1258 replies to this topic

[scooter99]

Well after lurking on here for a long time I've decided to actually post my build. It's not just an audio build, let me just say that right off. Not sure if that's a big deal or not, but some people enjoy the full on builds, me for example. So I thought that I might share mine.

My car is a 2006 Honda Civic ex Sedan. It is a daily drive and so it's not something that can just be taken apart and left in the garage, but that is the case sometimes. I guess I bite off more than I can chew at times, and really who doesn't in this game! I have limited time as I have a family, 2 daughters (4 and 6) and a wife and a house that needs kept up and along with that a schedule to stay healthy which is a routine all by itself. So I mainly build this when I have time, weekends, late at night after the kids are in bed, and maybe days off. So it is a slow build, but it's a build.

Here is a link to the build I've been tracking for a while on my Civic site. I'll post some stuff up on here and try to catch everyone up to where I am now, but there's a lot of stuff to catch up on. That all takes time and I'm not sure if I will want to do that here, or just leave you with the build link and go from there.

Link: My link

I will give a list of the things that have been done, and then a list of the things that are going to be done, and then I'll go from there.

So with that being said, here we go!

Here's a list. You'll see the dates to the right and little notes to the right. These kind of tell you what's going on with the parts.

Performance:

Misc
Flip Key Mod Done June 2, 2011
Spenser Air Squash Air Freshener Done June 2, 2011

Exterior
8th Civic stickers on the windows
8th Civic license plate frame
De-badged the Civic logo.
OEM Fogs with Hella Projectors with 3000K Morimoto HID's (Have - needs install)
Morimoto Mini H1 Projectors with 5000K HID's Done October 26, 2011 (Changing to FX-R Quad Projectors and 5000K HID's)
OEM Sidemarkers - Tinted Done October 23, 2011
Carbon Fiber Vinyl - Hood, Roof, Trunk(need vinyl)
Si Grill carbon fiber vinyled - Done March 7, 2011
HFP Lip Kit Carbon Fiber Vinyled - (Need)

Interior
Seat Reupholstering (needed)
Hybrid Racing Black Nickel Weighted Shift Knob Done March 8, 2011
Reupholstered center console arm rest Done - Don't remember date
Led dome lights Done - Don't remember date
Carbon Fiber Vinyled Shift Boot Frame - Done March 20, 2011
Reupholstered Shift Boot - Done March 20, 2011

Engine/Performance
Scan Gauge II in a custom pod Done October 23, 2011
Brand New OEM Shifter Cables - Done March 20, 2011
TWM Performance Short Shifter Adaptor Done March 8, 2011
Hybrid Racing Shifter Cable Bushings Done April 15, 2011
Hybrid Racing Shifter Base Bushings Done March 8, 2011
Hybrid Racing Radiator Hoses Done May 2, 2011
Injen CAI - Black Done March 20, 2011
P2R Throttle Body Spacer Done March 20, 2011
NST Pulleys (Need)
Weapon-R Engine Torque Damper (Need)
Megan Racing Header Done April 14, 2011 / Removed April 22, 2011
Megan Racing Downpipe Done June 29, 2011
Weapon-R Angled O2 Sensor CEL Eliminator Done April 14, 2011 / Removed April 22, 2011
Vibrant Catback Exhaust Done April 14, 2011 Welded center pipes together - Done June 20, 2011
Flash Pro (Need)

Suspension
Buddy Club N+ Coilovers Done September 02, 2010
Buddy Club Rear Camber Arms Done September 02, 2010
Ingalls Front Camber Bolts Done September 02, 2010
Ingalls Front Camber Bolts (second set) Done 3/28/2011
Si Rear Sway Bar Done June 29, 2011
Hotchkis Endlinks (need)
P2R Lower Tie Bar Done September 17, 2011

Wheels and Tires
Varrstoen ES 2.2.2 18x8 Matte Black Done February 13, 2011
Falken ZE912 215/35/18 Done November 30, 2011

Wilwood Brake Kit (black) (Way future.)

Current Pictures as of (11/30/2011)

New Look






Old look






So that's list of performance parts for the vehicle now. I'm working on some projects currently, headlight retro fit, fog light retro fit will start after that, new end link brackets, and rear sway bar.

