JohnTurbo
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2013
- Messages
- 942
Hi Folks, its been a loong while; like 5 years.
When last I was here I had an EK4 race car that had many of the useful bits (and look) of an EK9. It was minty and sorted and lovely and the world was good.
EK4 RACER
Since then I've been off on other tangents, including a K20 powered S1 Exige - this made me realise the K20 is a soulless machine even in one of the finest chassis the world has ever created.
Recently my garage has looked like this:-
Thats a GKD Legend (BMW 328i based) and a 1982 911 SC.
But I've been bored with the lockdown and found myself missing the old EK.
Firstly I bought this:-
- A B16A1 to clean up and maybe then to find a chassis for. Its been nice to work on a B series again. But seemingly I found myself looking hard for a whole car, and while I was looking at Integras and EEs and EGs - the EK is the closest to my heart. I reallised a nice EK4 is out of my budget - and EK9s....well fook. I bet you guys bought yours a while ago right? Nice move!
So even EJ9s are tough to find now. The breakers are killing all the old Hondas like some kind of evil Pied Piper!
Eventually I found this absolute sh*theap on Gumtree of all places:-
The seller was a nice guy and seemed to be starting to do some useful bits (like new pads, buying a rear interior) but decided to shift it on after I assume a pretty short tenure.
Its got the full chav spec:-
* B18C4 conversion with an idle issue, randomly polymounted - Why would anybody with less than 1000bhp use poly engine mounts? It has an idle that's too high but isn't smokey!
* The usual "long" gearbox, the s9B - which is nowhere near as long as you'd think. Oh but its got nooooo synchro left on 4th gear.
* An exhaust like the end of the known world, that hits the chassis in lots of places, and no hangers?!
* Half the interior missing because chav spec as mentioned
* The full set of pink **** at the rear. Yes not 1 but 2 braces and the LCAs to boot. - OK the ASR brace is useful.
* A deep dish OMP wheel where all the suede is worn totally smooth.
* A nicotine stink
* A ride height of about 25mm on Gaz coilovers, set up by someone who thinks the damping knob is something you swing on like a volume knob rather than "set" - therefore:
* A ride like a trotting horse - even on the smoothest of newly laid asphalt.
* Rear camber arms where it appears insulation tape is the bushing! (really!)
* Stupid aluminum things and elastic bands pretending to hold the bumpers on.
* Scuffs, the remains of a big audio install, bad body repairs, a grill badly rattle canned matt black.
* Purple **** all over the engine and a hard pipe "induction kit" that's rubbing the chassis. [Edit an AEM CAI no less!]
* FOUR, yes FOUR new keeper supplements from the last year or so!
* Filthy inside
But!!!
* It has EK4 rear disk conversion, and 262mm front disks. Great mod!
* The front camber arms aren't stuffed. [Edit - they were stuffed]
* Most bushings are ok, and the rack has been converted to manual quite well by the feel of it [edit, not quite well]
* Its NOT THAT rusty. Just one area; to follow.
* The b18C4 is a peach, is mapped and supposedly running 198bhp (seems incredibly unlikely) and has a p28 chipped ECU; useful
* Decent wheels with good AD08 tyres
* The necessary (for C4) Skunk2 manifold, and a decent 421 - albeit smashed into speedbumps.
* A decent all-ally radiator - though no bracket and no expansion tank?!
So first jobs were:-
* Raise ride height:-
I went up from 5 threads to 13. This meant the spring actually sat in the cups when extended! Probably a 3" lift at the rear.
Front wasn't SOOO low but the springs need replacing to get it higher so a job for later. Generally adjusted damping which was set for probably 30KG/mm springs rather than the circa 3kg ones fitted. The ride improved immeasurably!!!
* Stop the throttle plate sticking:
Some moron had backed off the stop screw and the butterfly was WEDGING in the bore. This made the throttle pedal awful.
* Steering wheel replaced (and after the pic one hell of a vacuuming)
This is a cheap spare off my kit car but much nicer and more sanitary.
* Induction kit sawed down and filter relocated to engine bay. Daft bumper scoop thing removed.
* Rust repair quoted.
Just a patch near the front mounting for the forward rear suspension link on the passenger side. £100 - booked in for next wednesday. It will then need a lot of cleaning up, painting etc under there to protect it.
* Rear side trims refitted. Stickers removed. Engine mount drilled to try and reduce the ridiculous shaking.
Parts ordered:-
* New Grille
* New Bumper (front)
* Steering Rack gator
* Rocker cover gaskets
* Stock engine mount (rear) and an EG mount (cam side) - because 3 post mount.
* DC2 back-box. Aiming to shorten pipes and get it to be much more quiet.
* Some wheel nuts as one is missing and another doesn't match
* Rear Left handbrake cable - broken.
* Replacement adjustable rear camber arms. - Will also reduce the camber from "scene" to "track".
* Shifter bushings (loose stick)
* Paint
* Sump Baffle
Next plans:-
* Find whats loose in the drivers door
* Fix the high idle - perhaps an air leak? Its a bit odd as you can drag it down to 1000rpm with the clutch and it will then stay there.
* Paint grille and bumper
* Fit the above stuff.
* Sort new front springs - need to measure.
* Welding next Wednesday
Maybes:-
* Rear wheel bearing might be going
* Decide on carbon/brass/used synchros because I'm getting a touch low on funds.
