Victor's '99 Si build

[victor.m]

UPDATED 3/24

First a little history on the car! So Feb. 26 2009, I finally get a response from a posting on Craigslist for a black '99 Si with some front damage on the cheap. I had been waiting for a week already and had gotten no response, so I thought it was a lost cause! Alas, I call the guy up at 8:30am as soon as I see the email on my phone with his number, and drive down to O-Town the next day, only to return with a mildly damage, otherwise MINT EM1. And here she was when I got there:

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/6044/92456071.jpg
http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/2744/78901163.jpg

Front damage was a bit bad, but nothing sub-$1000 couldn't fix with some good searching for parts and patience. So, I undertook it. Driving it back home on the Turnpike felt like heaven; I had just gone from an automatic '94 EJ1 with a shot motor mount to a '99 Si. Life was good.

So I decided to go for a wash, car was dusty:

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/2113/22296611.jpg
http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/2269/86447754.jpg
http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/8539/21417169.jpg
http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/7995/71830932.jpg
http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/1913/85138776.jpg
(ABS, wut? no the car does not have ABS, no idea what that light is doing there. It never lights up, though)

I take down my bumper to find this sad, sad reality:

http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/tt324/victormach/em1%20damage/DSC_0366.jpg?t=1237045098
http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/tt324/victormach/em1%20damage/DSC_0342.jpg?t=1237045107

Ouch..but I was ready for it.

So, in the days to come I took her to my local reliable body shop and got an estimate: $200 to get the frame pulled into place on the frame machine. But the guy said I had to bring in the parts to be put back on, and they would align it for me if I did.

A couple of days pass by, and I find a bumper up in Lake City for a good price. Off I go, and I return with this:

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/1153/bumper.jpg

Primered black, just needs to be painted. No place for it yet, since my front end is all bent out of shape. But soon.

So I drive down to my dad's for spring break, and the car comes with. I decide to make a trip to the local U-Pull, just to see what was going on. Luckily, I find a bumper support off a fresh '99 EX. After some hitting, bending, twisting, I got some improv bodywork done, and the car looks a lot better:

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/9136/beforeafteru.jpg

It'll keep my afloat until I sell my EJ1 to afford the real bodywork. And since she was looking better, I decided to do a full claybar+wax:

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/7572/img0891pir.jpg
http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/8868/img0892p.jpg
(1977 911 SC hanging out in precarious conditions in the garage, to be fixed before year's end)
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/8066/img0893j.jpg
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/4583/img0894k.jpg
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/9025/img0898p.jpg
(facing the dad's prelude)

And that's about it for now. Future plans involve fixing the front end, a drop (not sure what on yet), and the Si lips when I can find/afford them. After that, well, we'll see!

UPDATE 3/24

HOP CTR shift boot, Blox shift knob, EP3 floormats, Skunk2 rear lower tie bar, all installed!

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/7671/img0942f.jpg
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/6571/img0944b.jpg
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/3337/img0946ovp.jpg
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/769/img0947i.jpg

Thanks for stopping by, hope to be updating this soon.

[mymmeryloss]

build thread?
hmmm...

[victor.m]

Well hopefully, with a steady flow of cash 'til summer I'll get a lot done :)

[iBeast]

nice find

[Eran]

I am tired of people making build threads when they haven't done ANYTHING.

WAIT UNTIL YOU HAVE A SHITLOAD OF PICTURES, THEN POST. DON'T CALL IT A BULD THREAD WHEN ALL YOU'VE DONE IS PURCHASED A CAR.

[victor.m]

Ah, wow, no need to be so jumpy captain douche. I thought the objective of a "build" thread was to show progress over time, which is what I'm doing. Just because there's not a shitload of pictures of things changing NOW doesn't mean a lot won't be happening in the coming weeks, months, where I'd be updating everything.

Regardless the car has already gone from wrecked front to semi-decent front and is looking at getting fully repaired this coming week or the next one. I don't see why people would be so bothered to wait and see actual progress over time in a thread, and follow it as it changes.

Either way, I must have misinterpreted the whole objective of a build thread, or you have your panties up in a bunch. Have a good day.

[Eran]

No, you posted a "build" thread because you plan to modify your car. That's ludicrous. If everyone did that, then every picture thread would be a build thread.

Build threads are to show progress over a period of time. Your thread has neither.

And yes, I'm a douche because I've actually put work into my car, and have made lots of progress over an extended period of time, but still hate build threads.

[victor.m]

(...)

Build threads are to show progress over a period of time.(...)

Progress: Front end somewhat fixed, getting rest done this week
Time: 2 1/2 weeks

Wait, what?

So who's to say I'm not going to be putting work, time, and dedication into my car and this thread won't log every bit of that as it happens? Or wait, I should just wait until I have a shitload of stuff done already to post it all at once? Or maybe I should make a different thread for each mod until I have a cumulative list of mods and THEN post in the build thread forum?