Now then, lets move to the audio. There's a lot of stuff going on here. I'll give you guys the list of equipment and then I'll lay out the plan!

Audio:

See Page 60 for the new list!

Edited by scooter99, 19 June 2012 - 11:14 AM.

[Blackedout]

Nice to see you on here scooter. I've seen you on 8th... Nice build.

[scooter99]

Thanks. I've been on here for a while, just never posted my stuff. Not sure why, but it is what it is. NO better time then the present!

[scooter99]

So I'm just throwing this out there. I put up my LRx 1.1k in classifieds but I've gotten no hits at all. Not even an offer. So maybe I'll end up keeping it. I won't know till I get to that point and figure out if it'll fit or not.

I also just got done looking at a few threads where they had the subs forward facing and say it sounds pretty good. This has always been a curiosity of mine cause, well just cause. I already have the sealed off trunk, so that would be done.

I don't think it's any secret that I suck at the box design sites. I just do. I don't know why but I do. I could really use someone's help in getting box specs for a ported enclosure for these HX300D subs. I'd like a round port design, and a slotted port design, as well as maybe a single port design. I think if I had to choose I'd like the port to be as big as the rear arm rest pass through. But I don't know if that's possible or not. IF I could get the designs I could experament with different boxes and find the best one that sounds the best. I would be willing to pay someone for their time if need be.

That's all for now.

[scooter99]

Ok so here's a little update. Not much has been done but I've been able to do a little bit here and there.

First up the light shrouds:

Last time I painted it flat black and just looked at it. Loved the way it looked.
Now here I painted it black again and then with high fill primer and then sanded it a little bit.




Got some body filler on it.




Then tonight I sanded it down and re primed it.




As you can see from the last picture I still have some filling and sanding to do. But it's getting closer.

Next up I took a look at my Si Rear Sway Bar I got for like $35.00 and it was beat up pretty good. Paint was chipping and peeling and it just isn't gonna do for me. So what I decided to do was strip it, and get it ready for a new look.

[scooter99]

So I grabbed some VHT Strip Fast and went to work on her!






It didn't do too bad but I decided to get out the ol sander and see what it could do with it.

[scooter99]

Then yesterday before I took off to boot camp I decided to get some more work done on it.







So now she's sitting waiting for some primer.

Now in the last couple days while doing that, I did another little project. I got some brackets for my end links from a buddy. He sold his civic and gave them too me. These, if you don't know, are the brackets that bolt to the OEM bracket and strengthen it. The OEM brackets have been known to break when using beefier rear sway bars. Now I'm not using a real stiff sway bar, actually it's the Si sway bar. So probably nothing will happen, but if I do decide to go to a Progress RSB or something like that, I'll be ready for it.

So here they are, in all their raw metal glory. Ready for some life and some color!


But before color we need something that will help the color stay!


Then I found some color match paint at Pep Boys. I had originally decided to go with a bright orange color, but decided that while I was trying to go aftermarket on alot of things and look more performance oriented, I also don't wanna look unclassy. So I decided to go with the color match for a subtle yet flashy approach.




So they're primed and ready for some love!

Edited by scooter99, 28 June 2011 - 10:02 PM.

[scooter99]

I actually primed these about 3 times. Just to make sure.

COLOR!
Look at that metallic in the flash baby!






Well, it's a match!






So I ended up with about 3 coats of paint as well. That makes 3 primer coats, and 3 color coats. What's next. Oh yeah! The clear!


Now why did I use Engine Enamel Clear? Well it's pretty simple really. First, I figured that Engine Enamel has to hold up to high high heat and so it must be pretty durable. But second, and really more this reason, I already had it on the shelf and I figured what the hell! LMAO!

I apparently forgot to take pictures of the pieces with the clear coat. I'll have to try and get some tomorrow when it's lighter and you can see the true color. It looks great though. I can't wait to see them on!

Tomorrow I'll probably string up the RSB and get a few coats of primer on that as well. That will also be the color match! I'm still debating on whether i want to spend money on new endlinks, keep the oem one's, or build my own. I'm leaning toward building my own. Why? Because that's what this game is all about right!?!

Till next time, thanks for tuning in!

