sdaidoji's 'vics stories
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sdaidoji's 'vics stories
Let's see, I always drove VW's, and the first honda was just after i arrived in US. A Japanese guy going back to Japan just had a civic to sell.
It was a green 01 LX auto (that threw me off, but not many choices anyway...) and the tan interior (I know, i know, it looks like Sh** colored).
Driving it, the first thing i felt was: these tires do not hold anything...
So i checked the vics and saw that some uses 205/55R16 - that was my choice, even if it threw the speedo by a little.
Much better. I still use these wheels, but much better tires now.
That was back in 2003.
in 2005, i was just tired of the auto and found my current baby.
this is it - the first thing i did was to install eibach kit (Prokit, sways and the KYB AGX), since i felt it was just... too soft and unstable. Also, threw my old wheel in there.
stock
Eibach
stock
Eibach
And so the story began
It was a green 01 LX auto (that threw me off, but not many choices anyway...) and the tan interior (I know, i know, it looks like Sh** colored).
Driving it, the first thing i felt was: these tires do not hold anything...
So i checked the vics and saw that some uses 205/55R16 - that was my choice, even if it threw the speedo by a little.
Much better. I still use these wheels, but much better tires now.
That was back in 2003.
in 2005, i was just tired of the auto and found my current baby.
this is it - the first thing i did was to install eibach kit (Prokit, sways and the KYB AGX), since i felt it was just... too soft and unstable. Also, threw my old wheel in there.
stock
Eibach
stock
Eibach
And so the story began
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In 2006, I decided I was able to overdrive the suspension and that the engine could not keep up with the suspension, so i installed a CAI (thinking it would improve performance...)
Oh, well, let's say that i was wrong in both accounts, suspension and engine...
Later that year, i started to autoX. Oh, God...
Understeering all around, and all the modifications threw me in the FSP (street prepared class). The SP class have muuuch heavier mods allowed than what i had and i became an underdog... And my setup was actually WRONG! Understeer like a pig.... Squeee, squeee, squeeeeeeeeeh!
Buuuut, i did not know that at the time...
Oh, well, let's say that i was wrong in both accounts, suspension and engine...
Later that year, i started to autoX. Oh, God...
Understeering all around, and all the modifications threw me in the FSP (street prepared class). The SP class have muuuch heavier mods allowed than what i had and i became an underdog... And my setup was actually WRONG! Understeer like a pig.... Squeee, squeee, squeeeeeeeeeh!
Buuuut, i did not know that at the time...
Last edited by sdaidoji; Jun 26, 2011 at 07:10 PM.
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then, in 2008, just after an autoX, i start to hear a click, click, click. It was a very hot day.
2000 miles later, the diagnosis. Gearbox... synchros, bearings, some of the gears. I was just spinning the wheels too much in cornering, so the understeer car is to blame...
REBUILD!!!
Soon later, the axles are gone, as well as the engine mounts. Again, blame the understeer setup...
Sometime around here, I installed the AMZO headlights - did not know at the time lightoutput sucks... I was after better lights and thought a projector was an upgrade... keep wishing...
2000 miles later, the diagnosis. Gearbox... synchros, bearings, some of the gears. I was just spinning the wheels too much in cornering, so the understeer car is to blame...
REBUILD!!!
Soon later, the axles are gone, as well as the engine mounts. Again, blame the understeer setup...
Sometime around here, I installed the AMZO headlights - did not know at the time lightoutput sucks... I was after better lights and thought a projector was an upgrade... keep wishing...
Last edited by sdaidoji; Jun 26, 2011 at 07:13 PM.
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First thing i did: Took off the front Eibach sway bar and put the stock bar. Kept the rear.
Have had a few road track runs with the car too.
The tires did not like the experience too much... Civic:
Miata:
in 2009, I finally bit the bait and installed front/rear camber kits, the rear progress sway bar. Night and day!!!!
