scansel912

iTrader: (4)

Alright guys, here it is. A full DIY and review for the new fully adjustable Ingalls "Stiffy" Engine Damper available from Dezod right now and I believe its actually on sale for like $160 while the MSRP is $340. This product is for 2001-2005 Honda Civic Base models however, this particular install was done on a 2001 Civic EX with ABS. There was a debate on whether this particular kit would fit the 01-03 Civic's with ABS and the short answer is Yes, but you have to do two simple modifications to move things around as I will show later. With that being said, lets get started.

Tools Needed:
Long Flat Screwdriver
14 mm long socket
10 mm socket
18 mm long socket
3/4" long socket
5/8" socket
5/8" Wrench
11/16" Wrench

Here's what you should get in the box from Ingalls. Use this DIY rather than the instructions they give you because there are some errors that I have pointed out to Ingalls that will be fixed very soon.


Open the hood, and locate the driver's side strut mount. You will see the Clutch Fluid Reservoir and the black mount for that metal line. These will need to be moved in order for the chassis bracket to fit.


Start by removing the two circled strut nuts with a 14mm socket. They are on tight so you might want to use a breaker bar and spray them with PB Blaster or WD-40 in advance


As you can see, that Clutch Fluid reservoir and black bracket is in the way. You could buy a new reservoir and mount from an 04-05 Civic from Honda which would run you $20 or so. Or you could do what I did as you'll see later on. First remove the metal line and pry out that black mount hidding under the bracket in this picturewith a long flat screwdriver or whatever works best for you.


Next, you will have to remove the top bolt in this pic to loosen the reservoir. You will be moving the entire resevoir down a hole using the bottom bolt and hole in this picture. In the end, you will have one left over bolt if you did it correctly. The idea here is to move the reservoir out of the way of the Damper bracket that is going in. I found this to be the easiest and cleanest way of doing it.


You will want to use a nice long 6" or longer extension to remove those bolts. They can be a pain to reach.


Here is the finished product after you have relocated the Reservoir lower on the strut tower using the OEM strut nuts on the bracket.


Alright, Install the bracket onto the strut tower and tighten by hand in case you need to adjust it later on.


Next, locate the two drivers side motor mount nuts. They are near the power steering pulleys down below. You will need a long 18 mm socket and breaker bar for these.


Now this is very important. Only remove one nut at a time (leave one in place) and make sure there is always one nut on the mount tightened down. After removing one nut, install one of the larger washers, then use the supplied 3/4" silver non-locking nut, and install one more large washer on top of that making a "nut sandwich". Tighten this down to OEM specs (40 ft/lbs) and repeat on the other mount nut.



Next, install the bracket in this picture onto the engine mount studs using the 3/4" Nylon locking nuts. Note: Be sure to add another large washer before the nut onto the left side bracket hole in this picture. The bracket hole in this picture should be mounted on the stud closest to the firewall of your car. It initially looks like you don't have room for your socket to fit onto the nut because of the bracket wall but if you push the socket down there it will fit. I then tightened these nuts to OEM specs as well.



Your brackets should be in place, so now its time to install the damper. It should come from Ingalls to fit perfectly but it can easily be adjusted by moving the threads and nuts up and down on the damper to suit your needs. Look at the picture to get you started and it should be from RIGHT to LEFT it should be Gold bolt-end/ Bracket/ Small Washer, Rubber O-Ring/Damper joint/ Black Lock Nut. Install the end of the damper that has all the threads to the Strut mount bracket. The damper is installed the wrong way in all these pictures but remember Adjustable end of the damper goes closest to the strut bracket!!!


This is where you're going to need your 5/8" wrench (for the black lock nut) and your 11/16" wrench for the gold bolt in order to tighten the nut and bolt to the bracket and damper. Tighten until very snug.


