EP2 Project

Bradley1500 · Jan 27, 2013

I said I'd post up a project thread once I started work on the EP2, so here it is.

Here she is after a good clean.

The Milano Red is still red and not pink, although the front wings are starting to fade and there are some swirl marks present, so I'm probably going to mop the car later in the week.

At the moment she's completely standard apart from an aftermarket head unit the PO fitted after the Honda unit died.

One of the first things I'd like to do is add on the bumper lips and side skirts from either a Type S or Type R, so am currently looking for a set of these in Milano Red.

Bradley1500 · Jan 27, 2013

One of the first things I did when I got the car was to debadge the tail gate and front wings.

From the tail gate the 'Civic' and '1.6' were removed.

And from the front wings the 'VTEC' badges were removed.

I think this gives the car a much cleaner look.

To this end I'm also thinking of removing the rear wiper and possibly changing the current aerial for a shark fin one colour coded to the body.

Bradley1500 · Jan 28, 2013

Small update.

Whilst I haven't got a lot of money to do any of the bigger mods I'd like to do, I thought I'd buy a few little things.

First of which arrived today a little sticker for the rear side window.

I rushed fitting it hence why it looks a little wonky now.

It's only temporary anyway.

Hopefully my other parts should arrive by the weekend.

Whilst I was at it I also clayed and waxed the whole car. I first thought I'd have to mop the car but after doing this it isn't as bad as I first thought.

avinall · Jan 30, 2013

That's got to be one of the cleanest cars Ive seen for a while!! I'm also de badging my car of the side 'vtec' for two reasons - one it only has one vtec sticker on the drivers side and two, it doesn't have vtec!

Looking forward to seeing some updates, keep up the pics

Bradley1500 · Jan 31, 2013

Thanks mate.

Not quite got the mirror shine, but not far off.

I've started on removing the rear wiper but its more of a faff than I first thought, also the weather here today isn't exactly helping. I'll hopefully have time to finish the job at the weekend.

I bought one of these blanking plugs, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/230916409299? ... 1497.l2649, which I think is a much better solution than a rubber grommet. I've learnt from previous mistakes of mates thinking its funny to push the grommet through the hole.

roblem:

Bradley1500 · Feb 2, 2013

My other parts have now turned up.

First of which was a new gear lever gaiter and handbrake gaiter.

Fitting was nice and easy with help from these instructions.

Here are some before and after pictures.

Once the gear gaiter was built and refitted I could fit my new Skunk2 gear knob.

They even sent me a sticker to go with the gear knob.

Once this was done I fitted the handbrake gaiter.

The fit on this isn't as nice as the gear gaiter, not really what I was expecting.

Bradley1500 · Feb 3, 2013

Today whilst mooching around the garage I found some carbon fibre wrap from a previous project, so I thought I'd make good use of it and cover my centre dash section.

First thing I needed to remove the dash.

And here it is once completely removed.

Now I could start covering it in the wrap.

I used a heat gun to warm the wrap before applying to make it more pliable, this helped to reduce creases and air bubbles although didn't completely stop them occurring.

Once all the wrap was applied I could start refitting the dash

And here it is once all done, unfortunately it was dark by the time I had finished so the final pictures aren't great. It also meant the flash from my camera highlighted the creases and air bubbles I couldn't remove.

burch1988 · Feb 6, 2013

Nice Ep mine same but just 03

Bradley1500 · Feb 7, 2013

Thanks mate.

Have you got a thread for yours? Would be nice to see what you've done with it.

Edit: Should actually look before asking questions, found it! Get some pictures up, would be nice to see it.

Bradley1500 · Feb 14, 2013

Success! Finally got the rear wiper removed.

I've never had what seemed like such a simple job turn into such a PITA.

After soaking it in god knows what, heating it, swearing at it and using the correct tools (a big hammer). I still couldn't get it to budge.

A cut a small indent in it to try and get a better look what I was working with.

But didn't want to simply chop the whole thing off.

My Dad came around to drop a car off at mine and asked what all the fuss was about. He simply walked up to the car and undid the sodding thing.

I guess I must of loosened it for him. :redface:

Sorry for the terrible pictures, but it was dark and snowing, not the best conditions.

