Terry’s EM1 project

[terry_em1]

For the past 4 years, I’ve been driving a Fit.

1.5 VTEC with some bling bits Just before the end of 2021, I bought myself an EM1, which belonged to a good friend that unfortunately passed away. Sickened seeing it sit and rot, I made the decision to restore it and give it the love it deserves.

She looks rough, but the foundation is there. Zero rust on the chassis, some tasty extras, and a relatively healthy B16A2.

Some extras include:
Shift Sports bonnet
Yellow Speed coilovers
EK9 calipers and 282mm grooved discs
Power folding mirrors
OEM wind deflectors
Si rear lights
Si clocks
Facelift dash conversion to run auto climate control
Fully polybushed

Theres probably more that I haven’t discovered just yet. I’ve already collected some parts for the EM1. Theres also some parts that I can scavenge from the Fit and transfer them over.

Plans at this moment are:
To give it a good service.
Fix anything thats not working like it should.
Book it for a NCT (MOT for you UK folk).

 

[spikeyhairdude]

For the past 4 years, I’ve been driving a Fit.

View attachment 47039
View attachment 47040

1.5 VTEC with some bling bits Just before the end of 2021, I bought myself an EM1, which belonged to a good friend that unfortunately passed away. Sickened seeing it sit and rot, I made the decision to restore it and give it the love it deserves.

View attachment 47041
View attachment 47042
View attachment 47043
View attachment 47044

She looks rough, but the foundation is there. Zero rust on the chassis, some tasty extras, and a relatively healthy B16A2.

Some extras include:
Shift Sports bonnet
Yellow Speed coilovers
EK9 calipers and 282mm grooved discs
Power folding mirrors
OEM wind deflectors
Si rear lights
Si clocks
Facelift dash conversion to run auto climate control
Fully polybushed

Theres probably more that I haven’t discovered just yet. I’ve already collected some parts for the EM1. Theres also some parts that I can scavenge from the Fit and transfer them over.

Plans at this moment are:
To give it a good service.
Fix anything thats not working like it should.
Book it for a NCT (MOT for you UK folk).

Nice car,

That car looks familier. did it have a load of mugen bits on it back in the day.

Only reason i asked was me and the previous owner were the only people who had the si clocks over in uk/ireland.

 

[terry_em1]

Sorry I’ve neglected to update this thread. Not much progress. A lot of parts being collected lately. Here’s some things that have been done.

Brand new EK9 shift boot with Hybrid Racing shift boot collar. Greddy shift knob with the old style Trust badge.

Brand new pedal covers. Before it was the bare pedals with heaps of double sided tape and black silicone. The idiot that owned the car previously to my friend thought it was the correct way of installing Mugen pedal covers… All that was cleaned off using a blade.

Little aluminium Greddy badge.

New Bride rail I got from Japan.

All assembled and fitted to my ASM Recaro RS-G seat.

Picked up these Valeo headlights for €20. Bargain! They needed a little love, so I sanded them, used compound and polish with a rotary. They came out decent.

Hopefully things pick up again soon, as I’m itching to drive this car.

 

[terry_em1]

Small update. Converted the Civic back to facelift, so gone are the Shift Sports bonnet and replica Air Walker bumper.

Wasn’t pleased to see previous owner’s attempt at a USDM kit.

Wires spliced into indicators. Other end going to nowhere.

Bumper is on hold for the moment, until I get new hardware from Honda. Already loving it more than the prefacelift.

 

[Pete180]

Em1 friend

 

[terry_em1]

Installed my Recaro. The Bride rail was fighting me the whole install because it was a few millimetres short of sitting flush to the floor. And its ‘bolt-in’!

After that I decided to attempt to install my Momo wheel. I did the usual aftermarket wheel install. Disconnect the battery. Remove the airbag.

Removed the airbag to find that it has been plugged out the whole time. No SRS light on the dash, so I can only assume that the bulb has been removed. No big deal…

Next I pulled the rest of the wheel off. Found that the clock spring is gone. Wiring has been chopped… I also noticed the steering wheel surround is actually too big for this car, so I’m going to try source the correct one. Was wondering why the key barrel had a big gap between it and the plastic.

I managed to find someone breaking an EK3 Vi-RS, so hopefully I can fix this mess. Just need to figure out whats actually missing on my car.

