Cosmic Grey EP3 Honda Machine - Project minty mint OEM

[Lewis.]

A few more updates tonight. I have been carrying out a major service on it, and managed to do the oil at the weekend as you saw above. Also bought myself some OEM sparks plugs from Cox Motorsport Parts and Gearbox oil. Changed out the plugs tonight, and will do the Gearbox oil at the weekend. Also ordered a magnetic Gearbox plug from Tegiwa so hopefully that arrives tomorrow in time for Saturday.

Pics as follows:

Parts:

Close up of the Plug:

Getting started on removal of the old ones:

Mans gotta have the right tools for the job!

Old vs New - as you can see the old ones were haggard and definitely needed changing!

New one with some Loctite Copper Grease to be applied to the thread before fitment:

Copper grease applied and ready to be fitted. Hand tight first of all:

Halfords Spark Plug Socket and Snap On extension bar - essential for getting down the the depth of where the plug screws in. And no that is not a pair of the wifes dirty knickers in the background!:

Hand tight first. No big watches here, just an old man hand on a young mans body! :mrgreen:

Once that was done I just nipped them up tight with the Rachet - job done. Then refitted the coil cover bolts.

When only the best will do:

Mileage at the this service interval:

Will get some OEM pollen filters finally, around the end of the month and fit them, that will be her service complete then.

Hopefully my Yokohama AD08's will arrive too - I am really looking forward to getting those!![/img]

Will get some OEM pollen filters finally, around the end of the month and fit them, that will be her service complete then.

Hopefully my Yokohama AD08's will arrive too - I am really looking forward to getting those!!

Starting to make some progress on it now, hope you like it.

Lewis

 

[Shoonk]

Still going well, keep it up! .

 

[Lewis.]

Still going well, keep it up! .

Cheers fella!

She is getting there now!


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[Shoonk]

It's a good feeling when you start to see the end result, you can enjoy it then knowing everything has been done.

 

[Breed1]

Nice advertising on the Snap-on tools

 

[Breed1]

Lew, are you keeping the exhaust oem as well or will you be looking to fit some neat crisp after market system?

 

[Lewis.]

Thanks lads! I do love my tools too. I spent years with **** tools and a tool bag and honestly it's the best thing I've done buying the right tools for the job. Makes it easier and actually enjoyable to work on the car.

Breed - I was thinking OEM but the more I see modified Hondas the more tempted I am to mess with mine. If anything is be more interested in performance than looks. The problem is I'm not sure I like the look of standard cars with a different exhaust. If it's lowed and on wheels then fine. Hard to explain. I think I will lower it 15mm on eibachs, progress ARB, good tyres, FRSU, then just leave the exhaust as is. Maybe a better b pipe but that's it.

Sam from Jamsport took me out in his turbo'd one yesterday and the speed of it was insane....the only thing I can liken it to is being in a computer game lol!!! Crazy sh*t. Now mine feels slow I went up there as he offered to check my TPS. I know from ages ago as he was into pugs too. He adjusted it for me and the slight hesitation seems to have gone so that's good. I would recommend him to anyone, super chilled smart professional lad, knows his stuff.


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[GarryK20]

Nice progress, you remind me a lot of myself with cars. Also agree with the snapon tools, I have quite a lot now and they are a pleasure to use.
Did you used to use Saxp years ago, I seem to have a memory of your name and avatar?

 

[nicgandy]

Just read your thread mate. Looks great and you have given me some ideas.

Was hoping you could help me with something as I know you have installed an original gear stick. My type r came with the original knob but i replaced it with another design because it didn't quite have the right fittings and the metal sleeve under it rattled on its shaft. I think what was missing was the nut that I have seen on many pictures but did not come with mine. Basically how did you exactly fit the original knob and do yuo know where I can buy this mystery nut? I hope that makes sense. Haha

Thanks

 

[Lewis.]

Just read your thread mate. Looks great and you have given me some ideas.