Progress vs the Eibach rear
progress reinforcements
Now the car rotates instead of sliding the front wheels! now me gearbox will live longer!
Have had a few road track runs with the car too.
The tires did not like the experience too much... Civic:
Miata:
in 2009, I finally bit the bait and installed front/rear camber kits, the rear progress sway bar. Night and day!!!!
Progress vs the Eibach rear
progress reinforcements
Now the car rotates instead of sliding the front wheels! now me gearbox will live longer!
Last edited by sdaidoji; Jun 26, 2011 at 07:19 PM.
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Now, finally back to a place with a garage to work in, and timing belt, water pump, head gasket and crower stage 1 cam starting to rock today! 
Ah, the head gasket lasted dfor 3 months, and survived the 1200 miles trip and passed inspections when i arrived here
Ah, And Electric130 big-3 ground kit too
The ground kit thread - he still had some left now?
https://www.civicforums.com/forums/1...kits-sale.html
My reviews on the Crower stage 1 cam can be found here:
https://www.civicforums.com/forums/7...ge-1-cams.html
My struggles when changing HG, Water Pump, etc have been reported here:
https://www.civicforums.com/forums/1...-belt-diy.html
All for the betterment of the community 
Ah, the head gasket lasted dfor 3 months, and survived the 1200 miles trip and passed inspections when i arrived here
Ah, And Electric130 big-3 ground kit too
The ground kit thread - he still had some left now?
https://www.civicforums.com/forums/1...kits-sale.html
My reviews on the Crower stage 1 cam can be found here:
https://www.civicforums.com/forums/7...ge-1-cams.html
My struggles when changing HG, Water Pump, etc have been reported here:
https://www.civicforums.com/forums/1...-belt-diy.html
All for the betterment of the community
Last edited by sdaidoji; Mar 8, 2016 at 08:01 PM.
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^bwaaaahahahahaha!
Was not expecting that!
harharhar!
The part i love is to have a garage, even if it was hot as hell inside
And the spare car inside too
Now, a few days testing and i can start with the miata... Darn...
PS: Can you believe that the engine bay is much cleaner than before?!? Will take me some years to clean it properly...
I did not even mention having to repair 2 toilets today because the seals were gone after 1 1/2 year away...
Was not expecting that!
harharhar!
The part i love is to have a garage, even if it was hot as hell inside
And the spare car inside too
Now, a few days testing and i can start with the miata... Darn...
PS: Can you believe that the engine bay is much cleaner than before?!? Will take me some years to clean it properly...
I did not even mention having to repair 2 toilets today because the seals were gone after 1 1/2 year away...
Thread Starter
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Oh, my, do i need to retell the timing belt/head gasket story in Tbohar's DIY threads then? (all the snags and cursing, and what else is available that blushes people...)
And of course, more anger and capital letters. Thread Starter
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OK, then, for low torque applications, it is recommended to use a beam type torque wrench. The "click" type is not recommended since it is not too accurate for lower ranges.
Now, a quick quiz: Which of these 4 bolts are still good? (they are my water pump bolts...) I used the click type on them...
Now, a quick quiz: Which of these 4 bolts are still good? (they are my water pump bolts...) I used the click type on them...
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Rocker arms - they are not held by any bolts or clamps or anything, so when installing in the head, if they come apart, make sure to check if all the spacers are still in there. This is what i saw the moement i finished torqueing the arms...
The ring with the orange gasket maker? well, it's called spacer and was supposed to be in the shaft... He simply said: "suuurpriiiise!"
The ring with the orange gasket maker? well, it's called spacer and was supposed to be in the shaft... He simply said: "suuurpriiiise!"
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OK, today was a knocking sensor... I think i should have tightened it better... now waiting for the engine to cool down before putting me hands there or i might have some flesh/metal mix
Now, this is the first engine i work with that have SO MANY darned sensors and wired spread out around the engine!!! At the least it is easy, if the connector does not fit, or it is too short or too long, it's the worng connector
Miss the beetle that took 15 minutes to drop the engine of the car...