 

[terry_em1]

Hi everyone. Haven't updated this thread in a while, partly because I keep forgetting its existence... Since my last post, theres been a few changes.

A replacement clock spring has been fitted. Installed my Momo, using a Works Bell hub. Added some bling with Nightrunner titanium bolts.

Repainted my valve cover. Fit it back with a brand new gasket, brand new nuts, my Spoon cap, and a brand new ground cable.

Theres also new parts you wouldn't notice, like new headlight seals, Honda Fit washer jets, and a new bonnet prop holder. While I was busy that day, I changed out all the interior bulbs for PIAA LEDs and replaced a cracked light lens for a new one.

Swapped out the clear indicators for genuine Honda ones. Put in some fresh NGK plugs and dressed the bay up with some Nightrunner socks.

Bumper and lip installed, with brand new OEM hardware. Also have these Advan and Work wheels that I borrowed from a friend, while my actual wheels are being restored.

Finally the latest update is some new cluster bulbs and a new Carrozzeria headunit. I'll try to remember I have this thread, so I can keep you guys posted haha.

 

[terry_em1]

Got my replacement bulbs in from Japan, along with the knob for the vents.

Looks nice now, all fully lit. The same day, I fixed my dodgy wipers, as they kept freezing at a certain point. Turned out to be rust, but its all good now after a little clean and WD-40.

Went down to an old friend's workplace and had him fit new discs and pads up front. The old setup was Mintex pads and I highly suspect MTEC discs.

You can see they're warped... They couldn't stand a few laps at the track.

For anyone interested, I'm running EK9 calipers with CL7 EBC Yellowstuff pads and Mini Cooper Brembo discs. With the CL7 pads, the caliper springs touch the discs, so toss them. I've no issues so far and the difference is night and day.

 

[soxturf]

Nice thread. Sorry to hear about your friend. Love Em1's

 

[terry_em1]

Nice thread. Sorry to hear about your friend. Love Em1's

Thanks man. Bringing it back to life slowly.

 

[terry_em1]

I always end up neglecting this thread... BIG UPDATE.

The EM1 now has extended wheel studs, Yellow Stuff pads all around, and stainless brake lines. Tossed out the tired suspension for some Silver's coilovers and Hardrace camber arms.

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• terry_em1
• May 16, 2023

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• terry_em1
• May 16, 2023

I got some Cyberstork LEDs from Japan. Red ones for the clocks.

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• terry_em1
• May 16, 2023

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• terry_em1
• May 16, 2023

A lot has been changed inside the engine bay too. The blue NGK plug leads, PLM manifold, full size Koyorad, Hybrid Racing silicone radiator hoses and Spoon rad cap. Theres also parts you can't see, like a sump baffle, Exedy stage 2 clutch, Fidanza flywheel, detent springs, Spoon thermostat and Spoon fan switch.

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• terry_em1
• May 16, 2023

Asked my friend to weld up a new exhaust for me. 2.5" system with V bands...

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• terry_em1
• May 16, 2023

Ending with a Kakimoto GT1.0Z muffler. Only yesterday, I got my friend to install a high flow cat for me.

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• terry_em1
• May 16, 2023

Bought myself a quick release and a pair of Mode Parfume mirrors, thanks to Jesse Streeter.

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• terry_em1
• May 16, 2023

Met up with a fellow EM1 owner for a long chat haha.

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• terry_em1
• May 16, 2023

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• terry_em1
• May 16, 2023

I've owned a set of 2 piece Enkei RS wheels for about 10 years. I finally restored them and fitted them to the Civic. Brand new assembly nuts and valve stems. All wrapped with Nankang NS-2Rs.

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• terry_em1
• May 16, 2023

With the Civic in better condition than it ever has been, I took it out for it's second track day.

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• terry_em1
• May 16, 2023

I found an OEM rear bumper. Thats why its now silver haha.

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• terry_em1
• May 16, 2023

The EM1 performed well! Right until the distributor decided to give up... I'll try to update this thread more often. Thats it for now!

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• terry_em1
• May 16, 2023

 

[soxturf]

Absolutely love EM1's

 

[terry_em1]

Absolutely love EM1's

I was hatchback only for the longest time. The coupes have certainly grown on me.

