EK9 Facts and Myths


oifovo

oifovo

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2011
Messages
2,287
Hey guys,

Just thought we should, once and for all, confirm or disprove claims as to what differences there actually are between EK9 and other EKs. One common myth (which until recently I also believed was true) is that the windscreen on EK9 is lighter. I've checked myself and the part numbers match those of other EKs, icluding EK2 shopping cart so that is most certainly just a myth. I'm going to edit this first post with a list of things as we confirm them to be either a fact or a myth. Just post what you think should be here and I'll add it! I'm particularly interested whether EK9 has faster steering, whether anyone has identified any seam welding on the chassis etc.

FACT
- Rear ''subframe'' stronger
- No insulation / sound deadening on bulkhead
- Front strut brace stronger
- Front subframe seam welded
- Rear crash bar lighter
- Rear seats mounted differently


MYTH
- Thinner/lighter windscreen
 
Last edited:
From what I've noticed there is no actual seam welding as such, aside from a few mig tacks it's all normal spot welds
 
The so called "rear subframe" (even though it's not a subframe) does have a thicker section which the arb mount to

I guess that could be called a fact
 
b16 mini said:
From what I've noticed there is no actual seam welding as such, aside from a few mig tacks it's all normal spot welds
Click to expand...

Same observation as mine then, I haven't actually seen any seam weld either. Some welds might be covered by sealant though so it's hard to tell. I'd just like to get to the bottom of things, these cars have been around for almost 20 years now and there's still a lot of BS info out there.
 
oifovo said:
Same observation as mine then, I haven't actually seen any seam weld either. Some welds might be covered by sealant though so it's hard to tell. I'd just like to get to the bottom of things, these cars have been around for almost 20 years now and there's still a lot of BS info out there.
Click to expand...
I scraped a lot of the sealant off mine and didn't find any either,

If this thread takes off then we could maybe make it sticky
 
Anyone with EK4 could check how many turns of the steering wheel you get lock to lock?
 
EK9 steering rack is 100% less turns lock to lock than an EJ9.

Not sure about EK4 though. The facelift EJ9 and any EK4 front subframe/arb/wishbone setup are the same so I'd assume the EK4 steering rack is the same as the EJ9 one.
 
EK4 steering rack has less LTL than EJ9/EK3

Same thing for EG6 compared to EG3, EG4 and EG5

100% sure of this

concerning the EK9 additional welds nothing different on the roof at the level of trunk hinge ? I've seen several times a diagram with japanese indication at this level and also where rear shocks are bolted.

facts:

EK9 front strut brace is thicker than EK4 one
EK9 rear bumper brace is lighter than other models
 
Ek9 doesn't has the cabin insulation, no.1 in diagram, on firewall.

Race base ek9 doesn't has seam sealant or deadening floor.

B__3600.jpg
 
NicoEK4 said:
facts:

EK9 front strut brace is thicker than EK4 one
EK9 rear bumper brace is lighter than other models
Click to expand...

Do other EKs also have rear bumper brace? My EK3 didn't have one at all, but the car was a rotten heap of crap so maybe it was removed as it was falling apart lol

Also, it would be nice to confirm the actual lock to lock values for EK9, EK4 and other EKs, I can check EK9 tomorrow easily (should be 2 and 3/4 according to @**MUGEN** ), surely someone has a EK4 with standard rack in it?
 
Last edited:
The ek9 subframe (the proper one, at the front) is seam welded. The lower control arms are the same aswell.
As above I've had two ek9s in bare parts now and I've not seen any seam welding on the actual chassis.
The rear "subframe" has extra metal plates welded on, I'd assume this is for the larger rear roll bar.
I'll update as and when I remember the myths
 
Fact: The factory strut brace on an EK9 is heavier than an EK4 from when I weighed them it was over 700g difference and you could visibly see that the tubing was thicker.
 
oifovo said:
Do other EKs also have rear bumper brace? My EK3 didn't have one at all, but the car was a rotten heap of crap so maybe it was removed as it was falling apart lol
Click to expand...

Yeah all my previous EKs have had the rear and front bumper brace/crash bars and the EK9s front and rear ones are lighter
 
Theres loads of daft things like the double tail light, red carpet/interior parts, exhaust that are specific to the ek9 only. Guess it depends how far into it you want to get. Like these are obvious things but I believe there is a lot of misunderstanding about pre facelift spec against race base. My first 9 was pre face but had folding mirrors and electric windows. I have one at the garage just now (not mine) that is pre face with non folding mirrors and manual windows. I've seen for sale ads in the past listing this spec as race base when it isn't, it just doesn't have all the options that were available fitted.
 
Last edited:
Reference the steering and turns of the steeering wheel LTL
Just did this a moment ago with my lad who has an EK4 which i fully beleive is standard rack...

EK4 = 2 and six eighths
EK9 = 2 and six eighths

Both have standard steering wheels, but the Momo is smaller, so is it just that it feels less on the 9 compared to the 4 because of this reason......the hands have to travel less distance when turning?
 
A bit random, but the airbag steering wheel looks very similar to that of a 550 Maranello.
 
DMEK9 said:
Reference the steering and turns of the steeering wheel LTL
Just did this a moment ago with my lad who has an EK4 which i fully beleive is standard rack...

EK4 = 2 and six eighths
EK9 = 2 and six eighths

Both have standard steering wheels, but the Momo is smaller, so is it just that it feels less on the 9 compared to the 4 because of this reason......the hands have to travel less distance when turning?
Click to expand...
So according to this, EK9 and EK4 steering rack&pinion are the same.....So much confusion around this fact
 
DMEK9 said:
Reference the steering and turns of the steeering wheel LTL
Just did this a moment ago with my lad who has an EK4 which i fully beleive is standard rack...

EK4 = 2 and six eighths
EK9 = 2 and six eighths

Both have standard steering wheels, but the Momo is smaller, so is it just that it feels less on the 9 compared to the 4 because of this reason......the hands have to travel less distance when turning?
Click to expand...

I'd like to know is that gf-ek4 or e-ek4?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top