* Pick some ARBS - again funds dependent.
When last I was here I had an EK4 race car that had many of the useful bits (and look) of an EK9. It was minty and sorted and lovely and the world was good.
EK4 RACER
Since then I've been off on other tangents, including a K20 powered S1 Exige - this made me realise the K20 is a soulless machine even in one of the finest chassis the world has ever created.
Recently my garage has looked like this:-
Thats a GKD Legend (BMW 328i based) and a 1982 911 SC.
But I've been bored with the lockdown and found myself missing the old EK.
Firstly I bought this:-
- A B16A1 to clean up and maybe then to find a chassis for. Its been nice to work on a B series again. But seemingly I found myself looking hard for a whole car, and while I was looking at Integras and EEs and EGs - the EK is the closest to my heart. I reallised a nice EK4 is out of my budget - and EK9s....well fook. I bet you guys bought yours a while ago right? Nice move!
So even EJ9s are tough to find now. The breakers are killing all the old Hondas like some kind of evil Pied Piper!
Eventually I found this absolute sh*theap on Gumtree of all places:-
The seller was a nice guy and seemed to be starting to do some useful bits (like new pads, buying a rear interior) but decided to shift it on after I assume a pretty short tenure.
Its got the full chav spec:-
* B18C4 conversion with an idle issue, randomly polymounted - Why would anybody with less than 1000bhp use poly engine mounts? It has an idle that's too high but isn't smokey!
* The usual "long" gearbox, the s9B - which is nowhere near as long as you'd think. Oh but its got nooooo synchro left on 4th gear.
* An exhaust like the end of the known world, that hits the chassis in lots of places, and no hangers?!
* Half the interior missing because chav spec as mentioned
* The full set of pink **** at the rear. Yes not 1 but 2 braces and the LCAs to boot. - OK the ASR brace is useful.
* A deep dish OMP wheel where all the suede is worn totally smooth.
* A nicotine stink
* A ride height of about 25mm on Gaz coilovers, set up by someone who thinks the damping knob is something you swing on like a volume knob rather than "set" - therefore:
* A ride like a trotting horse - even on the smoothest of newly laid asphalt.
* Rear camber arms where it appears insulation tape is the bushing! (really!)
* Stupid aluminum things and elastic bands pretending to hold the bumpers on.
* Scuffs, the remains of a big audio install, bad body repairs, a grill badly rattle canned matt black.
* Purple **** all over the engine and a hard pipe "induction kit" that's rubbing the chassis. [Edit an AEM CAI no less!]
* FOUR, yes FOUR new keeper supplements from the last year or so!
* Filthy inside
But!!!
* It has EK4 rear disk conversion, and 262mm front disks. Great mod!
* The front camber arms aren't stuffed. [Edit - they were stuffed]
* Most bushings are ok, and the rack has been converted to manual quite well by the feel of it [edit, not quite well]
* Its NOT THAT rusty. Just one area; to follow.
* The b18C4 is a peach, is mapped and supposedly running 198bhp (seems incredibly unlikely) and has a p28 chipped ECU; useful
* Decent wheels with good AD08 tyres
* The necessary (for C4) Skunk2 manifold, and a decent 421 - albeit smashed into speedbumps.
* A decent all-ally radiator - though no bracket and no expansion tank?!
So first jobs were:-
* Raise ride height:-
I went up from 5 threads to 13. This meant the spring actually sat in the cups when extended! Probably a 3" lift at the rear.
Front wasn't SOOO low but the springs need replacing to get it higher so a job for later. Generally adjusted damping which was set for probably 30KG/mm springs rather than the circa 3kg ones fitted. The ride improved immeasurably!!!
* Stop the throttle plate sticking:
Some moron had backed off the stop screw and the butterfly was WEDGING in the bore. This made the throttle pedal awful.
* Steering wheel replaced (and after the pic one hell of a vacuuming)
This is a cheap spare off my kit car but much nicer and more sanitary.
* Induction kit sawed down and filter relocated to engine bay. Daft bumper scoop thing removed.
* Rust repair quoted.
Just a patch near the front mounting for the forward rear suspension link on the passenger side. £100 - booked in for next wednesday. It will then need a lot of cleaning up, painting etc under there to protect it.
* Rear side trims refitted. Stickers removed. Engine mount drilled to try and reduce the ridiculous shaking.
Parts ordered:-
* New Grille
* New Bumper (front)
* Steering Rack gator
* Rocker cover gaskets
* Stock engine mount (rear) and an EG mount (cam side) - because 3 post mount.
* DC2 back-box. Aiming to shorten pipes and get it to be much more quiet.
* Some wheel nuts as one is missing and another doesn't match
* Rear Left handbrake cable - broken.
* Replacement adjustable rear camber arms. - Will also reduce the camber from "scene" to "track".
* Shifter bushings (loose stick)
* Paint
* Sump Baffle
Next plans:-
* Find whats loose in the drivers door
* Fix the high idle - perhaps an air leak? Its a bit odd as you can drag it down to 1000rpm with the clutch and it will then stay there.
* Paint grille and bumper
* Fit the above stuff.
* Sort new front springs - need to measure.
* Welding next Wednesday
Maybes:-
* Rear wheel bearing might be going
* Decide on carbon/brass/used synchros because I'm getting a touch low on funds.
* Pick some ARBS - again funds dependent.
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