freeJ8

[freePDX]

Here's my new project, and my first Civic. A '00 ej8 coupe with bone stock D16Y8. (There's my Nissan in the back)

I inherited this from my sister, she gave it up after it was stolen from her and stripped of the front end, taillights wheels and cluster.
They also made off with her accordion and custom subs. Bummer right?

So I have it sitting on three steelies and a doughnut, I already replaced the cluster.
This car has about 130xxx the new odometer shows 140xxx.

I think I want to build it back up completely clean, no lip service, banger muffler, or engine work.
Possibly H&R springs, some new struts, tint, and slick wheels... cashflow permitting.

I have a front end, new skirts, and headlights ready for her. Working on tracking down all the clips, grommets and screws for everything.

When I get the interior back to pretty I'll put in a head unit and some premium audio.

One thing I can't figure out: the passenger seat was unbolted when we recovered it, and when I bolted the seat back in it seems to be leaning slightly towards the driver-rear side of the car. It's as if it is missing a spacer on the left rear bolt (i know it isn't) anyone have a thought on that?

Let me know what you think of it, and for the sake of conversation drop a comment on what YOU would do if this was your new whip.

 

[203CT]

Like u sed I wld build it back up to its stock state..but I wld add thngs like lip and a decent exhaust..50/50 taillights..do the interior over while im at it..thn just drive it for a while...if its runs good and I didn't run into ne problems tht concerned me id do a full build.

 

[Mr.Baker]

I think I want to build it back up completely clean, no lip service, banger muffler, or engine work.
Possibly H&R springs, some new struts, tint, and slick wheels... cashflow permitting.

I like it. Sounds nice, simple and realistic. There is something to be said about quality mild/subtle builds.
Far too many times ppl have unrealistic goals, completely lose focus and before you know it, the car is covered in stickers, rattle can bombed flat black with a roof rack and stupid offset wheels.

One thing I can't figure out: the passenger seat was unbolted when we recovered it, and when I bolted the seat back in it seems to be leaning slightly towards the driver-rear side of the car. It's as if it is missing a spacer on the left rear bolt (i know it isn't) anyone have a thought on that?

This may sound stupid, but are you sure you have the correct seat? Meaning is it the passenger seat and is it for that generation,96-00, Civic?

Let me know what you think of it, and for the sake of conversation drop a comment on what YOU would do if this was your new whip.

For myself, I have always like the 96-98 front end. I prefer the wide mouth of those front bumpers and like the Euro/JDM SiR headlights(no amber reflector). JDM/Euro bumpers also have the bump strips as well.

 

[Avant Uprising]

Have u tried adjusting the seat with the lever if there unbolted and have weight put on em they do that. Bolt one side dowm then pull the lever that slides the seat back n forth and see if it lines up. Did the car get a salvage title cause of this b.s.?

Sent from my LS670 using Tapatalk

 

[antie22]

Man you got some work coming to yah...but nice plans and well i would just do a mild build after you finish restoring, for example E/I/H, fogs, lip, nice wheels, good sound, and a good alarm system and/or even a kill switch of somesort.

 

[emerican]

Im tuned in for this one i hope you bring her back to all her glory man.

 

[2slo4u]

perfect time for a domani front end!

 

[freePDX]

Thanks for your input and encouragement guys, much appreciated.

This may sound stupid, but are you sure you have the correct seat? Meaning is it the passenger seat and is it for that generation,96-00, Civic?

Yeah, it's the same stock passenger seat that has been in the car the whole time, it was only unbolted when the crooks stole her amp. I like the older front ends especially with fogs and the jdm lights too, but I dig the updated front end just as much, and I think i'll restore it back the way it was.

Have u tried adjusting the seat with the lever if there unbolted and have weight put on em they do that. Bolt one side dowm then pull the lever that slides the seat back n forth and see if it lines up. Did the car get a salvage title cause of this b.s.?