Was hoping you could help me with something as I know you have installed an original gear stick. My type r came with the original knob but i replaced it with another design because it didn't quite have the right fittings and the metal sleeve under it rattled on its shaft. I think what was missing was the nut that I have seen on many pictures but did not come with mine. Basically how did you exactly fit the original knob and do yuo know where I can buy this mystery nut? I hope that makes sense. Haha

Thanks

There is a captive nut under the gearstick that twists on to the base of the gearstick. You would be able to buy another on ebay or from Lings Honda parts perhaps? The gator has a loose washer at the top and this is a loose fit around the shaft - this is normal.


Forgot to update this last weekend. Changed the gearbox oil, almost there with the full service now. Will change pollen filters at the end of the month then i'll be done.

Pics:

New oil and washers:

Emptying out the old oil. And no, that is not a crack in my gearbox casing it's just a molding mark!

Not too bad really. It was changed fairly recently when the clutch was changed, but wanted to be sure everything was spot on and Gearbox oil isn't particularly expensive:

Old washers on the plugs removed, new ones in the bag. What Tegiwa didn't tell me is that the fill plug is a 20mm washer and the drain plug is a 14mm washer, so a useful tip to anyone changing out their oil!!

Fill plug on the right, drain plug on the left:

New washer in place. Popped the drain plug back in before filling with new oil:

DIY device for pouring in the new gearbox oil:

In action:

This took AGES as the oil flowed so slowly down the tube and into the transmission:

Going in:

Mileage at transmission oil change:

Paperwork updated for the folder:

That's all for now. Think my new Yoko's will arrive end of the month so they should be fitted soonish. Also pollen filters to be done as mentioned above. Also may get a new gearstick assembly as there is play in mine (the big white plastic ball that the shaft runs through), not a lot but it's something that I notice when driving and as changing gear is so pleasurable in this car I want it to be spot on. Will update as and when this lot gets sorted!

Lewis

 

[Lewis.]

Few more updates today. I sorted a few small jobs that i'd been meaning to do for a while. I had a small tear in the rear seat which was bugging me, so I sewed it up. Doesn't look too bad now and it was cheaper than spending £50 on another bench!

Also got a Mugen Airbox for a great price, and it's like new. So got that fitted. Feels a tiny bit different to the OEM box. Not sure if it's slightly less torquey (made up word), but it sounds great on VTEC and pulls well so I wll hold onto it for now. Just need a sticker for the top as the original one wasn't included in the kit. I also applied all the heat resistant foil tape to the underside and back. Did quite a neat job of it so pleased with that. I will take some photo's of it fitted in the bay and upload in a few days time.

And finally, got 4 new tyres, the new Yokohama AD08R's. Got them fitted last night and pretty pleased with them so far.

Pics as follows:

Seat tear:

Tools for the job!

All done:

Mugen Airbox kit:

Foil tape applied:

Only two pics of fitting it so far as it was getting dark. Fitted the scoop onto the lower intake hose and cable tied it on just to keep it super secure (it is already a very tight fit):

Trimmed nicely without any sharp edges left:

New Yokohama Tyres:

Detail:

All fitted and car cleaned again!

Few comments on the tyres. Got them fitted last night and it was absolutely LASHING it down. I drove home very carefully! The roads had a lot of standing as well as flowing water on them. However, the tyres felt good and dispersed water quite effectively through the channels. I didn't go hooning through any water but at a sensible speed they were fine, and gripped well too.

Today I took the car for a jet wash to remove the excessive grime before I hand washed it at home. I gave it a right good spank to test the new tyres. Impressions are, bang for buck wise, they are pretty decent. They are a LOT more expensive than the Parada's I had previously, almost twice the price per corner. Turn in feels maybe a mite sharper with the AD08's, but I can't honestly say the difference is night and day. Perhaps they need to be worn in more first. They are however MUCH better in the wet, and really do stick well and just keep on gripping when cornering very hard, especially in the dry, and don't break away as easily as the Parada's. I took a roundabout very quickly today and it sweeps around quite a long corner and the tyres just stuck all the way through the turn and did not want to break away. Inspire a lot of confidence! They do need to be warm before this sort of driving though! Also no squeal which is good!

