

Cheers,
Al

[mrwillz]

cool
any pictures?

[Alvis]

Yeh sure man, here are some pictures below:

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/6594/hondacivictint.th.jpg (http://img26.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hondacivictint.jpg)
EK Civic 98 - Before/ After Window Tint

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/8292/newtint.th.jpg (http://img12.imageshack.us/my.php?image=newtint.jpg)
EK Civic 98 - Midnight Express Window Tint (30% front) (15% rear)

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/1629/abcd0001edit.th.jpg (http://img514.imageshack.us/my.php?image=abcd0001edit.jpg)
EK Civic 98 - Hi-Tech Sports Muffler with 3 1/2 inch angle tip

[Slaz]

Welcome Al, nice car, but id do some research before getting the ecu mod by MRT, if your leads are working ok, spend the money elsewhere, and also look at different CAI for the car before buying or getting someone to put 1 together for you.

[Alvis]

Hi Slaz,

Thanks for the advice, it's great to hear other peoples experiences. I've heard some mixed reports on MRT - did you have a bad experience with them? I really just want to make the car more driveable everyday, it's never going to be a rocket car, so I thought an ecu tweak might be the best option...and I don't know about getting a 'piggy back' system... are there any other ecu options out there (Hondata?) or would you suggest other mods?

With the CAI I wasn't too keen on getting a ram intake - doesn't it just really suck hot air from inside the bonnet anyway - did you have any thoughts on a brand/ workshop who might be able to help (I'm located just south of Sydney)?

Thanks,
Al

[kn1ghtm4r3]

mrt, lol i have heard lots of bad reviews from the evo boys =9

but each to their own i guess. genuine foglights will be so hard to find, mite want to look at some aftermarket ones :) as i was looking around for genuine for some time but then decided some aftermarket ones which were just as good =)

gl with the car though.

[Alvis]

haha, looks like all the bad reviews are coming out now lol. Thanks for the feedback though - maybe they're not as good as what they make out to be!

Yeh, the fog lights are a tough one, but wouldn't you know - found a geniune pair on eBay (made by Raybrig ie Stanley) - shown in the box and everything.

If ur interested search Item Id: 330262147826 on eBay...

Only thing is they are the round ones and not the sqaure ones! Plus the fact they are about 175 pounds, which is like about $300 Ozzy dollars! Ouch. Yeh, I think it'll be some aftermarkets :-)

Cheers,
Al

[hywindz]

Car looks clean as mate. Lot's of potential with the civics, keep us posted. Slam that thing and colour code it and should be on your way!
btw that's a huge pipe lol

[Alvis]

Thanks man, haha yeh I wasn't planning on goin that big - but the guy said it would be perfect because it 'fills in my arch' lol :-) Plus the angle tip helps stop exhaust fumes marking the bumper.

I guess I can always get the other pipework done later if i want full cat-back, I just didn't want it to noisy - 90km is a long way to drive to Sydney with something that might be eventually annoying!

Yeh, think ur right - need to colour code it huh. You have any pics on ur ride?

[Slaz]

Hi Slaz,

Thanks for the advice, it's great to hear other peoples experiences. I've heard some mixed reports on MRT - did you have a bad experience with them? I really just want to make the car more driveable everyday, it's never going to be a rocket car, so I thought an ecu tweak might be the best option...and I don't know about getting a 'piggy back' system... are there any other ecu options out there (Hondata?) or would you suggest other mods?

With the CAI I wasn't too keen on getting a ram intake - doesn't it just really suck hot air from inside the bonnet anyway - did you have any thoughts on a brand/ workshop who might be able to help (I'm located just south of Sydney)?

Thanks,
Al

Depending on what your future plans are Al as you seem keen to modify the car, id really be asking myself, are you going to want to put a b series in it eventually?

As after you hang around and get in other peoples cars with b series, your either going to want one, or you'll find yourself thinking, should i sell the sedan and by myself a hatch as whatever mods you make now, will take up good money that could have been put towards such future work, that you'll never get back on that car.

The car will always be worth more in great showroom stock condition should you be thinking B series, then you decide, is a transplant the way to go, or do i get an EK4 or Coupe and go from there?

Have you thought about that yet?

[Alvis]

Thanks Slaz,

Yes, I totally agree with you. The car is always worth more in good stock condition. I wouldn't be thinking about an engine swap, I think before you start any modification process you need to know what ur ultimate purpose of doing it is for. Mine is to improve the drivability of the car, make sensible 'enhancements' that add value to the car while keeping most of it stock.

But I have come across an excellent JDM OEM site in the US - ICB Motorsport > u should check it out. They have a great range of JDM OEM parts from the Honda factory, which I always prefer over aftermarket where possible - they are only little things like a Type R front lip spoiler, Type R front grill, Type R leather shift boot etc - but at least it is all genuine Honda while improving the appearance of the car.

As for the engine, i might have to make some more enquiries about the best ecu software for the EK...

[hywindz]

Yeah, tasteful mods is the way to go. And if you can afford oem, that's a plus (y)
Get on it mate!

[SHOGUNOVDDRK]

I look forward to Meeting you and Seeing this car.

Please bring the car to one of the Monthly Meets,ey?

[Alvis]

Cheers mate, yeh I'm still waiting on a reply back - but I think the exchange rate and shipping is going to hurt :eek:

http://yhst-1408381693991.stores.yahoo.net/ciek4sirek9t1.html

[Alvis]

Hi guys,

I've just installed a genuine Civic Type R shift boot (shipped from ICB Motorsport in the United States) - and it's a great little addition to the standard stock one, and looks the business too.

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/5065/abcd00012.th.jpg (http://img214.imageshack.us/my.php?image=abcd00012.jpg)


It was a simple installation just removing the centre console and handbrake covers - pic attached with momo gear shifter.

Cheers,