[Blackedout]

Check out my build log. Its in my signature. Hasn't been updated in a while, but forward facing is something you should try. I have 2 15s in a ported enclosure in my trunk. If you look closely, you can see how we executed it... It wasn't too bad. As far as those subs go, put them in 2-2.5 cubes gross each and see how it is from there. If you feel the box is too big, you can always readjust with bracing, 45s, etc... and if you run aeros, those can be changed easily too. Better off going too big than too small... Especially in a car that requires the box to be built in the trunk.

[scooter99]

I'll do that. Wow, 2 - 2.5 cubes seems like a lot of space. I'm gonna have to do a couple of test boxes and see what I'm working with. I was gonna go 1.5 max. I guess another .5 - 1.0 isn't terribly bad, just I am dealing with, as you know already, limited space. I've also got to try and find room for 4 or 5 amps and somewhere in the future, possibly an air ride system. I'll go check out your build log. Thanks!

By 2 - 2.5 do you mean sealed or ported?

[scooter99]

Ok well I did a ton of little stuff today. I also had a little fail because of not paying attention and getting ahead of myself, but that's been resolved and will be fixed probably Friday night. So lets see, hopefully I won't screw this up too bad. There's a lot going on and I have to bounce around for the pics in photobucket so hopefully I can keep it all straight.

First up. Let's start off with the headlight retro going on. I managed to get some work done on the one shroud I've been working on and I think I've finished it. It's pretty good, I'm sure I could get it better but we'll see if the OCD in me takes over. For now I think it'll work just fine. So today I managed to get some more filler on it, and sand it down and prime and paint it. Like I said, it's good for now. It's not perfect but I think for what it is, It'll do. If I get it in there before I seal the lens and I don't like it or it's driving me crazy I'll go further with it. Here's pics!







This is wet, it's gonna be flat black when dried!


Like this!


So overall I'm satisfied with it. Do I love it? No I don't think it's that great, but this thing is soo hard to sand right and get perfectly smooth, and that's what I'm having trouble with. So like I said we'll see how I can live with it or not.

Next up. I told you guys before that I forgot to take pics of the brackets with the clear coat on. Well here they are.


I think they match perfectly. Now I need to get some hardware and get these babies mounted!

So the majority of what I did today was paint! I painted lots of things, and did a couple installs. I had a list of things that I wanted to get done and I didn't because I ran out of paint. I wanted to repaint the calipers the color match galaxy grey metallic but I ran out of high heat primer. So I'll do that another day. The other thing I wanted to do, because I had my car jacked up in the air, was lower the front a little bit. Well because I ran out of primer I never took the wheels off to paint the calipers and therefore when I was done today I dropped the car back on the ground and at that point said "SH!T I forgot to lower the front"! So that will be another day as well. Now onto what I did do.

You saw what I did yesterday with the sway bar. I had sanded it down and it was ready for primer. So that got hung on the side of the house to wait for everything else I wanted to paint.

Ever since I got the Vibrant Exhaust on the ride, I hated the look of the chrome of it, while everything else is a black theme! So I decided to remedy that today. Take a look!

[scooter99]

Here's the axle back and the rsb hanging and ready to paint!


The materials


Primed




Painted








I painted the whole thing but I clear coated the tip. That's why it looks different and a little glossier. I'm not sure I like it all that much, I like the flatter black paint.


Axleback, drying, next to the Mugen down pipe. That's coming up.

[scooter99]

Color matched the RSB


Looks like a match to me!




Axleback back on and lookin purrdy!






Next up I pulled out the RSB brackets and gave them a once over. I think I said previously, I bought this off someone here for about $35.00. I'm not sure what they did with it but it looks like they took the ride off roading or something. There was soo much dirt and stuff in these brackets I had to give them some attention!!

Filthy!!!!


Got out Mr. Dremel! He's always there for me when I need him! This is just a nylon bristled rotary bit. Not harsh so it won't tear it up but good enough to clean it up.


In this picture you see on the dremel the copper bristled rotary tool, but I had forgotten to take the picture before I changed it. The brackets are cleaned cause of the nylon one.


Time for a little deeper cleaning! This stuff was caked on!

[scooter99]

And a final once over with this one, again nylon bristled!


Look how beautiful the are now! Now all they need is some life, aka color!