Alright, time to attach the damper to the strut bracket. From top to bottom install the assembly as this: Black lock nut/ Strut Bracket/ Small Washer/ Rubber O-Ring/ Ingalls damper end/ gold bolt-end. Sorry for lack of pics of this, it was very difficult to get a good shot of this due to the lack of space in the engine bay. Refer to Ingalls Pics and Instructions if you get confused. I tightened this by using a 11/16" wrench on the bottom and using a 5/8" socket on the top.


Here are some shots of the finished product:




Review:
First impressions, Wow, wheel hop is almost non-existent. I went out and tested it on my crappy Kuhmo street tires and did a few launches. Launching from 3000, it did a hop or two, then just planted it on the tires which then proceeded to immediately spin a bit, then gain traction. Before on these tires, I would hop so bad that my Cd's would fall out of my dash slot. Also, before I installed it, I had my brother rev the engine up and down with the hood open to observe the engine rocking back and forth quite a bit. With the damper installed, when he revved the engine, nothing moved whatsoever. From idle, the car vibrates a bit more but no rattling noises, but that was expected since you are tightening up the chassis. When you are cruising, there is no vibration at all, feels like OEM. When shifting, I noticed I didn’t get any little jolt/bog when I would let off the clutch quickly. Instead, it was instant throttle response which was a pleasant surprise. The down shifts definitely felt firmer but also smoother since it seemed get rid of that "slap" engine you get when you let off the clutch. All in all, I'm very happy about this product, it was alot more than I expected it to be. Feel free to post questions guys and I'll try to get back to you as soon as possible.

If you have any questions for Ingalls, Email Rob at robs@ingallseng.com .

01HonderCivic

iTrader: (7)

Awesome job, +1

black05civic

iTrader: (1)

You have made me want one. Good diy as well.

jackburton

iTrader: (1)

Could you use spacers in order to keep neuspeed upper strut bar?

scansel912

iTrader: (4)

I just emailed Rob and he or I will get back to you as soon as we know for sure.

blouisgod

iTrader: (14)

nice DIY.

if you have the Neuspeed bar, youve already lowered the Clutch resevior

02BLKCIVIC

iTrader: (8)

Great DIY!

Im in I'll buy one...

rice4lyfe

iTrader: (9)

woww very nice and detailed DIY!

thanks alot! time to get one!

DDragon7

Nice DIY, it looks good and I like to hear that it gives better throttle response. Makes me wanna get one.

Rep+1 ...looks like I gave out too much rep in the last 24hrs, so I'll rep you soon.

supermex

iTrader: (4)

Thanks Scansel, I got a good idea of what to spect.
I have the DC Sports upper bar and I'm curious of how this will fit.
Also I wonder how my car is going to react with the combination of the upper bar, Progress suspension and the stiffy dampner.
I'm not very happy with that slaping noise that you descrive right after heavy boost, if this product takes care of that, I'm happy.

gipperkid

iTrader: (9)

Looks like a good investment, but hopefully the upper strut bars can be still be utilized.

How long will the damper be on sale? I'll buy one, but would like to know about the strut bar issue.

gearbox

iTrader: (95)

looks good, i'll get one if it fits with a strut bar.

dezod

iTrader: (74)

We have them on sale.........

http://dezod.com/pd_ingalls_stiffy_e...ampercivic.cfm

SloCol-Vtec

iTrader: (5)

great write up +1

R1Style

iTrader: (20)

Great DIY and good review

manthatguysfast

iTrader: (3)

so when you say it adds a bit of vibration, how little are we talking about? i know its to be expected...im just wondering how much you can feel.

and did i read right, you can't have a strut bar with this? neuspeed specifically.

vacivic2005

iTrader: (4)

in for answer on if it will fit w/neuspeed upper strut bar.

scansel912

iTrader: (4)

Its hard to explain the vibration part. You only notice it when your just sitting at idle and such. Towards my second day of driving around with the damper I really didn't notice it too much. I don't know whether I was just getting used to it or what. When I had my girlfriend in the car at a stoplight she didn't notice anything with the vibration and just said feels the same so I dunno.

dezod

iTrader: (74)