Bradley1500 · Feb 18, 2013

Got another present for the car today, a new tailgate lock shroud. Is that what they're called?

Fitting was nice and easy. Once the interior boot trim is removed, two bolts and 4 clips are all that hold it on.

Before

During

After

Small part but think it makes a big difference. Need to get matching red H badges for the front and steering wheel now.

Bradley1500 · Feb 28, 2013

No progress to report on the car at the moment, should hopefully be paid soon so I can purchase some more bits.

Anyway...

I had a spare 10minutes at college today so decided to photoshop some wheels on a red CTR I nicked from the internet.

I think the BBS's are my favourites followed by the RotoGrids, although I think a red centre to match the car would look better than yellow.

What do you guys think? As I'm still undecided.

Any other wheels apart from these that you think suit EPs well?

PS: ignore my terrible editing, it was done in 5minutes!

Bradley1500 · Mar 17, 2013

Whilst waiting for more parts for the car to be delivered I thought I would paint the brake callipers red.

With the car jacked up I needed to clean off all the old crap off the callipers and the wheel arches.

I started by cleaning the whole area with TFR and finished up by steam cleaning the callipers.

Whilst I was there I noticed my rear drop link on the drivers side was hanging loose. I've taken a picture of the passengers side to show how it is meant to be.

These were supposedly replaced for the last MOT.

Once the area was completely dry I could start masking up.

After using some preclean I could finally start painting.

Whilst waiting for coats to dry I decided to paint the H on my wheel centres red as well.

After four coats I was left with these.

Only thing left to do was refit the wheels and make sure the brakes still worked.

I've started doing the fronts but won't bore you with pictures of those as well, it's pretty much the same process.

I've also started on removing the centre dash again. The vinyl wrap looks shite if I'm honest so I've decided to have it carbon dipped.

http://www.carbonfibremagic.co.uk/

I've also removed the handbrake gaiter, it looked crap, as well as the stickers I put on; again decided they looked crap.

Gibbscp · Mar 19, 2013

A good starting project you've got there mate.

Bradley1500 · Mar 21, 2013

Thanks buddy.

Hopefully should have some more interesting updates soon.

I've received some of the orders I'd placed; one of which being a Mugen front grille.

My plan was to fit and prep it before going to bodyshop to be painted. So decided to get the old grille off last night.

When I went to remove the grille it seemed to me that the grille and bumper are one piece. I didn't have much time so couldn't get a proper look but can anyone confirm? It's a 2002 SE Sport model, the front bumper and grille look like this.

I want to know as I've also on order a Mugen front splitter and don't want to start fitting this and then realise I need a different bumper.

Also came in the post was my new floor mats. Before I had some horrible rubber universal things, which didn't fit properly.

Although the driver side has a hole in it, the other two mats are mint and the whole lot were only 99p off of eBay so I can't complain.

Along with the new grille, splitter and mats; I'm also waiting on a Mugen rear spoiler, a K&N air filter so I can make up a temporary induction kit and a CTR backbox. My plan is to fit this and remove the central silencer to make it sound better until I get a proper system.

I also need to get CTR/Sport side skirts in Milano red, CTR/Sport rear bumper lip in Milano red and possibly a new front bumper in Milano red. If anyone has any of these they want to sell let me know.

leanneb88 · Mar 21, 2013

that de wipering looks a pain! loving the step by step, really helpful to people like me, especially the carbon wrapping thats on the cards for my interior but in red

Bradley1500 · Mar 21, 2013

Thanks!

Yes, removing the wiper was a bit of a pain. I think the problem is that the washer is at the end of the motor, and when used the water seeps down onto the spindle rusting it, making it a pain to remove.

With the carbon wrapping it pays to take your time, I think that was part of the problem with mine not looking great. Also make sure to clean any grease, crap etc. on the piece before wrapping it otherwise it won't stick well or at all.

My plan for tomorrow is to remove the front bumper so I can work out what to do with my grille issue. I was thinking whether it would be possible to cut the old grille out and mould the new one in. However, I would imagine it would take a fair amount of skill which I don't have.

We'll see tomorrow.

Squirrelking · Mar 21, 2013

Pretty sure the grille is a cut and fit job on your bumper, up to you whether you source a standard bumper with the cutout or try and mod the one you have. One word of warning though, facelift and pre-facelift have different grilles so you need one to match your new grille!