 

[terry_em1]

The EM1 badly needed an intake. I've been piecing together a system for a while now, hence why its being done so late into the build.

Out came the old stock system.

Heres what I'm using:
OEM DC2 intake tube.

K&N breather filter because the DC2 intake tube has 1 port instead of 2, meaning I have to delete the little hose going from the valve cover to the intake tube if I'm to fit the IAT sensor.

Blitz DC2 filter.

CT Engineering Icebox from Heeltoe in America.

I ordered the Icebox during the Black Friday sales, so this is back in November last year. I only got it this month... There was an issue with customs and it got sent back to America. Then Heeltoe took their sweet time sending it back out, only for it to arrive missing a bracket... It all got sorted in the end and I have to say, its some intake.

Because I live in Ireland and the place is like the rain capital of the world, I didn't want the AEM intake where the filter sits behind the bumper. The Icebox fits my needs and it looks very OEM.

I currently have a few goodies on the way from Japan. Also picked up a new OEM distributor rotor from Tegiwa, to refresh my distributor. Gonna warn you now, they're discontinued and Japan has no more stock. Try find any remaining stock and buy it. OR go with coil on plug

 

[soxturf]

Very nice

 

[Civicfacelift]

Really like the intake!

 

[terry_em1]

Got some goodies from Japan.

• EK9 cupholders
• Type R valve cover (Black one is discontinued)
• Distributor parts
• A/C delete grommet
• Valve cover gaskets
• Hardware for skirts and rear bumper
• Brake line clips

New valve cover on. One of the studs was stripped, so I ordered a replacement, with the nut that goes on top. Swapped the damaged parts and one of the other studs stripped too... I'm using a torque wrench and only going to 10Nm, which is the recommended number. Its sealed and not leaking oil, so all good haha.

Had my go-to guy repair a rust spot, which failed inspection. Theres the before and after.

She passed finally! And you can see how long it has been since her last test.

Recently had Jesse source me these. Parts to repair the first damaged stud and this Defi control unit sensor package. It saved me money by not having to buy the control unit and sensors individually.

Heres the Defi Advance ZD I plan on using that I won in an auction. The gauge itself is used, but all the wiring, the bracket, etc. were all brand new still. Right now I'm figuring out where to locate everything. I have the control unit stuck onto the EK9 cupholders I got. Inside the pocket, on the top side. I'm planning on drilling a hole into the plastic, so I can run the wires out and hide them.

A lot has been done and it hasn't been easy for me, both financially and mentally. I greatly appreciate the people who have helped me. Massive middle finger to the guy who scammed my late friend on the car and said its a piece of s**t The car is good right now, not great, but at least its in the hands of someone that cares.

Time to go bang some gears haha.

 

[soxturf]

Unreal mate, fair play, amazing work and class to see. Thank you for the updates.

 

[soxturf]

Got my replacement bulbs in from Japan, along with the knob for the vents.

View attachment 47608

Looks nice now, all fully lit. The same day, I fixed my dodgy wipers, as they kept freezing at a certain point. Turned out to be rust, but its all good now after a little clean and WD-40.

View attachment 47609

Went down to an old friend's workplace and had him fit new discs and pads up front. The old setup was Mintex pads and I highly suspect MTEC discs.

View attachment 47610

You can see they're warped... They couldn't stand a few laps at the track.

View attachment 47611

For anyone interested, I'm running EK9 calipers with CL7 EBC Yellowstuff pads and Mini Cooper Brembo discs. With the CL7 pads, the caliper springs touch the discs, so toss them. I've no issues so far and the difference is night and day.

View attachment 47612View attachment 47613

Where did you get the replacement bulbs in Japan and do they need to come from Japan or can they be sourced locally? Your cluster looks great after it and mine also need replacing, especially in the petrol gauge part.

 

[terry_em1]

Where did you get the replacement bulbs in Japan and do they need to come from Japan or can they be sourced locally? Your cluster looks great after it and mine also need replacing, especially in the petrol gauge part.

Your local Honda would be able to sort you. I just bought them from Japan because its cheaper than local, and I was buying a few bits, so shipping wasn't a deal breaker for me.

The climate control is all OEM bulbs and the clocks I had changed to LED. Only the illumination though. All the warning lights are still incandescent.