The best description of the 'noise/vibration' gotten from it, is equivalent to having you fans on with the car on idle. It's minimal to nothing.

manthatguysfast

iTrader: (3)

interesting...very, interesting...

how long are these on sale, Dezod?

robstamina

ok so many ?'s so little time..

advantages versus disadvantages..
advantages:
1. easier install than motor mounts
2. is adjustable in relation to dampening(soft for hot dates, stiff for track) maybe the other way around hehe sorry couldn't help myself..
3.Takes care of majority of engine movement from front to back on decell and acccel. I personally recommend this in conjunction with mm's cause they take up the residual engine movement from side to side...
4. eliminates wheel hop and torque steer

disadvantages
1. Resonation! The stiffer you make the engine the more you transfer vibrations weather it is mm's or stiffy damper(get dynamat extreme and put it around the strut area to decrease vibrations.) I did this on my car and it defintily helped the vibration issues and I have racing mm's..



1. Vibrations...

I compare it to having a new set of motor mounts.. also it depends on how stiff you set the damper(yes they have adjustable dampening for length and preload like struts)

tight for racing loose for daily drive..
I have mine on the stiffest setting with race motor mounts..

here's a great trick for eliminating the vibrations I offered on another site..


Ingalls Engine Damper Trick no.1!!

Dynamat used for subwoofer enclosures are great to decrease vibration and noises throughout the car especially when you run the "Stiffy" damper on the hardest setting.. Cobalts actually come from the factory with sound deading material installed around the strut area...use dynamat extreme on the firewall..I would recommend dynamat extreme cause it has higher temp ratings than regular dynamat..you can really go crazy with this stuff depending on how crazy you want to get to decrease vibrations..

feel fee to hit me up with any ?'s about the Ingalls "stiffy" damper..



in relation to the strut bar...

My girl has an 04dx with a tenzo r upper strut(cheapy bar yeah I know) and it fits over the damper no prob but there was an issue with having enough threads on the strut to attach it.. I just got the same nut but a "lower" style so that it would thread fully.

the Mugen and Mugen replica upper struts will NOT fit...
Comptech and DC you have to cut a small chunk of the damper bracket to make it fit..
I have the Nuespeed on an 04 civicSI.. I did say SI BTW.. and it fit no prob ****HOWEVER**** I have Mugen suspension which makes the strut bolts 20mm longer just for upper strut placement..There might be issues with the o.e. strut bolts being long enough to accomidate the sturt bar and the damper bracket..

email with any ?'s

robs@ingallseng.com

dezod

iTrader: (74)

Hey Rob. Thanks for the joinin the party!


Through the next month or 2.

scansel912

iTrader: (4)

If you drag race, this is a must.

I'm hoping for 13's June 9th guys.

ncirom2003

iTrader: (7)

great write up! but thats the clutch resevoir not the PS resevoir, the PS has the red cap up front.
ive got the link to dezods page open right now halfway through checkout making sure i have the funds.........woohoo


edit: just purchased one, order id 2021

Redviking

iTrader: (4)

Nice DIY!

So... no homemade for me! I'll order one!

scansel912

iTrader: (4)

Fixed the Power Steering thing, thanks for pointing that out.

Thanks guys for all the positive comments!

DDragon7

So the only negative is extra vibrations? No other negatives, like damaging the engine? Sorry I dont know this stuff and I might wanna get one in the future.

jackburton

iTrader: (1)

So no answer on the neuspeed with stock struts?

scansel912

iTrader: (4)

Yeah it decreases engine movement. Don't really see how it would hurt it.

We dont' really have a way of testing that because I don't have a neuspeed bar. You have options though with buying longer strut studs or notching out part of the ingalls bracket if you want to try that out. I can't really give a definate answer because I don't have a bar to test.

jackburton

iTrader: (1)

Do tein ss have longer studs? cause I was thinking of upgrading soon anyways.

From looking at the picture it looks like the studs would not be long enough, but like you said somebody has to test it out before we know for sure.

Oh yeah btw nice write up and thanks for taking the time!