Aesthetically (I know this isn't important for most people!) I think I prefer the design of the Parada's, but I will get used to these new ones.

Considering the price hike over the Parada's, while I am impressed, I am not certain the additional cost was entirely worth (it in my individual case). They are an excellent tyre, but for day to day driving and hard driving in the dry, I think for the price I would go with Parada's again, and just live with their poo wet weather performance and slightly softer sidewall. That's not to say i'm not pleased with the AD08R's, they are very good and offer superb grip, I just think I was expecting them to feel slightly sharper on turn in like the Toyo R888's I have used in the past. I do need to sort the geometry and tracking on the car still, so this is probably more to do with it than the tyre itself. Otherwise they're excellent and i'm pleased with them! Mixed review but I hope you catch my drift!

Final thing I notice about the tyres, they actually improve the ride quality! The car feels a LOT less crashy over pot holes (roads are crap around here) and they are actually quiter too, and you get less road noise in the cabin. This I was impressed with. I would recommend them to anyone serious about performance, and anyone who is thinking of taking their car on track, but for normal day to day stuff perhaps you may want to consider something slightly cheaper.

I have spent a bit more than I should this month, so will be a while until I carry out another big update I think!

 

[speedy chris]

Stunning car mate!.
Wish mine was that tidy..

 

[Lewis.]

Stunning car mate!.
Wish mine was that tidy..

Thanks pal. She is getting there. I still have some bits id like to improve. Trying to resist spending money on it but it's hard as I really like it!


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[speedy chris]

Thanks pal. She is getting there. I still have some bits id like to improve. Trying to resist spending money on it but it's hard as I really like it!


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Know that feeling lol.
They are mega car's keep up the good work bud

 

[Lewis.]

Know that feeling lol.
They are mega car's keep up the good work bud

Haha, yes they are great machines alright!

I have scrubbed the new yoko's in a bit now and given them more of a thorough test. I confirm they are very very good!! Just keep on sticking on long sweeping turns and make the car very controllable/predictable. They get my recommendation. Much better than the Parada's ignore what I said above ^

 

[Lewis.]

A few more updates this weekend. Bought a few more bolts to replace some rusted ones in the bay (bonnet catch retaining bolts), as well as a new bracket and bolts to hold the airbox lower intake pipe in place.

I also managed to finally get a few pics of the Mugen Airbox! When I bought it there was no sticker, so I got one of the guys on the forum to make one for me (thanks) and put that on also. Looks complete now.

Pics as follows:

New parts:

Old rusty bonnet catch bolts:

Replacements:

Had to dig out the mini 1/4'' ratchet to undo the lower one, it was tricky to access. I love good tools!

New ones fitted:

Old haggard intake hose retaining bracket (looks worse in the next photo on):

Old vrs new:

And fitted:

And finally some pics of the new Airbox in place:

And some more the following day in daylight:

Really happy with the car now. Still a few more bits to do but slowly getting close to how I want it to look. I enjoy it every time I drive it. I look forward to driving it! The tyres have made a huge difference and are definitely a good investment.

Next jobs will be as follows:

1. New brake discs all round
2. New front passenger headlight, as mine is misted up!
3. Progress/JDM uprated rear anti roll bar
4. Front camber bolts
5. Adjustable rear arms
6. Full Geometry set up - 4 wheel alignment (Fast Road Set Up)
7. Wheel refurb
8. Remove a few of the dings I have
9. New rear 'H' badge
10. Get valve clearances checked

Would also like some newer seats but not really an urgent requirement. I also fancy a private plate but that's another unnecessary extravagance! I am sure I will think of a few other things i'd like to sort, but that's the medium/long term list above.

 

[RobertostypeR]

Got say your cars coming along well your doin a good job just a quick question when you put the k&n filter in did it make any difference from standard air filter and does it give it more of a roar?

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[jimbothemagnificent]

Cars looking great bud!

 

[HaNNby47]

very very nice, my favourite is Milano Red but i was so tempted by the cosmic grey. I almost bought one, very nice example you have there and I love the OME original look..nice car

 

[EP3 Pete]

Looking very good buddy.