Gotta seal em up!


Ready to go




COLOR




Gave the bolts a little love too!


Now let's install some stuff.

First I went and took care of the down pipe. This has been sitting in the garage for a couple months now, waiting for me to jack the car up again, so here's the day! She's going on! It was already painted black when I got it so no need to worry about that.

[scooter99]

Old OEM pipe


Old and new side by side. Size difference.




New installed


Took a sound bite clip but I don't think it sounds any different. But I'll post the last one as well and you can be the judge.

Actually I take that back. I only had the one from when I had the header on so I know it sounds different. But here anyway!


I will say this. I drove it tonight and it feels a little different. Maybe it's just me I don't know, but it feels a bit more responsive when it takes off. I don't know. Maybe I'm just loony! Well we know that's at least part of the case! LMAO!!

Ok so moving on. The last install I did today is the one that I failed. The RSB! Ok everyone, let me just give you a tip. I'm sure most of you know this, and even I know it, but I failed at it today. When you're going to follow a DIY, make sure you read the whole DIY first and then make sure you understand it second and if you don't re read it again until you do. So let's get started.

I started removing the old RSB, the puny one off the R18.


You'll need a 14mm socket to get the lower bolt off the endlink.


These take a 12mm socket, save these bolts.


Endlink nut removed


Tiny RSB removed

[scooter99]

Now you'll need to remove the top nut on the end link to put it on the new RSB, unless you've got new ones or aftermarkets. Then don't worry about this part.

To remove the nut you'll need an open box wrench, again 14mm, and a 5mm allen wrech. Stick the allen wrench in the bolt end, only goes one place, and then the box wrech and loosen it up.


There you have it, uninstalled.


Before we get onto the next step, lets take a look at the size difference between the Si RSB and the R18 RSB. Crazy isn't it!


Love that color match!




Ok now we're ready for the new boy! Put the end links on the new RSB the same sides you took them off of. You can go ahead and tighten these, they'll turn for you when you get them into place to put in the brackets. I have my support brackets ready to go on here, but as I said before, I need to get hardware for them. SO I'll do that later.



Put the bushing on.


Painted bolts


Put the bottom bolts on.


Oh sh!t I can't line up the holes for the top bolts! FAIL FAIL FAIL FAIL FAIL! This is where I realized I missed something. I have to get the Si brackets for the swap! Ran inside, called up my local dealer, NOPE don't have them in stock. Nope no others in town have them either. "I can order them for you, but you just missed the cut off to get them tomorrow. So they'll be here Friday!" Ok well Friday it is then I guess. So I tightened these bad boys up and really I don't think it's going anywhere, at least I hope not. I'll be taking it easy for a couple days just to be sure but after driving it tonight, I don't notice any different movements that shouldn't be there, nor do I hear any noises that shouldn't be there. I think I'll be fine for a couple days!

In the meantime I can go get some hardware for the other brackets and then Friday when I get under there to do this swap, I can put those on as well!

So here's the other side!


I'd like to get some aftermarket end links, or maybe even build my own. That will most likely be down the road though. Not tops on the list of things to do!

That's about it for today. Like I said a lot of little things. Now I just need to tidy these couple things up and I'll be ready to finish the lights, do the fogs, and get started on the trunk! I'm getting excited!

More to come very soon! Stay tuned!

[Winn]

Now thats what you call a fucking build

[scooter99]

Um thanks I think! Little too much?!?

[Winn]

Trunk - Here's the main part of this build. Let's start with the sub set up. I'll be building a sealed box rear firing for the two 12" Hertz subs. I have changed this a bit, and it may change back. The original plan was to run a 1000 watt amp to each sub, for head room and plenty of power on hand. As I said I do love bass. However, now I've eliminated it from the system. I needed the money at one point, and as of now it hasn't sold. So if that continues to be the case, I'll most likely re incorporate it into the system. So the sealed box will have a big port in the middle of it. This is the pass through to and through the back seat. That's why everything has had a pass through in it. I'll also be grilling off this one somehow.

Dont listen Ported box ALL DAY... unless space is a problem... Go Ported

Edited by Winn, 29 June 2011 - 10:25 PM.

[Winn]

DP

Edited by Winn, 29 June 2011 - 10:25 PM.