Rep Power: 199

Welcome to my build thread!

2005 Civic LX-G (Canadian spec)
95,000 KM when bought, currently at 123,000 (June 28)
D17A1 ()
She goes by Pepsi, mind you.

My name is Brian, I'm 19 and this is my first real car that I can call my own. Alright, from the beginning.

In August of 2010, my dad and I went out shopping for a car. He was insistent on buying certified used from a stealership, and since it was his money paying for the car (I am currently paying him back little by little), I had little say in the matter. Originally I wanted a Jetta or Golf, but after seeing their prices for certified used, I had to go for something else. A Civic! So We started visiting Honda's, and after about 6 dealers and a beautiful overpriced Sedan SI, we stumbled upon this little gem that was to become my car.

My dad (the overcautious kind of guy he is) had the dealer lift the car in the garage so he could inspect the underside. 45 minutes later, The papers are signed and we're off! 95,000 km off the lot, with a 1 year warranty on most parts. 8.9k before taxes. Ouch... I know.


A few things had to be fixed before I could leave with her though. The right flasher didn't work and the left one flashed really fast. But they fixed it, and I took her home. I immediately began conjuring up ideas for her but was quickly halted whenever I thought about how much I still owed on her. Ah. So, for the time being I need to prioritize my modifications. The turbo or kswap will have to wait (but it will happen, I promise).

First thing's first, I took off that horrible chrome trim around the wheels, and the pin stripes. Ugh, how anyone could have that on the car disgusts me. Unfortunately the pin stripe was covering a nasty scratch.


The very first real mod I did was get rid of the stock stereo. Not only did it not have an aux jack, it sounded like crap and looked like it belonged in a 5th gen Civic.

I picked up a Clarion stereo (forget the model), dash kit and wiring harness, and in a couple of hours, swapped it out with the help of my cousin. All of the wires were soldered, covered in heat shrink tubing AND electrical tape. There's no such thing as a job too well done.


Then winter goes by, and I'm getting all mod hungry. So, I debadge.


About a month ago I picked up an 04-05 coupe grille. Cost 40$ and I didn't know I would be missing a trim piece, even though I did research it.


DONE:

• Replaced a worn ground wire in the engine bay
• Debadged
• Stereo replacement
• Got the windows Tinted. They're 50/35/20
• Fog Lights

Near Future:

• Add some stickers.
• Lip kit, skirts and perhaps something for the rear
• Blackout the headlights (DIY, not some Ebay crap) (up next)
• Get that trim piece for the grille

Long Term Plans:

• Powdercoat the rims black (this might happen sooner than expected though)
• Lower it 2.5 - 3 inches, or maybe even lower.
• Complete sound system
• D17A2 head swap, stage 1 cam, I/H/E.
• Either turbo or kswap. Depends on the condition of the engine when it comes time to making the decision. Ideally I'll want to do the head swap etc only if I'll be turboing.
• Completely blacked out

I have many many plans, and a ton of little projects I want to do (things like changing some of the upholstery, shift ****, and whatever) that's not worth mentioning but I'll definitely take pics of and add to the thread.

Don't expect this thread to be updated every week. I'm on a student's budget plus I have to make payments on the car. Once school starts up again, this thread will fall to page 62 and be forgotten. Until winter break, that is. Hopefully this will be the summer of the Civic! Along with the one after that. And the one after that one, and so on.

 
Rep Power: 192

Holy crack your dash rocks. Me like alot.

 
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most appropiate emoticon since that dash came like that from the dealer. it was the previous owner who put the silver stuff and the "civic" above the glove compartment. i like it too

 
Rep Power: 200

Do you know where someone could get a "Civic" thing like that? DarkSouljur has one like that in his families 02 sedan and it was from the previous owner also. I WANT ONE! lol. Maybe it's just a sedan thing? can someone confirm if it actually is aftermarket or not?

Also, the car is looking FRESH. Love the grill. I think you should add "road trip to ottawa" to your list lol. We can get a bunch of civic forum members to meet

 
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Looks great!

