Goodsport's EK9 Build


Goodsport

Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2021
Messages
31
Car(s)
1999 EK9, 1986 Corolla Levin GT Apex, 2013 Jazz Si
So this has been at least 12 years in the making, the dream for an EK9 has always been strong. Originally fueled by Gran Turismo and then Racing/Kanjo culture in general. It never really timed right for me to be able to grab one so I'd sort of resigned to it never happening. I had always known the plan in my head for how I wanted to build one, Super Taikyu spec, which made it feel wrong to rip up a full interior one too so I was really stuck hunting for a rather specific car condition wise. I'd sort of resigned to not finding one over the years.

During my time in Japan, I spent 2 months hunting for one for my budget (Pre Covid) and nothing quite aligned (I ended up buying an AE86 out there instead). When I came back over as Covid was getting bad I'd just started chipping away at savings with the mindset that 'if one falls on my lap, I'll just do it. If it fights me then it's not worth it' , especially as these car's have really shot up in value.

I ended up stumbling across a 1999 EK9 Rolling Shell on Facebook Marketplace that seemed to tick all the boxes. Clean body, clean history sheet and a solid base. Everything was lining up for it to maybe work out (Shame it was all the way up in Glasgow!), The seller 'Ryan' was super sound and great on communication and sent me more then enough proof for me to be comfortable traveling up to see and hopefully buy the car. I also went and got a CarVX done too to confirm it's a solid shell and all came back ok (I'll add the scan's shortly). A deal was done and a transporter sorted to get it down to me.

So this is where the project starts really, Ive been collating references for so long now, it's just time to pluck away with purchases and slowly get it together. I'm really excited to share all the cool references I've found and also progress on the EK9.


Year: 1999
Trim: Type R
Chassis Code: EK9-1103792
Color: NH-0 , Championship White (Mismatched currently haha)
Purchased Date: 24/08/2020
Miles when Purchased: ----- (Have it written down, will update shortly)

Parts/mods List:
**Updates will be made onto this initial post as parts are added.

Exterior:

Interior:

Engine:

Footwork:



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Here's how it looked as it arrived near to my unit. Work in progress thats for sure haha. Priority number one was getting those naff stickers off.

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Far from perfect visually but a solid base to start. The shell's really clean rust wise so I'm happy. Shouldnt take too much to have it clean on the exterior.

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The following weekend I went back to the garage and pulled out most of the spares, pretty happy to have all these interior bits. Although most of them will be for sale. STai spec means Doorcards and dash only, so if any of you are after bits, let me know!

Also yes 4 lug. The plan for me was to do 4x100 swap as a handful of the STai car's switched to that for wheel choice and quicker pitstop reasons, might not be to everyones taste but it's exactly what I wanted so it saves me a job.

I'll post again with some inspo and the priority plan for parts shortly. Dead excited to get this developing.

Thanks for reading!
 
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Good to see this shell has finally made it to someone who is gonna complete it mate.
I know Ryan and the previous owner to him Steven. The car has sat for 2 or 3 years waiting for someone to come along and finish her off

good luck with the build I'll be looking forward to seeing the updates and how she turns out
 
Good to see this shell has finally made it to someone who is gonna complete it mate.
I know Ryan and the previous owner to him Steven. The car has sat for 2 or 3 years waiting for someone to come along and finish her off

good luck with the build I'll be looking forward to seeing the updates and how she turns out
Thank you dude! I'm really excited to get it progressing, glad it's had an awesome life so far too.
 
So here’s a long overdue update!! Lots and lots have been happening behind the scenes, starting to finally make serious progress on the EK.

The last few months have mostly been parts hoarding and planning! Here’s a few key cool bits I’ve scored so far

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Recaro SPA (Carbon Kevlar)

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Modex KS CE’s in 15x6.5 x4

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Trust competition backbox for an EK9

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SARD RD-1 cluster (stock photo, awaiting it arriving currently!

