Stealth & Clean 01 EM2
So I got this car back in May of 09 after I sold my 94 Dx Civic coupe. When I first bought this car it was 100% stock and my plans for it have changed as time has gone along. The goal is to have a car that appears stock but upon closer inspection is one of a kind. I really enjoy a clean stealthy look. This car is my daily commuter and I absolutly love it!
General Info
This is a 2001 Honda Civic Ex. It is a 5 speed (though the shiftknob says otherwise.) and for an engine has a D17A2 which I read produces about 127 HP due to its V-TEC head; Redline is around 6.8K. All power windows and sun roof as well as 6 speakers stock. For MPG I get 36/40 City/HWY respectivly. I did notice a gain with the intake and exhaust. All in all a quick little car that is very fun to drive.
January 3rd, 2012
---How she sits today---
Early May 2009
---First day of ownership---
When I bought it she was bone stock, down to the cargo net in the trunk. Had a little over 70,000 miles on it. At this point the only things I wanted to add was window tint and a muffler tip. My OEM CD player was broken as well so I wanted a new head unit and sub.
Summer 2009
---Just a few mods---
I wanted to install 20% tint all around but it was illegal at the time so I had the shop just do 35% (which I like better now anyways.) Then I installed a simple tip to my muffler just for looks. I picked up a used sub and amp for cheap and took my car to Car Toys to have this Kenwood HU installed and had them wire everything up. Not a lot of bass but enough to give a better sound overall. Then I had my car where I liked it. Clean. Stock. Perfect. Right?
Fall 2009
---Perfection Lost---
So I was driving home when a truck slammed on its breaks in front of me. I pumped my breaks really quickly so my tail lights would flash quickly, letting the Jeep behind me know to stop. She didn't, and rearended me. My rear bumer was only scratched up but the front of my car hit the trucks hitch. Her insurance covered the repairs so at the end of the day I got the whole repainted OEM red.
My car was fixed by Spring 2010 but I don't have any pictures. That summer I didn't do any real mods, so thigns didn't start to change till winter 2010.
Winter 2010
---Rebirth---
This was a great winter because I got an OEM bra for my car (a look I like very much) as well as installing fog lights. I also picked up some H&R springs with about a 1.9" drop front and rear. The picture with snow in the wheel is from drifting in the snow. Finally I found a set of 03 EX (AKA 00 Si) Wheels for my car rather than ugly hub caps.
Spring 2011
---Finally moving forward---
Spring was the first time I could put my Si blades on. Those plus being lowered was a great look I loved it. I also repainted my break callipers red. I got a 500 watt Kenwood amp, capacitor, and built my own box to house my new 10" kenwood sub (See "custom projects" on page 2). I got eBay DynoMat and covered my trunk as well. I got a mesh grill and painted it to match my car and istalled that to the car adding a much more aggressive look. Off of craigslist I found a full OBX catback exhaust for my car and had that installed, this gave my car a perfect warm sound that isn't too ricey. I also Added a ebay Cold Air Intake, that needs a better filter but looks good in the engine bay. Painted the "VTEC" silver and finally added new T10 green bulbs to my headlights.
Summer 2011
---Closer to Perfection---
From late Spring to early Summer I just enjoyed the clean look I had going. I found some leather OEM seats and cleaned them up and thought about installed. I put in the drivers and decided I didn't like leather seats so I ended up going back to cloth (messed up my SRS though.) Cleaned up the fatmat in the trunk and put some wire loom in the engine bay by the CAI. Then I picked up an Ex emblem off another EM2 in the junkyard and decided to put it on my grill for a similar look to my brothers EP3 (which has the Si badge.) The last two picture are my car perfect IMO. I loved it with and without the bra on the hood, floating between the two all summer. My car was finally completed...
July 20th, 2011
---Car meets deer---
So my brother had borrowed my car for a long road trip accross the state because my car gets 40+ MPG. I let him borrow it several days after I had just finished my car. Later the next day I got a phone call and went with my dad to look. Apparently he had hit a little baby deer at about 65 MPH.
August 2011
---Get knocked down, but I get back up again---
So we towed the car back home and I got the parts myself and started stripping off the old and on with the new. I core support I purchased originally (black) was no good and the shop I had weld on the new one got an OEM core support from another civic. Took them forever to do the work and when I got it back it was white, so I painted it to match my car again. As upsetting as this was, it was a great learning experience and I finally got my car put back together. I was able to keep the old front bumper and just re-use my OEM grill till I could replace it. I didn't have enough money to paint the hood so I had to rock the primer black. It all cleaned up quite nicely and was running again.
Summer 2012
---Getting it back to new---
Nothing really happened that winter. The Hood faded but that was it. That summer though I was ready to finally get my car back to its old perfection, with a few additions here and there. I got a new grill but it was the wrong style so I had to send that back. Then I painted my heat shield over my header black because the silver was rusty and nasty. I also did a deep cleaning of the interior and it was like new again! Just look at all the human slime that came out of my car! Nasty. I was sick of how my truck dynomat looked too so I redid it, and it looks much cleaner now. Then I repainted my brake callipers and put a Honda decal on just the front two. I added yellow bulbs to my fogs (large improvement) and got my hood painted again! With that done I got another grill, added it and the Ex logo, washed it up and was finally back to the old beauty! Towards the end of the summer my brother and I switched rims just for fun. I'm not a huge fan of chrome but you could see the honda on my brakes so that was fun!
Winter2012
---Christmas gifts for my EM2---
So winter 2012 came and went, and I added just a few things to my car. I looked everywhere for a EP3 shift knob and couldn't find one so I went with an Acura RSX Type-S knob. I know thats a six speed but maybe it will impress people who don't know haha. I've also wanted a front strut bar for a long time. My buddy said they help but I think its more for just show. Regardless, its installed now. I also installed a short shifter (see page 2) that I love! It makes a huge difference I highly recommend. At the end of break and officer told me I had to remove the Green headlight bulbs too. So I plan on getting yellow and then white for my rear liscense plate.
Summer 2013
---Future Mods---
-55W 8000K HID kit
-Raised white letters on new tires for Si blades
-Custom fiberglass sub box so I can reclaim my trunk space
-Install K&N filter and weld on cover so water doesn't splash on it all year.
And that's everything up to date. I want to finish everything up this summer and then start saving up for my next car. This car is a great car and I look forward to the next few years. Thanks for looking, please rate and leave me a comment about what you think!
Page 1: 2001 Honda Civic Ex Coupe
Page 2: Completed and Future Projects
Page 3: Family & Friends Rides
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