 
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And buy/sell Wish I could help you with where to find the "Civic" thing, I have no idea.

 
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Got the windows tinted today
Also got a sticker from the tint shop to add to my sticker collection that I'll be putting on the car.

 
Rep Power: 368

?!? I always thought you had a blue car! Me dog eyes acting up again... getting old shucks

 
Rep Power: 199

Eww that dark blue? God it makes our civic's look horrible.. worst color ever.

 
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well, your avatar seems to be blue? but again, i have dog eyes (daltonic )

 
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Argh now that you mention it... it does look blue. Ewwww

 
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Ouch, I'm hurt. I love my Blue Em2 (The Sedans not so much)

 
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The Fiji blue is beautiful. The dark blue is nasty. I actually don't think I've ever seen a fiji blue Sedan.

 
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Once again, ouch lol. I've got eternal blue pearl :P Fiji blue I believe was just offered on the 04-05 coupes?

 
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Aww lol, I know people who love the blue, just not my color. I wish my sedan was Fiji blue though

 
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So there was a big sale at Dynamic auto in Montreal and I stopped by to see what I could get. There was a TON of stuff I bought a new shifter (no picture.. forgot it in the car), a new shifter boot and some amber fog lights.



Plan to do the shifter boot within the next couple of days, and the fog lights some time next week with a friend because me and electrical stuff don't mix that well

Shift ****: $15
Shift boot: $20
Fogs: $125

 
Rep Power: 286

Holy those are expensive fogs

Thanks for posting up the crower cam link on h-t for me bud, I forgot haha

 
Rep Power: 199

No problem.

The fogs weren't that expensive after all because ebay fogs are like 60-70 for everything (wires, switch etc) + tax + shipping (40-60$ to Canada). Plus I don't trust ebay to begin with so it's a big plus for me to find them at a shop and examine them in person first. No worrying about if I get all the items in the box, if they're good quality, or if they even work. And if there's any problems, no long distance calls, just drop back into the store and chat.

That's just my .02. And hey I support a local shop too which is the cherry on the sundae.

 
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I know you dont know where to get that dash kit, But i REEEEEALLY want one lol. We need to track these down!

 
Rep Power: 199

Today I got the leather shift boot in It was SO much more difficult than I expected. First of all the OEM boot is cut into tabs at the bottom and put in grooves and then stapled. There's no way to just fit a new one in and staple. I ended up having to summon my mom to help me in cutting the new boot to the same specs at the OEM one because it's way harder than it looks. Each tab needs to be spaced properly to fit in the holes on the center console, and need to be the right length to get stapled in.

Eventually everything was cut right and fit in nicely. The leather was so much thicker than the cheap OEM vinyl that when I put the plastic silver oval back on, it just held the leather in place. No need for staples... I couldn't even pull it out after the oval was in.











Even though I just bought the shift ****... I don't really like it after all. I'll get a new one.. probably just a simple circle one without any gear stuff on the top because it's too hard to get it aligned straight.

 
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Your pics don't work... I want to see your dash kit!!! haha

 
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Which pics? They're working for me

 
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I can't see any of your pictures in this thread.

 
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Hmm well I'll wait to see if somebody else has the problem too. If so I'll reupload somewhere else. Are you using an adblocker? Also try hitting ctrl + f5

 
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not sure... It's a work computer. I can view other pics on this forum though. This is the first one I've tried to see. so curious right now

 
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New boot looks really good, I am enjoying that look a lot. I agree about the ****, not a huge fab, its a little chromed out for my liking.

PS- Pics work fine.

 
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I'll have to find another computer to pull these pics up... this is driving me crazy!

EDIT: I tried to access your pics through my phone (on my work internet) seems the filter blocks your photos. I'll be checking it first thing in the a.m.

 
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Well let me know how your adventure goes lol

 
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OIC now! I do like that classy civic trim... very fancy indeed! lookin' good

 
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Thanks