"Less Was More" EM2 Build Thread

[btruong968]

Hi everyone,
My name is Brian. I'm becoming a senior (high school) this upcoming August.
I'm on summer vacation with a lot of time on my hands so I decided to make a build thread of my 2002 Civic.

Brought it home in March-April of 2012 (my sophomore year)



Immediately scooped up 17" ricer wheels (which was a bad deal but I was naive at the time...$260 with terrible paint and two blown tires), did DIY red H badge, and Tein S. Tech springs (should've listened to people and saved for coilovers).




Then came the sad, sad, sad "JDM" phase... Mugen rep lip, yellow fog lights, stickerbomb wink mirror, Wal-Mart roof rack, Home Depot lip, fake tow hook, painted purple wheels...




FINALLY got sick of the ricer crap and decided to clean her up. Stripped and polished the wheels and chopped the Tein springs to hell. Also painted the lip.



Didn't get an alignment and screwed up my tires. Picked up some off Craigslist but they turned out to have lumps. Needed a daily driver for school so I traded the crappy 17"s for stock Integra wheels and put on eBay coils (didn't have stock springs anymore)



After spending TOO MUCH money on absolute shit, I decided to do it right. Everyone was right - buying cheap shit costs more in the long run. In high school with no job, I decided to save as much I could. Went Rokkor coilovers for suspension. Painted the wheels white. Rolled like this for a long time (coilovers took out my wallet. Lol.)



With a slim wallet, I focused my budget on things that matter and went Craigslist hunting for everything else. Picked up the Ultra Wheels for $80 (weak but decent specs). ~$400 later, I had this: fully aligned, brand new 195/50r15 tires, and polished.

Wheels came like this


Looooooong nights of this



And then this



I have an STI V-lip on the way, wood Sportline steering wheel, and wood shift knob coming soon.

I apologize for all the words and pictures!

2002 Honda Civic EX 5-speed
Exterior
-Mugen rep lip
-fog lights
-tint

Interior
-Sportline steering wheel (C.S.)
-wood shift knob (C.S.)

Suspension
-Rokkor coilovers

Wheels
-15x7 +11 (+5 with spacers) Ultra Wheels
-195/50r15 Kuhmo Ecsta

Thanks for reading. I'll bring the updates when they come! Hopefully getting a job soon for more parts.

[justaneffer]

7th gens are so beautiful but no one likes them. love this!

[btruong968]

7th gens are so beautiful but no one likes them. love this!

Thank you!
No one likes the suspension. Stupid MacPherson front struts have a hard time going low while maintaining travel, plus axles hit frame, the tie rods suffer EXTREME angle and need custom work, and plates are the only way to get serious camber.

I love everything else about the car

[scweet14]

not bad man, like the different route with the 15s, good job!

[btruong968]

not bad man, like the different route with the 15s, good job!

Appreciate it!
Going 16s in the future, did 15s only because I got them for cheap and (I thought) tires would be cheaper.

Apparently, 195/45r16 are pretty cheap now.

[Belvader]

This is so fucking cool, I never even really liked the 7th gens before but this... This is badass

[MommysLittleMonster]

You certainly made a turn for the better.

Keep it up. Penny pinching sucks when you try to build a car.

[btruong968]

Hey guys,

I haven't updated my build in forever because I've been so busy and not much (positive things) have happened with the car. But this year I started to get back into it and want to really push to build my goals.

It's been two years since my last update. Since then:
-sold polished wheels and suspension
-tried out some 16s for a while
-sold 16s and rolled on steelies for a LONG time
-tried out some exterior mods but didn't turn out like I had hoped
-looked like garbage for two years until I got some 17s and suspension
-did the stance thing for a few months then finally decided to do something I have always wanted to do with the car

16s


17s



Mostly everyone loved the look but I wanted to do something else. It might not be everyone's taste.

Threw a wing on it


Raised and threw 225/45s on it, with cut bumper and cut fenders now


I'm currently saving/buying parts for a turbo build. Working on a small budget so it'll take some time.

Future plans:
-turbo
-new tires
-J's racing wing
-interior
-Anointed Aero widebody
-RPF1s
-paint

I know it's not much of a "stance" build anymore but I feel like I could use the motivation from the community to keep this going.

Sorry for the long post!

[rice4life]

It needs a rear diffuser and some canards. Doesn't look bad man. Hurry and turbo it so you have some power behind the looks.

[MommysLittleMonster]

I feel like boosting it first would have made more sense... but everyone does things differently.

Are you going to boost the stock D17, or are you going to swap it?

[btruong968]

It needs a rear diffuser and some canards. Doesn't look bad man. Hurry and turbo it so you have some power behind the looks.

I plan to do those, but like you said, I want the turbo first so it isn't "just for looks". Thanks though!

I feel like boosting it first would have made more sense... but everyone does things differently.

Are you going to boost the stock D17, or are you going to swap it?

Boosting it definitely would have made more sense, haha. I was collecting parts before I started the exterior mods, but while saving money for turbo parts I did the little, small cost stuff like cut the fenders.

I'll be boosting the D17 in it now and building a second one when I source a cheap block.
My plans for the current one are:
-stock internals
-.48/.42 turbo
-9 psi tuned on AEM FIC
-hoping for 180-190 whp but not too concerned with numbers, just looking for fun streetability

Second D17 will include
-bottom end build
-Crower cam and head work
-Kpro
-bigger turbo (probably .63/.50)
-15 psi and dyno tune
And be built towards a goal of 300 whp

[btruong968]

Finishing up finals for college this week then car goes under the knife!

Got my alignment squared away (finally) and ordered the turbo kit and injectors. Already have the ECU and Wideband. Will get started working next week! I still need to order a new fuel pump, clutch, head studs, slim fans, and some exhaust tubing.

So excited!