Well, I've been a member here for a long time, and I've owned a 97 CX Hatch since I was 16 (I'm 30 now). It was my daily driver for many years, and I started accumulating other vehicles (bike, truck, boat, etc.). Then the poor car sat for a long time and it was neglected.
Through all of those years, I never created a build thread because I didn't have anything special to write about. It was just a typical daily driver that I relied on heavily to get me to work and school, despite taking the typical abuse from a punk in his late teens/early 20's. However, I remained loyal to this hatch and never sold it. Over the past few years, I worked on it from every now and then, but I struggled to find the time and resources for it among my personal responsibilites and other hobbies (I have too many ). I'm finally starting to work on it again and get closer to my goal of a dedicated road track car.
Some of the members on this forum can probably relate, I did not come from a 'wealthy' family so in my younger years, this little 'jap crap' car was all I had. Yes, there were many times I had dreams for this car that I could not afford. Now I am fortunate enough to be at a point where I can move this car closer to acheiving those dreams. I want most of you to understand that if you have aspirations for your car, be patient and hold on, you will get there eventually! Since I've been through so much with this car, and there is much more to come, I figured I had a good story to tell as I get closer to the light at the end of the tunnel. Here are some of the highlights:
I've had it out at the track once, and it did surprisingly well, despite barely passing track inspection and being on steelies and all season tires.
I'm excited to get it back on the track once its all done. Check out the photos and let me know what you guys think! Also, I'm not a snowflake so suggestions and constructive criticism is welcome. I will be sure to post updates as I make progress (slowly)!
Through all of those years, I never created a build thread because I didn't have anything special to write about. It was just a typical daily driver that I relied on heavily to get me to work and school, despite taking the typical abuse from a punk in his late teens/early 20's. However, I remained loyal to this hatch and never sold it. Over the past few years, I worked on it from every now and then, but I struggled to find the time and resources for it among my personal responsibilites and other hobbies (I have too many ). I'm finally starting to work on it again and get closer to my goal of a dedicated road track car.
Some of the members on this forum can probably relate, I did not come from a 'wealthy' family so in my younger years, this little 'jap crap' car was all I had. Yes, there were many times I had dreams for this car that I could not afford. Now I am fortunate enough to be at a point where I can move this car closer to acheiving those dreams. I want most of you to understand that if you have aspirations for your car, be patient and hold on, you will get there eventually! Since I've been through so much with this car, and there is much more to come, I figured I had a good story to tell as I get closer to the light at the end of the tunnel. Here are some of the highlights:
- 2002: Bought the Hatch in NJ (born and raised!) for $3,000 with only 66k miles, drove it for many years and tinkered with it way too much
- 2007: D16Y7 engine is tired, burning oil, and leaking oil through almost every orifice at 186k miles. Pulled it out and swapped in a B20B
- 2011: Moved to MI for work. With just $400 to my name, I packed this great little car with as much stuff as I could fit in it and hit the road. Shortly after my second paycheck, I bought a R6
- 2013: Leased a RAM 1500 and drove the civic occasionally, mostly neglecting it in the garage
- 2015: Returned the lease truck, and bought a Dodge Ram Power Wagon, started off-roading and further neglecting my civic
- Present Day: Civic now has ~255k miles on the chassis
- Powertrain
- B20B swap
- LS trans
- Avid Racing mounts
- 1320 Performance header
- High-flow cat
- Skunk2 Megapower cat back
- Ebay short throw
- Ebay intake / filter
- Chassis/Brakes
- SI front LCA's
- Megan Racing front UCA's
- BWR rear LCA's
- BWR rear UCA's
- SI front / rear swaybars
- Energy Suspension bushings all around
- EBC Yellow Stuff front pads
- Russell Stainless brake hoses
- ATE 200 DOT4 brake fluid
- Interior
- Momo Supercup XL seats
- Wheels/Tires
- Advanti DST Storm S2 15x7 +35
- Toyo Proxes RA1 205/50 (second-hand)
- Coming Soon:
- LS rear disc conversion (currently on the way)
- Rear pads (Hawk DTC-60)
- LS front brake conversion (Hawk DTC-60)
- Rollcage (I am going to attempt to make it lemons/chump/SCCA compliant)
- 5pt harnesses
- Coilovers
I've had it out at the track once, and it did surprisingly well, despite barely passing track inspection and being on steelies and all season tires.
I'm excited to get it back on the track once its all done. Check out the photos and let me know what you guys think! Also, I'm not a snowflake so suggestions and constructive criticism is welcome. I will be sure to post updates as I make progress (slowly)!
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