Converting my ex to track car & starting with a transmission swap

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Old Jan 3, 2018
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Converting my ex to track car & starting with a transmission swap

I am looking to do a transmission swap for my Civic. It currently has an automatic but I want to put a manual transmission in it.

It's a 2003, ex sedan, all stock. The engine is the 1.7 SOHC VTEC

I was going to buy a used Si, but then I thought it might be more fun to convert this car slowly over time to a track car. Buying a used car is such a hassle because you never really know what the last person did to it. My Civic runs strong so I think it has another hundred thousand on it.

Questions:
  1. Has anyone done this?
  2. Where should I take a transmission from? The same model or a different one? And which parts do I need.
  3. Would you consider changing the engine or would you leave this engine?
  4. Once I convert this into a manual what are the next five or six upgrades I should do?

Thanks in advance for the tips. One side to side with Rob to take I will definitely track my build with all of you.

BTW, I'm drawing my inspiration from this video https://youtu.be/knP9mf6L91U

Last edited by bdadokay; Jan 3, 2018 at 11:59 PM. Reason: Wrong YouTube link
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Old Jan 4, 2018
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Re: Converting my ex to track car & starting with a transmission swap

1 - Yes
2 - Manual EX, it has a closer ratio gearbox vs HX, VP, LX
3 - Now is a great time to decide how much money you plan to spend..
4 - Suspension, wheels and tires, brakes, weight loss,

If you want a actual track car out of this I would always suggest getting a second car for the project.

If you just want to look like your driving a track car, be sure to add lots of stickers.
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Old Jan 4, 2018
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Re: Converting my ex to track car & starting with a transmission swap

suspension.

Coilovers of some kind, mid to high end

front camber bolts
rear camber arms
Delete or not the front sway bar.
minimum RSX rear sway bar.

sample Maxtierney's car:

https://www.civicforums.com/forums/4...sion-swap.html

https://www.civicforums.com/forums/4...ld-thread.html

he have one of the sickiest civics around.
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Old Jan 4, 2018
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Re: Converting my ex to track car & starting with a transmission swap

Originally Posted by Slumpertcivic
1 - Yes
2 - Manual EX, it has a closer ratio gearbox vs HX, VP, LX
3 - Now is a great time to decide how much money you plan to spend..
4 - Suspension, wheels and tires, brakes, weight loss,

If you want a actual track car out of this I would always suggest getting a second car for the project.

If you just want to look like your driving a track car, be sure to add lots of stickers.
3 i'm okay spending up to $5k in year 1 and maybe $1-2k per year after
It would actually be a third car for the family, but that seems like the right decision. I'd have to clean out the garage and keep it in there. I happen to run across this guy https://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto...397544299.html as a option - any thoughts on this car?
I would take it on a track/auto-cross once (maybe twice) per year, so not often.
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