So with the wagon out of the picture for about a year and a half now, and with a very unlikely chance of it ever being back on the road soon, as of late I've had the need for a good daily driver. Just before Pikes Peak, one of my best friends died from cancer, and left me his 01 BMW 325i - which I fixed all of the things on that needed fixin' and installed the BBS LM's from the wagon on, with the intent to drive it as a daily, and I did for a bit - but ultimately, it was just too...'weird'...for me to keep the car. It just didn't feel right. A long-time friend of mine's wife bought an 05 RSX automatic base model back in 2006, and kept it up until about a year ago when she sold it to their roommate; I was at their place recently, and he was talking about wanting to get another car. The RSX was pretty clapped out - check engine light was on, ran like shit, was dirty as shit, the driver headlight had a huge hole in it covered with packing tape, etc...the car was a complete mess.
But there was something about it that I liked...almost like it was calling to me.
So I offered to trade him the BMW for the RSX and a grand, and he went for it! I had my detail guys go over the car inside and out, and got the interior looking 'holy shit' good - don't know if I mentioned this before, but the car has 229,000 miles! I flushed the engine and the fuel system/injectors, changed every fluid, filter, and maintenance item on the car with OEM parts and fluids, replaced the struts and springs with KYB's and Tein S-Techs, and put on new headlights. The check engine lights - for VTEC operation and intake manifold runner actuation - were easily rectified by putting oil in the car (it had less than a half quart) and reconnecting the vacuum line going to the manifold runner solenoid. I removed the intake manifold and throttle body and thoroughly cleaned them and the intake ports, and pulled the valve cover and adjusted the valves while I had everything apart - because, might as well! I put the Alpine CDA-117 from the wagon and my cute li'l JL Audio 6.5" sub and amp in the back, and even with the stock base-model speakers, the stereo sounds GREAT! While I had the dash apart, I went ahead and installed a hardwired Smart Cable for my Escort 9500ix (which, for the record, I absolutely LOVE).
I got a set of 25mm wheel adapters (spacers with a second set of wheel studs) for the stock 02-04 base model wheels that came on the car (they have brand new tires on them, so I initially felt inclined to keep them), and with the very moderate drop from the S-techs I feel like it sits pretty damn snazzy with the stock wheels (since I snapped that photo, I've installed a rear camber kit, for the record)...but when I came across a set of 17x8 +40 replica DC5 ITR wheels, I couldn't help myself - ESPECIALLY when my shop accounts allowed me to get a decent of 225/45's on them for less than $250! The wheels came to me rattle canned all to hell, so I sent them to my wheel refinishers and had them blasted and repainted silver - I'm extremely happy with how they came out!
Currently, I've got a new front bumper along with fender liners ordered, as this one is beat to shit and has crappy single-stage paint on it; I've also got a new pair of taillights as well as Acura OEM center caps on the way, and for the interior my Boomerang arm rest showed up this afternoon. I've got a set of OEM mud flaps on the way, along with longer wheel studs and 15mm spacers for the rear to put the ITR replicas out where I want them (already have 5mm spacers on the front and rear - just didn't have enough threads on the rear for any more spacer). I've got a good bit more small odds and ends - some trim pieces, new OEM steering wheel, etc - on the way...and at the moment, I'm actually considering ordering a Type-R wing for it. I don't know why, but for some reason I really, really, really like the way it looks...over the next few weeks I'll be having my paintless dent removal guy take care of the body, after which I'll be fixing all the scratches on the exterior and having my buddy Nick at Nick's Custom Detailing come do a badass detail and glasscoat job on her...
It's crazy. I legitimately think that, out of all the dailies I've had, this one is my favorite. Now that the engine is tuned up and running properly (it runs VERY well to the point that I think the motor may have been changed or the instrument cluster isn't accurate) and it's got all new suspension and a good alignment, along with the inside being cleaned up and nothing squeaking/rattling, this car is an absolute blasty-blast to drive. My original intention was to use this to put a K20 in the middle of the CRX, but now I think I'm just gonna keep this thing and drive it until the wheels fall off...after all, folks make mount kits for putting K20's in MR2's, and I can get an MR2 shell for $500...and it seems like putting a K20 in an MR2 and then swapping that rear subframe into the CRX would be just as easy and probably work better than the initial RSXurgery route...