I haven't been able to get any weight on it since I've been working on it alone. I had it slid all the way forward when i put it in though, so maybe I'll try centering it up. It's just weird to me that once you bolt the three semi-vertical mounts down, the horizontal one in the back is about 1/2" off the floor. As far as the title is concerned, my sister was broke and had only liability coverage. LET THIS BE (another) WARNING! Don't cheap out on insurance. Insurance can't cover the repairs, so insurance just doesn't have to know.

perfect time for a domani front end!

Haha, true. They can look pretty damn good too, but I like the more angular lines of the 99-00 front ends.

Man you got some work coming to yah...but nice plans and well i would just do a mild build after you finish restoring, for example E/I/H, fogs, lip, nice wheels, good sound, and a good alarm system and/or even a kill switch of somesort.

I hear that. It's gonna be a slow one too, so broke these days. My old lady got me a viper for christmas and an installation gift card, it's the base model so i will probably trade it for the pager model + an immobilizer.

Who knows what I may decide later on, but my goal right now is to get her back into her clothes and buy her some new shoes

 

[Logan98036wa]

cant wait to see this one happen!

 

[K-N-2-EK]

good luck with the build. what is your sister driving now? and what did insurance do for you?

 

[mylovehx]

perfect time for a domani front end!

x2

 

[JohnS.]

They made off with all those parts and left the engine? They must have not have been good thieves . I'm personally a fan of the 99-00 front end only because I have a 99. If you do a 96-98 conversion, SiR bumpers is the only way to go!

 

[203CT]

They made off with all those parts and left the engine? They must have not have been good thieves .

I thnk who ever stripped it wanted a 99-00 conversion.

 

[2slo4u]

I thnk who ever stripped it wanted a 99-00 conversion.

yep quick and easy..with 3 or 4 people it'll take about 10 minutes and your done..dont ask how i know

 

[freePDX]

good luck with the build. what is your sister driving now? and what did insurance do for you?

My sister actually picked up an 89 dx hatch from a friend for free. It sat for about a year. I changed the plugs and battery, put a tank of premium in it and it runs like a top. She got lucky. Insurance did nothing. She only had liability.

 

[00siboy]

in for build

 

[203CT]

yep quick and easy..with 3 or 4 people it'll take about 10 minutes and your done..dont ask how i know

Lol yea I seen a civic get torn apart in 10 mins with 5 guys n a parking lot on youtube

 

[Logan98036wa]

f**k thieves

 

[freePDX]

Finally an update, but without pics. (told you this would be a slow build)

Front end is on, i returned to completely stock (but aftermarket) front end.
Stock Headlights, I'm considering an HID projector retrofit.
Stock 50/50 tails
Found a set of Clover Green Pearl side skirts in case i decide to color match the front end, rather than repaint the whole car.

What this is really about, however, is my wheels.

I found a set of TSW brand wheels on Craigslist, they look just like the oldschool EVOs.
When i was talking to the guy he mentioned that through his own research he discovered that they are actually a stock rim from a VW maybe Corrado? I'm guessing. Either way, rarer than regular evos. The wheels are stamped on the back with the vin number of the original vehicle. I forgot to actually look at the number before i mounted them on my car, derp. Has anyone ever heard of this, factory stock TSWs?

Anyway, they are 16x7.5 with 205/55r16s which scared me a little. I'm still running stock suspension and i was afraid that the offset + width would be too much for my fenders to handle, especially because i dont want to run a camber kit, etc.

Fitted them on the car last night and they look great. the rear rims sit just flush with the inside of the wheel well, and they have maybe a couple millimeters gap, they are beautiful.

The front wheels actually have a couple millimeters of sidewall showing outside the front wells, the side of the rims themselves look like they are perfectly flush with the fender, it's just the sidewall of the tire that bulges out a little bit. i was wondering if this is natural, for the front wheels to have a slightly more (perceived) negative offset. Or if maybe, just maybe, these wheels are very slightly staggered in offset. Any ideas??

Also, the stock suspension tends to make the front end look taller than the rear, so the rear is perfectly flush but the front has 1/2 in gap. I'm pretty sure it's a bad idea to run aftermarket springs on only the front of the car, so i'm trying to troubleshoot this little predicament as well.

IDEAS? SUGGESTIONS? QUESTIONS? Thanks Everyone.