And lol at the "replaced" drop links. Some Lemforders from Eurocarparts would be my recommendation, OE on Merc and VW IIRC and mine have lasted me well since I replaced the fronts.

Bradley1500 · Mar 22, 2013

Indeed a cut and shut job, got the bumper off today to check.

But it looks do-able to me, famous last words?

The bumper is damaged anyway, so decided that if I do ruin it cutting the old grille out it's no big loss.

The grille is a one-size fits all I believe, so can imagine there will be some trimming, sanding and filling to get it looking right.

Whilst the bumper was off it gave me good access to the washer bottle so I could disconnect the plug that powers the rear washer. :thumbup: Seeing as there is now no rear washer.

Thanks for the tip on the droplinks. Weird thing is I'm sure I saw a receipt saying something regarding droplinks in the history that came with the car, I'll have to double check.

typerfusion1 · Mar 23, 2013

Hi mate

I once owned a Milano EP2 which I brought. Came with CTR side skirts and Spoiler same colour. Now have EP3. But you have put a lot of effort into this project and it's coming out really well. I like the first two pictures of the alloys first one is subtle and the other gives a race look. BBS would look nice in black against the milano red in my opinion. Look forward to seeing some more progress.

Gibbscp · Mar 23, 2013

coming along nicely i see, shame about the front grille, it is indeed a cut and shut jobbie like you found out, there have been a few project EP1 and early EP2's that had cut out grilles like youve got to do

Bradley1500 · Mar 25, 2013

typerfusion1, thanks for the encouragement. My plan now regarding wheels is to go with the BBS's with a black centre, as I'm also planning on a satin black car wrap, the two should set each other off well.

Gibbscp, thanks buddy. I've started on cutting the old grille out with my new dremel, it's like cutting through butter with a hot knife. Not looking as difficult as I first imagined.

Whilst I'm doing this, I'm also planning on smoothing the recess for the front number plate. Anyone done this before and got any tips?

Bradley1500 · Mar 25, 2013

Bradley1500 said:
Whilst I'm doing this, I'm also planning on smoothing the recess for the front number plate. Anyone done this before and got any tips?

I've been advised, the best way to go about this is to smooth over the number plate underneath. Cut off any excess plate you don't need then smooth over the top so you don't have a massive lump of body filler waiting to lift. Anyone done it like this before?

I got my Mugen rear spoiler through the post today, so set about fitting it this evening.

Once the rear spoiler was removed, I could start to see how much work trimming, sanding and filling the new spoiler was going to need.

Thankfully it's looking much better than I expected!

Only one bolt hole on the spoiler doesn't align with the hole in the boot lid, however elongating the hole with a file should create enough space to fit this.

It only took an hour to get to this stage, with these reproduction parts I was expecting more of a battle. Hopefully the grille and front splitter follow suit.

YangTang · Mar 26, 2013

Big plans for this beauty, i see!
Tidy car, keep it up.

Bradley1500 · Mar 27, 2013

Thanks very much.

My Mugen front splitter came through the post yesterday. I should get around to trial fitting it tomorrow morning so will post some pictures up then.

After reading this thread, http://www.hondacivicforum.co.uk/32-7th-gen/32958-civic-2005-footwell-lights-installed.html, I'm thinking of copying and adding in some LEDs too seeing as they're only £1.65 a strip. :thumbup:

Bradley1500 · Mar 28, 2013

Great minds and all that...

I had forgotten about Plastidip as I had looked into this before. I was half tempted to buy myself a kit and do it myself, IIRC the kit with Plastidip paint was only around £200-£300.

I'm not wrapping the whole car just half, along the lines of this.

I offered up my Mugen splitter to the bumper and again going to need some cutting.

And here's the offending hole that isn't lining up on my spoiler.

I also picked up a drivers side CTR side skirt yesterday so am now only looking for a passenger and rear bumper lip, if anyone has any?

typerfusion1 · Mar 28, 2013

Yeah that's about right for the plastidip kit. It seems like you enjoy working on your own car

I think carbon fiber wrap on the bonnet, roof and bootlid and rest in Black satin. Maybe also CF the side skirts too.

EP2 Project

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