When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Hello! I am not sure where to begin with this post, sorry if it is a little long but I think my story is funny and worth the read and I will be diving more into this website, I have long lurked but never made an account, but I really need this community
My story starts when I crashed my ford fiesta 2 weeks after getting my license, while trying to impress a friend. Understeered into a corner and busted up the control arms (I did not even now what understeer was at the time haha) I managed to get the car home where my dad was more patient than what I deserved. The car was auctioned off for more than what he owed on it so I guess it worked out. I spent the summer without a car but I felt something when I was sliding through corners and I wanted more of it. I spent all summer watching videos about how cars work
That left with enough money to buy a rink-a-dink car. I was allowed to buy a car with that money and I bought a $1200 Honda Civic DX with a d16y7 engine, type 1 suspension and Rota slips that were worth more than the car. I did the best that I could with that build, threw on a cold air intake, lowered the car, put in fog lights, bought side skirts, put under glow on, straight piped it, new control arms (twice) new bushings, new wheel bearings, rear and front sway bar, new brake pads, new rotors... you know, all the stuff a 16-17 year old does with a car because they do not have the skill or tools to actually put in real mods. I learned a lot about suspension though because it was all pretty wrecked in that category. There was a road I would go test my new car on, and I ate a few curbs while I was out there haha. Looking back I did a lot of dumb reckless things, but it kept me from doing worse things.
2000 Honda Civic DX (Rice Rice Baby!)
When I turned 18 I got a job at a Honda dealership and I made a friend. His name was Honly. He taught me so much more about working on cars. He was in his mid 40s. Whenever he needed a hand he always asked me, but looking back I think he just wanted to teach me. He taught me a ton about cars, but also about life. His life started really early when he had a kid at 17. He was stuck as a mechanic and he couldn't go to college because of his kids. He had a love especially for EP3 Civics and actually owned 3 of them.
A few months into the job I was really struggling with mental health and he always cheered me up, He was just one of those people that you like to be around because he was honest with you but made you feel important. One night while driving my girl problems frustration out (as 18 year olds do) I threw one of the rods on my 2000 Civic DX, money shifted into 2nd from 5th gear while going about 90mph. Meant to downshift into 4th. Thankfully I was down the street from my work and I was able to roll it in.
TFW your hood latch doesn't close all the way :]
The next day at work I was stressed out of my mind, I had no money, the car that I had worked so hard on was shot, and I needed a car. He offered me for $2000 his first EP3 with 350k miles on it. He had done a motor swap once that had only 70k miles on. He allowed me to make payments on it, and he gave it to me before I even made the first payment. It has a dent and a few dings, and a crack in the windshield and a few other small things but overall it is really beautiful. Ill attach some pictures. He gave me charge to take care of the car, as it was his first car that he bought new. When I tested it he got in his other EP3 and we raced it on the dealerships test road. He acted like I was winning and hung back a bit, and then halfway through sent me to Gapplebees. I was annoyed but now I think it was really funny. (It was kind of one of those moments where we both have one hand on the steering wheel looking at eachother like in Fast and Furious He never told me he had thrown in Skunk2 Valves and Camshafts in his engine. It was a fun memory with him. The car represents so much of my relationship with him, and he filled a role in my life that wasn't being met.
I do not have many nice pictures of the EP3 but this one has lightning behind it haha
Well eventually I left the dealership for a service opportunity with my church that took me away for 2 years. When I got back a month ago, I thought it would be fun to take it in and have him do my state inspection for my car, and catch up with him. When I pulled up, some random service advisor I never even knew informed me that Honly had passed away 2 months prior. I was shocked and I did not believe him, I just sat there speechless. I still think I am trying to take it in but it is hard to believe. He was at work and not feeling well. He went home and never came back. He had a blood clot from Covid, and it got the best of him. He was only in his mid 40s too! I am pretty devastated, but I am trying to work through the grief by turning it into something beautiful and I want to do it the way Honly would express his love.
Crappy side pic of the EP3, but those rims tho =D
I want to keep his EP3 stock and not change much minus the dings, and small repairs. However his last EP3 was white. I want to build a white EP3 and make sure it is faster than his was hahaha. I think he would appreciate it, my man really enjoyed some nice EP3s and I could finally win. So, if money wasn't too much a problem, what would you do? What type of build would you go with?
First off, welcome! That's a fantastic story you have behind your EP3. Also, sorry for your loss man. Honly sounded like he was not only a great mentor, but a great guy. F&%! covid.
If money were no issue, I'd build the **** out of the motor and throw boost at it. Prolly a Garrett GT3076R and a lot of time on a dyno with someone that knows exactly how to tune a K20 properly. The K20A3 under the hood can take quite a bit if built and tuned right.
If I was feeling especially frisky, I'd import a K20A (JDM Integra Type R) and swap it in to give you a better starting point (212bhp in the K20A vs the 158bhp your K20A3 has). From there, throw some boost at it and watch her fly. That, and make sure to upgrade brakes, suspension, tires, and cooling while I'm at it. No use having power if it can't be controlled, stuck to the ground, and kept happy. I'd definitely keep the body (mostly) stock, with just a little bit of aerodynamic flare (nothing overly extravagant) because why tf not.
If I was feeling really, really frisky, I'd try and get ahold of a K20C1 and drop that bad boy in there. It's the 2.0T that's in the 2017-2021 Civic Type R that gives you a starting point of 305bhp and 23psi boost. Sure, it'll fit, but no telling what it'll take to make it work
That sounds fantastic, I like the idea of doing the K20C1 swap. It sounds intense, but I am breaking down some of the costs of rebuilding the K20A engine, and making it a beast but it might be easier. If I were to rebuild the K20A, put in new Camshaft, Valves, throttle body, rocker arms, etc, slap in a little turbo, new fuel system, ECU etc, how much do you think it would cost, and how much power do you think it could put out?
You’re going to want to build up the bottom end more than the top end, especially on an A3. Bottom end is probably capped around 300-350 hp and the stock head can handle quite a bit beyond that.
If you want big power easily, I’d try to rip a K24 and a 6-speed out of a 1st gen TSX. Those can handle massive power in stock form and are pretty awesome NA builds too.
Diving in! 
He never told me he had thrown in Skunk2 Valves and Camshafts in his engine. It was a fun memory with him. The car represents so much of my relationship with him, and he filled a role in my life that wasn't being met.
