fixed up the ride a bit
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 51,241
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From: NV
Rep Power: 813 
fixed up the ride a bit
there are some little things ive been meaning to do, and i got most of it done finally. heres a quick story lol.
cleaned up my headlamp lenses, installed stock 168 bulbs and 7443 natural amber. also fixed my turn signal drl wiring.
polished the intake
the DC battery tie
and the DC jet coated header. im shocked it came back almost like new
and finally the oem metal door sills
didnt like how dim the sidemarkers were, so i went out and found the best and brightest natural amber wy5w bulbs made by toshiba from the vw dealer. $10 per pair
replaced my old beat up switches with new low profile ones from radioshack...
one switch is for led pods under each seat...
the other switch for the extra red-orange led park light
also polished up the tail lamps
painted my black lip kit screws satin silver to match the car...
painted the top trim of the radio faceplate a smoke color, and the trim ring flat black to match the dash better
replaced chrome trim door handles with 2001 civic color matched versions
blacked out projector fog lights with yellow H3 bulbs
new flat style license plate with DNA hologram and new reg sticker!
my brake lights were too dim, so i upgraded them with polarg lens type 7443 bulbs with a built-in focusing lens on the tip.
They "appear" a ton brighter than stock and now match the intensity of my LED 3rd brake light. $40 a pair but well worth it. the outer piece is now brighter than the stock 168 bulb inner piece.
so i had to change the inner bulb to the brightest raybrig w5w hyper clear bulb. it now fills out the whole lens and matches the polarg bulbs.
and finally, i found a 2003 EX gauge cluster with exactly the same mileage as my car! i have a new plastic cover on order waiting to go on.
cleaned up my headlamp lenses, installed stock 168 bulbs and 7443 natural amber. also fixed my turn signal drl wiring.
polished the intake
the DC battery tie
and the DC jet coated header. im shocked it came back almost like new
and finally the oem metal door sills
didnt like how dim the sidemarkers were, so i went out and found the best and brightest natural amber wy5w bulbs made by toshiba from the vw dealer. $10 per pair
replaced my old beat up switches with new low profile ones from radioshack...
one switch is for led pods under each seat...
the other switch for the extra red-orange led park light
also polished up the tail lamps
painted my black lip kit screws satin silver to match the car...
painted the top trim of the radio faceplate a smoke color, and the trim ring flat black to match the dash better
replaced chrome trim door handles with 2001 civic color matched versions
blacked out projector fog lights with yellow H3 bulbs
new flat style license plate with DNA hologram and new reg sticker!
my brake lights were too dim, so i upgraded them with polarg lens type 7443 bulbs with a built-in focusing lens on the tip.
They "appear" a ton brighter than stock and now match the intensity of my LED 3rd brake light. $40 a pair but well worth it. the outer piece is now brighter than the stock 168 bulb inner piece.
so i had to change the inner bulb to the brightest raybrig w5w hyper clear bulb. it now fills out the whole lens and matches the polarg bulbs.
and finally, i found a 2003 EX gauge cluster with exactly the same mileage as my car! i have a new plastic cover on order waiting to go on.
Banished to the Depths of Rice.
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,196
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From: SoCal 714/909/626
Rep Power: 353 Re: fixed up the ride a bit
*giggle* steve has fake CF.... ricer... u almost as bad as me.....almost......HAHAHAHHA jk man. ur car so dang clean is disgusting...
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 51,241
Likes: 20
From: NV
Rep Power: 813 
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 51,241
Likes: 20
From: NV
Rep Power: 813 Re: fixed up the ride a bit
DC tie bar is way old, paid almost 50 for it at the time too. crazy but they last forever. i havent seen em anywhere recently.
i love the alpine 9847, its almost 4 yrs old and still going strong altho the faceplate is badly scratched. for a sub $200 basic deck, it works awesome. sounds unlike any other brand ive tried. and it perfectly matches my interior lighting with white led display and amber led buttons.
door handles i got from www.hondaautomotiveparts.com they are from the 2001 civic sedan, you just pick the color. theres this one i think graphite and then a tan color. i think i paid $35 for all four and some extra hardware to fix one of my broken locks. not that much at all. the handles already come with the plastic door rod holders. i got new plastic pieces for them also that cover the two screws underneath.
i love the alpine 9847, its almost 4 yrs old and still going strong altho the faceplate is badly scratched. for a sub $200 basic deck, it works awesome. sounds unlike any other brand ive tried. and it perfectly matches my interior lighting with white led display and amber led buttons.
door handles i got from www.hondaautomotiveparts.com they are from the 2001 civic sedan, you just pick the color. theres this one i think graphite and then a tan color. i think i paid $35 for all four and some extra hardware to fix one of my broken locks. not that much at all. the handles already come with the plastic door rod holders. i got new plastic pieces for them also that cover the two screws underneath.
Registered!!
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From: Ft. Bragg/Fayetteville, nc
Rep Power: 275 Re: fixed up the ride a bit
thanks gear... i'm gonna get those next.. the damn fake chrome shyt is peeling and cut my wife a while back. it's gotta get changed or else she may kick my ***...lol.
Registered!!
