EJ9 to EK9 Build


Ryan951990

Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2015
Messages
90
Hi all, relatively new to this!

I bought the Mrs a cheap runaround ej9 as a surprise, she absolutely loves Hondas, especially the EK9!

A little background in myself, I've owned a few nice cars over the past few years, and astra 888, very rare car, many of you may not of heard of these, but only 100 were made by the triple 8 race team! I followed this with a clio 182 with race cams, brilliant little car, great value for money and great fun...itchen went in search of more power and purchaseda 300hp Ford Focus ST (in Orange of course) I then put my sensible hat on and bought a Ford Fiesta zetec S (1.6 diesel) for a cheap run around.

I'd like to point out, before buying the EJ9 I was far from a honda fan, having friends with ep3 and DC5 I couldn't get all the fuss, but now I know, and I'm converted! Even looking into selling the fiesta for an EK9!!!!

So here is the car when it was purchased back in October.... I will update this as and when, most of the work has been done so far, so it's just a timing thing!

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As you can see it was standard apart from the team dynamic pro race 1.2s and lowered in some ebay special coilovers! The body work was in a poor state but the engine was strong, thanks for reading so far!
 
So, after driving the car for a while, and reading this forum, I started to get the bug, and there were a few things I wanted to change in the EJ9.

First was the ebay special coilovers, the car was a nice height, but the coilovers were wound right down, and the ride/handling was terrible.

I set about raising the car slightly for the meantime, it's all went well uti the near side coilover on the back, I could raise it, but without the locking but which was completely seized! Even with a 6ft bar and two guys on it with two days if we-40 and allow torch, it would not shift. I left it without the but raised, but was not happy, so set about some new suspension.

Ideally I wanted some meisters or dc2, but funds did not allow, so I setled for some Koni fanpers and lowering springs.

The brakes were shot with minimal pads left and warped discs so these were replaced.

Following this, I decided the car would be my project and the finished article would be a Christmas present for the Mrs.

Over the next few months, I bought the following items.

EK9 front bumper
EK9 rear bumper
EK9 front lip
EK9 rear lip
EK9 front grille
EK9 spoiler
EK9 rear lights
Skunk2 lower control arms
Been rear tow hook
Spat front tow loop
Clear side repeaters
EK9 badges
EK9 stickers
Aluminium race wheels nuts
Type R dust caps

I then set about making a custom sound system, as I know how much the Mrs loves her music. U wanted to make something different from the average sub box, and so I'd didn't take up to much boot space or to much added weight.

I set about constructing two fibreglass enclosures to house 2 10" pioneer subs, the enclosures moosed to the two recessesin the boot, I also installed a false flow in the boot, to replace the flimsy cardboard!

Here are some pics on the sub construction, start to finish, I also replaced the existing 6 x 9's and front coaxial all for pioneers, and a matching pioneer sub.
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So, as it neared Christmas, on the 10th of December, the car went to the body shop for all the new parts to be sprayed, and some work done on the rusting wheel arches, whilst this was being done, I took the headlights and split them to paint the chrome reflectors, and replace all the lamps!

The car was returned on the 14th and the work was second to none! Absolutely brilliant! In the meantime, the team dynamic prorace 1.2s had been shot blasted and painted in a beautiful purple colour (remember this is the Mrs car)!

Here is how the car stood on the 14th, including the wheels, headlights were not finished at this point...but I stripped the car down the same evening it was returned, this included stripping out the old HID wiring which had been just cut, and wrapped in a glove!
 
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Other than the new items mentioned above and the rear arches which were painted, other parts painted included the side bump strips, side skirts, door handles, wing mirrors and the rear bumper plate surround, the previous owner had very poorly used a rattle can!
 
Here is a sneaky pic of the wheels after they were returned first time around,they were painted 3 times in totl due to monkeys fitting tyres!
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First thing now was to replace all the suspension, for the Koni dampers and lowering springs, and the new lower control arms.
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Next was to install the colour coded door handles, what a ball ache, if you think removing them is hard, wait until you come to re-instal, but this did bring the car back to life slightly and make a huge difference, plus getting in and out if the car is allot easier now!
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I then started building the body back up, starting with the rear bumper, lip, spoiler, rear lights....closely followed by the front with new bumper, lip, EK9'd lights and freshly polished with sparco tow strap

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as it was closely approaching christmas, time was running out, so I strted taking les pictures, but the following items were added to form the finished car so far.

Benen rear tow hook
Heko wind deflectors
Front grille
Type R badges
Type r stickers
Side skirts
Windows tints in limo black including the sun roof
New speakers throughout
Complete install if sound system (subs & amp etc.)
Wheels back on including centra caps, aluminium wheel nuts
Type r valve caps
Painted all wiper blade arms
Replaced the windscreen as the rubber was perished
New clear side indicators
New purple led interior lights
New number plates front and back
Still clean, detail and wax
Two new toyo prods T1-rs

I think this is it but I've probably forgot something, and the finished project so far, I look forward to your comments :)

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Alot of time and effort been spent on this car man good effort, how does she like it?

One thing i would do is maybe smaller plates like usa sized ones but apart from that looks real good
 
Thanks, blood, sweat and tears went into this, she loves it! Was a relief Christmas Day!

Can't wait till the summer, over the next few month I'm squiring the entire ek9 interior so if anyone has anything going let me know.

Also looking to swap the engine for ab16 or b18, full respect, wire tuck and engine bay sprayed, again if anyone has a full engine swap going let me know!

My thoughts exactly in the plates, they guy making them only had the UK square at the time :/ it's on the to do list!
 
Another ex 888 owner here!
I owned #83. Babilons10 on AOC
The Hondas are a much better car IMO with the tyre r models they are actually engineered. All 888 did was whack a body kit and some wheels on.
 
What are the chances....I can't remember my number now, but 74 rings a bell, what colour was yours? Don't forget the Alcon brakes which were extortionately prices for new discs and pads (£1200) I lost third and fifth gear in mine, had the gearbox returned, dual mass flywheel and clutch done, I was young and naive and paid through the roof for it, sold it immediately after for a huge loss! Mine had the very rare white Alecantra 888 Recaros seats :) only 10 made!
 
What are the chances....I can't remember my number now, but 74 rings a bell, what colour was yours? Don't forget the Alcon brakes which were extortionately prices for new discs and pads (£1200) I lost third and fifth gear in mine, had the gearbox returned, dual mass flywheel and clutch done, I was young and naive and paid through the roof for it, sold it immediately after for a huge loss! Mine had the very rare white Alecantra 888 Recaros seats :) only 10 made!

Ahh you had the diesel mk5, mine was the original coupe, all came in blue.
 
Agreed, working on interior for the meantime, got the lower dash ek9 plastic, just need the rest, got an ek9 rear bench turning up in the next couple of days, then carpet and Recaros! :) then onto the 5 lug and engine!
 
Coming along nicely, you've certainly transformed this car! Hopefully you will have a large parcel delivered tomorrow!
 
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