Now, this is the first engine i work with that have SO MANY darned sensors and wired spread out around the engine!!! At the least it is easy, if the connector does not fit, or it is too short or too long, it's the worng connector
Miss the beetle that took 15 minutes to drop the engine of the car...
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this is another for the timing belt - they made it to work with the engine out of the car, that is. My hands almost did not fit to place the wrench in here... And let me say, there IS a socket in there... Hate with all my life force the alternator bracket...
See how deep is the bolt dug in there? Daaarm!
See how deep is the bolt dug in there? Daaarm!
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BTW, now i am rocking a D167A2 with a stage 1 cam and another B-18 in the trunk:
HOW? HOW? HOW?
BWAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Sorry! could not resist!
HOW? HOW? HOW?
BWAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Sorry! could not resist!
Registered!!
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From: Reading Pa
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almost forgotten this ones that gave me grief during my rear sway install.
There are these bolts behind the mountings of the LCA in the rear, as seen in here:
They are on the other side, hidden in these holes:
Guess what? They are spot-welded in in place, 3 spots - (yeah, you can see the supposedly welded spots in here, so i can see some of you starting to roll on the floor laughing, just with the expectation of what is to come...):
Well, this is the other side of the nut... NO HEX to put a WRENCH!!!! IT"S ROUND SMOOTH!!!! And the welds did break, as some might have already inferred...
Sooo, to take the old sway out, i had to get vise grips with a thin "beak" to hold the NUT and take it out...
Man, this is rather a "what not to do" thread than a build thread! Am fine with that, just don't do same mistakes as me
There are these bolts behind the mountings of the LCA in the rear, as seen in here:
They are on the other side, hidden in these holes:
Guess what? They are spot-welded in in place, 3 spots - (yeah, you can see the supposedly welded spots in here, so i can see some of you starting to roll on the floor laughing, just with the expectation of what is to come...):
Well, this is the other side of the nut... NO HEX to put a WRENCH!!!! IT"S ROUND SMOOTH!!!! And the welds did break, as some might have already inferred...
Sooo, to take the old sway out, i had to get vise grips with a thin "beak" to hold the NUT and take it out...
Man, this is rather a "what not to do" thread than a build thread!
Am fine with that, just don't do same mistakes as me 
Dr Krieger of Modification
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i am dreading doing headwork for a cam or the timing belt now... i don't need to yet, hopefully buy the time i need or want either i won't panzy out and take it to a shop.
good work sdaidoji!
good work sdaidoji!
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the trick is to never give up, even if it takes 3 weeks like me (spare car, i know...).
Yesterday, i was having a slight jerk when lifting off the gas, so i took a look - i actually adjusted the throttle cable wrongly, and too much slack - now i can open the throttle completely and no more jerks. But when refilling the coolant in the overflow, well, where is the cap again? (dumb, dumb, dumb! Off to buy a new cap again...)
After one more day of testing, all tools in the car, code reader hooked up during driving, and i can call a day fer the vic and start the heavier maintenance in the miata... (i guess the clutch is starting to slip...) never ending stories...
Civic is smoother with all the tune-ups, feeling freelier when stepping in the gas, ahhhhh! More powa (a little bit)
Yesterday, i was having a slight jerk when lifting off the gas, so i took a look - i actually adjusted the throttle cable wrongly, and too much slack - now i can open the throttle completely and no more jerks. But when refilling the coolant in the overflow, well, where is the cap again? (dumb, dumb, dumb! Off to buy a new cap again...)
After one more day of testing, all tools in the car, code reader hooked up during driving, and i can call a day fer the vic and start the heavier maintenance in the miata... (i guess the clutch is starting to slip...) never ending stories...
Civic is smoother with all the tune-ups, feeling freelier when stepping in the gas, ahhhhh! More powa (a little bit
) 