These plus a solid B16b and hopefully a gearbox this week, I’ve basically sorted the pricey bits haha.

Alongside parts hoarding I got the car stripped down and off to paint for interior/engine bay paint. We went back and fourth on the grey and I think we nearly nailed the tone that Gathers/Spoon ran on their cars, love how much cleaner it looks.

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This weekend I got the EK trailered to the cage builders and it’ll be there for the next few weeks while it gets a cage basically the same as the Gathers car plus Harness bar etc to keep me safe.

Dead excited to get more parts ordered and hopefully get it more and more together as the weeks go on!
 
which anime character are you gonna campaign on you STai livery tho?

P.S. interested to see progress; SARD meter display is sick!
 
:drool: I didn't know Trust made a muffler for the EK chassis. Was planning on getting an universal Greddy one and welding it up.

Looking forward to seeing more progress. Lots of tasty bits~
 
which anime character are you gonna campaign on you STai livery tho?

P.S. interested to see progress; SARD meter display is sick!
Haha no anime character's for me! The plan is to be the car to be 'what if Trust/Greddy ran in STai' so I've been hoarding lots of NOS Trust bits ready. SARD meter's unreal cool, so glad I managed to find one, just trying to find a blank EK cluster panel to mount it to now which is proving hard!

:drool: I didn't know Trust made a muffler for the EK chassis. Was planning on getting an universal Greddy one and welding it up.

Looking forward to seeing more progress. Lots of tasty bits~
Yeah!! I really lucked out on Crooober with that one, supposedly competition only so pretty rare I guess. I'd of thought finding exhaust related bits from Greddy would of been easy ish but seems not haha.

Thanks for the support guys, more updates coming in a few weeks
 
Figured I’d do a quick update on here!

Cars been at the cage builders a few weeks, really stoked on the progress! Just sorting out a few more gussets and then dash/doorcards will get cut to fit.

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Been lots of back and fourth with reference photos of the Gathers, Spoon and Argo Ek’s to make sure we’re mirroring the cage setup where possible while also making it more modern and safe

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Alongside sorting cage bits I’ve been plucking away at other purchases. I’m just about to do a big order from Zero fighter and I’m waiting on the postman to deliver me a fair few Greddy bits, fresh stickers for the KS CE’s, new cover for the Recaro and my Sard unit. Also finally scored a box/lsd/clutch too which I’m super excited to pair with the n1 ECU. Hopefully some more sizeable updates coming in the further weeks!!
 
cage looks sick, leaving it raw or painted to match interior?
 
cost a pretty penny to have that made? don't feel compelled to divulge btw haha.

if you're not too fussed about finish/exact match of colour, could always have it powdercoated, unless you have a painter friend, the its a no brainer i suppose.
 
cost a pretty penny to have that made? don't feel compelled to divulge btw haha.

if you're not too fussed about finish/exact match of colour, could always have it powdercoated, unless you have a painter friend, the its a no brainer i suppose.
Not too crazy prices wise, haven't fully confirmed yet but around the current market price for a B16b haha.

Yeah luckily got a decent painter who did the rest of the work so it won't be too bad! Hopefully will be going back to him in 2/3 weeks.
 
worth it though, I like how un-complicated it is, also the asymmetry. I'd like something similar for mine, but bolt-in instead. most of the companies' off-the-shelf half cages have the X-bar in the back.

only Safety Devices have one diagonal, probs why I'm attracted to theirs

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Final cage update, it’s all finished and looking amazing. Super happy that the doorcards and dash look good too with some trimming. Few more deliveries of bits too!

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Only ordered this works bell x Greddy QR in January

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Feels so exciting to get it progressing and see it take shape!
 
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Been a while since an update!

Cars finally in my garage, been at paint for matching the cage to interior for a while. Super happy with how it’s looking.

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Been hoarding parts like crazy too, will chuck some updates on bits when the next few bits turn up from Japan!

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Can’t wait to piece it together slowly but surely!
 
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