Right.

[mymmeryloss]

eran is saying that u dont just buy a car and show what u do as you do it...
u have to already have some progress and a game plan before you start a build thread..
this should just be under members rides to show off your new car.
after u do a little engine work or a wire tuck and lower it and get some wheels and exhaust and interior pieces and change it from looking like every other si in the world then maybe justmaybe you could start a build thread if u have like 50 pics...

[mymmeryloss]

plus a lot of people that want to build there cars and say they are going to buy all of these parts never do anything with their cars...

trust me, ive been there before....

[TopGear_]

Regardless of whether the thread should have been made, nice find on the car. Looks a lot better. I'll keep watching this, expecting updates;)

[Dumped Si]

good work!

what'd you end up picking this up?

[victor.m]

the car was $4500, probably estimating about $1000 to fix everything when all is said and done; parts, paint, and labor. So in reality a minty EM1, bone stock, came out to $5500. Just sold my EM1, picking up hood this week, body shop as soon as I have 2 days off in a roll! Stay tuned.

[victor.m]

And the estimate from the bodyshop is in! Replacing the radiator upper tie bar and painting the bumper+hood, with me installing them all back on. Gonna be about 3 days, and I'm gonna pick up the hood tomorrow in a town about a couple of hours away in my roommate's 300ZX and request the days off work next week (I deliver pizza, therefore, I need the car when I work).

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/9626/dsc0329w.jpg

[somejaykid]

good job making the car looks good again man keep us updated on the project

[victor.m]

good job making the car looks good again man keep us updated on the project

Thanks, shall do. Just ordered some Mugen/Skunk2/HOP goodies, will post them up as soon as they arrive :)

[TopGear_]

what did you get

[victor.m]

For now, some eye candy.

http://www.handa-accessories.com/civic/civicsimat.jpg
02-05 EP3 floormats
http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/twincamtech_2042_211974103
HOP CTR shift boot
http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/twincamtech_2046_6027668
BLOX 5spd shift knob
http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/twincamtech_2042_34866736
Skunk2 rear lower tie bar

The Mugen knob I wanted was sold out, and other stores were charging an absurd amount for shipping. It's the New Style 5spd knob with the "Don't shift miss!!" decal, but oh well, I'll get it eventually.

Oh yeah! Also have these babies in the mail, HOP OEM Headlights:

http://www.zensokutuning.com/images/kingwood/honda/99-00civiclamp01.jpg

From a guy down south in Florida, $100 shipped and they're in perfect condition. Only til I can afford $500 for HOP CTR gunmetal housing headlights.

[victor.m]

UPS man made a visit today...he brought some goodies!

http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/425/83515718.jpg
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/3779/30153449.jpg
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/8233/91592920.jpg
http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/1928/29477009.jpg
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/3549/41507823.jpg
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/6725/37634307.jpg
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/2262/23261740.jpg

Installed pics after class!

Also, what came in the mail last week and I hadn't updated on here yet:

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/4374/img0917l.jpg

[TopGear_]

Nice!

[victor.m]

Thanks, parts are in the car, original topic updated!

[TopGear_]

damn what happened to your interior panels? looks like people have been kicking the shit out of them lol

[victor.m]

Hah it's a combination of glare, and Dominos HeatWave(TM) bag hitting the glove compartment. Other than that I need to clear her up a bit, it's not bad I just haven't had the time to clean the interior in the last week or two.

Anyhow, Mugen rad cap came in today.

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/5420/img0955.jpg
http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/2015/img0956.jpg

[AcousticAudio]

Nice work getting everything straightened out man! She looks minty after that claybar. Any plans for under the hood?

p.s dont listen to FAGGOTS like Eran, everyone starts somewhere. My build thread started out exactly like yours (minor front end repair :p), and no one gave me flak for it. I'm definitely subscribed for this one.

[victor.m]

Thanks man.

As for under the hood, thinking about moderate boost. About 6-8psi. My goal is probably around 220-250hp. This is just gonna be a daily driver with an attitude and maybe a car to take to the track on weekends for a little fun. We'll see it how it turns out, right now my priority is on drop and fixing that nasty damage.

[rebirth]

nice si bro whether you started your thread too early or not. I thought the purpose of a thread was to show progress also which is what you are doing. everyone has there definition of what something should be when we should all just be showing some love and waiting to see the progress. I don't know what your plans are for it but build it HOWEVER you want. It's your car. your not going to be happy spending your money and building someone elses idea.

oing to post my car soon. I should have started when I got it in november also cause it loked like crap but now it's doing better and trying to do everything myself instead of paying a shop like I did before with my accord.

[arod52388]

nice car. keep us posted

[GSratedR]

looks good after the nose job lol. clean civic

[Ian123]

you got a steal for 4500 i bought my ex for that much and it had the same mileage. looks good but you need to lower it and get some wider tires.