With the 25mm adapters:
And with the ITR knockoffs:
So, yeah. After all these years and spending so much time playing with fancy cars, Wil has a Honda daily driver again...and, on top of that, a Honda daily driver build thread!
Now that I'm older, wiser, and have a bit more of a budget now, I can't wait to do the things that I want to do to this
But there was something about it that I liked...almost like it was calling to me.
So I offered to trade him the BMW for the RSX and a grand, and he went for it! I had my detail guys go over the car inside and out, and got the interior looking 'holy shit' good - don't know if I mentioned this before, but the car has 229,000 miles! I flushed the engine and the fuel system/injectors, changed every fluid, filter, and maintenance item on the car with OEM parts and fluids, replaced the struts and springs with KYB's and Tein S-Techs, and put on new headlights. The check engine lights - for VTEC operation and intake manifold runner actuation - were easily rectified by putting oil in the car (it had less than a half quart) and reconnecting the vacuum line going to the manifold runner solenoid. I removed the intake manifold and throttle body and thoroughly cleaned them and the intake ports, and pulled the valve cover and adjusted the valves while I had everything apart - because, might as well! I put the Alpine CDA-117 from the wagon and my cute li'l JL Audio 6.5" sub and amp in the back, and even with the stock base-model speakers, the stereo sounds GREAT! While I had the dash apart, I went ahead and installed a hardwired Smart Cable for my Escort 9500ix (which, for the record, I absolutely LOVE).
I got a set of 25mm wheel adapters (spacers with a second set of wheel studs) for the stock 02-04 base model wheels that came on the car (they have brand new tires on them, so I initially felt inclined to keep them), and with the very moderate drop from the S-techs I feel like it sits pretty damn snazzy with the stock wheels (since I snapped that photo, I've installed a rear camber kit, for the record)...but when I came across a set of 17x8 +40 replica DC5 ITR wheels, I couldn't help myself - ESPECIALLY when my shop accounts allowed me to get a decent of 225/45's on them for less than $250! The wheels came to me rattle canned all to hell, so I sent them to my wheel refinishers and had them blasted and repainted silver - I'm extremely happy with how they came out!
Currently, I've got a new front bumper along with fender liners ordered, as this one is beat to shit and has crappy single-stage paint on it; I've also got a new pair of taillights as well as Acura OEM center caps on the way, and for the interior my Boomerang arm rest showed up this afternoon. I've got a set of OEM mud flaps on the way, along with longer wheel studs and 15mm spacers for the rear to put the ITR replicas out where I want them (already have 5mm spacers on the front and rear - just didn't have enough threads on the rear for any more spacer). I've got a good bit more small odds and ends - some trim pieces, new OEM steering wheel, etc - on the way...and at the moment, I'm actually considering ordering a Type-R wing for it. I don't know why, but for some reason I really, really, really like the way it looks...over the next few weeks I'll be having my paintless dent removal guy take care of the body, after which I'll be fixing all the scratches on the exterior and having my buddy Nick at Nick's Custom Detailing come do a badass detail and glasscoat job on her...
It's crazy. I legitimately think that, out of all the dailies I've had, this one is my favorite. Now that the engine is tuned up and running properly (it runs VERY well to the point that I think the motor may have been changed or the instrument cluster isn't accurate) and it's got all new suspension and a good alignment, along with the inside being cleaned up and nothing squeaking/rattling, this car is an absolute blasty-blast to drive. My original intention was to use this to put a K20 in the middle of the CRX, but now I think I'm just gonna keep this thing and drive it until the wheels fall off...after all, folks make mount kits for putting K20's in MR2's, and I can get an MR2 shell for $500...and it seems like putting a K20 in an MR2 and then swapping that rear subframe into the CRX would be just as easy and probably work better than the initial RSXurgery route...
With the 25mm adapters:
And with the ITR knockoffs:
So, yeah. After all these years and spending so much time playing with fancy cars, Wil has a Honda daily driver again...and, on top of that, a Honda daily driver build thread!
Now that I'm older, wiser, and have a bit more of a budget now, I can't wait to do the things that I want to do to this