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Joined: Feb 2005
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From: Ft. Bragg/Fayetteville, nc
Rep Power: 275 Re: fixed up the ride a bit
hey gear do you know exactly how getting new door locks (for the exterior) work? i'm just curious how would it work since i need a new one also but my key? what does honda do? thanks again!
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 51,241
Likes: 20
From: NV
Rep Power: 813 Re: fixed up the ride a bit
you get the new front right and left handles with the lock cylinders, and also a new one for the ignition. AND the new key has to be coded to the ecu immobilizer. if your key doesnt turn the outside door lock anymore, i would suggest just getting keyless entry. its gonna cost a ton to get all new locks and flash the key.
Re: fixed up the ride a bit
Looks good. A few ?s...
1. How do you keep you engine bay looking so sharp and what do you use to clean it.
2. Is that the DC 4-1 header and how does the motor run with it (better/worse/same).
3. What did you use to polish the headlight, I just searched but didnt find anything.
Muchas gracias
1. How do you keep you engine bay looking so sharp and what do you use to clean it.
2. Is that the DC 4-1 header and how does the motor run with it (better/worse/same).
3. What did you use to polish the headlight, I just searched but didnt find anything.
Muchas gracias
Last edited by mule69; Dec 30, 2008 at 11:01 PM.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 51,241
Likes: 20
From: NV
Rep Power: 813 Re: fixed up the ride a bit
engine bay is not as clean as it looks, but i try and keep up. alot of painting stuff when it gets rusty, or replacing bolts and nuts. metal polish helps for some stuff, otherwise just use a degreaser and then some plastic protectants. dont go nuts and spray everything, just take your time with a cloth and wipe things down.
yeah its DC sports header that was sent to jethot.com for sterling coating. the header is exactly the same size and shape as the stock piece, i mainly got it for looks. it performs the same as stock, and the coating keeps heat in a bit better.
if your headlight is cloudy or yellowed, there is some chemical on ebay thats supposed to clean it up. dont use the sandpaper kits, it will just cause more problem. if theyre not too bad, meguiars plastX will work to make them shiny. i used it on the tails too and they are as shiny as the paint now.
yeah its DC sports header that was sent to jethot.com for sterling coating. the header is exactly the same size and shape as the stock piece, i mainly got it for looks. it performs the same as stock, and the coating keeps heat in a bit better.
if your headlight is cloudy or yellowed, there is some chemical on ebay thats supposed to clean it up. dont use the sandpaper kits, it will just cause more problem. if theyre not too bad, meguiars plastX will work to make them shiny. i used it on the tails too and they are as shiny as the paint now.
Prowlin' with a Purpose
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From: Minnesota
Rep Power: 340 Re: fixed up the ride a bit
hmm i got an ebay cheapie header and the runners were considerably larger than stock.. altho it was chrome, its now discolored, and i did feel a slight difference.. well worth the $65... LOL only time will tell if the welds hold
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 51,241
Likes: 20
From: NV
Rep Power: 813 Re: fixed up the ride a bit
heh i had one too a while back. imo, its waste. the huge ports will just slow down the airflow. the stock header is already perfectly matched to the head.
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From: Connecticut, US
Rep Power: 0 Re: fixed up the ride a bit
wow, great ride gearbox, love the cleaning up you did...you plan on keeping ur ride for a while longer?? I've got an 02 with 74k on it and I just did some cleaning up on my ride too....good work btw.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 51,241
Likes: 20
From: NV
Rep Power: 813 Re: fixed up the ride a bit
yeah i hope it lasts for a while. i plan to keep it as long as i can. it still has some issues, the rear main seal is seeping oil all over the bottom of the car, but its not bad enough to drip on the ground. i need to get that fixed ($600), and maybe rebuild the trans in the future. overall after 7 yrs its still running great for the most part. it needs a new paint job too there is rust starting to form in the wheel well fenders and alot of rock chips all over. but it still looks decent for now.
Prowlin' with a Purpose
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From: Minnesota
Rep Power: 340 Re: fixed up the ride a bit
and yes i do agree that you can go too big but if you look closely at the stock exhaust manifold, the holes in the flange immediately get restricted about another 1/4" from what the head is, at least thats what i noticed, as the exhaust runners are INSIDE the ports on the manifold and not flush with the ports, which if it were, it would be a lot smoother in power, the new one i got the ports on the flange are the same as stock, but the runners are the same I.D. than the ports, so they are a lot larger than stock, but still retain the stock port size
and i do feel like a cheapskate, but i cant justify paying $200 for just a sticker on the stock exhaust manifold
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 51,241
Likes: 20
From: NV
Rep Power: 813 Re: fixed up the ride a bit
i guess it depends on the other mods then. and yes the main reason i went with the dc is the stock header had some weird blockage around the pipes, looked like carbon buildup but now i think its actually the design, where it shrinks. the dc was not like that and perfectly matched the head. i think i paid 100 for the header and another 150 for the coating. but im happy with it. i wouldnt have bought new one tho cause the stock coating sucks.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 51,241
Likes: 20
From: NV
Rep Power: 813 Re: fixed up the ride a bit
try meguiars plastX. do you have pics of yours? also does anyone know how to polish the cd player faceplates? mine is so scratched and everything i try seems to make it worse.
